- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Charles B. Skelton
- Creator:
- Bruckner, William Joseph, 1944-
Skelton, Charles B. - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center
- Date of Original:
- 2019-02-01
- Subject:
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
World War, 1939-1945--Atrocities
World War, 1939-1945--Occupied territories
United States. Army. Quartermaster Corps. Graves Registration Service
Mercer University
Emory University - People:
- Sams, Ferrol, 1922-2013
- Location:
- Austria, Vienna, Vienna, 48.20849, 16.37208
France, Aix-en-Provence, 43.5283, 5.44973
Germany, Bavaria, Bad Tölz, 47.76111, 11.5589
Italy, 42.833333, 12.833333
United States, Georgia, Barrow County, Winder, 33.99261, -83.72017
United States, Georgia, Clayton County, Riverdale, 33.57261, -84.41326 - Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this interview, Dr. Charles Skelton recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army during World War II. His family lost their home in Atlanta during the Great Depression and he describes his growing up years as the 10th of 12 children of a tenant farmer. He graduated high school at age 15 and received a small university scholarship that enabled him to work his way through college. He was drafted when 18 years old and placed in the Navy's "V-12" college training program. When he failed to pass a physical exam, he was dropped from the program which was fortunate since the program folded shortly afterwards. He was placed in the infantry, was recommended for Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant while still 18 years old. His unit was to be part of the invasion of Japan but the war ended before they were sent there. Instead, he was trained to work in the Graves Registration Service. He describes the purpose of that unit and how he was selected to be a special investigator, searching for remains of American servicemen who were buried behind former enemy lines. He describes that work in great detail including the leadership of his unit; his relationships with fellow soldiers; and many of his assignments, including being tasked with separating the remains of a single American pilot from a mass grave in Germany. He describes other assignments including traveling to Italy to follow up on reports that a colleague had missed the remains of a soldier buried there and a tense and dangerous assignment to locate the remains of 21 soldiers in Soviet-occupied territory where they had to be accompanied at all times by Soviet soldiers. He recalls his post-military education and career as a country doctor and describes the poetry he has written, the books he has published, and the music he has composed. He describes his family and reflects on his life.
rationing; GI Bill; suicide; AGRC; "Ghoul School"; 538th Quartermaster Group; "A Simple Seller of Noodles"; "Dirty Laundry Don't Take No Doctor's Orders"; "Rock: Further Proof of God's Sense of Humor"; "Rhyme for all Seasons"; "Phool-osophy"
"Doc" Skelton served in the United States Army in Europe immediately after World War II. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/861
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 1:52:10
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Holding Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights:
-
