Oral Histories

The oral histories conducted with the veterans of the 103rd Infantry Division help to provide a historical view of their time on the frontlines. The USM historians who conducted the professional oral histories worked diligently to prepare questions based on the archival materials and information that was available to them before the interviews took place. These oral histories were designed to present factual information and provide personal stories to help bring the archival materials to life through their memories. In the oral histories that are available below, you will be able to hear about the various training locations, battlefields, hospitals, traumas, and euphoric moments that these men have carried with them throughout their lives.

During the 103rd Unit Association’s post-war reunions, soldiers from the 103rd Infantry Division sat down for informal oral histories about their experiences. These oral histories were not overseen by a professional historian, but rather by a member of the division or someone associated with the 103rd Unit Association. The goal of these informal oral histories was to allow soldiers to speak freely about the events, topics, or memories they chose from their time in the 103rd Infantry Division. These less structured interviews are vital to the history of the division because these men weave in to the official records some more personal aspects and stories which could range from the lighthearted to the tragic. Please scroll through below to read about the war in the men’s own words.

The “Legacies: Stories from the Second World War” radio show, which premiered in 2001 on a Cleveland, Ohio station, was produced, narrated, and and hosted by Tom Swope. It won several awards, including the Press Club of Cleveland’s “Ohio Excellence in Journalism Award” in both 2002 and 2007, as well as the March of Dimes Achievement in Radio (AIR) Award for the “Best Weekly Show in Northeast Ohio” in 2002. The show highlighted stories from veterans of the 103rd Infantry Division as well as period music.

Note: These oral histories are unedited and may contain graphic descriptions of wartime experiences.