The Good War
In The Good War Terkel presents the good, the bad, and the ugly memories of World War II from a
perspective of forty years of after the events. No matter how gruesome the memories are, relatively few of the interviewees said they would have been better off without the experience. It was a central and formative experience in their lives. Although 400,000 Americans perished, the United States itself was not attacked again after Pearl Harbor, the economy grew, and there was a new sense of world power that invigorated the country. Some women and African Americans experienced new freedoms in the post war society, but good life after World War II was tarnished by the threat of nuclear war.
Terkel quotes from interviewees in the introduction of The Good War:
"We were in a tribal sort of situation [in the army], where we could help each other without fear. I realized that it was the absence of phony standards that created the thing I loved about the army."
 "This neighbor told me that what we needed was a damn good war, and we'd solve our agricultural problems. And I said, 'Yes, but I'd hate to pay for it with my son. Which we did.' He weeps. 'It's too much of a price to pay.'"
"The war was fun for America. I'm not talking about the poor souls who lost sons and daughters. But for the rest of us, the war was a hell of a good time."
"The war changed our whole idea of how we wanted to live when we got back. We set our sights pretty high. All of us wanted better levels of living."
"Ours was the only country among the combatants in World War Two that was neither invaded not bombed. Ours were the only cities not blasted to rubble."
"World War Two has warped our view of how we look at things today. We see things in terms of that war, which in a sense was a good war. But the twisted memory of it encourages the men of my generation to be willing, almost eager, to use military force anywhere in the world."
"It was one war that many who would have resisted 'your other wars' supported enthusiastically. It was a 'just war,' if there is any such animal. In a time of nuclear weaponry, it is the language of a lunatic."
Copyright � 1997 "The Good War": An Oral History of World War II. Reprinted by permission of The New Press.
The Good War Recordings
To listen to a sound, click on the file name of that selection. Real Audio is required for these recordings. If your system does not have Real Audio, it can be downloaded for free at http://www.real.com.
33 records returned
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Interview with Dellie Hahne and Sarah Killingsworth - Part 1
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terkel-a0a0h1-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Dellie Hahne, a music teacher, and Sarah Killingsworth, a domestic worker, about their experiences during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
War bride, Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Killingsworth, Sarah, Hahne, Dellie, Lost innocence |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Killingsworth, Sarah
Hahne, Dellie
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Interview with Dellie Hahne and Sarah Killingsworth - Part 2
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0h2-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Dellie Hahne, a music teacher, and Sarah Killingsworth, a domestic worker, about their experiences during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
War bride, Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Killingsworth, Sarah, Hahne, Dellie, Lost innocence |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Killingsworth, Sarah
Hahne, Dellie
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Interview with Dellie Hahne and Sarah Killingsworth - Part 3
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0h3-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Dellie Hahne, a music teacher, and Sarah Killingsworth, a domestic worker, about their experiences during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
War bride, Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Killingsworth, Sarah, Hahne, Dellie, Lost innocence |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Killingsworth, Sarah
Hahne, Dellie
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Interview with E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge - Part 1
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terkel-a0a0i8-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge, Eugene B. Sledge, a U.S. Marine Corps combat infantryman in the Pacific during world War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Sledge, Eugene. B. (Sledgehammer), Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Sledge, E.B. (Sledgehammer)
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Interview with E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge - Part 2
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0i9-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge, Eugene B. Sledge, a U.S. Marine Corps combat infantryman in the Pacific during world War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Sledge, Eugene. B. (Sledgehammer), Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Sledge, E.B. (Sledgehammer)
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Interview with E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge - Part 3
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j0-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge, Eugene B. Sledge, a U.S. Marine Corps combat infantryman in the Pacific during world War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Sledge, Eugene. B. (Sledgehammer), Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Sledge, E.B. (Sledgehammer)
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Interview with E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge - Part 4
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j1-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge, Eugene B. Sledge, a U.S. Marine Corps combat infantryman in the Pacific during world War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Sledge, Eugene. B. (Sledgehammer), Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Sledge, E.B. (Sledgehammer)
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Interview with E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge - Part 5
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j2-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge, Eugene B. Sledge, a U.S. Marine Corps combat infantryman in the Pacific during world War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Sledge, Eugene. B. (Sledgehammer), Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Sledge, E.B. (Sledgehammer)
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Interview with E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge - Part 6
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j3-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing E. B. (Sledgehammer) Sledge, Eugene B. Sledge, a U.S. Marine Corps combat infantryman in the Pacific during world War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Sledge, Eugene. B. (Sledgehammer), Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Sledge, E.B. (Sledgehammer)
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Interview with Joseph Polowsky - Part 1
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terkel-a0a0h4-b.rm
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No date. |
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Interviewing Chicago taxicab driver Joseph Polowsky, who as a young U. S. Army Private in World War II, was one of the first American soldiers to cross the Elbe River into Germany and come face-to-face with his counterparts in the Red Army. |
| Keywords: |
Victory, Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Polowski, Joseph, Remorse |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Polowski, Joseph
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Interview with Joseph Small - Part 1
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terkel-a0a0i2-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Joseph Small, an African American U. S. Navy seaman and munitions handler during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, African Americans, Small, Joseph, Segregation, Racism |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Small, Joseph
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Interview with Joseph Small - Part 2
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0i3-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Joseph Small, an African American U. S. Navy seaman and munitions handler during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives., World War, 1939-1945, African Americans, Small, Joseph, Segregation, Racism |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Small, Joseph
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Interview with Joseph Small - Part 3
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0i4-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Joseph Small, an African American U. S. Navy seaman and munitions handler during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, African Americans, Small, Joseph, Segregation |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Small, Joseph
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Interview with Joseph Small - Part 4
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0i5-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Joseph Small, an African American U. S. Navy seaman and munitions handler during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, African Americans, Small, Joseph, Segregation, Racism |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Small, Joseph
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Interview with Joseph Small - Part 6
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0i6-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Joseph Small, an African American U. S. Navy seaman and munitions handler during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, African Americans, Small, Joseph, Segregation, Racism |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Small, Joseph
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Interview with Joseph Small - Part 7
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0i7-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Joseph Small, an African American U. S. Navy seaman and munitions handler during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, African Americans, Small, Joseph, Segregation, Racism |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Small, Joseph
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Interview with Lowell Steward and Colonel Gleed - Part 1
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0g7-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Lowell Steward and Colonel Edward C. Gleed, African American Army Air Corps fighter pilots during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, African American air pilots, Gleed, Colonel, Steward, Lowell, Personal narratives, Racism, Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Steward, Lowell
Gleed, Colonel
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Interview with Lowell Steward and Colonel Gleed - Part 2
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0g8-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Lowell Steward and Colonel Edward C. Gleed, African American Army Air Corps fighter pilots during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, African American air pilots, Gleed, Colonel, Steward, Lowell, Personal narratives, Racism, Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Steward, Lowell
Gleed, Colonel
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Interview with Lowell Steward and Colonel Gleed - Part 3
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0g9-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Lowell Steward and Colonel Edward C. Gleed, African American Army Air Corps fighter pilots during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, African American air pilots, Gleed, Colonel, Steward, Lowell, Personal narratives, Racism, Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Steward, Lowell
Gleed, Colonel
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Lowell Steward and Colonel Gleed - Part 4
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0h0-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Lowell Steward and Colonel Edward C. Gleed, African American Army Air Corps fighter pilots during World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, African American air pilots, Gleed, Colonel, Steward, Lowell, Personal narratives, Racism, Camaraderie |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Steward, Lowell
Gleed, Colonel
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Nora Watson - Part 1
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0h5-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Nora Watson about reminiscences of World War II and post-World War II life. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Watson, Nora, the bomb |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Watson, Nora
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Interview with Nora Watson - Part 2
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0h6-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Nora Watson about reminiscences of World War II and post-World War II life. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Watson, Nora, the bomb |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Watson, Nora
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Nora Watson - Part 3
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0h7-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Nora Watson about reminiscences of World War II and post-World War II life. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Watson, Nora, the bomb |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Watson, Nora
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Interview with Nora Watson - Part 4
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0h8-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Nora Watson about reminiscences of World War II and post-World War II life. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Watson, Nora, the bomb |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Watson, Nora
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Nora Watson - Part 5
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0h9-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Nora Watson about reminiscences of World War II and post-World War II life. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Watson, Nora, the bomb |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Watson, Nora
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Nora Watson - Part 6
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0i0-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Nora Watson about reminiscences of World War II and post-World War II life. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Watson, Nora, the bomb |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Watson, Nora
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Nora Watson - Part 7
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0i1-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Nora Watson about reminiscences of World War II and post-World War II life. |
| Keywords: |
Personal narratives, World War, 1939-1945, Watson, Nora, the bomb |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Watson, Nora
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Interview with Richard M. (Red) Prendergast - Part 1
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j4-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Richard M. (Red) Prendergast, a U. S. Army infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, Prendergast, Richard M., (Red Predergast), Personal narratives, Defeat |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Prendergast, Richard M. (Red)
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Interview with Richard M. (Red) Prendergast - Part 2
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j5-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Richard M. (Red) Prendergast, a U. S. Army infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, Prendergast, Richard M., (Red Predergast), Personal narratives, Defeat |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Prendergast, Richard M. (Red)
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Richard M. (Red) Prendergast - Part 3
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j6-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Richard M. (Red) Prendergast, a U. S. Army infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, Prendergast, Richard M., (Red Predergast), Personal narratives, Defeat |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Prendergast, Richard M. (Red)
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Richard M. (Red) Prendergast - Part 4
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j7-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Richard M. (Red) Prendergast, a U. S. Army infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, Prendergast, Richard M., (Red Predergast), Personal narratives, Defeat |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Prendergast, Richard M. (Red)
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Richard M. (Red) Prendergast - Part 5
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j8-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Richard M. (Red) Prendergast, a U. S. Army infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, Prendergast, Richard M., (Red Predergast), Personal narratives, Defeat |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Prendergast, Richard M. (Red)
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| Search Again |
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Interview with Richard M. (Red) Prendergast - Part 6
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File Name:
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terkel-a0a0j9-b.rm
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| Date: |
No date. |
| Summary: |
Interviewing Richard M. (Red) Prendergast, a U. S. Army infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. |
| Keywords: |
World War, 1939-1945, Prendergast, Richard M., (Red Predergast), Personal narratives, Defeat |
| Interviewer(s): |
Terkel, Studs
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| Interviewee(s): |
Prendergast, Richard M. (Red)
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| Search Again |
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