Your Son, ‘Chick’
Author Archives: John
Nov 11, 1942 – Wednesday
Today is Armistice Day and it is also the day the armistices is to be signed in Casablanca. Fierce fighting lasted all night and the town fell this morning. They are going to sign the pack at Noon today. Every … Continue reading
The “Truscott Trott”
From the close of the Casablanca operation until their departure to Sicily, the 3rd Division was scattered throughout French Morocco and western Algeria. The main staging area preparing to invade Sicily, convoy after convoy of men and equipment arrived at … Continue reading
North Africa, the 1st few days
Chick talks more about the landing in North Africa, loss of life during the landing, attack on the ship he came over on and the 1st few days after the invasion. Filmed 2007 at the studios of WILL, University of … Continue reading
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Nov 10, 1942 -Tuesday
We were up at 6:30am and made some coffee from our “K” rations and then went to work. While they were changing the wheels, I got my first glimpse of the town. Frenchy and I went in to see if … Continue reading
Higgins Boats and landing in North Africa
During an interview, Chick discusses This audio is from an interview conducted by Uni High students Natalie Dullerud, Claire Dickerson, Michael Anukwu and Joaquin Malik, as part of the Uni Class of 2016’s oral history project on the experiences of … Continue reading
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Nov 9, 1942 – Monday
We were up bright and early this morning and what were we greeted by but 15 German bombers. We shot down tow of them and the rest flew away. Later they came back and bombed and strafed the beach. So … Continue reading
Operation Torch – the invasion of North Africa
Chick talks about ‘Operation Torch’ the invasion of North Africa on November 8th, 1942. Filmed 2007 at the studios of WILL, University of Illinois as part of the “WWII Central Illinois Stories” series
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Nov 8, 1942 – Sunday
Wow! today is the day. It is now 9:30am and the zero hour is getting near. The announcement just came over the phone, batter up so that means a fight. Now came the play ball. Everyone is anxious to find … Continue reading
Operation Torch – North Africa
The first offensive that the 3rd Division saw was the joint British–American invasion of French North Africa that started on the 8th of November 1942. The Allies organized three amphibious task forces to seize the key ports and airports of … Continue reading
Nov 7, 1942 – Saturday
Tonight is the night, Oh Boy! It is very calm today and as quite as hell, something is bound to happen. The planes have been out scouting all day and ever one is at their battle stations. Everyone is running … Continue reading
