Advanced Search My Lists
You searched for: Type Sound Recording Nonmusical Physical Format Oral histories Contributor St. Cloud State University Rights Status In Copyright
Home

Minnesota Digital Library

Search Results Header

Search Results

76. Interview with Michael Sieben (1946- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-04-21
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 21, 1982, Michael Sieben described family history, as well as his motivations to attend St. Cloud State. He was born in 1946, in Hastings, Minnesota. His father's family had been in Hastings since the 1880s, while his mother's family came from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sieben graduated from Hastings High School in 1964. He desired to leave Hastings, but also wanted a school that was financially reasonable. Sieben was able to pay for most of his college education himself by working construction during the summers. Since he was on the debate team in high school, Sieben received a small debate scholarship from St. Cloud State. Sieben discussed being part of the baby boomer generation and always being part of a very large class. Sieben described the activities he was involved in while attending St. Cloud State. He discussed his participation in student government in the mid to late 1960s, claiming that students simply wanted more control over their destinies. He talked about many issues, such as student fees, dorm rules, regulations for women, and teacher evaluations as some of the causes he and his fellow students fought for. Sieben felt Vietnam created a new feeling at the school, one where students just sensed a need for change. Seiben described life in the dorms, his involvement in Sigma Tau Gamma, and attending football games. He talked about the majority of students would leave the campus on the weekends, Sieben mentioned students from the Iron Range, and his perception that most students came from a middle income family. Sieben chronicled briefly his activities after graduating from St. Cloud in 1968. He taught at North High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He then decided to go to law school at the University of Minnesota. He graduated from law school and went on to practice law. He discussed law school, for which he believed he was well-prepared, thanks to St. Cloud State. However, he felt that some of the teacher preparation courses were mediocre and did not prepare him well for teaching. Overall, he said his experience in St. Cloud was very beneficial to his future endeavors and career as a lawyer.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

77. Interview with Milon George, World War II Veterans Collection, St. Cloud State University, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Creator:
George, Milon, 1918-2012
Date Created:
1989-07-25
Description:
This was an interview conducted on July 25, 1989 by David Overy. Milon George was born on March 17, 1918 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He graduated from St. Cloud Technical High School and was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1942. George trained at Randolph Field, Texas, before moving onto Fresno, California. After training, George and his crew spent a little time in North Africa before ending up in Spinazzola, Italy. George was a pilot of a B-24 bomber and was part of 51 combat missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after a mission over Austria in 1944. After the war, Milon worked as a parts manager for Otto Brothers Dodge dealership as well as a rural mail carrier out of Sauk Rapids. George married Margaret Sova, and they had two children, Milon and Janet. George concluded the interview with a summary of his post-combat life as well as his thoughts on Vietnam. George passed away on April 2, 2012.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

78. Interview with Neal Tholen, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, Little Falls, Minnesota

Creator:
Tholen, Neal
Date Created:
1990-12-29
Description:
Neal Tholen was born in Little Falls, Minnesota, on March 20, 1919. He graduated from Little Falls High School in 1939 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in April, 1941. He trained for the infantry and, while stationed in Ireland in the early months of the war, transferred to a Military Police Platoon within the 85th Division. He served as an MP throughout the war in Ireland, Tunisia, and Italy before being discharged in 1945. He described the arrest procedures and his personal philosophy of what his role was for the soldiers. He also describes the organization of his particular MP platoon, the procedures for directing large convoys of traffic, policing soldiers on leave, and guard duty. Tholen shared stories about how locals in Tunisia and Italy interacted with the troops and various raids to local "cathouses" he participated in. Tholen also described the effect his service had on him after the war and his appreciation for the friendships he made there. He returned to Little Falls, married and raised seven children. Mr. Tholen worked at Camp Ripley as a member of the National Guard for 36 years before retiring. He died in Little Falls, Minnesota, at the age of 81 on July 12, 2000.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

79. Interview with Neill Torssell, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

Creator:
Torssell, Neill
Date Created:
1991-06-12
Description:
Neil Torssell was born on April 18, 1920, in Wisconsin. Torssell describes his experiences with the 322nd Signal Aviation Company as a photographer during World War II. He discussed traveling to England on the Queen Mary and what England was like. Torssel talked about the build-up for the North African invasion, going to North Africa, and what he did during the war. He gave a detailed account of his camera equipment and how he used it to photograph enemy positions and where bombs were dropped. He also described being shot down in Italy in 1943, when he was wounded and captured by Italian forces. As Italy was in transition and close to surrender, the behavior and attitude of the Italians, particularly guards, are described. Torssell detailed life in the POW camp and the various people he interacted with. He participated in a large, impromptu escape and spends the next 10 months moving across eastern Italy with other American POWs, working on farms and evading capture. Repatriated by American forces in the summer of 1944, he rejoined his unit and was sent home in 1945.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

80. Interview with Norman J. Thomas, World War II Veterans Collection, St. Cloud State University, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Creator:
Thomas, Norman J., 1924-2006
Date Created:
1990-01-28
Description:
This interview was conducted on January 28, 1990 by John Carter. Norman James Thomas was born February 29, 1924 in south Minneapolis. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was deployed to the South Pacific with the 64th Troop Carrier Squadron and later the 13th Air Force Service Command Headquarters. He flew several types of airplanes, primarily C-47s, on 140 missions in Australia, New Guinea, the Dutch East Indies, the Solomon Islands, the Adele Islands, the Halmaheras, and the Ryukyus. In the Philippines, Thomas flew missions in support of the OSS what became the CIA and the Filipino resistance. Shortly after being discharged in January 1946, he met Marjory Brady, and the two were married on June 28, 1947. Thomas remained a reservist for five years after the war until finding a job as a corrections officer at the Minnesota Correctional Facility � St. Cloud. He worked there for thirty years and retired in 1979. After Marjory passed
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

81. Interview with Patricia Hoffman, St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1990-05-10
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Archivist Jerry Westby on May 10, 1990, Patricia Hoffman described her upbringing and education, including some discussion on her life as a "change of life baby," a child born late in her parents' lives, and how that affected her life decisions. Growing up in Indiana, Hoffman discussed her college education, and how she moved from Indiana to Minnesota to attend Carleton College, marrying soon after. Hoffman also discussed what led her to return to school at St. Cloud State after having five children, and how that led her to gain employment there. Hoffman described her career as a counselor and faculty member at St. Cloud State, and how things changed in the 25 years that she worked at the university. She claimed that faculty used to be much closer and familiar, and that there never used to be as much confrontation as she perceived later on. Hoffman claimed that the students she counsels now tend to have much more serious problems than those students she worked with in her earlier years, citing drug use and institutionalization as frequent among those students. Hoffman explained her ideas about the relationship between St. Cloud and the university, stating that the college had a greater impact on the town than vice versa. She also discussed how during a time of rapid growth at the university that the lack of planning had a negative impact on students. Hoffman described the highs and lows of her counseling career. She claimed that the years during the Vietnam War were very difficult, as she would often talk to young men who were going to fight for something they did not believe in. She said that her favorite part of the job was working with and talking to her clients, the students.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

82. Interview with Paul V. Meyer, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, Little Falls, Minnesota

Creator:
Meyer, Paul V.
Date Created:
1992-07-16
Description:
In an oral history conducted by David H. Overy on July 16, 1992, Paul V. Meyer discussed his experiences as National Guardsman during World War II. He was born on May 18, 1918 and raised in Mankato, Minnesota. In 1935, Meyer graduated from Mankato High School and enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard. He attended Mankato Business College and graduated from Mankato State College. Meyer married his first wife, Wilda Gifford, in 1940, they had four children. Meyer spent most World War II stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. In this interview, Meyer described his experiences in the Minnesota National Guard as an infantryman during World War II. He enlisted in 1935 and was inducted into the Army in June 1941. He discussed his unit's duties at Fort Greely in Alaska - to defend the most northern U.S. military base and to build infrastructure. In addition, he described the day to day life on the base, along with living conditions, road construction, hunting, and leisure activities, as well as the boredom. Meyer also discussed his interactions with civilians, natives, and regular army personnel, adding that each relationship was more different than the next. Meyer stressed that his experience in the National Guard was positive and his only regret was not staying in longer. He retired from the service in 1974 at the rank of major general and as Commander of the 47th Infantry Division, ending 39 years of service to his county. Outside of his military career, Meyer partnered into the family business, Meyer & Sons, an appliance business in Mankato, Minnesota. After Wilda's death in 1997, Meyer married his second wife, Doris Beyer, in 2000. Meyer died on January 10, 2016, at the age of 97.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

83. Interview with Raynold J. Winter, World War II Veterans Collection, St. Cloud State University, Maple Lake, Minnesota

Creator:
Winter, Raynold J., 1918-2008
Date Created:
1989-02-19
Description:
This interview was conducted on February 19, 1989 by David Overy. Raynold John Winter was born March 15, 1918 in Watkins, Minnesota. He was drafted into the Army in 1941. His company trained in southern California as military police in the 506th MP Battalion and was assigned to guard Boulder Dam, which was later renamed Hoover Dam. His company, Company D, was reassigned to combat in Europe and retrained as infantry before being shipped overseas. Winter and many others were captured at the Battle of the Bulge. They became prisoners of war in Leipzig, Germany, where Winter was hospitalized for malnutrition before being liberated. Winter described how American planes bombed the prisoner camps and how American POWs got along with each other, the German guards, and French POWs. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. After the war, he married Catherine Klein of Watkins, where he worked for Kraft Foods. In 1958, they moved to Maple Lake, where he worked for Tem Tee Bakery. He became a member of the Northstar Baseball Hall of Fame as manager of the local Lakers team. Winters passed away at the age of 90 on December 2, 2008 at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud and is buried in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Watkins. He was survived by Catherine, their six children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

84. Interview with Richard Johnson, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
Johnson, Richard
Date Created:
1991-03-06
Description:
Richard Johnson was born on August 9, 1924. He was a B-17 pilot stationed in England and later became a prisoner of war after being shot down in the fall of 1944 on his eighth bombing mission. He was a B-17 pilot stationed in England. Johnson thoroughly detailed his training including through basic training to various levels of flight training. He was sent to three different schools to eventually become a copilot of a B-17 bomber. Stationed in England, Johnson was shot down during a mission in the fall of 1944. Johnson described the mission, how he survived and was captured. He was held at Stalag Luft III until January 1945 when he and the rest of the camp marched westward. They were held in Stalag Luft 7A until April 1945 when American forces liberated their camp. Johnson described the basics of camp life including food and sleeping arrangements as well as the interactions with Germans. He was in France when Germany surrendered and was sent home with other POWs. He died on May 11, 2009 in Dassel, Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

85. Interview with Richard Olsen, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
Olsen, Richard
Date Created:
2008-05-06
Description:
Richard Louis "Buddy" Olsen, Jr. was born on November 11, 1925 and was raised on the Atlantic coast on Sapelo Island, Georgia. Part of a maritime family he joined the merchant marine upon graduating high school and served on Liberty ships in the South Pacific. He described the extensive training received including nine months on merchant vessels in the South Pacific. He received a commission to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and was there when the Japanese surrendered in August 1945. He served for the next nine years transporting goods to war-damaged countries in Europe and Asia as part of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency under the Marshall Plan and bringing back passengers, including war brides and displaced persons. In 1955, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for 21 years in transport and supply service. Serving both at sea and ashore from a variety of stations, Olsen was part of the Commander of Naval Forces in Vietnam staff for one year in Saigon where he worked with the South Vietnamese in preparing them to take over the naval bases there. He died in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on February 28, 2013.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

86. Interview with Richard Sartell (1941- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1986-01-31
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on January 31, 1986, Richard Sartell spoke mostly about his experience at the Riverview Campus Lab School, SCSU's campus laboratory school. Sartell explained some of his family history, which includes the fact that the town Sartell, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Cloud, was named for his family. Starting at Riverview in 1946, he discussed the experience of having so many student teachers, believing that it led to a much better education than was available at the public schools at the time. Sartell explained how the elementary students interacted with the college and he felt as much a part of the student body as the college students at St. Cloud State. Sartell named several of his teachers and those he felt were most effective. He mentioned Ruth Cadwell, Ed Colletti, Harvey Waugh, and several others. He said many of the teachers were very demanding, but felt it led him and the other students to learn more and be more successful. Sartell discussed some of the physical changes that began taking place as he was attending Riverview, such as the demolition of the Old Main Building and the construction of Stewart Hall. Sartell described the transition from Riverview to Technical High School in St. Cloud, claiming that it was pretty seamless. Sartell explained the relationship between the school and the community, believing that there was simply not much interaction between the two. Finally, he expressed about his disappointment in the closing of the Lab School at St. Cloud State in 1983.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

87. Interview with Robert Coard (1921-2001), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1990-05-21
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Archivist Jerry Westby on May 21, 1990, Robert Coard discussed his educational background. He detailed his college and graduate educational background at the undergraduate and graduate level. Before arriving at St. Cloud State in 1960, Coard described his various teaching experiences, and explanations for why he chose to move on. After five years at the Minot State Teacher's College in Minot, North Dakota, he taught for three years at the University of Alabama, but grew ever more uncomfortable with the tense racial situation and integration. Needing a more stable work environment, Coard accepted a position at St. Cloud State. Coard described his time at St. Cloud State and the changes that occurred on campus. He said that there was no English department when he first arrived, and discussed the power George Budd had in expanding the curriculum and faculty. He also described the physical changes undergone by the campus. Coard briefly described what the campus looked like when he arrived and then what changed. He also mentioned Fifth Avenue South, where he lived for 30 years, and how it really went from a peaceful residential area to what he terms an area in ""shambles."" Coard explained his ideas about students at St. Cloud State University, and how they have changed. He claimed that the university used to be much stricter with students, taking attendance and sending grades to parents if the student was under the age of 21. Overall, he felt his work with these students was a positive experience. Coard retired in 1990.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

88. Interview with Robert Wick (1913-2006), St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1981-08-17
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on August 17, 1981, Robert Wick described his family history, as well as his educational background. Born in 1913 in Henry County, Iowa, Wick said he was the only member of his family to attend college, receiving great encouragement from his grandfather to pursue his education at a time during the Great Depression. Wick described his time teaching after college in Iowa, and then his experiences in the Army. Of the unit of 100 men that fought in Europe, he was one of six who returned home. After the war, Wick attended graduate school at the University of Iowa, and through a friend from Iowa, found an opportunity to teach in St. Cloud while pursuing his doctorate. Wick discussed his time at St. Cloud State. Arriving in 1948, he taught speech courses and coached the debate team. He described his transition into administration and felt his time as a lieutenant in the Army had given him good experience to do so. Wick talked about being Dean of Science, Literature, and Arts, and some of the changes he took part it. Wick also described the road that led him to become St. Cloud State president, which he served as from 1965 to 1971. He detailed the goals he had as president, mainly to create more physical space for a campus that was growing rapidly. He also wanted to improve working and learning conditions for faculty and students and refine some of the programs since the school had gone from a teacher's college to a university with a broad curriculum. Wick described changes that took place while president, such as the growth of the Inter-Faculty Organization. He said students' attitudes changed during the Vietnam War, claiming that some came to the university simply to protest and did not care about pursuing an academic career. Wick touched upon the relationship between the university and the city of St. Cloud, stating that he did not believe it was very good when he first came in 1948. But that he and other presidents tried to improve it.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

89. Interview with Robert Wick, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
Wick, Robert
Date Created:
1990-06-22
Description:
In an oral history conducted by David H. Overy on June 22, 1990, Robert Wick discussed his experiences in training and overseas as a signal information officer in the European Theater during World War II. Born and raised in Iowa, Wick was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942. In this interview, Wick described his training experiences, including officer's training school, and his responsibilities working in an intelligence company while stationed in Italy. Lastly, Wick details what his time in the service had provided him with and his thoughts of the Vietnam Conflict. Prior to the war, Wick was a high school teacher in Newton, Iowa and married to his wife Alice. Wick was born on January 23, 1913, and passed away on March 8, 2006, in St. Cloud, Minnesota
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

90. Interview with Romuald Thibault, World War II Veterans Collection, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
Thibault, Romauld, 1918-2002
Date Created:
1989-12-12
Description:
This interview was conducted on December 12, 1989 by David Overy. Romuald Thibault was born on December 22, 1918 in Garden, Michigan. He enlisted in the military twice, first in 1937 with the 7th Tank Company and again in 1942. During World War II, Thibault spent most of his service in Alaska patrolling the North Pacific Ocean with the Navy. His first overseas duty was in the Philippines, and he discussed his interactions with the local civilians and life there before the outbreak of World War II. After the war, Thibault came to St. Cloud where he worked for the railroad, retiring in 1980. He married Rachael Kramer on January 2, 1945 and they had two sons, Jack and Pat. Thibault concluded the interview with his thoughts on the Vietnam War and how he was against the draft process .Thibault passed away on May 28, 2002.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

91. Interview with Roy F. Kuhlman, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, Winthrop, Minnesota

Creator:
Kuhlman, Roy F.
Date Created:
1991-08-21
Description:
In an oral history conducted by Daniel T. Lewis on August 21, 1991, Roy F. Kuhlman discussed his experiences as a bomber pilot and flight instructor during World War II. Kuhlman was born on February 5, 1922, in Madelia, Minnesota. In 1940, he graduated from Truman High School and attended the University of Minnesota until his enlistment in the Army Air Corp in 1942. After Kuhlman completed his basic and advanced training in Texas, he graduated as a pilot and was commissioned at second Lieutenant. He flew twenty combat missions in a B-24, until he was shot down near Gospic, Yugoslavia. Kuhlman was a prisoner of war in Germany from October 16, 1944 to April 29, 1945. Kuhlman described his experiences at Stalag Luft III, Stalag XIII-D, and Stalag VII-A. He recounted the harsh conditions of the camps and the reliance on the Red Cross parcels to supply food and living with sixteen men to a room or tent, and sleeping on wood shavings or straw. Throughout the interview, Kuhlman remained optimistic and acknowledged that this time allowed him leisure time to learn the game of chess and become closer to his religion. Kuhlman received five Bronze Stars and the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Clusters. Lastly, he discussed life after the military, and adjusting to civilian life and his marriage to his wife, Mollie. He returned to farming and was an active member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop, Minnesota. On September 19, 2013, Kuhlman died at the age of 93.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

92. Interview with Ruth Dahlquist, St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1978-11-21
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on November 21, 1978, Ruth Dahlquist described her family history and what inspired her to become a teacher. She was born on January 18, 1898, in Stewart, Minnesota, about an 65 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Her maiden name was Senescall, and her ancestry was Swedish, German, and English. Dahlquist said that she had always wanted to be a teacher, and since so many girls from Stewart, Minnesota attended St. Cloud Normal School for that purpose, it seemed like the natural thing to do. Dahlquist chronicled her time at St. Cloud State. She detailed what life was like in the dormitories. She claimed the teachers were very strict. She discussed the two different St. Cloud State presidents she encountered, Isabel Lawrence and Joseph Brown. Brown, Dahlquist stated, was freer with the students and brought more modern ideas to the school. Dahlquist described several other teachers and their personalities, interests, and teaching styles. She explained what she and her friends would do during their time off, and also discusses the literary societies they were involved in, which, though not sororities, had many similarities to them. Dahlquist graduated in 1917. Dahlquist discussed her experiences after leaving St. Cloud State, including teaching stints in Buffalo Lake and Hutchinson, Minnesota, as well as in the state of Wyoming. She settled in LaPorte, Indiana, where she taught for 19 years. Dahlquist married her husband in 1946; he passed away in 1955. She addressed such issues as World War I, which the U.S. became involved in during her time at the St. Cloud State. Dahlquist claimed that many students were shocked, and that the war was a controversial topic. She reflected on her experiences at St. Cloud State as a whole, and thanked the institution for being so severe and strict with her, as it provided her with a strong foundation that helped guide her for the entirety of her teaching career.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

93. Interview with Sherby R. Woods, World War II Veterans Collection, St. Cloud State University, Milaca, Minnesota

Creator:
Woods, Sherby R., 1918-2007
Date Created:
1990-02-18
Description:
This interview was conducted on February 18, 1990 by Richard Olson. Sherby Roy Woods was born August 17, 1918 in Iowa. After moving to Minnesota, he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the lumber industry as a heavy equipment operator in northern Minnesota. Woods was drafted into the Army on October 14, 1941 at the age of 23. During the war, he was attached to Company B, 6th Armored Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division. Discharged as a Technician Fifth Grade, Woods worked in heavy equipment and demolitions during campaigns in North Africa and Italy. Woods shared his opinions of Allied soldiers and Axis Power POWs and what he described as the poor training given to replacement troops. He also described how the war changed the U.S. military, including his improvised invention of a more efficient automatic transmission system for light tanks. After returning to the U.S. in 1945, Woods married Cora Lillian Moe, attended heavy equipment maintenance school on the GI Bill, and began a long series of treatments for a facial injury at the Veterans Administration hospital. He worked on heavy equipment for Milaca County until his retirement. Woods concluded the interview with a discussion of contemporary events such as apartheid in South Africa and stated that embargos are a more effective tool than war. He passed away on January 23, 2007 at the age of 88 and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca, Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

94. Interview with Stanley Biniek, World War II Veterans Collection, St. Cloud State University, Foley, Minnesota

Creator:
Biniek, Stanley, 1912-2008
Date Created:
1992-01-019
Description:
This was an interview conducted on January 19, 1992 by Karen Wenz. Stanley Biniek was born in Raczyce, Poland on November 3, 1912. Biniek and his family were separated in 1939 into concentration camps by the German Army. Biniek recalled witnessing prisoners being sent to killing chambers and the side effects of those on the camps water supply. Biniek spent over three years in Buchenwald before escaping with two other prisoners. After 72 days of travel, Biniek made it safely to Luxembourg, where he married his wife Victoria Adaszak in 1948. Biniek and his wife moved to Minnesota in 1952, and he worked for Woodcraft Industries and St. Regis Paper Mill. He had two daughters and one son. Biniek passed away on June 7, 2008 in Foley, Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

95. Interview with Stewart Gross, World War II Veterans Collection, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
Gross, Stewart, 1921-2013
Date Created:
1989-12-07
Description:
This was an interview conducted on December 7, 1989 by Nancy Baker. Stewart Gross was born in New England, North Dakota, on November 9, 1921. He moved to Minnesota when he was less than one-year old. He graduated from St. Cloud Technical High School in 1939 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp, trained as a radio operator, in aerial gunnery, and basic navigation. Gross served in both the Pacific and European Theatres as a navigator/bombardier, first with the 20th Fighter Pursuit Group and 14th Fighter Group (China) in 1942-1943. While in China, Gross was shot down twice, once by anti-aircraft and the second time by Japanese fighters. Gross left China in November 1943, having flown 85-90 missions. Later in 1944 he served with the 321st Bomber Group (Italy, Corsica) and the 10th Bomb Division. Near the end of the war, he was transferred to the 15th Air Force. After the war, Gross re-enlisted and was stationed first in Garden City, Kansas, then later in Alaska with the 7th Weather Group. Gross left the military in May 1948. Gross passed away on December 25, 2013.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

96. Interview with Stuart Lindman, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Creator:
Lindman, Stuart
Date Created:
1991-03-13
Description:
In an oral history conducted by David H. Overy on March 13, 1991, Stuart A. Lindman discussed his experiences both in training and combat as a field-medic in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Born and raised in Minnesota, Lindman enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps in 1943. In this interview, Lindman was assigned to the Pacific Theater where he served on Leyte Island in the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. He discussed his basic training and the antics some of the soldiers prior to being shipped out to the Philippines. Lindman's primary responsibility was as a litter-bearer who would carry soldiers, sometimes for miles, away from the frontlines to aid stations. On numerous occasions, Lindman discussed his survival of his time in Japan as being credited to luck, narrowly avoiding deadly situations by chance. Lastly, Lindman detailed being hit by a Japanese airplane attack and sent home from the wounds suffered. He concluded with a brief mention of how he and his fellow soldiers coped with combat and some effects he had of post-traumatic stress disorder. After being discharged from the service due to wounds suffered in combat, Lindman returned to earn his college degree in broadcasting and psychology from the University of Minnesota. Lindman then received a job working for what is now television channel KARE 11, retiring in 1987. Lindman was born on August 11, 1922, and passed away on January 12, 2010.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

97. Interview with Tom Wadhams (1922-2007) and Jeanne Wadhams (?-2006), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-04-17
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 17, 1982, Tom and Jeanne Wadhams each gave a brief family history. Jeanne (Verby) Wadhams was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. After she graduated from Johnson High School in St. Paul, she worked for a couple years before joining the military. She left the service in 1946 attended St. Cloud State to become a physical education teacher. Tom attended Riverview Elementary and then graduated from Tech High School in St. Cloud. He attended St. Cloud State from 1940-1941 before serving in World War II. Tom discussed going to the Campus Lab School at Riverview, and named several of his teachers. After World War II, he returned to St. Cloud State. Jeanne discussed putting off college until after she served in the military, thus making her an older than average student when she began at St. Cloud. The two married as sophomores. They described their time at St. Cloud State. Tom was very involved with athletics, detailing St. Cloud State athletics in the late 1940s, particularly football and basketball. They also discuss some of their favorite teachers, including Marie Case, Helen Hill, and Clair Dagget. Tom and Jeanne talked about their experience being married and living on campus in a house Jeanne's parents owned and also rented out to students. Jeanne described the ""espirit de corps"" among students and faculty when they first attended, but as the college grew, that familiarity faded. Jeanne was a member of the Athenaeum Literary Society, but quit because of the attitude of many of the members. They also belonged to the Married Couples Club. Tom and Jeanne talked about the relationship between the university and the city of St. Cloud, which they perceived as two separate entities that did not interact frequently. Both graduated in 1949. Tom and Jeanne discussed their life after leaving St. Cloud State. They described their year teaching in Little Fork, as well as how well they believed St. Cloud prepared them for their careers. Jeanne believed that the student teaching experience did not meet her expectations, while Tom felt his training in Business and his time coaching prepared him very well for his 32-year-career at Honeywell. They also discussed being veterans at St. Cloud State, and what it was like for veterans attending college.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

98. Interview with Vernon Bigalke, World War II Veteran Collection, St. Cloud State University, Little Falls, Minnesota

Creator:
Bigalke, Vernon
Date Created:
1990-12-08
Description:
Vernon A. Bigalke was born in Little Falls, Minnesota, on February 18, 1917. Before the war, he served in the Minnesota National Guard and then was drafted into the Army in 1941. For the first years of the war, Bigalke was part of an anti-aircraft artillery unit that guarded American shores. He was reassigned to the 259th Infantry in Mississippi and sent to Le Harve, France in December 1944 as part of the 65th Infantry Division. While at the Seigfried Line he was captured by the Germans in January 1945 and held as a prisoner until the end of the war. He described his treatment by the Germans, his survival mechanisms, and his experiences as a POW until liberation, which included a brief stop at Dachau concentration camp. After the war, Mr. Bigalke became a farmer and raised a family. He died in Little Falls, Minnesota, on November 22, 2007.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

99. Interview with Vernon Leitch, St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1982-03-25
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on March 25, 1982, Vernon Leitch described his college education (receiving degrees at Moorhead State University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Northern Colorado) and early involvement in working with the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO). He stated that he was a member of teaching unions while he taught high school in Barrett and Hibbing, Minnesota, but was not active. He discussed why he became involved with the IFO, explaining the reason for pursuing a connection with the Minnesota Education Association (MEA) and how people's opinions of that connection changed. Leitch described the work he did for the IFO-MEA, claiming that it took a great deal of time, work, and effort. In addition, Leitch expressed his thoughts on what made the campaign a success. Leitch chronicled his involvement with the IFO-MEA after the successful campaign. He served as president for a few years for the union and described the goals he tried to accomplish while in that position. He claimed that being the first president was difficult. Leitch felt that since every decision that was made could set a precedent, resulting in a very cautious and somewhat conservative approach. He also discussed the MEA and their involvement in collective bargaining at SCSU after the election. Leitch discussed what he believes to be the successes of the IFO-MEA, along with some concerns he has for the future. He felt that after the victory, there was much less complaining about difference in salaries. However, he stated that the IFO-MEA has not been as involved in campus policy-making as he would have liked. Leitch was optimistic about the future of collective bargaining, as long as faculty stay involved, and not leaving the responsibility to a handful of individuals.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories

100. Interview with Walter F. MacGregor (1890-1979), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Creator:
St. Cloud State University
Date Created:
1978-11-14
Description:
In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on November 14, 1978, Walter MacGregor discussed how his family came to Minnesota from Scotland and Ireland. He was born on October 8, 1890, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He described his elementary and high school education, both of which took place in St. Cloud. MacGregor stated his decision to attend St. Cloud Normal School was easy, since it was very close and allowed him to live at home while pursuing his studies. Arriving in 1911, MacGregor chronicled his time at the St. Cloud State, mentioning his practice teaching in Sauk Rapids, where he taught manual training. He discussed how he obtained a job in Spokane, Washington, and the health problems that forced him to leave that job behind. MacGregor also explained how he was drawn to architecture, and why he decided to pursue that as a career. MacGregor recalled some of the teachers he remembers from St. Cloud State, including Clara Stiles, Elsa Dopp, and George Lynch. He told an interesting anecdote about how George Lynch convinced him to play basketball and then kicked him out. MacGregor also discussed the backgrounds of the students who attended the university when he did. He claimed that many of them came from farming families, and many of them did not come from families with large amounts of money. MacGregor touched on his reasons for joining the Army during World War I, where he spent the duration in Sussex, England, but did not see combat.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University
Type:
Sound Recording Nonmusical
Format:
Oral histories
Download JSON