Folder 2 (Cassette tape - Private John Slattery interviewed by Robert A. Taylor)

Item

Identifier: MS 001

Staff Only

Dates

Event: 1984

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers, except for files marked as restricted as requested by Dr. Cecil B. Currey. The Special Collections librarians reserve the right to deny access to these particular files.

Portions of this collection are available for viewing in digital format via the FHSU Scholars Repository at https://scholars.fhsu.edu/library/. Or via this link https://scholars.fhsu.edu/currey/

Extent

From the Series: 2.92 Linear Feet (7 boxes)

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

World War I - 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division (Mass. National Guard). 1916 – sent to garrison El Paso during the Villa crisis. 1917 – sent to France, attended French trench warfare school. Saw action at Chateau-Thierry, Belleau Wood, Argonne. Life in the trenches – dirty, on alert from 4-6 AM for German attack. First barrage – paralyzed with fear, but fear receded with time. Combat – “comedy” to the observer, horrible to the people involved. Kill or be killed – which he did. Saw his Lieutenant shot in the back in the trenches – “no one liked him”. Praised the French as fighters, not the British (Irish). Would not go through those days again.