Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Henry A. Lesa Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: 23rd Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees)
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Seaman First Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/2547
Enlisting in the Naval Reserves in 1942, Henry Lesa was called to active duty in August, and in November, arrived in Kodiak, Alaska, where he became expert in building stairs connected to troop barracks. After an abrupt transfer to Attu, his unit constructed a mess hall during the invasion; despite working only five hundred yards away from combat, they finished the mess hall within a week. After 18 months spent in the Aleutians, he returned stateside, and then shipped out to the Pacific theater; with his unit, he took part in the invasion of Guam and helped to build all the docks on the island.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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About this Item
Title
- Henry A. Lesa Collection
Names
- Lesa, Henry A.
- Venezio, Thomas
- Shaker High School/United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Home State
- New York (State)
Headings
- - Lesa, Henry A.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: 23rd Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees)
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Seaman First Class
- Dates of Service: 1942-1945
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected unknown)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-06-20; 1999-12-31)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/2547
Cite as
- Henry A. Lesa Collection (AFC/2001/001/2547), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Adak Island (Aleutian Islands)
- Attu Island (Aleutian Islands)
- Guam (Mariana Islands)
- Hawaiian Islands
- Kodiak (Alaska)