Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing John Vanden Berg Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: Detachment 404, Southeast Asia Command
- Location of Service: Ceylon; Burma; Kashmir, India; Malaysia; Indonesia; Australia; China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/8100
John Vanden Berg's Army career during World War II was divided into two chapters: two years of training that included nine months of intensive study at Yale in the culture of Southeast Asia and the Malay language, followed by a stint in the Special Operations branch of the Office of Strategic Services. Based in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), he helped train Malay natives to slip back into their occupied country and work as saboteurs against the Japanese. Just as he completed training to participate a full-scale invasion of Malaysia, the war came to an end.
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PlayVanden Berg was drafted in January 1942. 00:02:20.2 - 00:02:45.5
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PlayA quick rise through the ranks of his new outfit. 00:14:34.6 - 00:16:21.3
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PlayReceiving notice that he was transferred to the Army Specialized Training Corps. 00:32:11.3 - 00:33:19.5
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PlayAfter a battery of tests, Vanden Berg went to Yale to study the Malay language. 00:30:20.9 - 00:35:02.0
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PlayDespite the risks, he readily joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). 00:39:06.7 - 00:40:19.4
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PlayExtensive training before he was finally accepted into the OSS. 00:41:51.1 - 00:42:41.9
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PlayTraining with Malay natives recruited by OSS in New York City. 00:44:50.5 - 00:47:09.8
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PlayAfter training in Ceylon, deploying his team of Malay natives on a small island. 00:53:53.4 - 00:56:20.7
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PlayOSS training included nighttime demolition and hand-to-hand combat. 00:10:15.9 - 00:11:39.3
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PlayOSS was an independent service unit, with a wide variety of clandestine activities. 00:11:52.0 - 00:14:45.1
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PlayOSS logistics required incredibly detailed planning. 00:25:31.6 - 00:25:43.5
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PlayHe thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities for travel and adventure which OSS provided. 00:29:37.3 - 00:29:54.6
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PlaySpecific mission took place on an island off the coast of Sumatra. 00:30:35.0 - 00:35:19.4
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PlayMalay natives set up camp on the island, and would report enemy ship movements. 00:37:29.8 - 00:39:53.1
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PlayBelieves that despite their training, security breaches resulted in the death of the Malay natives from his team. 00:40:45.9 - 00:42:42.9
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About this Item
Title
- John Vanden Berg Collection
Names
- Vanden Berg, John
- Martzke, Jason
- Holberg, Jennifer L.
- Calvin College
Home State
- Michigan
Headings
- - Vanden Berg, John
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: Detachment 404, Southeast Asia Command
- Location of Service: Ceylon; Burma; Kashmir, India; Malaysia; Indonesia; Australia; China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1942-1946
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran notes that he was attached to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2002)
- Video: VHS [3 items] -- Reference copy (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Biography [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2002-12)
- Video: VHS [3 items] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/8100
Cite as
- John Vanden Berg Collection (AFC/2001/001/8100), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video