Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Wilkins A. Dixon Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 11th Air Force
- Location of Service: Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort Holabird, Maryland; Aleutian Islands (Alaska); Umnak Island (Aleutian Islands); Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/17223
Corporal Wilkins Dixon jumped at the chance to serve in the Aleutians; when his commander asked for volunteers, he woke up at 4 am the following morning to be the first in line. Serving with the 11th Air Force on Umnak Island presented many challenges: wading through constant mud and volcanic ash, sleeping in an uninsulated Quonset hut and waking up to snow on his blanket, and a steady diet of mutton, courtesy of a nearby sheep farm. Despite these hardships, he was grateful to be stationed there--and not in combat in the Pacific Theater.
Wilkins A. Dixon Collection
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayVolunteering for service in the Aleutians. 00:03:37.0 - 00:04:19.0
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PlayThree week journey by liberty ship to the Aleutians; losing refrigeration aboard ship; eating spoiled bread; arriving at Umnak Island. 00:11:48.0 - 00:15:13.0
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PlayDamaging cold; wearing long fur coats; getting lost in a snowstorm. 00:22:45.0 - 00:25:31.0
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PlayQuartered in an uninsulated Quonset hut; snow getting in through the cracks; eating mutton from local sheep farm. 00:25:55.0 - 00:26:53.0
About this Item
Title
- Wilkins A. Dixon Collection
Names
- Fisher, Andrew L.
- Jones, Tamara
- Dixon, Wilkins A.
- University of Toledo
Home State
- Ohio
Headings
- - Dixon, Wilkins A.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
Form
- Audio Cassette
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 11th Air Force
- Location of Service: Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort Holabird, Maryland; Aleutian Islands (Alaska); Umnak Island (Aleutian Islands); Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Dates of Service: 1942-1945
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-01-27)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/17223
Cite as
- Wilkins A. Dixon Collection (AFC/2001/001/17223), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Aleutian Islands (Alaska)
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Fort Holabird, Maryland
- Fort Lee, Virginia
- Pacific Theater
- Umnak Island (Aleutian Islands)