Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Rollins Edwards Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 1329th General Service Regiment
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/88079
Drafted into service with the Army's 1329th General Service Regiment in 1943, Sergeant Rollins Edwards served in both the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II. However, his most traumatic experience came before he departed for his overseas service, during training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, when he was routinely subjected to chemical weapons--including mustard gas and lewisite--as part of a chemical weapons testing program run by the Army. Every day for thirty days, he and other soldiers were given gas masks and locked in a room that was then pumped full of gas. This treatment left him with a lifetime of chronic, severe skin ailments, intense claustrophobia, and a deep sense of anger that no one was ever held accountable for what he endured.
Rollins Edwards Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
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PlayService at Fort Bragg and then Fort Jackson; being called and then picked up for an unknown assignment. 00:01:22.8 - 00:03:59.8
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PlayExposure to mustard gas; intense burning sensation on skin; exposure to lewisite; getting intensely sick; boils all over skin. 00:04:00.5 - 00:10:05.3
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PlayDischarge from Army; making his way home; encountering segregation while still in uniform. 00:32:59.7 - 00:36:07.9
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PlayIntensity of skin issues; being treated by dermatologists; testifying about treatment during VA investigation. 00:42:23.9 - 00:46:49.1
About this Item
Title
- Rollins Edwards Collection
Names
- The Citadel, Department of English
- Edwards, Rollins
- Owens, Michael T.
- Maxwell, Lauren Rule
Home State
- South Carolina
Headings
- - Edwards, Rollins
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 1329th General Service Regiment
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1943-1946
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran was exposed to mustard gas during testing performed by the Chemical Warfare Service.
Materials
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2012-03-19; 2012)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2012-03-19)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/88079
Cite as
- Rollins Edwards Collection (AFC/2001/001/88079), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Camp Clyburn, South Carolina
- Clark Air Base, Philippines
- European Theater
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Fort Jackson, South Carolina
- Pacific Theater