Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Richard J. Foss Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
- Location of Service: Camp Dodge, Iowa; Camp Roberts, California; Australia; New Guinea; Admiralty Islands (Bismarck Archipelago); Leyte Island, and Luzon Island (Philippines); Japan; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/7212
As a machine gunner serving in the South Pacific, Richard Foss saw his share of combat in New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands. But his most intense battle experiences came during the invasion of Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines. There he observed Japanese and American soldiers engaged in hand-to-hand combat, slept standing up in mosquito infested rivers, and witnessed the deaths of many of his buddies. Having survived the fighting on Luzon, Foss was transferred to a military hospital to be treated for what Army physicians called the worst case of amoebic dysentery they had ever seen.
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About this Item
Title
- Richard J. Foss Collection
Names
- Foss, Richard J.
Home State
- Iowa
Headings
- - Foss, Richard J.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
- Location of Service: Camp Dodge, Iowa; Camp Roberts, California; Australia; New Guinea; Admiralty Islands (Bismarck Archipelago); Leyte Island, and Luzon Island (Philippines); Japan; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1943-1945
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected unknown)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2003; 2003)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Slides [33 items] -- Photograph (collected 1943-2003)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Reading (collected 2003)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/7212
Cite as
- Richard J. Foss Collection (AFC/2001/001/7212), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Admiralty Islands (Bismarck Archipelago)
- Australia
- Camp Dodge, Iowa
- Camp Roberts, California
- Japan
- Leyte Island, and Luzon Island (Philippines)
- New Guinea
- Pacific Theater