Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Victor Selinsky Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 174th Engineer Combat Battalion
- Location of Service: Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Technician Five
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/15293
As an 18-year-old Army recruit, Victor Selinsky carried a sketchpad wherever he went, from the training camps in his home state of California to outposts in the Pacific Theater. Selinsky was a lowly private in an engineering battalion doing scut work during the retaking of the Philippines and the invasion of Okinawa. Between hauling supplies and helping to build roads, Selinsky captured in bold strokes the beauty of the islands and the leisure pursuits of his fellow soldiers. He even made a little money on the side, drawing for a dollar apiece portraits of wives and girlfriends from photos.
Interview / Recording
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PlaySighting of a Japanese submarine prompted beefing up of California's coast artillery. 00:03:50.0 - 00:05:49.9
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PlayFinding out his assignment, to invade Yap. His unit and ship used as a diversion. His duties and how he was "promoted" to Technician. 00:08:14.5 - 00:12:28.9
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PlayCombat experiences in the invasion of Leyte. Duties were unloading ships, building roads, moving supplies. Close shave with a bomb. Landing separately from MacArthur. 00:12:35.1 - 00:17:28.5
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PlayA lot of sketches he sent home were censored because he included the names of the ships; names were cut out. Shows off his art work. 00:22:50.3 - 00:24:36.5
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PlayCutting in line for chow; his anti-authority streak. 00:34:09.8 - 00:36:15.3
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PlayExplaining some of his sketches. 00:36:44.6 - 00:45:44.0
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PlayOn Okinawa, waiting to invade Japan, when the atomic bomb was dropped. 00:48:33.1 - 00:50:48.0
More Resources
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About this Item
Title
- Victor Selinsky Collection
Names
- Selinsky, Victor
- Hester, Katherine E.
- John Dutton
- G. Hoberman / L. Rogaski
- Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Sacramento, CA
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Selinsky, Victor
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 174th Engineer Combat Battalion
- Location of Service: Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Technician Five
- Dates of Service: 1943-1946
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2003-12-09; 2008-12-10)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2003)
- Manuscript: Creative works [31 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1943-1946)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- (collected 2003)
- Video: MiniDV [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-12-09; 2003)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/15293
Cite as
- Victor Selinsky Collection (AFC/2001/001/15293), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video