Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Shields Wilson Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: Amphibian Corps
- Location of Service: United States; England; Normandy, France
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/9709
A self-described "old tough country boy," Navy Lieutenant Shields Wilson weathered a number of tough situations early on in the Amphibious Corps: he nearly drowned during a training incident, and his ship survived a torpedo attack en route to England. As an officer aboard an LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel), his role on D-Day was to "take troops to the beaches as fast as possible and return and get some more." Here, he comments on the impact of his combat experiences on his faith, the spectacular resistance that American troops met during the invasion, and the sheer deprivation faced by the English during the war.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayAlmost drowning during training; coming to terms with his own mortality. 00:00:02.8 - 00:04:42.6
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PlayTorpedo attack while en route to England; understanding that if ship was sunk, most sailors would die. 00:07:29.2 - 00:13:13.7
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PlayObserving the British people while stationed in England. 00:24:51.1 - 00:26:58.7
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PlayObserving build up to D-Day; receiving orders; listening to Axis Sally. 00:27:54.9 - 00:30:36.6
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayObserving build up to D-Day; receiving orders; listening to Axis Sally. 00:00:00.0 - 00:02:20.0
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PlayDeparting for Normandy; poor weather conditions. 00:02:24.5 - 00:03:46.4
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PlayGoing in at Juneau Beach; under British control; dodging mines 00:03:50.4 - 00:08:45.4
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PlayExpecting to hear a command to abandon the beaches; witnessing casualties aboard hospital ship. 00:08:49.8 - 00:12:25.8
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PlayImpact of combat experiences on his faith and thoughts on God 00:17:33.0 - 00:22:04.2
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PlayWitnessing the deprivation that the British civilians endured; hearing a child remember once eating an orange 00:22:05.3 - 00:25:02.3
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PlayThoughts on how his time in the service affected his life 00:28:13.0 - 00:29:37.3
About this Item
Title
- Shields Wilson Collection
Names
- Willie, Michael Lloyd
- WRCB-TV Channel 3
- Bowen, Sarah
- Wilson, Shields
Home State
- Tennessee
Headings
- - Wilson, Shields
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: Amphibian Corps
- Location of Service: United States; England; Normandy, France
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Dates of Service: 1942-1946
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2012-09-30)
- Video: Betacam SP [3 items] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-06-10)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/9709
Cite as
- Shields Wilson Collection (AFC/2001/001/9709), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video