Ray Wells oral history interview, part 3 of 4, September 8, 2007

Files

Dublin Core

Description

Ray Wells's interview is combined with Julian Quayles

Julian Quayles discusses what happens after he escapes from the German soldiers. Julian with another Officer, finds shelter on an Italian civilian's property until they can rejoin the American lines. Julian does not reunite with the American troops until mid-October.

Ray Wells and his Company are training until their next action. They move to Mount Rotondo. Ray discusses the attitudes of the civilians. Food is scarce during the wartimes.

At Mount Rotondo, everyone in Ray's squad is hit by artillery fire. Ray is hospitalized for several weeks. During his recovery, he meets General MacArthur and Hideichi Shimabukuro from the 100th.

When Ray receives news about his brother, he goes AWOL but returns to the frontlines. After recovery, Ray attaches himself to G Company (rifle company) and goes to San Pietro, Italy.

During this time, Julian and his troops are in Monte Cassino. After Monte Cassino, Julian is Battalion S3 (Plans and Training Officer). He is promoted a few more times throughout the European Theater when the higher officers are killed in action.

Even though there are many losses of soldiers from combat, Julian says the morale remains the same. Replacements are brought in to help with the men killed in action or wounded in action.

In Rome, Julian remembers there is a lot of marching. The Germans have set up a few diversions for the American soldiers such as roadblocks and Middle Eastern soldiers to help on the ground. Julian recalls before Monte Cassino, he is sitting on the mountain and watching two British Army soldiers.

Both Ray and Julian discuss the German weapons, mines, and observations planes.

Format

video/m4v

Identifier

2007OH0800_03_Wells

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Date of Birth

1922 May 05

Location of Birth

War or Conflict

Branch of Service

Unit of Service

Campaigns/Battles

Citation

Wells, Ray: narrator et al., “Ray Wells oral history interview, part 3 of 4, September 8, 2007,” Japanese American Military History Collective, accessed December 21, 2024, https://ndajams.omeka.net/items/show/1053430.