Military Oral History Database Alphabetical Listing

Allison, Terry Gene () -Terry Allison served in the U.S. Navy as Aviation Storekeeper E-5 from 1972-73, in San Diego, CA; Millington, TN; Yorktown, VA and in Vietnam. This interview covers his experiences during the Vietnam War. Full-text interview

Alvarez, Alfred A. (LTC) -LTC Alfred A. Alvarez was born in 1924 and grew up in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He enlisted in July 1942 and following stateside training joined the 1st Infantry Division in England. He took part in the Normandy invasion, hitting "Easy Red," Omaha Beach on D-Day. He subsequently saw action in the Champagne campaigns and at Hurtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, and in Czechoslovakia. Alvarez re-enlisted in the Reserves in 1945 and during his thirty-two years of duty served combat tours in Korea and Vietnam and was deployed to Central and South America. He was inducted into the U. S. Army OCS Hall of Fame in April 2003. This interview covers his service in World War II. Full-text interview

Andrews, Ernest A. () -Ernest Andrews was born in Tennessee in 1923 and was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1943. He served in the 16th Infantry, H. Company, First Infantry Division until the end of the war and was in combat at Normandy, and in the Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. This interview covers his service in World War II. Full-text interview

Andrews, William F. (COL) -COL William F. Andrews graduated from the U. S. Air Force Academy in 1980 and began pilot training the same year. He has flown the T-37, EF-111, and the F-16. He was deployed in Operation Desert Storm and was a POW for 8 days. He has subsequently served as an F-16 squadron and group commander, as a staff officer for the Joint Staff in Washington, and currently teaches at the National Defense University. Full-text interview

Argenzio, Joseph L. () -Joseph L. Argenzio was born in New York City in 1927. He entered the Army in 1944 and following training was assigned to the First Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 16th Infantry, "M" Co. On D-Day, at age 16, he was part of the first wave at Omaha Beach. Argenzio subsequently saw combat in France, Belgium and Germany, and participated in the liberation of Falkenau concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Full-text interview

Bachman, Charles D. () -Charles D. Bachman enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and became a part of the V12 Unit in Champaign, Illinois. He attended Midshipmens School at Columbia University, NY, from November 1944 – 1945; Destroyer Schools in Norfolk, VA from March 1943 – 1945; Tactical Radar School in Hollywood Beach, FL, from June 1945 – August 1945; and Fighter Director School in St. Simons, GA, from August 1945 – October 1945. He served as deck officer, CIC watch officer and fighter director on board the U.S.S. Warrington (DD843) from November 1945 – August 1946. This interview covers his experiences during World War II Full-text interview

Badgett, William D. () -William D. Badgett served in the USAF as a 1st Lieutenant from November 1953 to July 1955; he was stationed in Korea from July 1954 – 1955. He served with the 608th AC&W Squadron, first with Detachment #1 (Target Director Post), then with Detachment #2 on the island of Pyongyang-do (Radar surveillance). Badgett joined the Virginia Military Institute faculty in the fall of 1955 and continues to teach at VMI to this day. This interview covers his experiences in Korea. Full-text interview

Barrett, John G. () -John G. Barrett was born in 1921 in Gastonia, North Carolina. In 1942 he joined the U. S. Naval Reserves and was commissioned following his graduation from Wake Forest University. Barrett served in the Pacific Theater on the LCI(L)-1052 (Landing Craft Infantry Large). He was discharged in 1946 and enrolled in graduate school, receiving a PhD in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Barrett was a Professor of History at the Virginia Military Institute from 1953 until his retirement in 1987. Full-text interview

Bissell, Brandon A. (CAPT) -Brandon A. Bissell accepted a commission in the United States Army following his graduation from VMI in 1998. He served with the 101st Aviation Regiment at Ft. Campbell, KY, flying Black Hawk helicopters; he has been a company XO, platoon leader, S-1 and S-3. Bissell subsequently spent two years in Korea and is currently assigned to the Army ROTC department at VMI. Full-text interview

Bissell, Gary A. (LTC) -Following his graduation from VMI in 1989, Gary Bissell commissioned in the U. S. Army and trained as a helicopter pilot. After leaving active duty, he has continued to serve in the Army National Guard and the Reserves, and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as company commander of a Chinook unit with 14 aircraft and 215 troops; the company was part of an aviation task force supporting units throughout Kuwait and Iraq. Full-text interview