Gum, Donald 1998-09-16

Donald Gum, a resident of Lubbock, Texas, discusses his experiences in the Marine Corps during WWII.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Donald Gum

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: September 16, 1998

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Fred Allison

Length: 2 hours

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Gum Donald, b. Houston 1922, Graduated from John Reagan HS in 1940, Only child of 5 to graduate from high school, Jobs, Drugstore, Shipping room for upholstery shop, Marine Corps, Enlisted September 15 1941, Boot Camp in San Diego , Feelings on Pear Harbor, Transferred to 1st Battalion 10th Marines (Field Artillery), Sailed to American Samoa January 5 1942, 1st and 2nd division Marines, Landing on Tarajuan and occupying it, U.S.S. Kalinin, Transporting Troops, Story of how he was moved from platoon sergeant to active 1st sergeant, Women and men friction in the marines, Written up several times for being a problem with women, Landed in Okinawa April 1 1945, Landed on an LCBP, Mission was to secure island, One of the bloodiest battles in WWII, Survival on the island.

Tape 1, Side 2: Okinawa (continued), Air Strikes, Sneaky tactics of Japanese, Company B 29th Marines Platoon Sergeant, Handling demolitions, Survival on the island, End of war Dad develops cancer and comes home, Arrives 20 days after his dad has died, Transferred to recruiting in Dallas, Married and the transferred to Houston, Duties at boot camp, Women Marines, Clerical positions, Bams, Friction, Between men and women, African Americans in the Marines, Navajo talkers, Shows items collected in WWII and his tenure with the Marine Corps, Pictures, Memorabilia, Discusses pictures, Care packages in American Somoa, Toothpaste shaving cream razor blades cigarettes, and tobacco.

Tape 2, Side 1: Mail from home, Weather, 90 degrees 200 inches of rain per year, Living situations, 8 man tents, Accidentally bombed by the Navy, Kamikazes, Umbrella that stopped them, Types of guns and sizes, Tactics of Japanese, Hiding in caves, Attitudes of people during the depression, Men having to prove themselves, Father, Worked in the offices at the Piggly Wiggly, Lost job in depression, Grandfather , Worked for MKT railroad, Crossing Guard, Mother, Grew up in Kirbyville, Graduated from Kirbyville HS in 1910, Name was Lee, Moved in with her parent’s during depression at Port Arthur, Granddad (Mother’s Side), Worked in Port Arthur Planning Mill, Dad (during the Depression), Worked at Sydney Myers (wine wholesaler), Moved back to Houston, Franklin D. Roosevelt in office, NRA, New Deal.

Tape 2, Side 2: Mixed Emotions toward government involvement during the depression, Offered Salesman job, Based in Lubbock but traveled all around West Texas and New Mexico, Moved to Lubbock in 1950, Patrick Bogington story (shot more Japanese planes).

Range Dates: 1910-1945

Bulk Dates: 1941-1945

Access Information

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