Minnesota's Greatest Generation Oral History Project: Part II: Interview with Donald S. Frederick

Titles: Minnesota's Greatest Generation Oral History Project: Part II: Interview with Donald S. Frederick (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Donald S. Frederick was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He joined the National Guard in 1939 before graduating from Central High School. He was shipped to Northern Ireland where he volunteered for Ranger training leading to his involvement in the battle on the Bay of Arzew and the assault on Sened Station. He was captured by the Germans in Italy and spent the remainder of the war in various internment camps. After World War II he was pulled out of Inactive Reserve and ordered to Korea. Upon returning home he opened his own hardware store and raised a family. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Life during the Great Depression; joining the National Guard, being mobilized; training in Louisiana, helping construct the military camp; being shipped to Northern Ireland, volunteering for the Rangers and Ranger training; preparing for combat in North Africa; battling the Vichy French on the Bay of Arzew; the assault on Sened Station; being promoted after becoming sick and failing to travel with his unit to Sicily; preparing for the invasion of Italy; contracting yellow jaundice in Italy; firefight with Germans which led to his capture; being interrogated and moved to Oflag 64 in Poland; life in an American officers internment camp; marching through Poland in the winter to Hammelburg; being liberated, recaptured, and transported to Moosburg; being liberated and returning home; getting called out of Inactive Reserve to spend time in Korea; owning his own business, raising a family, and being involved with Veteran's Associations.

Dates

• 07/13/2005 (Creation)

Creation

• interviewee: Frederick, Donald S.
• interviewer: Bekke, Douglas

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 115
• Accession Number: AV2008.26.12

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

• Oral History - Project, MHS Collection, project: 'Minnesota's Greatest Generation Oral History Project: Part II' <OH 115>

Quantity: 3 hours sound cassettes 60 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: sound recordings
• Content Category: text

Measurements

• 126 minutes length

Subjects

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