Corporal Hershel W. (Woody) Williams from Fairmont, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1945
Description:
Williams served in the Marines and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his "actions above and beyond the call of duty" in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.
C. E. Smith with Corporal Hershel W. Williams from Fairmont, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1945
Description:
'Woody' Williams served in the Marines and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor and actions above the call of duty in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.
Photograph taken by Cornelia Ladwig. 1. Earl Sequiera- California 2. Lange Butler- Memphis, Tenn. 3. Jon "Turkey" Hartigan- Ingleside, Ill. 4. John D'A--- - Chicago, Illinois 5. Foss- Cleveland, Ohio 6. Edgar Mueller- St. Louis, MO 7. John Reynolds- Oakland, Calif 8. John Coffland- Cadiz, Ohio 9. Steve Wekhoff- Cleveland, Ohio 10. Phil Honeycutt- Fuquay Springs, N.C.
Cornelia Ladwig, Red Cross recreational director of Clarksburg, W. Va. keeps Pfc. Burton Crawford, left, of Elkins, W. Va. amused. He is one of the many recuperating patients in an evacuation hospital, somewhere in France.
Eagle's Nest Above Cloud, Hitler's Hideout, Near Berchtesgarden, Bavarian Alps, Germany
Date:
1945/08
Description:
Photograph taken by United States Army Major Elmer Prince of Morgantown, W. Va. Note the German "pillbox" in the foreground used to the defend Hitler's Eagle Nest.
Unidentified man dressed in laborer's clothes, including sturdy boots. This photograph was taken approximately three months after Germany surrendered. Note the unusual pipe the man has in his mouth.
The Autobahn is the freeway system built during the reign of the Third Reich. Employing 100,000 Germans during the 1930s depression, the Autobahn became an essential part of the infrastructure for the German military during World War II.
Staging areas for new troops arriving in the ETO (European Theater of Operations), were known as "Cigarette Camps". Each camp was named after a brand of cigarette for security reasons. Referring to camps without any indication of geographical location help to block information leaks to the enemy. After V-E Day (Victory in Europe) the camps were converted to redeployment centers. An estimated 3 million American troops either entered or left Europe through the Le Havre area camps.
Major Elmer W. Prince of Morgantown, W. Va. at Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France
Date:
1946/03
Description:
United States Army Major Elmer Prince stands outside his two man tent in Camp Philip Morris. This "cigarette camp" could hold up to 35,000 men. In 1946, men in all camps were waiting for their number to be called to board a "Victory Ship" home. The port at Le Havre became known as the "Gateway to America".
Tented Billets at Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France
Date:
1946/03
Description:
While enduring the long waiting period to go home, most GIs had less than ideal living conditions, as one soldier wrote, "Under the floor of the tents the rats grew to cat size and sounded as through they were wearing boots when they tramped around while the men trying to sleep ..."
Red Cross Club at Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre. France
Date:
1946/03
Description:
The front of the Red Cross Club at Camp Philip Morris. Since camps did not have bathing facilities, the Red Cross shower room was usually the first place visited by soldiers with a 24 hour pass.
WAC and French War Bride Area At Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France
Date:
1946/03
Description:
A fence separates the WAC (Women's Army Corps) and French War Brides living areas from the rest of the camp. There were approximately 6,500 French War Brides, many left France with their husbands to live in America.
Located on the north bank of the River Seine, the port city of Le Havre was a world class harbor facility before the war. After the war it was possibly the most severely damaged city in France.
The Allies' determination to liberate Le Havre to open up a necessary supply artery resulted in heavy bombing. Between 130 to 150 air raids were launched against the German held city and the coveted harbor facilities.
Le Havre fell to the Allies on September 12, 1944. Before evacuating, the Germans destroyed all of the port facilities, including 17 kilometers of quaysides. The final war toll in Le Havre was 5,000 people killed, 12,500 buildings destroyed, and 80,000 people left homeless.
This was the transport Army Major Elmer Prince of Morgantown, West Virginia traveled on from the ETO (European Theater of Operation) back to the United States.
The "Sea Witch" sailed for America one hour before Major Elmer Prince's transport. Major Prince of Morgantown, West Virginia, probably took this photograph. Note the crowded deck, packed with GIs returning home.
Loading On 'Hood Victory Ship' For U.S.A., Le Havre, France
Date:
1946
Description:
Picture taken in the spring time. This is the transport Major Elmer Prince of Morgantown, West Virginia took to return home. The "Sea Witch Victory Ship" is docked on the left.
"Hood Victory Ship" Heads For Atlantic from French Port
Date:
1946/Spring
Description:
It's standing room only on board this transport carrying war-weary GIs across the Atlantic towards home. Included on board was Morgantown, West Virginia's Major Elmer Prince
Leo Bocage included this photograph in a paper he wrote as student at West Virginia University in 1946. The assignment was for veteran's to write about their experiences while in the military during World War II. The boys in the photograph are not identified.
West Virginia University student, Leo Bocage included this photograph in a paper he wrote in 1946 regarding his experiences while in the military during World War II. Fermenting sake was the Okinawa's largest industry.
Seventy Second Naval Construction Battalion, 'Seabees', Guam
Date:
1945/08/05
Description:
This photograph was included in G. W. Walls' post-war narrative documenting his service with Seabees during World War II in the Pacific Theater. Walls was from Morgantown, West Virginia.
World War II Propaganda Leaflet 'Shelled' at British in Africa and France by Germans
Date:
ca. 1942
Description:
This leaflet was included in William Godfrey's post-war narrative documenting his service during World War II. Godfrey was a student at West Virginia University.
This post card photograph was included in West Virginia University student, Charles K. McWhorter's narrative documenting his military experiences during World War II. The Our River on the right, borders between Luxembourg and Germany. This area was on the heavily fortified Siegfried Line in Germany. After a bloody five day offensive in January, 1945, McWhorter's unit, the 319th Infantry of the 80th Division broke through the line into Germany.
American Soldier Louis Piccola Standing Among Rubble of House in Holland During World War II
Date:
1944
Description:
This photograph was included in West Virginia University student, Louis Piccola's narrative documenting his military experiences during World War II. The soldier has been identified by descendants as Louis Piccola. Inscribed on the back, "Dutch homes had to be destroyed also because Jerry would not leave."
American Soldiers Standing Among Rubble of Houses in Holland During World War II
Date:
1944
Description:
This photograph was included in West Virginia University student, Louis Piccola's narrative, documenting his military experiences in World War II. The soldiers were not identified , however they are probably in Piccola's outfit, the 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 83rd Infantry.
American Soldiers and Bomb-Damaged Wind Mill in Holland During World War II
Date:
1944
Description:
This photograph was included in West Virginia University student, Louis Piccalo's narrative documenting his military experiences during World War II. The soldiers are not identified, however they were probably in Piccalo's outfit, 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 83rd Infantry.
American Soldiers Pose with Tank in Northern Europe During World War II
Date:
1944-1945
Description:
This photograph was included in West Virginia University student, Louis Piccalo's narrative documenting his military experience during World War II. The soldiers are not identified, however they could possibly be in Piccalo's outfit, the 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 83rd Infantry.
Bomb Leveled Area in Northern Europe During World War II
Date:
ca. 1944
Description:
This photograph was included in West Virginia University student, Louis Piccalo's narrative documenting his military experiences during World War II. Note the only structure left standing are the stairs. The wall of bricks were probably stacked after the bombing.
Aircraft Carrier USS Princeton on Fire After Japanese Attack, Leyte Gulf, Philippines
Date:
1944/10/24
Description:
This photograph was included in West Virginia University student, Stanley Stevens' narrative documenting his military experiences during World War II. The USS Princeton on the left, suffered heavy casualties when attacked by a Japanese Dive Bomber. The USS Birmingham on the right, came along side to help fight the fires. Some time after this photograph was taken the Princeton's bomb storage compartment exploded, killing 200 men on the Birmingham.
Magazine Blows Up on USS Princeton While USS Birmingham is Along Side . Leyte Gulf, Philippines
Date:
1944/10/24
Description:
This photograph was included in West Virginia University student Stanley Stevens' narrative documenting his military experiences during World War II. After the USS Princeton took a direct hit from a Japanese Bomber, the USS Birmingham can along side to help fight the fires. The Princeton's bomb magazine blew up killing 200 men on the Birmingham.
International Allied Armistice Day Rodeo, Meiji Stadium, Tokyo, Occupied Japan
Date:
1945 / Fall
Description:
Post World War II rodeo, the first held in the far east, included an air show, a parade of horses, bands, floats and carriages. The entertainment was provided by the United States Military.
International Allied Armistice Day Rodeo, Meiji Staduim, Tokyo, Occupied Japan
Date:
1945 / Fall
Description:
Post World War II rodeo, the first held in the far east. The photograph shows a white horse with "cowboy" rider. The horse is identified on the back as "Togo's horse". It could possibly be Hideki Tojo's horse, the Japanese Minister of War, who owned and rode a beautiful white horse.
Memorial for World War II Correspondent Ernie Pyle, Ie Shima Island, Okinawa, Japan
Date:
1945
Description:
Ernie Pyle was an "embedded" reporter who wrote from the trenches, during world War II. His columns were popular because he focused on the GIs fighting the war. He was killed by Japanese machine gun fire on the island of Ie Shima, Okinawa. The inscription on the memorial reads, " At This Spot The 77th Division Lost A Buddy, Ernie Pyle, 18 April 1945".
![It's standing room only on board this transport carrying war-weary GIs across the Atlantic towards home. Included on board was Morgantown, West Virginia's Major Elmer Prince](/thumb/038354.jpg ""Hood Victory Ship" Heads For Atlantic from French Port")
