Memoirs,, 1996, July 1

Includes a July 15, 1996, letter from Gordeuk to Dr. G. Kurt Piehler, then director of the Rutgers Oral History Archives, explaining that he wrote these 31 brief (1-4 pages) reflections on his military service after their oral history on April 1 stirred up his memories. Unless noted, they are handwritten originals.

The titles and subject of each piece are:

"Krieg ist Kaput"

Encounters a burgermeister in Southern Germany.

"How We Lost Our General"

MG John B. Wogan is wounded by a sniper.

"Pin Point Bombing"

Comments on a site bombed by the Allies.

"Destruction of Cities"

Comments on the devastation of Central German cities.

"Missed Target"

The Army Air Force fails to hit a cement factory.

"Fraternization"

Comments on relations between German women and white and African-American soldiers.

"A Christian in a Sea of Chaos" (photocopy)

Comments on a factory of Slavic slave laborers and their friendship with the elderly German solder left to guard them.

"Fighting the Wrong People"

Gordeuk's friends hold the Germans in higher esteem than the French, until he demonstrates that the Germans stole from the French.

"A Civilized Way to Wage War"

Gordeuk encounters the wives and camp followers of Hungarian Army POWs in Eggenfelden, Germany.

"Ethnic Differences and Song"

Reflections on the French, Hungarian, Italian, Belgian and Soviet displaced persons at Eggenfelden.

"Was Our Intelligence Adequate? Mishandled?"

Gordeuk meets a friend stationed in the Pentagon and attempts to volunteer for duty in Trieste, Italy, as a Serbo-Croat translator.

"The Communist Threat in Europe"

Comments on the reaction of the displaced persons to the spread of Communism across the continent.

"Army of Occupation in Germany"

Critique of Army of Occupation officers.

"Navy Marksmanship"

Navy gunners fail to destroy a mine in the English Channel.

"Crippled Troopship"

The USS Marine Devil breaks down 60 miles out of New York Harbor.

"On the Way to Japan"

Comments on preparations for the invasion of Japan at Camp Cooke, California.

"Reaction to the Dropping of the A-Bomb"

A critique of the use of the bomb; Gordeuk explains that knew of the potential for the atomic bomb from a physics course with Dr. David D. Porter at Rutgers.

"Selected for Special Study"

Describes how he entered the ASTP.

"The Army-a Broadening Experience"

Comments on Camp Sutton, North Carolina and environs; criticizes medical care in the US Army.

"A Memorable Experience"

A German headquarters unit surrenders.

"Wanton Destruction"

Comments on the needless destruction of property by GIs during the occupation.

"Difference Between Enlisted Men and Officers"

A critique of officers.

"For Want of a Nail…"

Explains how poor eyesight led to difficulties in the service.

"How to Run an Army"

A critique of officers.

"Sleeping With a Rattlesnake"

Comments on the differences between "country" and "city" boys in training.

"Racism in the Army"

Gordeuk speaks out against a segregation policy proposed in his quartermaster unit.

"Ethnic Strife"

Two soldiers fight over a German woman.

"Keeping Fit at ASTP"

Comments on physical training in the ASTP and tensions between the ASTP men and regular soldiers in the 13th Armored Division.

"Sense of Balance"

Calls on Americans to recognize the role the USSR played in winning World War II.

"Red Cross"

Criticizes the Red Cross for charging GIs for coffee and doughnuts.

"Who Won the War?"

Gordeuk posits that American industry and Soviet blood won the war.