Interview with Howard W. Halcomb, November 18, 2016

Interview Summary

Interview with Howard W. Halcomb originally from Harlan County Kentucky about his WWII experiences in Europe as a member of the 4th Armored Division in 1944-1945. Halcomb talks about how he felt when he received his draft notice. He talks about his basic training at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and mechanical school at Fort Knox. He talks about the soldiers' reactions to the attack on Pearl Harbor. His division was sent first to Tennessee to practice maneuvers then to the Mojave Desert. Halcomb talks about arriving in England and witnessing the aftermath of the bombing there. He talks about their maneuvers there until an attack on June 4. He talks about the bombing of Saint-Lo and the casualties they suffered. Halcomb tells a story about shooting down a German fighter plane and capturing the pilot for interrogation. Halcomb talks about his division's role in the rescue of the 101st Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge. He talks about their lack of supplies, the freezing conditions, and the casualties they suffered. Halcomb describes the devastating scene when his division arrived to liberate the Ohrdruf concentration camp. Halcomb talks about why he received a Bronze Star. James Bartek reads Halcomb's Presidential Citation.

Interview Keyword

Harlan County (Ky.) Cumberland (Ky.) WWII Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941 4th Armored Division 66th Armored Field Artillery Battalion Normandy Campaign Ohrdruf concentration camp Battle of the Bulge Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--Harlan County World War, 1939-1945--Medals

Interview LC Subject

World War, 1939-1945--Anecdotes World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives World War, 1939-1945--Veterans Fort Thomas (Ky.) Basic training (Military education) World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting, enlistment, etc. World War, 1939-1945--America Military training camps World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--England Saint-L? (France) World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy Normandy (France) World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Ardennes United States. Army--Military life. World War, 1939-1945--Casualties World War, 1939-1945--Regimental histories--United States World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Germany World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Germany World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Czech Republic World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Czechoslovakia

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.