Interview with Willis P. McKee, April 12, 1986

Project: American Veterans: World War Two Oral History Project

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Interview Summary

In this interview, Captain Willis P. McKee, who served with 326th Airborne Medical Company of the 101st Division and participated in Normandy and Market Garden campaigns, discusses Normandy and parachuting into France with the 306th Infantry regiment. He discusses preparations for the operation, the airplane ride to the drop sight, and landing and setting up field hospital at French farmhouse. McKee describes watching pre-invasion bombings, evacuating to a surgical hospital in Hiesville, a bomb attack on hospital, moving back to England, and V-2 bombers. He discusses Operation Market-Garden, glider preparation, and provides an explanation of operation. McKee talks about dropping into Holland, working in field hospital, and the failure of the operation. He describes activities in Bastogne, setting up a field hospital, machine gun fire from Germans, and capture of the entire hospital. McKee discusses his experiences as a prisoner of war, marching through Germany, his train voyage, and American fighters. He also describes his experiences at Stalag IV B. In addition, McKee talks about working in a prisoner of war field hospital, experiences at Leipzig Wahrenm, his first encounter with penicillin, and the bombing of Leipzig. McKee also discusses liberation by Americans, his road trip to Paris, seeing former prisoners of war at Buchenwald, and Camp Lucky Strike.

Interview Accession

1986oh123_ww045

Interviewee Name

Willis P. McKee

Interviewer Name

Arthur L. Kelly

Interview Date

1986-04-12

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 be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.

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

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McKee, Willis P. Interview by Arthur L. Kelly. 12 Apr. 1986. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.

McKee, W.P. (1986, April 12). Interview by A. L. Kelly. American Veterans: World War Two Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.

McKee, Willis P., interview by Arthur L. Kelly. April 12, 1986, American Veterans: World War Two Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.





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