Interview with Robert F. Houlihan, May 1, 1990

Interview Summary

[This is the second in a series of interviews with Robert Houlihan regarding his military service. To hear the beginning of his story please see interview 1990oh035_ww143.]

Houlihan talks about the special training his Greek battalion underwent near Washington, D.C. He says the training focused on being in enemy occupied territory, demolitions, knife fighting, sabotage, and more. He says they were in peak physical condition. He talks about their Commando instructors and Major Clainos. Houlihan talks about his battalion's time in Charleston, South Carolina before they were set to ship out. He talks about the incident that changed those plans: a fight over stolen liquor between his officers and other officers stationed in Charleston at an officers club. He talks about how they were disciplined for the incident. Houlihan talks about shipping out from Camp Henry, Virginia. He describes their journey across the Atlantic, including the convoy of ships, organizing a Christmas service, traveling though the Strait of Gibraltar, and a storm in the Mediterranean Sea. Houlihan talks about his impressions of Egypt before arriving at Camp Huckstep. He talks about his battalion continuing their training there including physical conditioning and parachute training. As the commander, he met with Colonel Paul West to discuss a change in their orders. They were to be split into two groups with one sent to Yugoslavia and the other sent to Greece. He discusses his battalion's reaction to the change in orders, and gives his impressions of Colonel West. Houlihan talks about traveling to Bari, Italy ahead of the rest of his battalion because he was the commander. He talks about his trip to the O.S.S. headquarters in Bari, and talks more about their orders to split their battalion into two groups. He talks about how they prepared for their missions. He talks about meeting celebrities during his time in the military, including Sterling Hayden who was enlisted as a U.S. Marines Captain under the name John Hamilton. Houlihan talks about going with the half of the battalion that was being sent to the island of Vis. He talks about meeting another celebrity, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., during their journey.

[This is the second in a series of interviews with Robert Houlihan regarding his military service. To hear the rest of his story please see interview 1990oh101_ww148.]

Interview Keyword

Military service experience War veterans World War II World War II veterans Charleston (S.C.) Mediterranean Sea. Atlantic Ocean. Gibraltar, Strait of. Cairo (Egypt) Yugoslavia. Balkan Peninsula. Greece Bari (Italy) Vis (Croatia)

Interview LC Subject

World War, 1939-1945--Anecdotes World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives World War, 1939-1945--Veterans World War, 1939-1945--Reconnaissance operations World War, 1939-1945--Secret service World War, 1939-1945--America Military training camps World War, 1939-1945--Regimental histories--United States World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe United States. Army--Military life United States. Army. Infantry

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.