Oral History Interview: Jim Hull of Urbana

                                    
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Transcript for file: jimhull2008-02-20.mp3

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this is an interview with Jim Hall February 20th  two 

2008 were in the studio active will in Urbana 

savanna Illinois my name is Nancy Russell and videographer is henna 

Henry Radcliffe okay tell me 

tell me where you were when World War II started Pearl Harbor how did you hear about 

here about it well I was in Galion Ohio Lana 

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was very distracting couldn’t pleases 

anybody had that much power in the guts to text you 

United States what the f*** did the course that was 

that was the beginning of World War II how old were you are 21 

what were you doing I was working at a industrial fire 

making meth dump bodies for cut galeano 

how you know when a PC mall over the world I did this 

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did the simple life work different things 

enough I was drafted I did volunteer 

tear and September 1942 

I was inducted into the the service at Cleveland Ohio 

they give me a two weeks leave at what BAC together in the straight up my 

that my prayers and I had to report back to Cleveland at all the people that W 

that was inducted at that time in September return 

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had to put us on a train a Wii with the El Paso Texas 

Adele El Paso Texas where we go to basic training in AR 

25 mile hikes and we became the 

Coast Guard archery after 

two weeks at Fort Bliss Texas I was made up PF 

PFC private first class and I trained a lot of men down there 

are there because they didn’t know their left hand for the right and I had to put stone sinner 

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left and sticks or whatever I could find Panda 

I get a lot of drilling left like right place 

play crib artridol is good commands 

Atwood that a great job at 12weeks I may be a corporal 

corporal well but that time we was ready to boo from 

from Fort Bliss Texas to Fort Knox Kentucky and at Fort Knox Kentucky 

he would became a 4 53rd automatic 

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weapons battalion had their weak humilated are two and a half ton 

how to attract the full 40 millimeter guns 

we accumulated I was in the battery that is the battalion 

what is consisted of a headquarters ABCD batteries at 

add that I was a big battery 

what picked up a half track the T stand for 

450 calorie machine guns on it Big Dipper 

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small rifles carbine ball pistols what sake and other 

had I forget hello 

we were at Fort Knox 

when did they move the S from there to the 2x 

Music Camp Stewart Georgia Hannah we was in the swamps down there 

where had the with leopard pup tents where the snakes like 

like the crawling under our bed rolls when they was at night I had the 

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the alligators in awhile hugs and all that good stuff down there 

down there had we did course MA 

more training for training and then from there we went on 

we want on Tennessee maneuvers well at that time they made me acne 

excited over a c*** cruel and that’s 15 min 

event Ohio if I forgot to say in the Fort Knox Kentucky we picked up 

electronic equipment to guide the gun 

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with a 800 pound generator 

who had the horse’s head to generate electricity from the director 

does a gun adequately train with that are all true 

Tennessee 12 verse what are the little dancer the today 

remembering the Tennessee band overs was it we had to dig a hole 

the set the the 40 millimeter gun in my hand 

guy with the name of Larry carpet in Grants Pass Oregon 

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he said I did get a hole well he died had a little talk attic 

I think he dug a hole and then from there 

they moved us to North Carolina at where we are 

we fired over the Atlantic by gun crew 

I had thought the guys you know what you got a leisure lane 

blade quite a bit and the vertical have to be online 

white course I had what day we were fired on there in a year 

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the guy on the lakes on the other side of this director 

I turn around the lieutenant the Fez 

shut up cut the cord on that target headset the next 

exit cut that target off of that playing so but we’ve course guide 

got a great name for meth episode and the wedding boot 

Buddhist love their up to Fort Dix New Jersey to go to England 

we pull the gunnery on the ship IBMA 

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artillery mechanic I was allowed on dick on the chip 

tip and I spend a lot of times up there at the deck and 

at times I can see the rotors on the back of the boat that rocked up so high 

Sola liquid got in the Hat real 

get real bad storm and the boat tipped way over 

Tipton under 2 degrees we would have sunk but anyway 

arrived in Liverpool England how long was that after you head 

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been inducted that was 1945 February 1940 

244 and uh 

we had duh incurred a Buddhist 

Buddhist down to a place that called Black Sea more at: was a 

outfitted with quartz is Hertz in the round buildings 

Hyundai we practice 

samba gun repair 

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ad the invasion was June 6th 

sex and they had moved us from there down to Yeovil nerve 

Southampton in England are we had to a waterproofer 

roofer guns and everything get ready for the day anda 

we did go in on D Day because 

because we’re artillery we have to go in the head of a sleep get some 

landfill we can move in there 

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just before we left England 

I have a letter here from President Eisenhower 

Eisenhower as his to these soldiers sailors and airmen 

Ellie Allen Allied expeditionary force you are about to 

how to embark upon the Great Crusade toward which we have 

have striven these many months the eyes of the world are upon you 

the hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere bark 

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Bart with you in company with our brave allies 

brothers in arms on other fronts you will bring about the 

the destruction of the German war machine the elimination of the Nazi 

tired radio over the oppressed people of the Europe and security 

security for ourselves in a free world your task will not be an easy one 

your enemy is well trained well equipped and battle hardened 

Martin he will fight savagely this is here 

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the year 1944 much has happened 

since the dogs eat rye up with 40 41 United Nations 

since I have inflicted upon the Germans Great defeats an open battle 

man to man are Arabs 50 paise seriously reduce their s 

their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground 

our home fronts have given us an overwhelming 

superiority weapons in the nations of war at place at our disposal 

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look great reserves of trained fighting men the title 

tight hipster the free men of the world are marching together the victory 

I have full coverage in your courage devotion to duty as 

add skill in battle will will accept nothing less than full victory 

victory good luck and let us all the seats the blessing of Almighty God 

upon this great head double undertaking president white 

lightning iknow hour and no but whatever I read this about 

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Tapout cry at that time 

how did they get off with labor just got cold and go get Hitler 

add a Medela breat that that means a lot 

understand that every man receive a copyright letter America copy that 

what was the reaction what 

what what was the reaction well we didn’t think you think about it ride it 

the time you know I was just so build up with the 

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all the training I have been through I had one goal that was 

it was a good hit her sew a butt dial 

something when you win when you win in the city 

did the infantry win in ahead of you didn’t hit it was so you knew what it 

what would happen to the infantry when I hit the beaches yeah we lost 

thousand men there now those boats in English 

is there in the English Channel air they had 

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book balloons like a football that was up above it ships 

tips for 3400 feet to keep the German planes from 

I get to write down orders this favors so you know we got 

we got straight then fill their heads they was way up on a mountain 

they were head concrete bunkers and the head 

dropped a lot of bumps on him but he was still able to 

sub shooter this down there on the hips 

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anda I was fortunate enough to get off of the ship 

Japan get into a boat and they took me to shore at night 

eyewitness no. Omaha Beach it was two b****** for the United States what I was 

what I was home on the other old Idaho 

utorrent huh anyway 

tips to be dry when it Utah Omaha and 

you heard about the hedgerows 

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the hedgerows was a lot of deep rooted trees and conquer 

concrete bunkers build nm what day they took over 

hooker at milk 40 millimeter guns up there and uh 

we shot drink firearm gun 

carry the Bissell was about 17 inches long with a three quarter pound 

shell in the end of it but take down a plane Easley 

is late but we fart direct fire in the Little Fockers 

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I had the Africa 70 of Germans they want to know what kind of a country have 

had after the break through there at the same 

steelo we were tested at 30 

Bedford I deleted a tweak card 205 howitzer outfit 

hello we went out at Liberty liberated 

a big seaport at the end of the Normandy Peninsula 

nature burn and oh my 

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the manor of a clip at the Ford food at seaport that we had been there gun safe 

everything all around tremendous boobs Handa 

we were in the first Army the Third Army the night 

3250 time we went were all the battles were at 

cleavage in the first Army there everybody’s heard about Patton 

patent for the blood guts and we were texting him 

and Loire River 

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which is about the middle of France the manor 

Germans had been driven out Africa back to Italy in southern France 

France what a bunch of them Germans came up there on the Loire River 

and 20,000 dubs rims or dare at from there 

what we went with Pat does the Rhine River the keep on going but they would 

let it so I don’t know what was on the other side anyway 

we left him at night we went north and airtex bad 

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battle was arclin force field in order to hurt before s 

the blood was knee deep in the cut 

cut down pine trees does to make us a roadrunner rose 

2&a half ton trucks over puller quipment 

rumba after that by 

they pull it on North and we had a 

we had a rest. In there had it wasn’t long 

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feel baby move is salted or again and where we had 

head then they move the green European air well 

well the Germans had some help build up of Realtors 

terminus force that goes for east of us 

what the Battle of bulge started they run right over that green 

Green unit and was headed for the English Channel well they took us 

us ladies are different diseases around and we hit them in the nose at stop 

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stop them and then in the Battle of the Bulge 

bulls at was 7up of cereal man it was cold 

had what day I fix my banned episodes 

German sitting behind the tree with his rifle 

I love you know I just squatted down and ready to shoot and I Walker 

walk around the tree he was moving it was frost death knight 

just kick it over Alliant was cold enough 

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another thing that happened there was one of the Buddy Guy 

got killed Anna I was cold and I took his blanket 

hello I that carries with them 

well from there we went on 

artis driving the Jermy her back into Germany and 

and the at the Elbe river 

83rd Division Boise Olney division that held the bridge over 

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the Elbe river and we name the Truman bridge Anegada 

how to get a picture picture of adhere 

the sign of the foot art 

well after that then 

we went into the army of occupation 

where a 

we just what did the German houses and try to conversate 

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locate their guns and equipment suburb did 

did understand what they wanted to still open the door and I kicked in a lot of 

a lot of beautiful doors they get their equipment what up 

what up my picked up of Classica flag that I have with me 

with me and uh it’s pretty easy 

easy because I took a flag and send it to my mother 

father dad to live in California Bob voice to put it on the line 

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well I had more airplanes David Ellison 

what to do what to do crip talk to you what blogs get the flag down 

hello well after they a 

arm the occupation of a cooking stone in the 

southern France and they had these great big tits when he was consolidated 

bacon all of us to you had to have so many units to go back 

go back to United States I had the iPhone doubt that I was down the line 

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the little ways and I asked him if I could 

I could go back to the Aryan 

Banggood Hadley where we were at Lexi amor 

ad one night I was in line to get some fish and chips 

and was 2 girls Academy and what ahead of the girl 

Academy turn around look at me and she looked I looked up 

I looked at her and leave with gutter fish and chips in 

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disappeared so I went to a pub and she got with her 

that was your girlfriend then they will look me up and down 

which starred going together 

theatres that start course bonded and 

our neighbors door blade Etsy try to get me to go to England 

I said no you want to come to United States of Ameria Handa 

she came to United States and then we had 

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that was January 1st 1940 

47 and uh four brother took me to 

New York to meters over the Queen Elizabeth 

and we just married January 11th 

Mansfield Ohio by the name of doctor 

doctor share that we had 

for children Julian blender 

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Brian a Danny and the 

now got the dike grandkids its empty grave 

the great grandkids of two great great grandkids 

that’s about to hola 

how tall I went back to anchor wood back to love France 

where I was shipped home and I was discharged at Indiantown Gap Pennsylvania 

Pennsylvania December 15th 1845 

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I know you brought something along to show you how to show people 

show people how different the food was that you had when you were in the service is compared to what your 

why was willing to cook when you get home do you want to shut the have nots 

krace in here 

this was our evening meal 

it was 

chopped pork and eggs 

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at times when he didn’t have a 

everything I eat this c** in pretty handy how many 

many of those could you carry at a time how many days worth 

well the thing used to keep fleas at the headquarters 

send a text about the 

toy wind up with the time game 

3G 

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this is our breakfast breakfast food 

what field you put water with it 

that was for lunch I know that was for supper L 

we had paper you know what that was for 

have we had the coffee 

and above what else 

a package of cigarettes 

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no its been so long since I had them out here is it there stuck 

are stuck fast in there but that’s alright there in there 

hello see you so when you were at the Battle of the Bulge 

carrying a gun in addition to your health 

healthcare in the big guns at gun packages sale 

mood yeah have you talked to your 

grandkids about no all your experience no 

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noticeably news 4 when you came back did you talk 

you talk about it I know why was that I know I just never did 

never did who are great for your talking about it now 

Yaddo after the war 

the war was over we received a letter from 

President Harry Truman Anna 

read here to you who answered the call your country that served in the US Armed 

00:24:25

forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy extender 

send a heartfelt thanks of a grateful nation has one of the nation’s finest 

who undertook the most severe test blunt 

what can be called born to perform because you didn’t 

demonstration 242 D resourcefulness 

call plug but necessary to carry out that test when I look to you 

review for leadership and the example and father exotic car 

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country in peace President Harry Truman 

looking back on it what do you remember 

remember most well I think 

I think the most thing was being shot at straight I was 

in the middle of France one day and the 

somebody was shooting at me in I can feel it there 

the bullet hear it what it go by my left ear Medical Arts Building 

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lesbian straight thin shelled a very very poor 

reported to be here I know there were alot of men 

lost we are probably miss when you came back 

came back I know you did something for this this soldiers in Illinois the 

recognition yeah 6 years to 

how to get a Purple Heart Memorial Highway 

on route 72 from Champaign to Quincy Illinois 

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Illinois I started out with the representative 

Jim Johnson and Rick way: copper 

top burns Gilbert Jacobson Chevrolet Representatives 

that’s 6 years and I find a death 

succeeded in getting a Purple Heart Memorial Highway for all live 

the man to have purple hearts in the state of Illinois 

how many medals did you win I have seven metals 

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I have 14 

Normandy Brittany 

Guardian force the Battle of bulge and a Gorger 

Germany worried with back to look back into Germany 

Adeleke patient Hannah I have another one 

from the people of Normandy for 

the guys that liberated Normandy and I have another one 

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what the hell was a water does Certificate of Merit for 

for outstanding performance of take care of a the 

all the guns and equipment 

working order 

everytime I would have a gun that might need repair 

the captain said there’s my drivers there’s my Jeep is a map 

so I would very fortunate enough now if you got off the road 

00:27:55

how to get the orders will gets shot 

and I tried to pick out a lot of landmarks when I went by so what 

what I come back I know I was on the right road and I was very fortunate 

got the ordinance got back with all equipment celebrate 

alright when the war was declared that it was over I live by the gun if you jump 

yeah was pretty happy how’s your family feel when you got home 

you got home oh how wonderful 

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did you call them to tell them you were coming 

yeah we wrote letters back and forth 

mybama broken all the time no phone calls 

No did you do you feel 

do you feel satisfied at the end of it oh yes very much so 

that’s a great accomplishment anything you like to say 

say to people who are seeing this about your experience 

00:29:05

well I think I’m very grateful to will 

are having me in for the interview and not telling people 

people of my experiences and 

its a are standards for educational purposes to let the 

baby alot of people 

relate to what I went through 

thank you 

00:29:40