Veteran Stories

Women Of The OSS

The Spycast podcast (from the International Spy Museum in Washington DC) recently had two podcasts that outline the contributions of women during World War II while serving with the Office for Strategic Service.

The interview is with Elizabeth McIntosh. Part 1 (published in January 2010) covers her experiences serving in China while conducting operations against the Japanese.  Part 2 (published in March 2010) covers her experiences with "Wild Bill Donovan" and Julia Child (yes the famous cooking author).

You can read more about Elizabeth McIntosh in her two books on the topic: Sisterhood of Spies and Undercover Girl (out of print).

I recommend listening to Part 1 before listening to Part 2.  You can listen via: http://feeds.spymuseum.org/spycast or via iTunes.

Veteran Stories Podcast #002 - Mr. Pleasant Devin, US Navy, Korean War

The 2nd Veteran Stories Podcast has been posted.  This podcast is recorded by Kevin Devin and it is his personal interview with his father Pleasant Devin, who was a member of the U.S. Navy and served on the USS St. Paul (CA-73) during the the Korean War (1950s).

Some links mentioned in this podcast include:

• 7th Pacific Fleet
• USS St. Paul Pictures: #1, #2, #3
• Heavy Cruiser
• History of United States Naval Operations: Korea

 (Size 13.5 MBs, Running Time 29m23s, Originally Published 12-27-06)

Veteran Stories Podcast #001 - Mr. Harold Ball, US Navy, WWII

The 1st Veteran Stories Podcast is with Mr. Harold Ball, and it covers his stories and experiences related to his service in the Merchant Marines (1942-1943) and the U.S. Navy (1943-1946) during War World II.  His first ship was a Liberty Ship the SS Zane Grey:

• February - June 1943: Shipped locomotion enignes to India via Australia; Port visits to Egypt and Israel as "Invasion of Crete" deception
• July 1943: Invasion of Sicily (8th Army support) near the loss of SS Timothy Pickering
• August 1943: Malta & Gibraltar; mine damage to the SS Harrison Gray Otis
• August - Sept 1943: Atlantic Ocean crossing with "Baby Carriers" providing protection

Harold was then at the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY from the Fall 1943 - Early 1944.  His second ship was the USS Pickaway Attack Transport:

• 1944: Pacific Theater
• 1945: Pacific Theater including the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (14-20 March 1945)

 (Size 15.7 MBs, Running Time 34m20s, Originally Published 11-11-06)

Podcast References Korean War and Iraq War

WGBH Morning Stories has a great podcast called "Letter To Bob" (#126) with references to the Korean War.

The podcast also has an update on a previous podcast from a medic who returned from the Iraq War.

KPBS.org's These Days - Pearl Harbor Survivor Recalls Experiences

KPBS.org's These Days host Tom Fudge has an interview with Pearl Harbor survivor Jesse Thompson.

Embedded Reporter In Iraq Shares His Stories

AP reporter Antonio Castaneda shares his story of being an embedded journalist in Iraq in an article for HamptonRoads.com and with a podcast interview.

US Marine Shares His Experience From Fallujah, Iraq

San Diego's KPBS These Days has posted an audio podcast entitled "San Diego Marine shares his experience from Fallujah, Iraq - A Camp Pendleton-based Marine, stationed at Camp Fallujah in Iraq, speaks with host Tom Fudge about life in a war zone."