Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Bertran F. Wallace Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Battalion and Prisoner of War (POW) Command, 743rd Military Police Detachment, Military Police Corps; Battalion and Prisoner of War (POW) Command, 743rd Military Police
- Location of Service: Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Devens, Massachusetts; North Africa; Italy; New York; Korea; Koje-do Island, Korea
- Highest Rank: Major
Serving in two wars plus almost 30 years of peacetime duty didn't take the edge off Bertran Wallace, a proud man who fought as hard against prejudice within the Army as he did against the Germans in North Africa and Italy and the North Koreans. Wallace's fondest memories are from World War II, when his all-black MP unit served with distinction after the Allies captured Rome.
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PlayAnswering the call for "pilots of color" with two buddies; run-in with a sergeant; serving in enlisted reserve corps under respectful officer. 00:03:55.4 - 00:08:57.3
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PlayPart of an MP unit in North Africa with a good C.O.; sports competitions among Army units; assigned to Rome hotels hosting officers on R&R 00:11:56.0 - 00:19:33.0
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PlayApplying after the war to become an officer; running up against prejudice 00:23:15.0 - 00:27:48.0
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PlayVolunteering to serve in Korea; trying to avoid assignments in the Southern U.S. 00:30:08.7 - 00:33:24.0
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PlayTroubles in Korea at Kojedo camp for POWs. 00:33:52.3 - 00:36:47.0
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PlayMade Compound Commander over 13,000 prisoners; dealing with race riots. 00:37:47.6 - 00:40:40.0
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PlayPhotograph album of the prison at Kojedo. 00:40:38.6 - 00:44:54.0
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PlayA new assignment, more problems with a prejudiced senior officer. 00:53:22.8 - 00:58:21.0
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PlayThough he enjoyed good assignments, he still encountered prejudice. 01:17:50.0 - 01:20:58.0
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PlayWhy he left the military. 01:21:43.0 - 01:26:52.0
Transcript:
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About this Item
Title
- Bertran F. Wallace Collection
Names
- National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
- Wallace, Bertran F.
- Wallace, Bertran
- Breter, Brenda
- Marcy L. Konzak
State of Birth
- TX
Home State
- FL
Headings
- - Wallace, Bertran F.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Battalion and Prisoner of War (POW) Command, 743rd Military Police Detachment, Military Police Corps
- Location of Service: Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Devens, Massachusetts; North Africa; Italy; New York; Korea
- Highest Rank: Major
- Dates of Service: 1942-1978
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Battalion and Prisoner of War (POW) Command, 743rd Military Police
- Location of Service: Koje-do Island, Korea
- Highest Rank: Major
- Dates of Service: 1942-1978
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Audio: CD [2 items] -- Reference copy (collected unknown)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 04/09/2002)
- Manuscript: Unit histories [1 item] -- (collected 1944)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 11/08/2006)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 04/10/2007)
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2002)
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/1649
Cite as
- Bertran F. Wallace Collection (AFC/2001/001/1649), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Fort Devens, Massachusetts
- Fort Riley, Kansas
- Italy
- Koje-Do Island, Korea
- Korea
- New York
- North Africa
Service Unit
- 743rd Military Police
- 743rd Military Police Detachment
- Battalion and Prisoner of War (Pow) Command
- Military Police Corps
Gender
Race
Highest Rank
Service Entrance
Discharge Status
Interviewee
Interviewer
Organization/Affiliation
Featured in
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