Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Louis L. Weinstein Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Security Intelligence Agency
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Louis Weinstein didn't see action abroad during World War II. But in his role as a plainclothes investigator for the Army, he got around plenty, from Chicago, where he interviewed scientists for a top-secret government project, to Detroit, where the German Bund was alive and active, to San Francisco, where he debriefed POWs and performed security for the first meetings of the United Nations.
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PlayFollowing the tragic death of his wife and the attack on Pearl Harbor, Weinstein was determined to serve his country. 00:04:08.0 - 00:04:42.7
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PlayAs a lawyer, he was chosen to lecture on the Articles of War. 00:07:03.4 - 00:07:52.8
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PlayHis captain told him to volunteer for secret service. 00:08:42.5 - 00:09:41.7
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PlayIn Chicago, taken for outfitting in civilian clothes. 00:09:49.0 - 00:11:13.8
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PlayCooling his heels in the Chicago office while his background was investigated. 00:11:48.5 - 00:12:13.0
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PlayWork largely consisting of background checks of scientists chosen to work on the Manhattan Project. 00:13:33.2 - 00:14:46.6
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PlayFound work interesting and enjoyed the opportunities to meet new people. 00:16:48.1 - 00:17:10.4
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PlayKnew nothing about the Manhattan Project, and investigators kept their work secret, even from each other. 00:18:08.1 - 00:20:05.1
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PlayRun-ins with people he knew were awkward, since he couldn't discuss his work, and why he wasn't in uniform. 00:21:44.0 - 00:22:11.5
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PlayIn Detroit to investigate people working in industries important to the war effort. 00:23:45.4 - 00:24:11.6
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PlayDid not experience close cooperation with other intelligence and investigative agencies. 00:26:39.0 - 00:27:58.1
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PlayTraining included many facets, but gun training was the most memorable. 00:31:08.5 - 00:32:13.3
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PlayAfter the war, to San Francisco to interview returning American POWs. 00:38:17.6 - 00:39:23.0
About this Item
Title
- Louis L. Weinstein Collection
Names
- Veterans History Project of Rossmoor
- Weinstein, Louis L.
- Kahn, Edwin
State of Birth
- MI
Home State
- CA
Headings
- - Weinstein, Louis L.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Security Intelligence Agency
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1942-1946
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 04/07/2003)
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected 04/07/2003)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/6397
Cite as
- Louis L. Weinstein Collection (AFC/2001/001/6397), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video