Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Jesse A. Beazley Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
- Location of Service: England; France; Luxembourg; Belgium; Holland; Germany; Czechoslovakia; Omaha Beach, France; European Theater
- Highest Rank: Private First Class
A combat rifleman with the Second Infantry Division, Jesse Beazley was part of the invasion force that took Omaha Beach on June 6th, 1944—D-Day. His transport boat was blown up far from shore and he was thrown into the water; he was forced to discard all his gear except his rifle and gas mask to keep from drowning as he swam in, German bullets hitting the water only inches away. Somehow he survived that day, and the next, and on through the next year—320 days of which were spent in direct contact with the enemy— through the five major European campaigns, all of the way to the end of the war in Europe, though combat infantrymen rarely lasted that long. His division was then selected to be part of the invasion of Japan, but before they could be sent, the atomic bombs were dropped and the war was ended. He was discharged December 28th, 1945.
About this Item
Title
- Jesse A. Beazley Collection
Names
- Beazley, Jesse
- Beazley, Jesse A.
- National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
- self-interview
- Barbara Jackson
State of Birth
- KY
Home State
- KY
Headings
- - Beazley, Jesse A.
- - 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: 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
- Location of Service: England; France; Luxembourg; Belgium; Holland; Germany; Czechoslovakia; Omaha Beach, France; European Theater
- Highest Rank: Private First Class
- Dates of Service: 1943-1945
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 09/09/2005)
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 09/09/2005)
- Photograph: Photocopy of photographic print [3 items] -- Photograph (collected 1944)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Self-interview (collected 01/13/2004)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [2 items] -- Reference copy (collected 06/01/2005)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Self-interview (collected 01/13/2004)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/10474
Cite as
- Jesse A. Beazley Collection (AFC/2001/001/10474), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- England
- European Theater
- France
- Germany
- Holland
- Luxembourg
- Omaha Beach, France