Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Anthony D. Lopez Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team
- Location of Service: Camp Roberts, California; Fort Benning Georgia; Australia; New Guinea; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/21131
Staff Sergeant Anthony Lopez was eager to help out with the war effort, and joined the Army immediately after graduating from high school in 1943. He chose the Army because it was "the fastest way to go" as they had an induction center near his home. Assigned to the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, Lopez experienced months of brutal combat in the Pacific Theater. The 503rd conducted an airborne assault on the island of Noemfoor, where they fought for three weeks to establish control over a valuable airstrip. Lopez and the rest of his regiment also endured intense fighting on four different Philippine islands: Leyte, Mindoro, Corregidor, and Negros Island. Lopez was awarded the Bronze Star for rescuing a wounded soldier under heavy fire on Corregidor, and was wounded himself in the process.
Anthony D. Lopez Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayFirst operational experience during Battle of Noemfoor, New Guinea in July-August 1944. 00:07:11.0 - 00:10:53.0
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PlayExperiences on Leyte Island. Witnessing the naval battle of Leyte Gulf. 00:13:01.0 - 00:15:09.0
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PlayFighting on Mindoro, Philippines. Seeing malnourished Filipinos who had suffered under Japanese occupation. Cooperating with Filipino guerrillas. 00:15:11.0 - 00:19:10.0
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PlayAirborne assault and fighting on Corregidor, Philippines. Awarded the Bronze Star for rescuing a wounded soldier out of a ravine under enemy fire. 00:19:12.0 - 00:28:35.0
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PlayCombat on Negros Island, Philippines, where Lopez and the 503rd fought for six months. 00:33:38.0 - 00:36:48.0
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PlayUsing Spanish language skills to organize local Filipinos into a security force to defend farms on Negros Island. 00:41:51.0 - 00:44:17.0
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About this Item
Title
- Anthony D. Lopez Collection
Names
- Priest, Nelson
- Duman, Audrey
- Lopez, Anthony D.
- AARP, Colorado
Home State
- Colorado
Headings
- - Lopez, Anthony D.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Hispanic
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team
- Location of Service: Camp Roberts, California; Fort Benning Georgia; Australia; New Guinea; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1943-1950
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2004-05-18; 2009-08-20)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2004-05-18)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2004-05-18)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [11 items] -- Photographs (collected 1943-2004)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-05-18)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/21131
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text