Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Merle Korte Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Rutilicus (AK 113)
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Tarawa Atoll (Gilbert Islands); Makin Atoll (Gilbert Islands); Abemama (Gilbert Islands); Majuro (Marshall Islands); Roi Island (Marshall Islands); Kwajalein Island (Marshall Islands); Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands); Baker Island; Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands); Manus Island (Bismarck Archipelago); Tuvalu; Hollandia (New Guinea); Philippines; Guam (Mariana Islands); New Caledonia; Espiritu Santo Island (New Hebrides Islands); Ulithi (Carolina Islands); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Japan; Panama; Norfolk, Virginia
- Highest Rank: Boatswain's Mate Second Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/47044
Though he hailed from the land-locked state of Iowa, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Merle Korte was drawn to serve in the Navy, and enlisted in 1943. In his oral history interview, he recounts some of his most memorable times aboard the USS Rutilicus, a cargo ship that provided support for the island invasions of the Pacific Theater—including the day the war ended, and the entire ship celebrated (many with forbidden caches of alcohol!). His return to his tiny hometown on Christmas Day, 1945, was also cause for jubilation: after he was delivered home by train and snowplow, his entire town rejoiced. The photographs in his collection provide a visual narrative of what he experienced during his service--from the camaraderie of life aboard ship to the destruction of Nagasaki.
Interview / Recording
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PlayObserving McArthur’s return to the Philippines; attitudes toward McArthur; learning about atrocities of Bataan Death March. 00:21:13.7 - 00:23:29.9
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PlayCrossing the equator ceremony. 00:24:37.5 - 00:26:31.2
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PlayHearing about the atomic bomb; learning of the end of the war; celebrations; hard to believe the war was over. 00:28:48.1 - 00:31:43.3
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PlayGoing into Nagasaki; seeing effects of atomic bomb; unbelievable devastation. 00:43:32.5 - 00:46:32.1
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PlayArriving home on Christmas morning; two feet of snow on the ground; whole town celebrates. 00:54:50.3 - 00:56:24.8
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PlaySeeing the memorial at Pearl Harbor; mourning a classmate killed there; so many friends who didn’t make it home. 01:07:13.0 - 01:08:54.0
About this Item
Title
- Merle Korte Collection
Names
- VA Medical Center, Denver, Colorado
- Langer, Ron
- Korte, Merle
- Wayne Williams
State of Birth
- IA
Home State
- CO
Headings
- - Korte, Merle
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Other
Status
- Veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Rutilicus (AK 113)
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Tarawa Atoll (Gilbert Islands); Makin Atoll (Gilbert Islands); Abemama (Gilbert Islands); Majuro (Marshall Islands); Roi Island (Marshall Islands); Kwajalein Island (Marshall Islands); Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands); Baker Island; Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands); Manus Island (Bismarck Archipelago); Tuvalu; Hollandia (New Guinea); Philippines; Guam (Mariana Islands); New Caledonia; Espiritu Santo Island (New Hebrides Islands); Ulithi (Carolina Islands); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Japan; Panama; Norfolk, Virginia
- Highest Rank: Boatswain's Mate Second Class
- Dates of Service: 1943-1946
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 09/09/2005)
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1943 - 1945)
- Manuscript: Unit histories [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2005)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [132 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 1943 - 2005)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/47044
Cite as
- Merle Korte Collection (AFC/2001/001/47044), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Abemama (Gilbert Islands)
- Baker Island
- Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands)
- Espiritu Santo Island (New Hebrides Islands)
- Guam (Mariana Islands)
- Hollandia (New Guinea)
- Japan
- Kwajalein Island (Marshall Islands)
- Majuro (Marshall Islands)
- Makin Atoll (Gilbert Islands)
- Manus Island (Bismarck Archipelago)
- New Caledonia
- Norfolk, Virginia
- Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Panama
- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
- Philippines
- Roi Island (Marshall Islands)
- San Diego, California
- Tarawa Atoll (Gilbert Islands)
- Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands)
- Tuvalu
- Ulithi (Carolina Islands)