Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording George Arthur Stewart, Jr. Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
- Location of Service: Parris Island, South Carolina; Jacksonville, North Carolina; Virginia Beach, Virginia; New Zealand; Fiji; Guadalcanal (Marshall Islands); Australia; New Guinea; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
Sergeant George Arthur Stewart’s love of football--or, rather, a partially swollen knee that lingered after the last high school game of the season--may have changed his life. After failing the Navy’s physical, he joined the Marine Corps in December 1941, given a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) and departed for the Pacific Theater following training. As part of the 1st Marine Division, he was in the thick of both the action as well as the intense food shortages on Guadalcanal; in his oral history interview, he recalls catching lizards for meat. Wounded while walking point in a patrol, he spent a hellish night on his own in the jungle before being evacuated to safety. After recuperating in Australia, he took part in the Battle of Cape Gloucester in New Guinea, where he was wounded again, this time in the arm. The injury and subsequent bone infection were so severe that he was eventually sent back to the States and discharged in 1944.
George Arthur Stewart, Jr. Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayHearing about attack on Pearl Harbor; going down to the Federal Building to enlist in the Navy; failing the physical; passing the Navy physical, which was administered by the same doctor. 00:02:59.0 - 00:06:07.0
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PlayLack of rations; catching lizards to cook and eat; losing weight. 00:23:30.0 - 00:25:11.0
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PlayAlways having plenty of water; point man on patrol; wounded; being left behind. 00:25:30.0 - 00:27:56.0
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PlayWounded while on Cape Gloucester; arm was wounded; being given blood and morphine. 00:34:40.0 - 00:37:52.0
About this Item
Title
- George Arthur Stewart, Jr. Collection
Names
- Daughters of the American Revolution, Bend, Oregon Chapter
- Kifer, Donna
- Collins-Cooper, Virginia
- Stewart Jr., George Arthur
State of Birth
- OH
Home State
- OR
Headings
- - Stewart Jr., George Arthur
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
- Location of Service: Parris Island, South Carolina; Jacksonville, North Carolina; Virginia Beach, Virginia; New Zealand; Fiji; Guadalcanal (Marshall Islands); Australia; New Guinea; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1941-1946
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 10/17/2008)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 10/17/2008)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/66919
Cite as
- George Arthur Stewart, Jr. Collection (AFC/2001/001/66919), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Australia
- Fiji
- Guadalcanal (Marshall Islands)
- Jacksonville, North Carolina
- New Guinea
- New Zealand
- Pacific Theater
- Parris Island, South Carolina
- Virginia Beach, Virginia