Oral History Interview with John Skirvin, February 17, 2007
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Oral History Interview with John Skirvin, February 17, 2007 (Text)
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Skirvin. Skirvin was born on a farm in Iowa on 26 January 1922. He dropped out of school after the eighth grade to work on the farm. In 1942 he was drafted into the Army and spent six week of infantry basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. He then went to Fort Bliss, Texas where he was assigned to the Troop G, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He recalls training as cavalry with horses until early 1943 when the horses were taken away and the unit became infantry. Trained as a Browning automatic rifle (BAR) operator, he boarded the USAT Maui with an advance detail bound for Brisbane, Australia. Upon their arrival they began four weeks of intensive jungle training. This was followed by four weeks of amphibious training. Skirvin’s unit went to New Guinea and the Admiralties where they were involved in combat. While there, Skirvin developed a severe case of Shingles, which hospitalized him for two weeks. Eventually, his unit boarded the USS La Salle (AGF-3) and landed on Leyte in October 1944. He recounts various experiences while there, including a banzai charge, loss of friends by friendly fire and spending two weeks in the hospital after being wounded. He recalls close quarters fighting in Manila. He received a stomach wound. Eight weeks of recovery in various hospitals followed. Skirvin rejoined his unit on Luzon and began practicing for the invasion of Japan. When Japan surrendered, he returned to the United States and was discharged in October 1945. Skirvin concludes the interview by telling of his experiences in Korea, where he was seriously wounded.
Oral History Interview with John Skirvin, February 17, 2007, [transcript] ark:/67531/metapth1604284
Oral History Interview with John Skirvin, February 17, 2007, audio recording, February 17, 2007; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1608096/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.