Interviewer
Charles Milo McLeod
Files
Description
John Conaghan discusses his military training and career. He talks about working on a searchlight crew before he volunteered for the First Special Service Force during World War Two. He talks about his Force training in Helena, Montana, and the pay he received for being jump certified. Conaghan discusses the bond between Force members and describes his combat experience. He recalls working communication during the invasion of Southern France and finding Champagne and Cognac hidden in haystacks around the French countryside. Conaghan also talks about the different types of weapons that he was trained on and carried during the war, and he describes getting hit by a mortar that was thrown by German troops. He recalls how the members of the Force felt when the unit was disbanded and talks about how they are still actively engaged by attending reunions each year.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
World War, 1939-1945; First Special Service Force; Canadian military; U.S. military; Hand-to-hand combat; Military training; Battle of Anzio; Fort Harrison, Montana; Camp Borden, Ontario, Canada; Anzio, Italy; Frederick, General Robert T.; Military, specialized missions; U.S. military servicemen; Canadian military servicemen
Original Date
8-17-1986
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
First Special Service Force Oral History Project, OH 151, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 151-007
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (01:00:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (22 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:02:11 minutes
Local Filename
OH_151_007.mp3; OH_151_007.pdf
Citation
Conaghan, John, "John Conaghan Interview, August 17, 1986" (1986). First Special Service Force Oral History Project. 5.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/firstspecialserviceforce/5