Interviewer
Charles Milo McLeod
Files
Description
Frank Kessinger discusses his military service and how he came to be part of the First Special Service Force during World War II. He talks about volunteering for the Force and the rigorous training in hand-to-hand combat, mountain climbing, skiing, vehicle operations, and weapons that he received. He offers insights into what it was like to be a medic in the First Special Service Force and talks about being wounded multiple times in battle. Kessinger discusses the various campaigns that the force was involved in in Italy, North Africa, Southern France, and islands in the Pacific. He also talks about being transferred to the 101st Airborne after the Force was disbanded and talks about being involved in the invasion of Bastogne. He discusses the heroic actions of many force members and talks about the mental and physical toll that constant fighting took on many soldiers.
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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; Anzio, Italy; Military, specialized missions; U.S. military servicemen; Canadian military servicemen; Goodwin, Herb; Glass, Joe; Free French Resistance Movement; 101st Airborne Division; McAuliffe, Anthony; Battle of the Bulge; Bastogne, Belgium
Original Date
8-15-1986
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 151-011
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (01:00:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (31 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:01:57 minutes
Local Filename
OH_151_011.mp3; OH_151_011.pdf
Citation
Kessinger, Frank, "Frank Kessinger Interview, August 15, 1986" (1986). First Special Service Force Oral History Project. 8.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/firstspecialserviceforce/8