Joe Reynolds
Interviewee: Joe Reynolds
Interviewer: Joseph Byers
Date of Interview: 28 March 2002
Length of Interview: 10 minutes
Joe Reynolds joined the U.S. Army when he was eighteen years old because "that was the thing to do at the time." He served in the infantry in Europe during World War II. In this interview, though short, he recalls some amazing stories of his time in Europe during the war. In one captivating anecdote he describes not having time to dig a foxhole before fighting broke out and having to share with another soldier. Amazingly, the other soldier in the foxhole, though underneath Mr. Reynolds, was shot and killed leaving Mr. Reynolds unscathed. He also tells of his reaction to D-Day and the dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan. Mr. Reynolds recalls the situation at home after the war, as well, and tells of the many soldiers looking for work when they returned from fighting. He also touches on the subject of war today and how it differs from what he and his fellow soldiers experienced during the second world war.