Blad, Herbert (1920-1997)

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:9852#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Herbert Blad was born on January 12, 1920. He was inducted into service on March 22, 1942 and served as a 60mm mortarman in the 32nd Infantry, 7th Division. Blad primarily spent World War II in the Pacific theater, where he participated in the Aleutians, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa campaigns. He was discharged on November 15, 1945. Blad passed away on December 27, 1997.

Transcript Summary: Herbert Blad discussed his time in the 32nd Infantry, 7th Division as a mortarman during World War II. Blad went into service in 1942 and after training in California, was sent across the Pacific Ocean towards the Aleutian Islands to fight Japanese forces. One of the most shocking things Blad witnessed was the treatment of native civilians by the Japanese military which included mass slaughter and use of civilians for bayonet practice. The Kwajalein campaign, Blad described, as a very quick operation lasting only 5 days. Leyte in the Philippines was much more intense, with combat action and difficult terrain to navigate. Sometimes, the jungle would be too thick, which made mortar use difficult. Blad described an incident when a kamikaze pilot struck the ship he was on, sending one man overboard. On Okinawa, Blad described the Japanese as well-fortified and full of snipers, one of which had killed a captain from their platoon. World War II concluded with Blad stationed on Okinawa, but he was sent to Pusan, Korea to police the area until the Japanese troops left. Blad concluded the interview with his thoughts on those draft-dodging Vietnam, and how he felt they did not appreciate America by their actions.

Interview by David Overy