Oral History Interview with Donald Coldsmith, July 15, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dr. Donald C. Coldsmith. Coldsmith was born in Ottawa, Kansas in 1926, the son of a Methodist minister. He tells of hearing of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor while attending a state of Kansas YMCA convention. Being eligible for the selective-service act, he received his draft notice in 1944 and was inducted into the United States Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for basic training. He tells of the selection process and physical requirements needed for assignment into the mountain artillery pack mule training program and of training with pack mules. He comments on the mule’s intelligence. After washing out of Officer Candidate Sschool, he was assigned to the Pacific as a combat replacement. He was assigned to the 637th Tank Destroyer Battalion on Leyte. Soon afterward he was assigned as a medic and he tells of his training in the field. He recalls hearing of the dropping of the atomic bomb and soon thereafter being sent to Yokohoma, Japan where he was assigned to Omori Prison. Although only a Private First Class, he was medically responsible for the Japanese prisoners. Among the prisoners was Hideki Tojo, who had attempted suicide. He tells of getting acquainted with General Homma and having much respect for the General. Dr. Coldsmith was discharged in 1946. He also tells of his civilian life including receiving a medical degree and of being a published author