Oral History Interview with Donald Greffe, September 6, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Greffe. Greffe was born 20 June 1919 in Taylorville, Illinois. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1940 and was assigned to the 132nd Infantry Division. After training, he was shipped to Fiji before going to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides for jungle fighting training. He got jungle rot and malaria and was placed in the 25th Evacuation Hospital for treatment. He recovered in time to go to Bougainville in 1943 and fight the Japanese Imperial Marine. He also participated in the landings on Luzon and fought to recapture Clark Field. He also describes the personal effects of losing men of his platoon and the combat conditions during the liberation of Manila. Greffe liberated prisoners of war from Bilibid Prison and recalls the condition of these people. He was awarded 3 Bronze Stars during WWII. He returned to the US aboard the USS Hope (AH-7) and was discharged from the service in June 1945