Oral History Interview with William L. Bonning, December 13, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William L. Bonning. Bonning had finished high school in 1941 and was grinding gears at Ford Motor Company in Detroit when he was drafted into the Army in January 1943. After a few failed attempts at joining the paratroopers, Bonning finally managed to pass the height requirement by stuffing matchbooks in his socks. He joined the paratroopers at Fort Benning, Georgia, in June, 1944. Bonning speaks of his experiences while training in Texas and Louisiana. He was in B Company, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He made it to France just in time to be moved to Belgium and join the fighting at the Battle of the Bulge. He shares many anecdotes about his time spent in combat and mentions many of his comrades by name