| Title |
John H. Dinkelman, Salt Lake City, Utah: an interview by Benjamin J. Bahlmann, October 10, 2002: Saving the Legacy tape no. 604 |
| Alternative Title |
John H. Dinkelman, Saving the legacy: an oral history of Utah's World War II veterans, ACCN 2070, American West Center, University of Utah |
| Creator |
Dinkelman, John H., 1924-2011 |
| Contributor |
Bahlmann, Benjamin J.; University of Utah. American West Center |
| Publisher |
Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah |
| Date |
2002-10-10 |
| Date Digital |
2015-12-16 |
| Access Rights |
I acknowledge and agree that all information I obtain as a result of accessing any oral history provided by the University of Utah's Marriott Library shall be used only for historical or scholarly or academic research purposes, and not for commercial purposes. I understand that any other use of the materials is not authorized by the University of Utah and may exceed the scope of permission granted to the University of Utah by the interviewer or interviewee. I may request permission for other uses, in writing to Special Collections at the Marriott Library, which the University of Utah may choose grant, in its sole discretion. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold the University of Utah and its Marriott Library harmless for and against any actions or claims that relate to my improper use of materials provided by the University of Utah. |
| Spatial Coverage |
England, United Kingdom; France; Belgium; Czechoslovakia; Japan; Turkey; Vietnam |
| Subject |
Dinkelman, John H., 1924-2011--Interviews; Veterans--Utah--Biography; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945--Military operations, American; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe, Northern--Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy--Personal narratives, American; Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945--Personal narratives, American; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American |
| Keywords |
Tanks (Military science); D-Day; Battle of the Bulge |
| Description |
Transcript (83 pages) of an interview by Benjamin J. Bahlmann with John H. Dinkelman on October 10, 2002. From tape number 604 in the "Saving the Legacy" Oral History Project |
| Collection Number and Name |
Accn2070, Saving the Legacy oral history project, 2001-2010 |
| Abstract |
Dinkelman (b. 1924) was born in Den Helder, Netherlands. He discusses his family, immigration to the U.S., the Depression, working and school. He enlisted in the Army in 1942 and received basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, prior to being assigned to the 741st Tank Battalion, A Company, at Fort Meade, Maryland. Dinkelman was sent to the Desert Training Center near Indio, California, then received more training in Louisiana at Camp Pope. Although he traveled to England prior to the invasion, he was detained and missed the actual D-Day invasion, but rejoined his unit on the Continent. He describes his combat activity and duties. During the Bulge, he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division and was lhis return to the U. S. following the war. He was separated at Fort Douglas, Utah, then reenlisted in the Army and served in Japan, skippering army boats on MP patrols. Dinkelman Stayed in Reserves until he applied for active duty again as a warrant officer in Vietnam, where he delivered materiel by boats. He continued in active duty several more years before retiring. In civilian life he worked as a machinist. Interviewed by Benjamin Bahlmann. 83 pages. |
| Type |
Text |
| Genre |
oral histories (literary works) |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| Extent |
83 pages |
| Language |
eng |
| Rights |
 |
| Scanning Technician |
Mazi Rakhsha |
| Conversion Specifications |
Original scanned with Kirtas 2400 and saved as 400 ppi uncompressed TIFF. PDF generated by Adobe Acrobat Pro X for CONTENTdm display |
| ARK |
ark:/87278/s6v42x85 |
| Topic |
Personal narratives--American; Veterans; World War (1939-1945); Ardennes, Battle of the (1944-1945); Vietnam War (1961-1975) |
| Setname |
uum_slohp |
| ID |
1028447 |
| Reference URL |
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6v42x85 |
| Title |
Page 53 |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| Setname |
uum_slohp |
| ID |
1028415 |
| OCR Text |
Show JOHNH. DI LM 10 T B R 2002 nd the tracks are just flopping around in the mud. The only way to g tout i if somebody pulls you out. Another tank could come in and you d have ... each tank carried a large cable and shackles and that for securing. BJB: How often did you get stuck? JHD: Oh, you don't keep count of that. BJB: Was it something you dealt with on a regular basis? JHD: Again, it depends on the terrain, you know. If it feels sloppy ... you leave a lot of that up to the driver. If he felt that it didn't look good, he'd let the commander know, "It don't look good to me." Or "I feel I'm losing control." BJB: So is winter more difficult, then? Did you have to stick on roads more? Or what's under the snow? JHD: Yes, you had to keep that in mind, that if you're on the road the chance it's mined or it's covered with an anti-tank gun, if you get off the road, is it so sloppy that you can't have any traction. I mean you had to kind of weigh the possibilities. BJB: In the Pacific, for example, tanks in many locations really weren't effective. The jungle, you can't do anything with armor, from what I understand. Were there situations in the European Theater where it was very difficult for you to maneuver? Like the Ardennes and these forests? JHD: Yes, if a tree is too big you can't knock it down. Smaller vegetation you go through. Trees up to maybe three, four, five inches in diameter. You get much bigger than that, the tank hit one and, gruuup, that's it. You have to back off and go somewhere else. 52 |
| Reference URL |
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6v42x85/1028415 |
