Garret+N.+&+Michael+H.+-+Harold+Mohn

__Biographical Details__ 1. Where were you born? 2. How many siblings did you have? 3. How old were they when you joined the military?

4. What did your parents do? 5. What were your hobbies before the war? 6. Were any other of your siblings in the service? __Early Days__ 7. Were you drafted or enlisted? 8. What were your feelings about being drafted? 9. When did you leave for training? 10. What was boot training like? 11. Please describe a day in basic training. 12. How was the food? 13. How were the barracks? 14. How were the fellow soldiers? 15. Where did you have specialized training? 16. Did you have to have training to become a tank recoverest? __Wartime Service__ 17. What did you do as a tank recoverest? 17. Where did you serve? 18. Please explain a little about when you entered WWII? 19. How did you get to Europe? 20. Where were you stationed? 21. Please tell us about your experiences leading up to D-Day. 22. Please tell us about your experience on D-Day 23. Please explain those places. 24. After D-Day where did you go? 25. Do any specific battles or events after D-Day? 26. What challenges did you face as a tank recoverest? 27. What kind of tanks did recover? 28. Did you ever witness combat? 29. Did you form friendships with your unit? 30. How did you stay in touch back home? 31. What did you do in your off time? 32. Did you ever have breaks while overseas? 33. If so where did you go and why? 34. Did you receive any medals? 35. Why did you receive them?

__War’s End__ 36. What were emotions when you found you are going home? 37. Where were you when the war was over? 38. How quickly were you returned home? 39. How were you treated when you got back home? 40. How was it reuniting with your family? 41. Were you considered a hero? 42. How was civilian life different than military life? 43. Did you suffer from Post Traumatic Syndrome? 44. Did you stay in touch with your unit? 45. Did you see them again? 46. Did you join the VFW? 47. How did the war affect your life? 48. Did you act differently after the war because of your experiences? 49. Did you learn life lessons? __Reflections__ 50. Did you do anything after the war? 51. Tell us about some of those things. 52. Do you have any medals, pictures, uniforms and/or poetry? Thank you very much for your service and allowing us to do this interview


 * Garrett Noone **


 * Michael Heck III **


 * VHP Narrative **


 * 2/27/15 **


 * Mr. Harold Mohn was born on August 28,1916 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He was an only child and had many cousins. He stayed in the same household until he was shipped off overseas. He played a lot of baseball in his free time. He also was in plays at the local theatre. He graduated high four years early. He skipped 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade. He met his future wife at a local play he was in. They saw each other and then met up afterwards at a coffee shop. They then started a happy marriage before the war. He was drafted into the army and was shipped to Fort Indiantown Gap for training. **


 * Once at the Gap, he received his basic training. This included rifle training, marching and other basic skills. This prepared him to go off to advanced training. He learned all he needed to know. He then was shipped off to Kentucky for advanced training. This is where he learned to become a tank recoverest. He learned how to take apart tanks and how they worked. He learned how to put them back together. He knew every tank like the back of his hand. He then was sent overseas 20 days after D-Day. He went right to work getting the tanks off the beach. They were all over the place and in different conditions. His company had their work cut out for them. They worked quickly and cleared the beach and moved on. They then went throughout Europe following the front line. They stopped at every major battle. Some of these were Battle of the Bulge and the Rhineland. They took apart tanks and shipped them home all the time. He rarely got free time and when he did it was for a week or so. He went to Paris to look at the city and other cities in Europe. **


 * He was then shipped back home to New Jersey. He then took a bus to the Gap and then home to Lebanon. **


 * His fame came after the war when he got back. He said he did not do much during the war, but we all know he did. He wrote to many military figures on both sides of the war. He never talked about the war with any of them. It was always about something they did in the war. He wrote to Omar Bradley, George Patton and Robert Speers. His most recent was Robert Speers. He was Hitler’s right hand man in rebuilding Germany. He wrote many books all which Mr. Mohn has, signed and the first in the country. He also has many letters from him. He was then invited twice to Speers’ home in Germany. Speers knew everything about them before they even arrived. Mr. Mohn also saw the original plans to rebuild Germany on his first visit. He then was personally invited to Speers’ funeral by his wife and sister. He also believes that he has the last letter Speers wrote a day before his death. He also has many letters and pictures signed by the other people and generals. He was also very good friends with Dick Winters. Mr. Winters was made famous by the famous HBO mini-series Band Of Brothers. He then was also personally invited to Mr. Winter’s funeral as a guest of honor. **


 * Mr. Mohn also was made famous by his poetry. He has written hundreds of poems for himself and other people. He has his work in the graveyard at Normandy. He has read his poetry in many ceremonies. These included many famous people and generals. He also writes a poem for his wife everyday. He keeps all of his poems on his table in the living room. We read his poems in the parade in Myerstown last year. He also has many awards for his poetry in foreign countries. The best thing is that he has never read poetry in his life. He says that he does not want to be found of copying. His poetry just comes to him naturally. He wakes up in the middle of the night and writes poetry. He says if he does not, he will forget it and will be lost forever. **


 * Mr. Mohn is remembered for his service and for his work outside the military. He worked long and hard in the field to help protect our country. He worked long and hard to help the world with his poetry. He is the kindest man you will ever meet and will do anything for you. Thank you Mr. Mohn for your wonderful service and beautiful poetry. **

** VHP Transcript ** ** By: Vito Heck and Garrett Noone ** ** Interviewed: Harold Mohn **


 * Vito: Harold Mohn Born August 18, 1916, was in World War 2 with the army and achieved sergeant as his highest rank. On February 4, 2015, at 102 South Court Street Myerstown PA conducted an interview for the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. **


 * Vito: Mr. Mohn where were you born? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Lebanon Pennsylvania. **


 * Vito: How many siblings did you have? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Not any. **


 * Vito: How old were you when you joined the military? **


 * Mr. Mohn: 24 **


 * Vito: What did your parents do? **


 * Mr. Mohn: My mother worked in the shirt factory and my step father worked in the Betlehem Steal **


 * Vito: What were your hobbies before the war? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Sports **


 * Vito: what sports did you play **


 * Mr. Mohn: Baseball **


 * Vito: Were you drafted or enlisted **


 * Mr. Mohn: Drafted, married at the time **


 * Vito: What were your feelings about being drafted? **


 * Mr. Mohn: I realized I had to go, did not matter to me. I was only married two years That’s why I was not drafted at that time. **


 * Vito: When did you leave for training? **


 * Mr. Mohn: May 1943. **


 * Vito: What was boot training like? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Rough, regular infantry training **


 * Vito: Please Describe a regular day in basic training. **


 * Mr. Mohn: What was the question? **


 * Vito: Describe a basic day in boot training. **


 * Mr. Mohn: Oh marching, rifle range, regular infantry training you might say marching, firing, targets to qualify different thing every day, **


 * Vito: How was the food? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Good, no complaints. **


 * Vito: How were your barracks? **


 * Mr. Mohn: good good **


 * Vito: How were the fellow solders? **


 * Mr. Mohn: very friendly from all states **


 * Vito: Were did you specialize your training? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Fort Knox Kentucky **


 * Vito: Did you train to become a tank recoveries **


 * Mr. Mohn: Yes **


 * Vito: What did you do? **


 * Mr. Mohn: At a head quarters at that time and you might say do some personal work in the captain’s office then outside in the field with the other drafters men doing training and everything else **


 * Vito: what did you do as a tank recoveries **


 * Mr. Mohn: I never worked in the field with a recoverists I assigned all there tasks were to locate the tanks and locate them and things like that **


 * Vito: Were did you serve? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Were did I serve? Now your first question should be when did you go to Europe? Don’t you have those questions? **


 * Vito: No **


 * Mr. Mohn: Your first part is in material your interested in what my war career was when did you land in Europe and thing like that I landed in Europe 20 days after D-Day on June 20, 1944. **
 * 20 days after the original invasion **


 * Vito: Were in any other countries? **


 * Mr. Mohn: I was in all of them I would say I landed in France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg Germany went though all those countries, What your questions should be now is what campaigns you were in during the war II was in Normandy Campaign I was in the Northern France campaign Rhineland campaign II was in the ardent campaign and I was in the central Europe campaign I was awarded medals and 5 bronzes stars for my service. **


 * Vito: So you never witnessed combat or anything like that? **


 * Mr. Mohn: not actually combat, but we were forced to take up positions in the line, we did That’s what the infantry did. I was ordinance. **


 * Vito: I am sure you formed friendships with your unit, **


 * Mr. Mohn: Oh certainly really from all states you might say most of us from the Virginia and Philadelphia area **


 * Vito: How did you stay in touch with them after the war? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Actually, we never did. We never had reunions or anything like that, **


 * Garrett: Mr. Mohn did you? **


 * Mr. Mohn: My name is Harold. **


 * Garrett: Harold, how did you stay in touch with back home when you went over seas? **


 * Mr. Mohn: What was the question ? **


 * Garrett: How did you stay in touch with back home when you went over seas? **


 * Mr. Mohn: By corresponds letter writing. **


 * Garrett: Do you know how many letters you wrote to them? **


 * Mr. Mohn: We weren't allowed to reveal where we were or anything like that couldn't tell where you were **


 * Garrett: Ok **


 * Mr. Mohn: Had to be an acknowledgment of all right. **


 * Garrett: Ok **


 * Garrett: did you ever have breaks over seas from your campaigns come back to the base and hang out and stuff **
 * Mr. Mohn: we had rest areas after particular or after we would deliver tanks then we would have a rest area maybe for a week that was about it **


 * Garrett Do you know what did during those rest times **


 * Mr. Mohn: just rest you might say and take care of our equipment get ready for the next part of our duty **


 * Garrett you said you got 5 bronze medals from your campaigns correct **


 * Mr. Mohn there weren't Accurately medals yeah they were medals **


 * Garrett How did **


 * Mr. Mohn you had a bronze star for each campaign you were in **


 * Garrett how did you receive your medals **


 * Mr. Mohn I received them after the war thats when you received them **


 * Garrett Do you know what you did to receive them What you had to do to get your medals or what ever they were **


 * Mr. Mohn I did not have to do anything they were sent to me by the military record **


 * Garrett ok **


 * Garrett So now what else did you do during the war besides your tank recovery **


 * Mr. Mohn calisthenics things like that we had leaser time too during that time that about all I can tell you about that I cant remember what i actually did **


 * Garrett ok now we are going into when the war was over what were emotions when you found out you were going back to Lebanon **


 * Mr. Mohn over joyed after begging over there 2 year I was glad to get back to see my parents and my wife **


 * Garrett where were you when you found out the war was over **


 * Mr. Mohn Germany **


 * Garrett Do you know were in Germany or just in Germany **


 * Mr. Mohn I can tell you where I was in Germany is a town called Eicock Germany **


 * Garrett how quickly were you returned home **


 * Mr. Mohn 18 day of the sea coming home caught in the Atlantic storm it took 18 days from France to new port news Virginia were we landed **


 * Garrett how were you treated when you got home by your family and friends **


 * Mr. Mohn treated well by the family and friends but out side of that no body paid any attention to yeah it's not like now were you come home from 6 months and you're a hero I remember when I was discharged from Indiantown gap my brother was in the service with me too that served over seas with me and we had to take the bus from Indiantown gap to Lebanon the bus was filled with people and no one offered a seat to us stood all the way from Indiantown gap to Lebanon **


 * Garrett wow how did you feel when they didn't give you any you ant seats **


 * Mr. Mohn What could you do there were never any hard feelings we never discussed it we did think any thing of it at the time I guessed they were hard working people so just took it as a matter of fact **


 * Garrett how was it reuniting with your family how did you feel and they feel **


 * Mr. Mohn Do you want me to go back they were over joyed to see me **


 * Garrett I know you don't like to be consider a hero but were you **


 * Mr. Mohn Beg your pardon **


 * Garrett were you a hero I know you don't like that term **


 * Mr. Mohn yeah what was it **


 * Garrett were you considered a hero **


 * Mr. Mohn No i don’t consider the heroes are dead people forget that look in a dictionary for the definition who a hero is who hero actually is when you read the Lebanon paper half the time hero served in Vietnam or Afghanistan they dint give any particular thing that he did he's a hero because he serviced I don’t conceder us a hero by any means I should of been dead the first dead the I landed in Normandy we were expecting a counter attack that day and I was the only machine gunner in the company and i was assigned a forward position were the attack was to come from frontally the attack never came attack if they came I would be dead the first day i was there just they way it worked out **


 * Garrett how was civilian life different from military life like how did you go from your military career to living an everyday life **


 * Mr. Mohn just went back to it that was it I resumed the job I had before I ended the service that was it **


 * Garrett did you ever suffer from post dramatic syndrome did you ever have nightmares and things like that **


 * Mr. Mohn: I will tell you one thing once you be in a war I will tell you why many solders commit suicide once you be in a war and you see all the death and everything your scared you never forget that I remember every little detail but that lingers in your head you never forget it and one day it just bursts with out a warning and fellows commit suicide because that scare in their mind becomes to much for them to bare anymore so they just shoot them selves or kill them selves in some manner I understand why they do it I often had they feel in my self not that I am proud of it but those are the thing at occur to you I am a poet I been a poet all my years 20 times after the war hit went to pay my respects to my fallen comrades and as well to the germans people say why do you visit a german cemetery I consider those people the same as I was many were conscripted and forced into the war so they were fighting for a cause for their country in a short poem I have written when I went back to visit all those american cemeteries as I walked among the graves of white crosses with names I will always visit the fellows from Myerstown during the war as I walk along the graves I always fell sad I walk along the cross of white inside me and but before the grace of god and once a cross could be me and thats the way I felt I always felt that the man above is always watching out for me I was never wounded are fortunately I was never wounded **


 * Garrett You said that you never stayed in touch with your unit you just went your own way. **


 * Mr. Mohn: The fellows I was with **


 * Garrett: yep **


 * Mr. Mohn: I met some of them but never kept in contact with them. **


 * Garrett: Ok, did you ever join the VFW? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Oh, yes I am a member I am a life member of the Myerstown VFW. **


 * Garrett: How did the war affect you life when you came back home. **


 * Mr. Mohn: It never really affected me in any respect. **


 * Garrett You did not act differently or do different thing because of the war? **


 * Mr. Mohn No **


 * Garrett Did you ever learn life lessons? **


 * Mr. Mohn Did i ever what? **


 * Garrett Did you ever learn life lessons? **


 * Mr. Mohn: No never came in contact with the Russians. **


 * Garrett No no life lessons did you ever learn life lessons? **


 * Mr. Mohn: Well you always learn life lessons no matter what you do I learned life lessons today everyday I learn something new. **


 * Garrett Fare enough did you do anything after the war besides go back to your daily life? **


 * Mr. Mohn: My father in law wanted me to come work for him in his Harrisburg office so I did large pump and the 1964 when my father in law died my brother in law and I became the owners of Harrisburg coal owners i severe there for 30 years and retired in 1976 **


 * Garrett Do you have any poetry that you would like to share with us **


 * Mr. Mohn: oh I have books and books of poetry i have written 6 on the war i have written all my life i was know as the poet of the world war 2 by many people in the countries specially one of my poetry is on a monument down there i wrote the dedication poem to the fort Indiantown gap cemetery in 1983 and the Pennsylvania war memorial at Indiantown gap in 1991 for that i wrote dedications for Luxembourg Europe Ambassador of the united states invited me to speak at the Luexenburg Europe ambassador invited me to speak at the Luexenburg war memorial in 1984 there were numerous other times oh I cant remember all the places but one of my most enjoyable experiences if you read history if you ever herd of Albert Spear **


 * Garrett Yep **


 * Mr. Mohn: well Albert spear wrote two books about the war he was a prisoner of spans for over 20 years for his war crimes he was sentenced in 1946 and discharged in 1966 and after reading hid two books he became the Armenia minister for Germany in 1941 but after i read his two books I wrote a letter to him at his home in Heilburg Germany and told him I was a retired american business man and I would like the opportunity to visit him after 6 weeks of not herring from him I was received a letter on a sustain date I should come to Germany he gave me his telephone number in his letter I called him was in Germany I asked him if I could see him the following day he said I will see you tomorrow at 10 o'clock at ten o'clock exactly my wife and I arrived at his home in Heilburg went up to his door and rang the door bell he had a beautiful home in the mountains above Heidelberg slouches Spear answer the door by him self well mr. Mohn I am certainly glad to see you I brought my wife I never told you I was bring her i hope you don't object he said I’d be sorry if you hadn't he took us in side and had us sit around a round table he told me to sit here and told my wife to sit here the remarkable fact was he knew everything about us he must of had us investigated after I wrote the letter to find who I actually was we spent about an hour with him about never brought up the subject of the war just common things about the United States and Germany the things that he did and after about an hour and now we had taken a taxi to his house after being an hour in his home you don't call a taxi I am driving you down to your hotel in my car he did that for four years after I correspondence with him he always answered my letters about the question I had about the war then I also asked him if I could come see him again on another a cation when I was returning to Germany he said he would be glad to see me he died in September the 1st 1981 he was in London doing a broadcast for BBC for the war and he had a stroke in his hotel room and never recovered I said to my wife one day of his death wouldn't be odd if I had a letter I had from Spear from after he died I mean written before he died but received after he died you know several days later I received a letter from spears on August 1st he died September the 1st he sent me a letter a day before he died it was the last letter he ever wrote I have that letter today yet **


 * Garrett And when I came here to fill out the biconical data form you said you have the first of spears books he ever published was the first in the united states **


 * Mr. Mohn What was that **


 * Garrett When I came here to fill out that paper you said you have the first of Spears books he ever published was the first in the united states **


 * Mr. Mohn That was on rebel German **


 * Garrett Yeah **


 * Mr. Mohn that is correct he autographed it to me for my poetry yes I have that book **


 * Garrett Do you have any other letter other that from mister Spears **


 * Mr. Mohn Oh yes pictures from generals that were autographed to me Garrett saw them perviously wait let see you are garrett **


 * Garrett Thats Vito I am Garrett **


 * Mr. Mohn Yeah you saw them perviously **


 * Garrett So did you also write to them **


 * Mr. Mohn Oh yes certainly I cordoned with general Bradley he put a book of poetry in his library General Patton son I correspond with and my book is in his library in oh which state is it I for get one of my poems is in his library your memory fails you at times **


 * Garrett Its ok **


 * Mr. Mohn Never tried to make more out of my self then I really am you know what I mean take credit for something I never did I saw general Patton on one a cation I was an honor guard at his funeral in Luxembourg **