Hunter L. Slugg oral history

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10th Mountain Division Oral History Collection
Call number: OH235
Interviewer(s): None
Interviewee(s): Hunter Slugg
Date of interview: Unknown
One-sentence summary of interview topics: Slugg talks about his career with the 10th Mountain Division, starting with Pearl Harbor, and following through to just after the war.
Major geographic locations discussed: Camp Hale, numerous locations in Italy, Camp Carson
Other key names discussed: He mentions a few of his friends in passing
Does the interview cover post-war dates? A few months post-war in 1945
Part 1 (46:40)
00:06 Story begins with Pearl Harbor, Hunter and friend Butch try to enlist immediately, both failed initially; discusses various deferments for defense work,
04:50 He eventually succeeds, passes his physical
05:50 He reports to railroad station, describes railroad trip to first duty station
07:45 Arrives in Arkansas for basic training at Camp Joseph Robinson, Branch Immaterial Training Center (BITC), he remained there 17 weeks, After training he is sent to Camp Fannin, Texas where he does numerous odd jobs; Training on rifle, hard to shoot left-handed,
14:20 Flood on Arkansas River, soldiers used for creating sand bags and levees, he describes flood and working on levee,
17:00 He discusses conditions at Camp Fannin, Texas; mosquitoes very bad,
18:00 Anxious for permanent assignment, many went to paratroops, Slugg is assigned to Camp Hale, Colorado; he receives ski training, he fractures his ankle the first day and describes his time in the hospital
25:25 While he is in the hospital the Division conducts maneuvers in extremely cold weather. Slugg remains in the hospital; as soon as he could walk, he got KP or other duties even though he remained in the hospital several weeks; receives furlough from hospital; returns in time for spring skiing; he learns to ski the hard way;
31:00 Discusses makeup of the Division, originally volunteers, later draftees, Fourteen months to make PFC, which meant an extra $4.00 per month pay; 2
33:20 Slugg talks about Camp Swift; some armored training at Fort Hood also; returned to Camp Swift; compass training;
35:50 Packing up for overseas duty, did not yet know where, getting on a train; arrive at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia; security; boarding the ship;
40:00 Slugg was among the last to board, got better accommodations than many; Slugg was on the ship, Argentina; little room for activities on board; salt water showers;
43:50 KP duty on board the Argentina
45:50 Slugg describes his trip across the Atlantic as being relatively pleasant
Part 2 (46:45)
00:00 First view of North Africa from ship; describes escort ships; describes Gibraltar; entering Mediterranean
02:34 Arrival off Italian coast
03:00 Description of Naples; Christmas Eve dinner;
06:00 Boat trip to Leghorn (Livorno); crude conditions;
07:30 Arrival, setting up first camp
09:20 Leaning Tower of Pisa
10:40 Deployment toward the front, casualties due to mines; description of mines
13:55 Orders arrive to move to actual front lines; trucks loaded and move out; description of experiences moving into position
18:30 Arrival at small Italian village; relieving British soldiers; waiting for something to happen;
25:30 Soldiers get edgy, almost shoot a friendly messenger
27:30 Problems with sanitary conditions;
29:30 Start patrols to determine where German troops were located;
31:45 First contact with Germans; receives Combat Infantryman Badge and $6.00 more per month
33:15 Replaced and sent to retraining area; description of orphanage;
35:20 Deployment toward Mount Belvedere; hiding out prior to battle; description of Italian baby; Slugg was a member of 86-E so he was not with the Riva Ridge attack
41:40 Move out following Belvedere attack;
43:00 Squad is selected to support an attack; discussion of plans for attack; description of attack; 3
Part 3 (37:46)
00:00 Experiencing a mortar and artillery attack;
01:00 Squad supports attack, though unable to dig in; moving forward;
02:12 Slugg encounters his first dead Germans;
03:25 Counter attack; bobby trapped dugouts;
05:30 Describes continuously moving toward enemy positions and digging in;
10:00 Germans attack a farmhouse where Slugg’s squad was set up
11:35 Squad captures a couple of Germans; one was SS soldier;
15:15 Receives three-day rest in Florence; develops severe stomach pain; trip to Florence cancelled; Sent to rear aid station; possible kidney stone
20:35 He does get to Florence for three days; friend killed as he returns
26:00 Throwing grenades at night
27:30 Describes mortar firing at night
28:30 Moves off hill to redeploy; describes searchlights;
30:50 Describes opportunity to receive a hot shower, clean uniforms
33:30 Red Cross donut girls arrive during a mortar attack
35:15 Describes working with the BAR;
Part 4 (46:28)
00:00 Describes organization of company, 9 BAR men; several killed;
01:40 Describes Italian countryside
02:20 Preparations for April offensive; moving to Po Valley; clearing minefields
05:20 Roosevelt dies
05:40 Start of final offensive; war correspondents;
06:45 Describes problems moving forward to attack through a cleared minefield;
08:15 Prepares to make a bayonet charge, take position so quickly that friendly fire hits their position; close encounter with a dud artillery shell
12:00 Occupies a high, pinnacle position; walking through a mine field; capturing several Germans; under artillery fire; 4
17:00 Describes moving forward again through another minefield; Describes battlefield activities;
25:00 Describes digging foxhole under fire; spends night under artillery attack;
29:00 Germans appear to be retreating quickly; first view of the Alps;
30:40 Describes attack by bombers;
32:15 Tanks join the attack the next morning; encounter many dead horses; Germans used many horses
34:00 German officers attempt to escape, and were captured, they carried large amount of money; confiscate German car and motorcycle to carry equipment;
38:15 Tries clearing a sniper from a house, runs into a German column; brief firefight;
43:35 Slugg and sergeant both fall asleep, one should have stayed awake to be in charge; [brief gap in tape]
45:05 Heavy cannon attack; Next morning approached Po Valley
Part 5 (46:38)
00:00 Troops discover a well; soldiers bunch up to fill canteens; they draw German fire
04:00 Move ahead; flat land ahead; shooting at a motorcycle
06:50 Tank comes toward unit; fortunately an American tank destroyer;
08:15 Describes tank destroyer and shells; opportunity to ride inside the tank destroyer;
09:30 Rapid movement forward, no stopping; traveling at night; column is attacked by German plane; arrive at Po River; describes assault boats
11:00 Slugg’s unit crosses Po on DUKWs; Russians enter Berlin, so Slugg shaves his moustache;
12:20 Bridges built across the Po; arrival in Verona; describes destruction of railroad yards;
17:45 Arrival at Lake Garda; describes scenery; column attacked while following a tank;
20:00 Describes battles for tunnels along Lake Garda; describes amphibious assault to bypass tunnels; sinking of DUKW
25:15 Division moves ahead and Slugg is the last man in the division; Italians cheering, giving wine; Slugg helps round up forty prisoners
27:45 War ends; many did not believe it;
29:15 Sent toward Yugoslavia; beautiful area; fairly easy duty; hunting;
34:00 Describes areas from World War I that he found while exploring; 5
36:30 Hitch hike trip to Austria; met several British troops;
38:30 Description of other experiences with British troops;
41:45 Discovery of liquor cache; every man gets cognac and champagne;
44:45 Loaded on a freight train; headed for Florence; longest tunnel in the world; arrival at Florence
Part 6 (22:39)
00:00 Hoping to stay in Europe for a while, other troops were selected, 10th assigned to Pacific
01:40 Trip back to States on a freighter, not a luxury liner; somewhat rougher trip
02:15 News of Atomic Bomb
02:40 Arrival in States, back to Camp Patrick Henry
03:40 Arrival at home, war ends, sent to Camp Carson, extended furlough
06:00 Train trip home, description, delays
07:40 Back to Colorado Springs following furlough, late returning, many delays; arrive two days late
09:40 Description of waiting for discharge, shipped to Camp Crowder, Missouri; a Signal Corps camp
13:50 He finally receives discharge, home in time for deer hunting
14:40 Additional memories not necessarily in order; memories of rifle range in basic training; memories of BAR training; problem getting medal he earned