Joyner Library
Special Collections> Manuscript Collection
Guide to the G. Vince Howell Oral History Interview, 1942-1945
(Oral History #OH0020)



East Carolina Manuscript Collection
Special Collections
Joyner Library
East Carolina University
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858-4353 USA
Phone: 252.328.6671
Fax: 252.328.0268
Email: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-lib/Reference/email.cfm



Print Version (PDF) View FAQ Ask a Question


Online access to this finding aid is supported with funds created through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). These funds come through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which is administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. This grant is part of the North Carolina ECHO, Exploring Cultural Heritage Online, Digitization Grant Program.



Descriptive Summary
Title: G. Vince Howell Oral History Interview
Interviewee: G. Vince Howell
Interviewer: Donald R. Lennon, October 22, 1974
Repository: J.Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University
Language: English
Extent: 2 audiotapes, 2 hours, 39 transcribed pages.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
No restrictions


Copyright Notice
Repository does not own copyright to the oral history collection. Permission to cite, reproduce, or broadcast must be obtained from both the repository and the participants in the oral history, or their heirs.


Preferred Citation
G. Vince Howell Oral History Interview (#OH0020), Special Collections Department, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.


Acquisition Information
Gift of G. Vince Howell
Processing Information
Processed by C. Carter, April 1984
Encoded by Apex Data Services


Biographical/Historical Note
G. Vince Howell was born in Waynesville, N.C., and attended North Carolina State College from 1939-1940. In 1942, Howell entered the U.S. Air Corps and was assigned to duty aboard B-24 bombers flying raids over Germany. His plane was shot down in April 1944 and the crew captured. Sent to the famous German POW camp, Stalag 17-B, Howell remained there for a year before being liberated during April 1945.


Description
In this interview Howell relates his experiences at Stalag 17-B. Descriptions of camp life include cooking facilities, bath and toilet facilities, German food rations, and general conditions. Of particular interest are contents of Red Cross parcels, trade rings between Russian and American prisoners, activities for prisoners, and radio reception by inmates. Mentioned are attempts to escape, means of communicating with friends and family in the States, and methods of punishment.

Howell also discusses briefly the end of World War II and its effect on Stalag 17-B, the former inmates' march westward, and their existence until American troops arrived.

For related material see Collection #213.



Online Catalog Headings
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog.

Geographic Entries
Germany

Subject Entries
WAR--WORLD WAR II--Prisoners of War--Camp Life
WAR--WORLD WAR II--Red Cross

Date Entries
1944-1945