Ray D. Free, Salt Lake City, Utah: an interview by Winston P. Erickson, May 22, 2000: Saving the legacy tape no. 16 and 17

• Main Author: Free, Ray D., 1910-2002
• Other Authors: Erickson, Winston P., 1943-; University of Utah. American West Center
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah 2000
• Subjects: Free; Ray D.; 1910-2002 > Interviews; World War; 1939-1945 > Personal narratives; American; Veterans > Utah > Biography; World War; 1939-1945 > Artillery operations; American; World War; 1939-1945 > Campaigns > Pacific Area > Personal narratives; American; 7th Division; 57th Field Artillery; Attu; Kwajalein; Leyte; Okinawa; Pacific; Attu; Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6b877bd

Transcript (55 pages) of an interview by Winston P. Erickson with Ray D. Free on May 22, 2000. This is from tape numbers 16 and 17 in the “Saving the Legacy Oral History Project Free (b. 1910) recalls growing up in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City, describing the effects of the Depression on his family, his many childhood illnesses, and participating in the ROTC. He served an LDS mission to Germany and traveled extensively before coming home to study at the University of Utah and work at the family business, Hygeia Ice Rink. He enlisted in the army in January 1941 and was assigned to the 7th Division, 57th Field Artillery. He participated in combat at Attu, Kwajaalein, Leyte, and Okinawa. After the war he was in the reserves and retired as a Major General. 55 pages.