Leroy Reece transcript, 1942-1945, Date acquired: 06/02/2004
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Reece, Leroy
- Extent:
- 1.00 folders
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Leroy Reece transcript, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_04_0163.
Background
- Scope and content:
This collection consists of an oral history interview transcript of Leroy Reece who served as a Private First Class in the United States Army during World War II in the all-black unit, Company B, 317th Engineer Battalion which served in the European Theater.
- Biographical / historical:
Leroy Reece was born on May 26, 1922, in Monticello, Florida and died on June 8, 2006. Reece volunteered himself to the Army in 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida. From there, he went to Camp Claiborne, Lousiana and then embarked to England from Camp Shanks, New York. He traveled on the Queen Mary to England as a part of the all-black unit, Company B, 317th Engineer Battalion.
Reece entered Normandy Beach on D-Day plus 8 and went through France and into Germany with General George S. Patton. While in Louisiana and England, Reece was involved in riots due to violent discrimination against his regiment. He further described instances of racism in the North and South, foreigners' reactions to his race, and relations with women abroad. He also noted his buddies' reactions to Roosevelt's death. After the war, Reece lived in Bronx, NY and worked as a cab driver and Post Office worker. He eventually returned to Monticello, FL.
- Acquisition information:
Leroy Reece
Donation
- Custodial history:
Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- African American soldiers--Biography
World War, 1939-1945--African Americans
United States--Armed Forces--African Americans--History--20th century
World War, 1939-1945--Engineering and construction
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
United States--Race relations--History--20th century
Military engineers--United States--History--20th century - Names:
- Camp Blanding (Fla.)
Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945 - Places:
- Camp Claiborne (La.)
Camp Shanks (N.Y.)
Monticello (Fla.)
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
- Terms of access:
All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Leroy Reece transcript, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_04_0163.
- Location of this collection:
-
116 Honors WayTallahasseeFL32306-2047USA
