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"The ways of the world I knew very little about - boy, I learned 'em overnight there." (Interview)

   Russell Mack Baldwin
Image of Russell Mack Baldwin
Dr. Russell Baldwin in uniform [detail]
War: World War II, 1939-1946
Branch: Army
Unit: 551st Heavy Pontoon Bridge Battalion
Service Location: Utah Beach, France; Ardennes, Belgium; Holland; Germany; Austria
Highest Rank: Technician Five
Place of Birth: Cleveland, OH
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Growing up in an idyllic suburb of Cleveland, Russell Baldwin had just opened practice as a licensed optometrist in October 1941 when he was drafted. The army wasn't much interested in his specialty, and he became a member of a bridge building battalion. His unit landed in the second wave after D-Day, when danger was still prevalent. Baldwin survived several close shaves only to be captured by the retreating Germans, who abandoned him after a month. Back home, he found that his parents had rented his bedroom to a college student, and the two eventually shared their own room after they were married.

Interview (Audio)
»Interview Highlights  (5 clips)
»Complete Interview  (72 min.)
»Transcript
  Photos
»Photo Album (2 photos)
 Other Materials
»View List (2 items)
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»D-Day Plus
 Audio (Interview Excerpts) (5 items)
Readjustment after the war; working with troubled youth. (02:12) Not sharing his memories right away; meeting his future wife. (01:07) The horrors of the Battle of the Bulge. (01:33)
Coming under fire; believing in angels. (01:54) Landing on Utah Beach just after D-Day. (02:43) 
  
 Other Materials (2 items)
Forward by Dr. Russell Baldwin Obituary of Dr. Russell Baldwin 
  
 
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  The Library of Congress
  May 29, 2007
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