Heddle Sr., Lester Lee

Title: Heddle Sr., Lester Lee
Performer: Lester Lee Heddle Sr.
Interviewer: Richard Katon
Description: Lester Heddle was born in Milford, Michigan, on February 23, 1918. After completing high school, he was drafted on March 26, 1942. Following training in Texas, he was sent to the South Pacific. Lester spent much of his time in New Guinea, and then Mindoro in the Philippines. He was part of the 58th Air Service Group. Lester did some boxing while he was in the Service. Although he did not receive any wounds, his unit was subjected to Kamikaze attacks. Lester was discharged shortly after the Japanese surrender. He returned home to Michigan, where he received his teaching degree. Lester attended Eastern Michigan University with his wife. Since they had two small children, Lester took classes in the afternoon, and his wife took morning classes. Lester taught 6th grade in area schools.
Date Span: 1942-1945; Dates of Service
Subject: Drafted; United States Army Air Forces/Corps; 58th Air Service Group, 5th Air Force; World War, 1939-1945; Second World War - Pacific Theater; Staff Sergeant
Publisher: Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress; Center for Oral History Research at Eastern Michigan University; Center for Oral History Research at Eastern Michigan University
Collection Location: 2/20; https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.58397
Spatial Coverage: Second World War - Pacific Theater