Thelma McNeill collection

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2006 Box 2 (06.0075-06.0150), Folder: 06.0095 - Folder 1

Identifier: 06.0095

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection includes three written biographical histories and a personal memoir transcript by Thelma McNeill of family members' and her own service during the Second World War. These narratives detail the lives of a captured Merchant Mariner during the Battle of the Atlantic, an injured tank officer during the Battle of France, a U.S. Naval officer, and a McNeill who served as a Red Cross volunteer in the Pacific Theater.

Dates

Event: 1940-1945
Other: Date accessioned: 2020-04-22

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Biographical and Historical Context

At the age of 14, Harald Andersen served on the Merchant Marine Training Ship Joseph Conrad. From before the Pearl Harbor attack to September 13, 1942, Anderson served as captain of the SS Stone Streetin three trans-Atlantic voyages. On September 13, 1942, off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the vessel was sunk by German submarine U-594. Andersen was captured and taken to Europe as a prisoner-of-war until February of 1945 when he was repatriated.

Cyril Andersen was born on January 23, 1917. During World War II, he served as a tank comander in the 3rd Armored Division and landed in France in June of 1944. On August 16, 1944, Andersen lost a leg and suffered heavy burns in battle. In February of 1945, Andersen was transported to an army hospital in San Francisco where he remained for three-and-a-half years. After being discharged, Andersen finished his degree and founded his own accounting firm. He died on September 16, 1993.

Henry Hill was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy. In 1940, he moved to Washington D.C. and joined the Department of Chemical Warfare. In Washington D.C., Hill joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to Harvard University for four months. He was then given the task of outfitting the Destroyer emph render='italic'>Abbot