Giles Odell Lofton, III papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 99.0464

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection of Seaman First Class Giles Odell Lofton, III contains an oral history transcript of an interview provided by the Reichelt Program for Oral History. Lofton served in the Navy aboard the USS Wisconsin in the Third Fleet, under Admiral Halsey in the Pacific Theater (PTO) during World War II. The collection also contains documents, U.S.S. Wisconsin papers, photographs of the USS Wisconsin and the Third Fleet during the invasion of Iwo Jima and the surrender of Japan. The photographs show the ships in combat, bombing the shoreline defenses of Iwo Jima, as well as Kamikaze attacks against the fleet. Also, there are photographs of the amphibious landings at Iwo Jima on invasion day, as well as a notice indicating the location of Ernie Pyle's death. The surrender photographs show General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Halsey on the USS Missouri, as well as pictures of Yokohama Bay. "Trench Art" pieces are included in the collection.

Dates

Created: 1943-1945
Other: Date acquired: 09/21/1999

Creator

Lofton, Giles Odell, III., 1925-2015 (Family)

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 or Historical Information

Giles Odell Lofton, III was born in Colquitt, GA, and dropped out of high school to do construction work. He doesn't remember the attack of 7 December 1941. He worked at shipyards until 1943 and saw his four brothers go off to war. He enlisted in the Navy in late 1943 and completed his basic training in Bainbridge, MD, and assigned on the USS Wisconsin. He joined the 3rd Fleet under Admiral Halsey and participated at Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and ended the war bombarding the Japanese home islands. He discusses facing Kamikaze attacks. During the postwar period (1946-1950), he used the GI Bill for college at FSU (TBUF) and met his wife there.

Extent

1 folders

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

creator

Custodial History

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Source of Acquisition

Giles Lofton

Method of Acquisition

donation

Related Materials

Link to Find A Grave record for Giles Odell Lofton, III: [url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150147688/giles-odell-lofton]https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150147688/giles-odell-lofton[/url]