Skip to main content

Austin J. "Mac" McKenna oral history

 Collection
Identifier: C MSS OH292

Scope and Contents

The interview provides information and personal observations about McKenna's experiences: training as an engineer to do survey work at Fort Leonard Wood; transfer to the ski troops; Camp Hale in Winter and his assignment to S-2 Section of the Regimental Headquarters; mapping; "D" series training; Camp Swift and working with mules; being shipped to Italy in January 1945; trip to Maresca; drawing up plans for the tramway used to resupply Riva Ridge and to evacuate wounded; artillery barrages; crossing the Po River and Lake Garda; hospitality of Italian families and celebrations after the Germany surrender.

Dates

  • Check date

Creator

Language of Materials

Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the author of the items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

Austin J. McKenna was born on January 11, 1923 in Colo. and enlisted in the Army on May 22, 1943 at Denver, Colo. At the time of enlistment, he was unmarried, had completed two years of college, and working as a semiskilled craftsman. McKenna received engineering training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. before transferring to join the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Colo., where he was assigned to Headquarters Company of the 126th Engineering Battalion. He also served at Camp Swift, Tex. and in Italy. McKenna was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his actions in the Apennines and during the Po River campaign in spring 1945. He attained the rank of Technician Grade 5.

Extent

1 videodiscs (DVD)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift;Mac McKenna;2007.

Linking Entry Complexity Note

Forms part of the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center Collection.

Title
Finding Aid for the Austin J. "Mac" McKenna oral history,2007[videorecording]
Author
Finding Aid prepared from MARC data.
Description rules
Anglo American Cataloguing Rules
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository

Contact:
10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy
Denver CO 80204 United States