Paul Albert Putnam oral history interview, November 13, 1975.
| Author/creator |
Putnam, Paul Albert creator, interviewee. |
| Other author/creator | Lennon, Donald R., interviewer. |
| Format | Archival & Manuscript Material |
| Production Info | 1975. |
| Description | sound recording 1 audiocassette (1.5 hours) |
| Description | transcript 20 pages |
| Supplemental Content | Finding aid |
| Subject(s) |
Click here for more information about this title
| Scope and content | General Paul Albert Putnam was born in Michigan and was commissioned into the Marine Corps on March 5, 1926. As a Major he commanded Marine Fighting Squadron 211 which was assigned to Wake Island on 4 December 1941. On 23 December Wake Island was captured by Japanese Forces and Major Putnam and other Wake Island defenders were taken prisoners. He remained in a Japanese POW camp from December 1941 until September 1945. |
| General note | Interviewer: Donald R. Lennon. Interview date: November 13, 1975. |
| Access restriction | No access restrictions. |
| Cite as | Paul Albert Putnam Oral History Interview (#OH0027), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA. |
| Terms of use | Repository does not own copyright to the oral history collection. Permission to cite, reproduce, or broadcast must be obtained from both the repository and the participants in the oral history, or their heirs. |
| Acquisitions source | Joyner- Gift of Paul Albert Putnam. |
| Biographical note | Brigadier General Paul Albert Putnam (1903-1982) was a native of Milan, Michigan. He attended Iowa State College, at Ames, where he later enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on March 3, 1926, while he was stationed at the Navy yard in Norfolk, Virginia. After he was commissioned, Putnam went to Nicaragua, where he won the Nicaragua Cross of Valor and a letter of commendation for suppression of banditry. After taking flying lessons in San Diego in 1928, Putnam returned to Nicaragua as an aviator. He assisted in the rehabilitation of that country after an earthquake in 1932. Following his return from Nicaragua, Putnam served at Pensacola, Florida, St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and at the officers' school in Quantico, Virginia. Putnam returned to San Diego in June, 1939, where he served until his departure for duty in the Pacific during World War II. By then a major, he commanded Marine Fighting Squadron 211, engaging in temporary aviation duty on Wake Island. Putnam arrived on Wake Island on December 4, 1941, and was captured by the Japanese when the island fell on December 23, 1941. Putnam and other prisoners arrived at Zentsuji Prison Camp in Japan on January 29, 1942. He remained in Japanese prison camps until liberated by American troops in August, 1945. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism at Wake Island. He was married to Virginia Miley Putnam (1907-2002) and they had three daughters: Carol Putnam Shudde, Peggy Putnam, and J.M. Putnam. |
Available Items
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions | |
| Joyner | Manuscript Collection | #OH0027 - DOES NOT CIRCULATE | ✔ Available | Request Material |