Interview with Family and Friends of Roy Long

All right. My name is Ethan Clinchard, and I work with Beth Dotan as an intern researcher for the Nebraska Stories of Humanity. Today's date is July 26, 2023, and we are conducting this interview via Zoom. Thank you for participating in this interview, as your insights will play a critical role in preserving the life and legacy of Roy Long, for future generations to learn from. I would like to invite Cherlyn Wilson, Jen Stastny, and Donna Walter to introduce themselves and share their relationship with Roy. Cherlyn, would you please begin by introducing yourself?

Sure. I'm Cherylin Wilson, and I am Roy's daughter. And I live in Omaha, Nebraska, not too far from actually where I grew up.

I'm Jen Stastny, and I teach English and Holocaust literature, excuse me, at Omaha Central High School. And I met Roy because in 2011, he called me, and he had seen an article about me in the Retired Teachers newsletter, and he wanted to come speak to my students. And so we met, and so then he spoke to our students quite a few times.

And I'm Donna Walter, and I know Roy, I worked for six years as the education coordinator at the Institute for Holocaust Education. So I wasn't fortunate to hear Roy's story as much as Jen was, but I would take him places and arrange for his speaking engagements.

Wonderful. We'll begin with the questions. All right. Can you tell us about Roy's childhood?

Oh, goodness. Yes, he was born in Blair, Nebraska, on August 7, 1922. So he would have been 100 last year, and of course, 101 this year. And it was during the Depression. He lived on a farm, worked the fields. He always talked about, like, going out plowing in the fields and behind the horses. So really didn't have the machinery. They would take, let's see, some of the sheep, eggs, take them in town, so trade them off for, you know, different other things to get flour and such. And it was, you know, it was the Depression. And it was working on a farm. They're hot years. I think he talked about, like, 1936, how it's so hot during the summer, but then, yet, during the winter, they had, like, record snowfalls. So, and he liked to play sports during school, interested in, actually, electronics, too, in high school. But he always felt that he didn't have enough math to go on and pursue that, maybe, at the university. So that's how he grew up there.

And then when Roy began at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, how did he feel about his time as a football star?

Well, I don't know if he really felt like, you know, he was the star. It was tough times, because, again, the Depression, kind of the start of the war. And it was completely, it was a completely different atmosphere in the football area than it is now. Because, like, as he was recruited, and I kind of say that in, you know, quotes, that it was at the state track meet where the Nebraska football coach came up to him and said, "Hey, you want to come play?" And he's like, "sure." And actually, they said, "Well, we'll come, we'll try to find you a job, too," where nowadays, you know, that's foreboded to, you know, have a job and all that. So, then I think he was fortunate enough to feel like he could play there. I think he always wanted to go to Nebraska, play football. I think he kind of wanted to play baseball, but football was the choice there. So, I mean, I think he was humble about it. I mean, he could do, you know, what they could do with what they had, so.

Do you know offhand what record he held during his football career?

Yes. Let's see. It was, I've got it here, too, just to remember. Yeah, it was November 7th, 1942, and Nebraska was playing Missouri. And one thing, too, with that, that he said it was a really hot day for November. And that, too, that they had wool jerseys. And also, at that time, the guys played offense and defense. You know, it was a smaller squad, so they didn't have the the two teams there like that. And anyway, he played all but two minutes of the whole game. And the reason being was that when they went in for halftime, he took off his jersey, at least, to get cooled down. And he missed about the first two minutes of the second half because he was trying to get his gear back on. But basically, it was, let's see, he accounted for 258 all-purpose yards. And for what was the, basically, it was like the quarterback, it was he threw for 28 passes and ran for 27 times. So it was a record of 55 attempts, actually stood until 2004, when Joe Dailey had 60. So that, and then actually, when, at the end of the game, and he got back to the fraternity house, he was a Phi Gamma Delta, that somehow or another, he passed out. And the next thing he knew was that he woke up in the hospital the next day. And it was just from the exhaustion of well, playing practically a full game, and the dehydration, you know, from being a hot day. So it was his other remembrance of that particular day.

Wow. What led Roy to join the army? And were there any particular events or motivations behind his decision?

Well, it wasn't really a choice that all the guys were enrolled in ROTC. And it was like the, I think it's the basic ROTC. And then they were kind of an advanced ROTC by the time he was a junior. And then they were called up. And let's see, they actually with them being called up, they were in uniform on campus. Also, they actually stayed in Love Library. And Love Library wasn't open yet. So it was just kind of, you know, they were, it was newly built. So that's where they housed all the guys. Let's see, I think it was the Army and then the Army Air Force was also in there. And so yeah, it really wasn't a choice. It was, they had to do it. So.

When did Roy enter the army?

Oh, okay. Let's see. Trying to figure that out. It was, let's see, September of 1942. Yeah.

And what was the highest rank that he held?

Oh, well, let's see. For World War II, it was, let's see, I think first lieutenant. And then when he went to Korea, then he was a captain.

And did he receive any commendations during his service?

Oh, he did. And then when I saw the question, I was like, oh, I don't have all that with me right now. But I know, I think at least he was a, had an expert marksmanship. And there were some other commendations for that. But that I'd have to kind of dig around and find. I don't know if any others remember that or have that information. But anyway, yeah.

I think the only way I would have that just offhand would be the book that I gave to Beth. Like I had a copy of the book that he wrote, but I also have a photograph of him in like, what year would it have been? 2015, 16, in his uniform with all of his commendations, like all of his stripes and all of those things on it. So I'll send you that photo too, because it was fantastic. He was so proud. He was like, you can still fit. And I'm just like.

Yeah, he was very proud that that all fits.

What aspect of Roy's service seemingly impacted him the most?

Oh, gosh. I think probably just serving others, helping out. I know that the idea of what was happening was, of course, never pleasant to think of going to war or help liberate one of the camps and seeing the death and destruction from that. But I think he was very humbled too by humanity. And then, of course, then later on, I think it's being part of that educator within to be able to tell that story and share with others what happened, you know, have that firsthand account.

And how did he feel about his liberation of the Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp? I know in other interviews, it seemed like it really impacted him, of course.

Oh, yes. I think, you know, coming in to see people either that they had already gone in the condition they were in, you know, just thinking of, you know, how could people do that? And I can kind of remember, he really probably started to open up more about that later on, because I'm thinking like when I was younger, I mean, he would tell me the happier stories, of course, but the other things that it just he really didn't talk about until later on and writing the book and so forth.

And what did he discuss about his involvement in the Nuremberg court trials?

Yeah. Oh, yeah, he helped guard the judges with that. And they had the rotations for that duty. And I think the thing that I remember him talking about was the fact of, you know, here he is, he's in the courtroom, and like three or four feet away from him, in walked Göring, in walked Hess, you know, in walked, you know, all these, you know, the figures that we we hear of now through history, but it's like he actually saw them. And then also hearing the testimony. And I think there was another incident that he remembered, or he had talked about where, I think, what was it? Göring was talking about some things like, "Oh, you know, I didn't do this." And, you know, "this wasn't happening." And I think it was the American judge was just getting so livid about hearing the testimony. He said his face just turned red, you know, because knowing what atrocities that happened, but yet here these people are saying, you know, "Oh, no, you know, we didn't do this," or "it wasn't like this." And he just recounted how that judge was getting and just getting so distraught about what was happening.

Yeah, he definitely talked about that a lot. He liked to tell me about getting to watch the judges like because he was guarding and I think they were like they were guarding weren't they the judges housing where they were sleeping and living. And then during he would also go and like answer phones and things because like just trying to patch through the phones. He said, that was really difficult. But yeah, he did like to talk about how Hermann Göring just was like mocking the process and the trial and how Justice Jackson went crazy. And so then I found the video for him. He was like, I was there. So the video is on YouTube. So yeah, he definitely liked to talk about that.

Can I say one thing about with Gunskirchen Lager? He, he told me a lot of details. And we talked about like, I found photos of the camp and things and we talked about it a lot. But he told me that it wasn't until he started getting treatment for his PTSD at like age 88, 89, that he felt like he could really open up to everybody. Because he felt like it was a burden to tell people about his burden, right? And like, that's when he said, I want to talk to students. I'm like, wow, you're just gonna really jump in at the deep end with this therapy thing, aren't you, Roy? But yeah, so and one of the things about Gunskirchen, he just he still every time he talked to me about it, which, like, we would go to Panera and talk before he would come to Central every year, like, so probably we met at Panera twice every year. And he, there were parts of it, he still could not remember. Like I, I had the official company report on the liberation of Gunskirchen. And he talked about being the first one into one of those barracks. And then the numbers of people he could remember inside that barrack or that he would talk about were only the living. Like, he had kind of like, washed out all the people who had died, who were inside that barracks from his head. And like, I would, I would say to him, but hey, Roy, like, this is what the thing says. He's like, oh, no, no, that official report is wrong. He just kept, he was just sure that his memory was right. And I think that's it. He had a really hard time just with the cruelty and the inhumanity. And yeah, he just, but yeah, he talked a lot about all of the details. Okay, I'm shutting up.

Yeah. He would, he would say that I saw things that a farm boy from Nebraska shouldn't see.

Thank you. Cherlyn, as a researcher, I observed a deep humanitarianism within Roy and his actions. In his book, ETO in Return, I recall two occasions where Roy fired at German soldiers, but was absolutely relieved when he missed. I was wondering if he ever discussed this.

Yeah. Oh, I know. Seeing your question earlier about that. I'm trying to think back if he really ever did. I don't think so. You know, he didn't bring that up at all. You know, with us or just, I don't know if you say kind of casually or, you know, just in the course of conversation. And again, I think it was later on or as he wrote in the book or probably, you know, talking to the students that he felt like he could do that. But yeah, I think that was one of those things that he still kept within him for a long time.

Because he was an artillery officer, he talked to me and my friend Darren about how he knew he had been responsible for some deaths because he's the one who gave the orders to fire. But when a student who was not my student, because my students were better trained than this, asked him if he was responsible for killing anyone, he just said, "I will not answer that question," to the students. Like he just in this like really kind of cold way that I never saw him take any other time. So I think, yeah, like you said, he was really struggling with all of that and really processing still.

And then if you know, were there any other soldiers in from Nebraska in Roy's unit?

Oh, I don't know specifically in his unit. But there is one story that he was actually one of the football players with him that they would room together on away games. So they really got to know each other and and so forth. And one thing that he said about when they would get into like the motel or there that he would always jump on the bed just to kind of, you know, check it out. And this particular man was Wayne Sindt. And they were in basic together. I think they went to Fort Knox, too. And one story with that, that I know my dad always talked about was that Wayne was married, and his wife was there. And my dad can I mean, he still said he could vividly remember seeing his wife in the car. And she was pregnant, maybe like eight months or so pregnant, and just sobbing in the car because of, you know, what they were doing and, you know, the possibility and then being sent over to Europe. And then they well, my dad was in the 71st. And I'm not quite sure where Wayne was, but they weren't too far from each other. And I think it was on the Rhine River. And he got word that Wayne was killed there. And he, I know that always still kind of haunted him that saying, you know, I wonder where, his wife is, or I think they heard that he had a son. So he knew that the child was born, but he often said, you know, I wonder where they're at you know, what they're doing, so.

Yeah, I think, I think he was there when Wayne died.

Hmm. Okay.

And I got a lithograph for him of Wayne's grave...

Oh, yes.

...because Wayne was buried overseas. But yeah. So I think I think Wayne was in his was in the 71st.

So was he still? Okay.

And I think that if I'm remembering correctly from what he told me, he was a witness to Wayne dying. And it was a schu-mine, those S-C-H-U, I think is how they spelled it. So it was he told me a pretty graphic description of Wayne dying.

Yeah. And that's interesting, because he really didn't talk about that, or, you know, the specifics as such.

Yeah. He liked you too much to tell you.

Yeah. And then also kind of, it's, I guess you might say it's a small world, because then later on, my children, I have two girls and a boy. Well, they're adults now, but they went to Hillside Elementary, here in in Omaha. And one of the teachers, her name is Katie Sindt, spelled the same way S-I-N-D-T. And one time when we were up there for some functions, that my mom and dad always, you know, would love to go up there for the kids and for different activities. But he asked her, my dad asked her, it's like, gee, do you know, Sindt isn't a very, you know, common name, as such. And he asked her and said, well, yeah, I think my husband's family came around, or were around, actually, like, Naponee, Nebraska. And, you know, I might have been some relative, and she went back and asked. And actually, it was a distant cousin to her husband, was Wayne. So, you know, small world.

Did Roy maintain relationships with any soldiers he knew after the war or participate in any veterans groups?

Oh, yes. Well, one in particular, I remember, I actually think he was a manager of a paint store. It's not too far from us. And so they kept in touch over the years, of course. And then he became involved with the 71st Division Reunions and visiting different places. I remember, I had gone with them to, let's see, Colorado Springs and Anaheim. But they also went to, was back east to West Point. They were at Jekyll Island and stayed with, in fact, Howard Scott was a member of the 71st Division. They had a place down there in Jekyll Island, so a bunch of them all stayed together there. So, yeah, they kept in touch. And especially, too, with the, as part of the 71st Division football team, too, that was after the war. Yeah, so they, yeah, he kept in touch with a lot of guys.

I was speaking with, I can't even remember who it was now, but at an organization that I belong to telling something about Roy's story, I believe. And one of the ladies said, you know, this sounds like somebody, my uncle knew somebody. It was one of these, you know, things like that. And I mentioned, she gave me the name, and I mentioned it to Roy. And he said, yeah, I know him. And we were able to exchange phone numbers with the two, and they connected. So that was fun.

Can you share some of the experiences Roy mentioned during his travels in Germany and Switzerland after the war?

Oh, gosh. I know that they went to Switzerland. And I think one thing I remember, one time I asked him, is like, you know, would you ever want to go back to Europe, you know, to any place, you know, Germany or wherever you might have been, England, France? And he said, really, the only place was in Switzerland. And I think part of that was because of, well, it was at the end of the war, but it wasn't like part of the war. He wasn't fighting there or anything. And they went to, was it Garmisch? And I was looking through his book. And it was so fun that there's a picture of him and Nick Grayson, and then somebody else that they're there like at this in the snow, but they have no shirts on and just kind of standing with some shovels and just having fun and stuff like that. I think he too, he said that they were they stood there in Switzerland that looked over into Italy. But where they were, it was like where palm trees are, it was, you know, the southern part of Switzerland. And then also they stayed right below the Neuschwanstein Castle, you know, the fairy tale castle that well, they use that as a background for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, you know, that movie, but is that it was something to look up and, you know, see that or they did tour it too, so. But yeah, I think he enjoyed that time.

When did Roy return home from his service?

Oh, let's see, it would have been, I think the spring or so or beginning of summer of 1946.

And how did he adjust to civilian life?

Well, I think he got back in the swing of things. But again, probably there's a lot, you know, that he kept in with that. Because when he got back, he finished his last year of university, last year of playing ball. Also, that's in the summer, that's when he met my mom. There at the union, on the second floor in one of the rooms there. And then, let's see. So that was 1946. And then finished up in 47. And then he got a job down in Fredonia, Kansas, teaching woodworking and coach for football and assistant for track and basketball and so forth. There in 1947. So they had, you know, about four or five years, being newlyweds, but then, you know, not having to think about the war. And then, of course, Korea came around, so.

You know, he always told my students that when he got back from the war, they didn't talk about it, because you'd be in a lecture hall, he would always say, "You're sitting in a lecture hall, and you look to your left, and you look to your right, and both of them were there. So they already knew. So what was there to talk about?" Right? That's his little anecdote that he would always say to my students.

What drove Roy to re-enlist and serve in the Korean War?

Well, again, it wasn't so much to re-enlist. It was, he said that once they came out of World War II, that you had to either go into the National Guard or the reserves. And he happened to go into the National Guard. And he said probably, in some respects, that looking back, it was a good thing. He went to the Guard, because once the Korean conflict started, that a lot of the reservists went first. And he said that was brutal. But he was called up. He was part of actually the Kansas National Guard, because that's where they were living there at the time. And they did some training. I know they went out to California for some observations and training. They were up at Fort Lewis, and I think that's where they left from there. So that would have been, oh gosh, like somewhere in the middle or so of 1951. And then he came back. Actually, he was discharged on November 6th of 1952.

And why was it important for Roy to share his war experiences with others?

Well, I think finally, as he was dealing, like Jen said, that kind of working with just all the trauma and stuff and helping out, that it was a way to get that out. And also, I think he was an educator. And actually, his minor was in history. So it was something that I think he felt that he can, I guess, teach or help explain what went on. And again, having that firsthand account and to provide that to the students. And because, I guess you might say, fortunately, a lot of the students, like Jen had it starting in 2011, they weren't experiencing or there wasn't anything to experience like World War II or Korea. They might have had maybe possibly a parent or a relative, maybe part of Vietnam. But again, a lot of people maybe didn't talk about that. So I think he just wanted to share his experience and teach and let others know what really went on.

And what drove Roy to work with kids in particular?

Oh, I think, again, it was just that working, helping kids out. I think because he was in woodworking, it was that making something with your hands and seeing the success with that. And then actually, I just thought of something else, too, that his last 10 years of teaching in Omaha Public Schools, he was with the, they call them like instructional, or let's say, I'm trying to think. Mainly, it was kind of like for behavior or other things that they had individualized instruction units and places. And he had the crafts. And you know, some of these kids, well, the different things that they had experienced and done that led them to this part of the schools that they maybe didn't see the success of things. And with what he did, that they could make, it was like leather bands with their names on it or anything on it, or the crystal radios, for instance. And they were so enthralled with that. And it was just like, wow, you know, I can do that. Can I make some more for my family? It was just, I think, seeing that spark in their eyes and the success that they could feel from doing something on their own and him helping that along. I think that really was, I think, his whole feel for that.

And he liked coaching. Because didn't he coach the American softball team in Europe after the war? I think it was that he played for the football team, but he coached the American softball. And he liked that. So he talked about, he was really drawn to coaching because he likes teaching people how to do that thing.

Right. Yeah. And that's what he did down in Fredonia for the first four years that he was the head football coach. And I think they only lost like two games, I think, in those four years. And he always said too that he had a good bunch of guys to work with. And I think that made a difference. And I think when they came back here and he started to teach at South, he coached for a couple of years. And I guess, you know, maybe a little disenfranchised by then or something, you know, with maybe some of the, I don't know the, what he had to go through or something that maybe it wasn't as fun as it was. But, you know, he kept active because then he refereed, too, football until, well, let's see, I was little, I still remember like his uniform. And then kind of when he sold that, but so yeah, he kept active in some type of, you know, whether football or refereeing and that.

Donna and Jen, why was it important for you to have Roy speak to your students?

I mean, he was living history and he was really good at it. We have had a lot of wonderful speakers over the years, primarily Holocaust survivors, but he provided a different perspective for the students. And he was just such a good speaker and they really felt free to ask him questions and he answered 99.9% of them. And the only time I ever saw him, besides that one question, the only time I ever saw him just kind of hesitate and it's because he blushed like crazy, but they asked him, can you tell us about when you fell in love with your wife? And he just like turned so pink. I mean he just loved her so much. And he just like a great speaker. So I think it was good to have him kind of in the stories he could tell from the soldier perspective. A lot of my students go into the military, so.

And while I never had the privilege of having him speak to my students, that one of the first things I thought of when I saw that question was perspective, because so often we hear from the survivors, which is awesome, but this is a different perspective. And Roy was such a kind and gentle person, genuine. And I think the other kids were just drawn to him. I had a couple of times I took him places, pictures of him with his arm around kids and their arm around him. And I always remember when I would call him to ask him if he wanted to speak someplace. Of course, he would check my calendar. "Yes, I'll get it on there. Shall I wear my uniform?" "Well, of course, Roy, wear your uniform." He was so proud of that and so great. Because you would be walking with him some place and he had that uniform on. And of course, that would draw people to him to ask questions or to thank him.

So I have my students write thank you letters to our speakers. And I know that Joy put them in a notebook for him. And even like, it would be the summer and he would call me and say, I was just looking through these letters. And let me tell you what a teacher you are like he would just like, so I thought I also felt like we were helping him, you know, I mean, he was in his late 80s before we ever met him. And so, you know, so, so still very vital and spry. And I just felt like he really liked doing it. So it was also just like, how can we also help you?

I know, for instance, like reading those letters from the kids is like, oh, my goodness. I mean, they're so articulate and I mean, and bringing out, you know, certain things that he had talked about and it's like, wow, you know, it just it touched us, you know, reading those. So we have them. So we appreciate that.

And when speaking with kids, you already mentioned this, but why did Roy choose to wear his uniform?

Because he was proud he could still wear it.

Oh, yeah, he was so proud of the fact that we was like, "it's a little tight around here." Sidebar, but also he was just really so genuine and so sweet and such a gentleman. And like he knew, even though like you said he wasn't, he didn't brag about what he did, but he knew he had done something large. And there was there was pride, even though I don't think he would like pride would have been too strong of a thing for him to really kind of admit, but he knew he was a living piece of history and he wanted people to know that and that information that he had. So I think wearing the uniform was part of that and also to be like authenticity, like it helped him kind of remember too.

Awesome. And what were some of his favorite pastimes and hobbies after his military service?

Oh, gosh. Well, he, of course, being a woodworking teacher, he loved, you know, still making things. In fact, a couple of his, you might say pride and joys were it was a grandmother's clock that he made. It was in the living room. We have that and also a China cabinet that he made. And again, we have that. So it was, I think, you know, making things. Let's see. I know he loved love traveling. We'd go, especially a lot of times up to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, camping. We'd go other places too. Oh, gosh, I'm trying to think what else. Oh, he got into jewelry making. It was kind of funny that one time my mom saw, well, she also like American Indian, Native American jewelry and seeing the squash blossoms necklace. And we were down in Arizona, New Mexico. And my dad was like, gosh, you know, okay, let's see now, how do you do this? And we got like the stones for the mold. And he took a jewelry making class. So I mean, he really got into that and started to make the necklace for my mom. Though, unfortunately, he never got to finish that. But yeah, he loved that. He was also in Mason's, helping out with, well, it was Scottish Rite, which is another part of the Masonic organization and would always be participant of that. And yeah, so it was just getting out and doing things. I think too, one thing with the traveling, that it was always kind of fun, because my dad, you know, did like to talk, you know, he's very personable. And one thing it always seems like we would run into would be teachers, you know, and share their experiences and all that, maybe too, because, you know, he had the summers off, they'd be able to travel more. But yeah, so yeah, he kept busy.

Oh, gosh, one other thing too, real quick. I was in Rainbow, and I was going to be what they call the Worthy Advisor, as the head of the group, and my themes were going to be like the candle and the light and that and we got thinking between my mom and my dad myself, it's like, okay, well, can I have something up front? You know, what kind of display could we have? And I guess, again, with my mom being an elementary teacher and dad, and I, well, I got into teaching too, but just that, you know, okay, what kind of display, you know, we're gonna make a bulletin board type of thing, but what transpired or transformed from an idea of maybe a candle or something that into well, hey, maybe I can do this in stained glass. So my dad found out how to do stained glass. And he made stained glass, it was probably about a couple feet tall or so foot and a half couple feet tall. And he did that, he made the box for it. And then we put, he put in lights behind it. And then that lit up when we had our meetings and so forth. So it was just, it was fun to, you know, work with them as, you know, different projects and just seeing things blossom from there.

My husband remembers that he had a record collection, is that true too? John remembers, you know, going home and visiting with him and putting records on and listening to some music.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, he loved music. Of course, you know, from the big bands to, you know, different things, you know, through the years of, I think, you know, like the Frank Sinatra type of music and that. So yeah, he had his record collection there and liked to put something on and listen. And it's kind of funny because I guess I really didn't know again until later that he had played the clarinet in high school. And he was musical. It sounds funny to say that, but I mean, he had that musicality in him. And so he enjoyed that later on, too.

True or not, when he and Joy were in Las Vegas one time, did they have an encounter with Frank Sinatra?

Yeah. Yeah. I think it's one of the hotels it's gone now, but he kind of, he always told the story. It's like, yeah, here we are, you know, two people from Nebraska, you know, we're kind of like looking around like, wow, this is a big place and all that. And then all of a sudden somebody just like went by and about knocked my mom down. And she was like, "Oh gosh, goodness, did they even say, you know, excuse me, or I'm sorry, are you okay?" And then my dad said, he asked her and said, "Do you realize who that was?" And she said, "No," you know, kind of like, she didn't, you know, "somebody just popped me down." And he said, "That was Frank Sinatra." Yeah.

She was so little too, but she was fierce.

Oh, yeah. Yep. She was.

Is it okay for me to ask a question? I want to take a little bit of a step back, if that's okay, Ethan, that I'm just curious to know if you can talk a little bit about his actual tour during the war, where, where did he go in and what were some of the major places?

Yeah. Let's see. They, let's see, I think they get to Southampton, England, I think, and then from there into France, and then moving over to Germany, I believe. And that's one of those things I'd probably have to look in the book just to double check. Because I always remembered, you know, different things here and there. But I don't if Jen or Donna remember something.

I remember Southampton, I remember, was it Le Havre they went to?

Yeah, Le Havre.

And I forget in Germany where they went to first.

Well, and wasn't he, he, okay, tell me if I'm confused. But I think he was supposed to be go earlier. Like his, his whole group was supposed to go earlier, right? And they would have been at the Battle of the Bulge. And they were like, they had to get all their papers in order, have their life insurance, all that stuff. And they were all ready to go and then stand down. And then they ended up going. And I know that they're like, when he was in Southampton, things were like slowed down by fog. So then they ended up being there longer than they had originally intended, but then went to Le Havre. And then they fought through France and into Germany and then went down into Austria. Right? Is that correct? Okay. He, I, most of what he talked about was with me was like the various types of weapons they had encountered while they were in France and in Germany. He talked a lot about, he liked talking about when they would fish with bombs.

Yeah.

And grenades. He liked talking about that. Can you remember the plane came this way, the fish went that way, we went that way.

Yeah.

And then, but then after the war, like processing out the soldiers before they went up to Nuremberg. And so they just literally were, any soldiers they'd find, they'd like take their guns and like send them home. And that, that the German people, he would tell me over and over and over, every time I talked to him, that the German people that he talked to kept saying in German, Hitler will come back again. He's not dead. Like that was something that really struck him and he would talk about it a lot. But yeah, I think he writes a very about all the specifics though in his book, doesn't he?

Yeah.

Oh, and drinking milk from Julius Stryker's dairy. So Julius Stryker, you know, propaganda extraordinaire had a farm and had dairy cows. And he loved that they went and took the milk from Julius Stryker's dairy cows. Because it was kind of like, that's what you get, Julius Stryker!

Did Roy have a central message that he wanted to convey from his wartime experiences?

Oh, I don't know. Part of that could just been like war is hell. You know, it's, it's not the John Wayne movie that, you know, we see or other movies as they maybe glamorize things. And, you know, I think just, unfortunately, what humanity can do to each other, that, and hopefully how we can learn from that so it doesn't happen again.

Yeah. And I mean, to add on to the war, that war is not glamorous, that war is terrible. But sometimes we have to do it anyway. Like sometimes we have to sacrifice ourselves to protect other people. And he would always just really want the kids to understand that they had a choice to be a good person or not. That like, he would talk about how the Nazis chose to do what they did. That they weren't forced, that they weren't, you know, that they weren't somehow magically bad people. That they had made choices to get there, so.

Cherlyn, how do Roy's grandchildren perceive his story and his legacy?

Oh, I think they, you might say, ate up all the stories as he would talk to them. And really appreciated what he was talking about and knowing that, you know, he was there. I think like Jen said, it was, you know, that he was a part of history and his experiences that he could convey. And they loved him to bits, so. Yeah, it was always fun with my son that my dad said, well, here's my brother. Because if you would see some pictures of my dad and my son, it'd be like, wait a minute. Now, who's who? You know, both the blonde hair and and the facial features. But no, they really appreciated him and what he had done. And coming through, living through it. Yeah, they, they, they loved him a lot.

One of your daughters, I can't, I'm so sorry, I can't remember her name, it's been a while, came with us to one of the wineries. So I sent that picture to Beth, I think. But it was your daughter and Roy and Joy on the stage. And I'm kind of like over to the side, be like holding up his props, like, in this picture. But I just remember just, like, she just looked at him like he walked on water. And she just loved him. I mean, she was just so happy to be up there with him, so.

Yeah, that might have been Kirsten. That's our oldest.

That sounds right. Yes. Yeah, she was in the backseat with Joy. And then she was up there. I was just, I was literally just the chauffeur at that point.

I kind of kind of want to go back to what was, what was Roy's message. And I think, and tie in with what Jen said about the Nazis had a choice. And here's a man who went through that and saw all that. And here he is. He is this kind, gentle, good person, who was not who did not get sucked into all that negative that, that cruelty to humanity. It changed him clearly, but he could still be this kind and wonderful man that he was.

Yeah. Did he even swear at home? Because he like, I never heard him swear. He would be like, darn.

Yeah. No, I don't remember him ever swearing at all.

Yeah.

I mean, he was just always a very even-tempered, you know, person.

Yeah. I'm trying to think. Yeah. Even when he, and how is this so cute? Even when he talked about Gunskirchen Lager and what they saw, he would say it was, and then he would spell out hell silently. He wouldn't even see, wouldn't spell it out out loud. He'd be like, it was like, he just wouldn't like, I was like, you, I'm a whole grown up, right? You can say hell. But he wouldn't even do that. And he also talked about how like, so many of the soldiers like drank and smoked and all those things. And he just, he did not do that, that that was against his values. I remember at one of our dinners, he had like a little, a little bit of white wine. And he was like, oh, oh, it's going to my head. Was he like six foot four, two ounces of wine is not going to your head, Roy.

Yeah. Well, yeah. And that was one thing too. Like you mentioned about the cigarettes that in their rations, they would have, I think he said like, they would get like two cigarettes or something like that. And, you know, he didn't smoke. And I think that also went back to, I think probably a coach in high school saying that, you know, hey, if, you know, if I catch anybody smoking, you know, while you're here, you know, you're off the team. And in fact, he kind of did that when he was a coach in Fredonia, that actually the players came to him and said that somebody was smoking and it's like, okay, hey, you know, what's your decision guys? And I don't know if they suspended him or kicked him off the team. But anyway, that with the soldiers in this, he would get the rations that they'd always come up to him and say, hey, Lieutenant, Lieutenant, can I have your cigarettes? And he was like, sure. Yeah, take them.

And for our final question, I would like each of you to answer this. In your opinion, what is the most significant aspect to Roy's legacy?

Why did that make me want to cry?

I know.

I'm just like, you know, I know I work with, I work with veterans through the Humanities Nebraska, I teach writing workshops for veterans. And knowing them and then knowing him is just how much he was willing to share himself with other people. When he, he had no reason to, he saw the worst of the worst things. And he could have very easily said, no, I'm, I'm going to just live my life and be with my family and just, you know, kind of circle, circle in, but he chose not to he, he led by example, of just how to be a citizen of this community. So now I'm going to sit over here and cry. Goodbye.

Oh, yeah, the the genuineness of the man. There he was in uniform, to add the authenticity to it, if that was needed, but just the genuineness of him and this, and what he had to share with them and his, his love for students, his, you know, his love of being an educator. You know, he just he, he brings humanity to the, to the story.

Yeah, I know. Yeah, he was such a gentle soul of, you know, having gone through what he, he did, you know, and it's kind of hard to think that he was like, what, like 21, 22 years old. And, you know, I think of, like, my youngest daughter is going to be 21 this year. I mean, it's like, how do you cope with that as a young person, and to deal with it, you know, later and, and yeah, he just was always so, so gentle, so even keeled.

The consummate gentleman.

See, you know, he's my daddy. That's, yeah, it's, and, you know, I still think, you know, like, kind of like larger than life that some of the, you know, his experiences and whether, you know, you know, with army or football or teaching and just, and he was a storyteller. And I think that's, you know, I think that greatly served him and, and being able to share his experiences, so.

And with great respect for the students and their questions. Yeah. I mean, he was, he was authentic. Yeah. Authentic, genuine. And I would, I would call him to say, "You know, hey Roy, how are you doing?" "Got up this morning and had breakfast. It's a good day." And then should I wear my uniform?

He did always say that, every time, we got up this morning and had breakfast.

I have a question for Ethan.

Yes.

Ethan, how has it been you didn't know Roy? You've been reading through the materials as an intern on this project. In what ways has this experience changed you or connected you to Roy and the family?

Yeah. It's been remarkable. As Beth knows, my great grandfather served in World War II as well. And so I have stories from him, but he was in the Navy. And so learning a different perspective has certainly just for me humanized the experience of World War II and, and the Holocaust. And it just been remarkable to have the opportunity to get to know him through old Daily Nebraskan articles and through old yearbook photos and through his book. It's just been an absolutely incredible experience. And I feel so privileged.

That's great. We're so happy to have Ethan working on this story and building this narrative, which is what this, this website is about. It's not just about giving testimony, but all the other things that bring the story together and increase and make that legacy and that narrative wider.

And Roy always saying, you know, I was, I was a shop teacher.

And also though, you know, his tinnitus, you know, some days it would be so bad and some days it would be better. And if it was bad, he'd be like, he'd have to tell you the whole story about the artillery. And I'd be like "Which ear do you want me to yell in today, Roy?"

And, you know, and thinking about like that story of that, that gun, you know, going off like right by his ear. And then also, let's see, I'm trying to think, oh gosh, what, where was it? I didn't have to look, but anyway, that there was a, a Jeep that had some ammunition in it and it caught on fire. And so he, and I think a couple other guys were pushing it like off. I think there was a ravine or something, so it wouldn't explode. Well, he, he got burned his hands because it was getting hot and, and pushing that off. And I remember with that instance, and then even with his ears that he didn't go and really get them treated. And he never got a purple heart for either of those instances, because he said that if he would have done so, and with the purple heart, a letter would have gone back to his parents. And he didn't want to upset them or thinking, "Oh my gosh, you know, what, what happened to Roy, you know, is he okay?" Because he did say, I think early on, maybe right as he left or so, that he got a letter from his mother and he said he could see like where the wet spots were because she was crying. And and I think because of that, oh, and then also he had an uncle. His dad's brother was in the Spanish American War and was killed at the Battle of El Caney. And I think with, you know, his dad and his mom, I think they were married at the time that going through that experience. And then now having their son being in a war that he didn't want to bring any more stress to them. You know, he wanted to make sure that, you know, they were okay, that he was okay. And yeah, so really, he probably should have gotten a purple heart. But he didn't because that letter going back home and, you know, saying, you know, that your son has received a purple heart. And again, I think that his humility with that had shown and just, you know, thinking of others, how they would react.

A sincere thank you for all of you for participating in this interview. Your insights will help preserve the legacy of Roy Long, a true hero. I'd like to thank you for your time.

You're very welcome.