Pietz, Reuel (1921-2008)

Part 1: https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/worldwar_oh/45/

Part 2: https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/worldwar_oh/46/

Biographical Information: Reuel H. Pietz was born June 19, 1921 to Henry and Martha (Kobs) Pietz in Westbrook, Minnesota. He volunteered as soon as he was able to after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His service began with the Navy Cadet program and he was commissioned with the Marine Corps where he served as a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Following World War II, Pietz was a flight instructor in Jacksonville, Florida. He was then deployed to China as a legal officer, and then was a photo reconnaissance pilot during the Korean War. He was a Geography faculty member at St. Cloud State from 1965 to 1991. On February 8, 1945, Reuel married Mary Dierks and they had two children, Eric and Pamela. He passed away on September 3, 2008 and buried in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota.

Transcript Summary: Lieutenant Colonel Reuel H. Pietz described his time as a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II, a flight instructor after World War II, a legal officer in China, and a photo reconnaissance pilot during the Korean War. Pietz recounted volunteering for military service as soon as he could after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He described taking part in the Navy Cadet program, and how he appealed to be commissioned with the Marine Corps after his training was completed. After his commission with the Marine Corps, Pietz did flight training at both Wold-Chamberlain in the Twin Cities and Corpus Christi, Texas. After this training was completed, he summarized his assignment to San Diego. Pietz deployed overseas in 1943 and participated in the Pacific Theater of war. He described the different types of planes that he flew during his deployment. He said his favorite plane to fly was the Corsair. Pietz described returning home after his fourteen-month deployment in November 1944, and when he returned home he married his wife. He remembered being present for the Japanese surrender at the end of the war as he was in the process of traveling to China. Pietz spent the remainder of his interview describing his experiences as a flight instructor in Jacksonville, Florida, his time as a legal officer in China, and as a photo reconnaissance pilot in the Korean War.

Interview by David Overy

Includes archival material