Oral history interview with Kirby Ross

Collection

Identifier: SR18

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Kirby Ross was conducted by Charles Pavlovich on December 20, 1979. Ross’ son, Kenneth Nelson Ross, and a person identified only as Mr. Johnson were also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Ross discusses his service in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War I, including capturing enemy soldiers, retrieving bodies of fallen Allied soldiers, and fighting in the trenches. He also talks about where he was during the signing of the armistice. He then talks about his civilian life and serving in the Oregon National Guard before the start of World War I, including being deployed to disrupt efforts by the International Workers of the World to unionize agricultural workers. He then revisits the topic of his service in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War I, and describes at length his experiences on the front lines. He closes the interview by discussing where to donate the oral history interview and related materials.

Dates

1979 December 20

Creator

Ross, Kirby S. (Kirby Stewart), 1893-1984 (Interviewee, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright for this interview is held by the estate of Kirby S. Ross. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/.

Biographical note

Kirby Stewart Ross, also known as Kirby G. Ross, was born in Huntington, Oregon, in 1893. In 1899, his family relocated to Hood River, Oregon. In 1914, he moved to Portland from Hood River and joined the Oregon National Guard. He served on the U.S.-Mexico Border in 1916. He served in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War I, and was awarded a Silver Star. He attended Oregon State College. In 1921, he and Madeline Alice Nelson were married; they later had three children. He worked as a Multnomah County bridge operator, primarily on the Broadway Bridge, retiring in 1966. Ross died in 1984.

Extent

.1 Cubic Feet (2 audiocassettes (1 hr., 25 min., 52 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Kirby Ross conducted by Charles Pavlovich on December 20, 1979. Ross was awarded a Silver Star for his service in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War I.