OH027 Leslie White Oral History

Authors

Peyton Bill

Collection Title

Jackson Purchase Oral History Project - World War I

Series Number

OH027

Interviewee

White, Leslie

Interviewer

Peyton, Bill

Date Interviewed

September 27th, 1979

Processed by

Sheree Wise

Date Processed

February 9th, 2010

Description

1 sound disc (33 minutes)

Abstract

Leslie Lee White was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1896. He received his education at Lincoln School in Paducah, Kentucky. White discusses the problems encountered by African-American during the early half of the 20th Century. In 1916, he departed Paducah for New York City where he hoped to find employment. He comments on the war, volunteering for service, boot camp and the transatlantic voyage to France. He was assigned to the 520th Engineers. His convoy was attacked by a German submarine on the way to France. He recalls the submarine being sunk by an escort ship with the fleet. After the war, White returned to Paducah where he married Maybell Williams. He also mentions his grandmother, who was a slave and her experiences.

Biographical/Historical Note

Leslie Lee White was born in Little Rock, Arkansas then relocated with his family to Paducah, Kentucky. When he was twenty he traveled to New York City in hopes of finding employment. It was in New York that he enlisted in the United States Army. He traveled overseas on a ship called the U.S.S. Great Northern. WHite was assigned to Company B. 520th Engineers and was stationed at Brest, France.

General Information

No user access to original recordings. Use audio user copies, digital derivatives, transcripts, and/or tape indexes. This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Permission for reproduction must be requested from Murray State University.

Subject Headings/Descriptors

Paducah, Kentucky

Little Rock, Arkansas

New York City, New York

U.S.S. Great Northern 520th Engineers

Brest, France

Recommended Citation

Bill, Peyton, "OH027 Leslie White Oral History" (2025). World War I. 27.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/oh-wwi/27