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Transcribed oral history interview with Clair Williams a member of the National Guard Unit that was stationed in the Worthington Minnesota Armory. File contains spiral bound and unbound transcribed interview, signed release agreement and notes. Interview was conducted by Barbara W. Sommer.

INTERVIEW DATE: August 17, 2020

INTERVIEW LENGTH:1:00:13

RECORDING MEDIUM: MP4

TECHNICAL NOTES: The interview was recorded remotely using Zoom, a web-based video conferencing tool. during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was transcribed by Lois Glewwe, project transcriber.

INTERVIEW NOTES: Clair Williams served in the National Guard in Worthington from 1960 to 1966. His unit was the 135th Infantry, [47th Infantry Division - Viking Division] 2nd Battalion where he served as a combat engineer. He discussed the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the visit by Robert "Bobby" Kennedy to Worthington for Turkey Day (1966). He participated in the interview from his home computer.

SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW CONTENT: During the interview, Clair Williams covered enlisting in the National Guard in Worthington, his assignment as a combat engineer, basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, his assignment to Arlington Heights, Illinois, at the Army Air Defense Site, Project Nike Missile Master installation during the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, change of assignment to Mechanical Wheel Vehicle personnel in Worthington, his motor pool responsibilities, full-time National Guard personnel at the Armory, the training assignment in Alaska (1965), weekend drills, weather emergency/Red Cross use of the Armory, memories of the Armory interior, community service including Turkey Day service, National Guard protection for Robert "Bobby" Kennedy during his visit to Turkey Day in Worthington (1966), and his thoughts about being in the National Guard.

This transcript was made possible by Legacy funding from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund established by the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008, and administered by the Minnesota Historical Society. Funding was awarded to the Nobles County Historical Society through the following grant: R-MHCG-1912-24013 | $9,950 | MN Historical and Cultural

The Minnesota National Guard in Worthington, Minnesota Oral History Project. This oral history project focused on interviews with former members of the Minnesota National Guard in Nobles County who served from the Worthington National Guard Armory building.

Contact the Nobles County Historical Society for more information