Gordon Caldis

Gordon Caldis was born March 26, 1920, in Bertha, Minnesota. He graduated from UND in May 1942 with a bachelor's degree in Commerce, after which he entered the U.S. Navy's Midshipman Program at Columbia University. While at Columbia, he volunteered for PT (Patrol Torpedo) Boat duty. He was sent to the Pacific Theater in June 1944 and saw action in several campaigns, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf (1944), and the invasions of Luzon and Borneo (1945). He was discharged in 1946, after serving as the Senior Interviewing Officer at the US Navy Separation Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He returned to UND and graduated with a law degree in 1948. The material consists of Caldis' memories of World War II, entitled Gordon Caldis' Experiences in World War II, written in December 1997. It is 32 pages long, in addition to several photocopied photographs, maps and diagrams. Also included is a short biographical sketch. Caldis describes his naval training following graduation from UND, the inner-workings and missions of a PT Boat, the campaigns and battles he took part in, and Japanese kamikaze attacks against US Fleets. He also describes several Japanese attacks against his boat, PT Boat 522. Donated by Gordon Caldis, Grand Forks, North Dakota, on May 27, 1998 (Acc.#98-2236).