Interview Questions and answers:

I. Prewar Life

1. Where and when were you born?

Flemington, FL, August 23, 1926 at home

2. How many brothers and sisters did you have?

2 brothers, 1 sister died at about 4 yrs old

3. What did your parents do for a living?

Small farm

4. Where did you go to school?

Reddick – grade thru 1-12

5. Were you married before the beginning of the war?

No, Still in High School

II.  Events Prior to Beginning of War

1. Can you compare your attitudes before and after Pearl Harbor?

No, to young after P.H. Never thought I would be involved

2. Did you volunteer for service? If so can you describe the day you signed up?

Yes, summer after I finished 11th grade. Coming from a very poor farm family I thought it would be quite and adventure.

3. What were your expectations of military service?

Did not know except that I did not wat to be a foot soldier.

4. Can you describe how the nation prepared for war?

Hard to answer, only to say there was more until I entered the service

5. What was it like saying goodbye to family members and friends? 

Very hard as I had never been away from home and was about to enter a different world we no electricity, no phone, did know how to drive a car and would not graduate with the resto of the kids I started the 1st grade with.

 

III.  Entry into Service

1. Where did you  train?

Great Lakes Naval Training facility

2. Did you specialize in any particular field?

No, was not offered

3. What was your typical day like?

Very hard, double time everywhere the Co. went. Didn’t have time to think about other things. 

4. Did a feeling of camaraderie develop among trainees?

Yes, we all hated our C.O. He was a boatswain mate and very straight

 

IV.   Combat

1. Where did you serve?

After book Camp went to Camp Bradford, VA then formed a Ships Company, 2 weeks training on LST in Chesapeake Bay, shipped to Pittsburg, PA to pick up brand new LST-1041. Was on deck crew a Seaman 2nd class. Down Ohio & Mississippi reivers New Orleans. Shakedown of LST in Gulf then to Panama Canal to Seattle. Had 4 Higgins P.T. Boats on main deck. They went to the Russians. The to Pearl Harbor, on to Okinawa

2. What was the first engagement in battle like?

No Battles, only to take supplies and equipment, was in several air raids

3. Can you describe your daily routing while fighting?

While in Pacific before war ended I had G.Q. every morning before sun up. G.Q. Battle Stations. Was on 20 more Guam

4. Did you have enough supplies? How was the quality of equipment?

We had plenty of supplies and all equipment was new when we left the stated

5. Were there any particularly humorous or unusual events?

Yes there was a lot of hilarious events and a lot of scuttle butt. During one of the air raids we heard a big explosion we all thought we were hit. During these air raids we rand a smoke generator. Guess, what blew up?  Other times they had opened hatch in front of my locker to air out and I came in took shower after and fell thru to next deck and might have cracked a rib. No Xray on board and was sore for several weeks.

6. Did you do anything for ‘good luck’?

No

7. What was the food like?

On ship, good

8. What were your interactions with locals like?

Didn’t meet many.  Saw from distance on Okie & Guam. Took marines to train on a small island. The natives there were real friendly and wanted to come on boat with us.

9. Did you keep a diary or take photographs?

Yes, log book.

10. Did many suffer from fatigue or stress as a result of combat?

Not on ship but marines and others did.

11. What did you do on leave? Was there entertainment provided to the troops?

Only had 9 days while in service, went home by train left on 5 days leave. We had movies; it was great to exchange movies with other ships. Played a lot of poker on board. I did get to go to ashore in Guam for beer parties and play softball.

 

V.    Events Prior Conclusion of War

1. Did you get a sense that the war was coming to a close?

We heard about A Bomb but didn’t believe it.

2. What were your memories of V-E Day?

V.E. Day left Seattle for Pearl, didn’t get to celebrate

3. What were you thought about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Back then it was good news and now I think it probably saved my life.

4. How quickly were you discharged from service?

About 6 months after war ended. Was in San Pedro Calf., Decommissioned a ship, long trip home on troop train, went from Jacksonville to Great Lakes on Pullman.

5. What were your impressions of the war at its conclusion?

Was a great learning experience for a very young farm boy but was glad I didn’t see some of the things others in the service told me about.

 

VI.  Homecoming

1. How did you return to the United Sates? Where did you go after returning?

Transferred from LST-1041 to LSM-64. Was on helm part of time, went to San Pedro California for decommission then to LA for 2 weeks. Troop train to Jacksonville for discharge which was quite a difference from the Pullman I took to the Great Lakes

2. Can you describe your reunion with family members and friends?

Good to be home, lots of friends till in service.

3. Was it difficult to relate your experiences to those who remained at home?

no

4. Were you part of any celebrations or parades upon your return?

no

5. Did you receive any medals, awards or honors for your service?

answer

 

VII.  Postwar Life

1. How had the country changed as a result of the war?

Some, we had electricity at home

2. Did you go back to work or school? What sort of work did you do? Did the G.I. Bill pay for schooling?

Went back to high school. There was not much work to do one reason used the G.I. Bill to finish H.S. as I knew I needed this.  Then with to Business College short time in Jacksonville Massey Business College.

3. Did you remain active in veteran’s organizations?

No

14 Did you maintain contact with those you met during the war?

No

5. How did your experience during the war change you as a person?

It was part of my education.