This begins in Heron Lake, Minnesota in 1939. Pat Hughes, Pete Peterson, Dale Mc Coy and I all bought a new set of striped bib overhauls and a new shirt. We then made our way to Mankato, MN to catch the first freight train for the wild wild west. We eventually wound up in San Francisco, California.
While we were in San Francisco we all worked in various restaurants and cafeterias as bus boys and dishwashers. That got a little boring so Pete, Pat and I decided to go to Miami, Florida where the big money was, as bell boys in the big hotels. We got as far El Paso, Texas on a freight train. But a railroad policeman with the biggest gun you ever saw pointed it at us and said he was going to blow our heads off if we didn't get out of that box car. We were in the local jail for 10 days. Imagine three sixteen year old kids and eight really vagrant men living in one cell. We finely met the judge. That was an awakening, as he couldn't decide whether to hang us or put us in jail for the rest of our lives. But he had the nice police man with the big gun take us to the edge of town and started us back to California, where those people deserved kids like us. With the message that if we ever returned to Texas he would put us in jail for the rest of our lives.
I turned seventeen on December 10, 1940. That day I signed up to enlist in the US Navy. Pete and Pat followed me a few days later. I was called to go to the San Diego Naval Training station on 2 January 1941.Was in recruit platoon 41-4. Pete and Pat followed a few days latter. Lots of stories here but that is another time. But maybe just one. "One cigarette caused me to dig a hole 6 feet long 2 feet wide and 6 feet deep." After our training was over we were all assigned to the USS Tennessee BB43.
We reported on board the USS Tippecanoe AO 21, a fleet oil tanker. I'm not sure but I believe we chipped and painted that whole darn ship, it seemed like as though it took about 30 days to get to Honolulu.
We were then transferred to the USS Tennessee BB 43.Reported on board 19 April 1940. Now that was the biggest darn thing this little farm boy had ever seen. Pete and Pat made the deck gang and I think because my brother Jim was in the engineering department I was assigned to the Boiler Division. Had a tour of the engineering spaces. Now that was something. Big ole pumps squirting out steam, big pipes, big turbines making a lot of noise and best yet was the boilers in the fire rooms all that heat, fire, steam, and noise. My tour over I was assigned as compartment cleaner and assistant mess cook. Held that job about two month and was promoted to Mess cook. Held that job for three months and then was assigned to the boiler maker gang. Stood my watches in number three fire room which became my Battle station. Made a trip back to the states, had a few liberties in Long Beach, San Pedro and San Francisco. Of course fell in love at every port. During maneuvers they fired the 14" guns, now that will get a farm boys attention quick. Back to Pearl Harbor. By this time I was rated a fireman first class and a Boiler maker striker
On December 6th 1941 was granted liberty. Made the YMCA and other places not to be mentioned.
I believe it was about 12:30 when I reported back aboard the ship. Now the sleeping arrangements on board a Battleship are as follows. The Petty officers, 1st and 2nd class have their own cots spread about the compartment. The non petty officers, fireman and seamen sleep in hammocks. This means we had to have the hammocks in place on the overhead prior to the petty officers rigging their cots. So as I reported aboard after midnight I flaked out in the hammock storage area.
It was Sunday December 7th 1941 the compartment had been cleared of cots, hammocks and breakfast tables put away. Guys not on watch were maybe playing cards, sleeping or writing letters. I was sleeping in the hammock storage area. Then it seemed like all hell broke loose, Bos'n pipes, General quarters, General quarters, all hands man your Battle stations, No sh't this time, Bugle blaring,
Ship rocking, all kinds of sounds never heard before. That will wake you up. I then headed for my Battle station, number three fire room, there were 8 fire rooms on the ship. From the living compartment on the second deck to the third deck, then down a long ladder to the fire room. Only a double bottom then the outer skin to water. We had to light off the boilers and raise steam in order to supply steam for the turbines to turn the screws.
We were moored to two large Concrete Pilings called Fox's. Tied along side us was the USS West Virginia, immediately astern was the USS Arizona. The Arizona was bombed and on fire. The flames were scorching our stern and the burning oil was flowing in our direction. By keeping our screws turning we were able to lessen that threat. Meanwhile The West Virginia moored to us but on our out board side. The West Virginia received seven torpedo strikes and was sinking while still moored to us. Every time a torpedo would strike the West Virginia, and the Arizona exploding, the concussion would come down the stack and extinguish the fire in the boiler fire box. It was my job to re-light the hot oils in the fire box. Which was about like throwing a match in a tub of gas. The concussions and the sudden movements of the ship caused the asbestos covering on all the piping to dislodge and fall to the floor plates. We stayed in the fire room for 36 hours. In the meantime we were walking ankl e deep in asbestos. Being teen age kids we had to have some thing to do so we had battles with chunks of asbestos. Today I have asbestosis.
Being down in the fire room we, the firemen, had no idea what was going on. The water tender in charge had at least 25 years in the navy, didn’t like kids and when we asked what was going on he would get mad and give us something to do, so best to keep quiet. On a battle ship a fireman learns real quick don't ask.
After about 36 hours we were off watch. I went top side and started through a hatch to look around and see for the first time what went on, when a big Boson Mate got me and threatened all sorts of things he would do to me if I got oil and grease on his holy stoned deck. That is what I remember about Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941 .
After about three weeks we were free of the debris and the mooring fox, underway for Bremerton, Washington Naval Shipyard for repair and modernizing. After yard overhaul the ship participated in the bombardment of the Aleutian Islands. Then to the ship yard in San Francisco. That's where I got a couple of tattoos, in fact the last ones. Was advanced to Boiler Maker second class and received orders for new construction in New York.
On September 17 1942, I reported on board the Elizabeth C Stanton APA 69 for pre commissioning
duty. After the ship was commissioned, we met all sea trials and wound up in Norfolk VA to load troops. In November 1942 we participated in the invasion of Fedela, North Africa. During this invasion there were four transports sunk by submarines. We took a torpedo between our anchor chain and the bow. Back to the states to train crews and mock landings. I was advanced to Boiler Maker 1st class in June 1942. In July 1942 the ship was engaged in the invasion of Gela, Sicily. Back to states for more troops. September 1943 we landed troops during the invasion of Salarno, Italy. The ship then went to Plymouth, England to load troops for the landings at Ansio, Italy.
November 1943 transferred to the USS Lejune APA 74 for pre commissioning duty at the Naval ship yard in Portsmouth, Virginia. This ship was a German Luxury liner. We installed all new boilers and updated the complete propulsion System.
September 1944 was transferred to the USS Anthedon AS 24. The Anthedon was an advanced Submarine tender. We based in Perth Australia but wound up at different islands to service and supply submarines. The ship was anchored in Subic Bay, Philippines. We were setting on the fantail watching a movie and the movie stopped, the captain came on the address system and announced that Japan had surrendered. The only cheer was start the damn movie.
On board the Anthedon in August, 1945 I received orders to report to the Philadelphia Group16th Fleet for duty as an Engineering Decommission Inspector. Reported on board the USS Gilmore for transportation from Subic Bay to the USA. After sixty days leave and a bout with malaria, I reported on board the USS Augusta CA for decommissioning. Also the USS Cascade AD, USS Delta AR-9,
USS Chandelier,. I was promoted to Chief Boiler Maker, Acting Appointment, 1/15/1946, advanced to permanent appointment, Jan 3 1946.
June 20th 1948, I reported on board the USS Yosemite AD-19, Destroyer Tender, for duty in boiler maker gang. Dirty heavy work. Requested a rate change to photographer.
9 October 1949 Transferred to the Naval Photo school NAS Pensacola Florida. After six months my rate was changed to Chief Photographer. In May of that year I completed the Motion Picture Photo course and became rated for Combat Motion Pictures.
October 23 1950 reported back on the USS Yosemite as chief in charge of the Photo lab, blue print lab and the print shop.
21 Jun 1951 transferred to shore duty with the Armed Forces Radio and Television station in Hollywood, California. As a rated Combat Photographer I was assigned on temporary duty with the Combat Camera Group, Far East Unit; Korea. That lasted about six months.
2 April 1954 Permanent Transfer to the Combat Camera Group, Pacific Fleet. Based in San Diego CA. During this time period I served in Korea, Peace talks in Karachi, India, Saigon, Indo China and Vietnam.
26 February 1958 Assigned to Utility Squadron 7 NAS North Island California. Was leading Chief as an E-9 (Master Chief). until my release from active duty 21 July 1960. Transferred to the Fleet Reserve in an inactive state. Retired Permanently 1 July 1970.
