Oral History Interview with H. G. Eastwood, December 31, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with H. G. Eastwood, December 31, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with H.G. Eastwood. Eastwood was attending Eastern New Mexico University in 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the Navy and trained at Farragut, Idaho where he graduated from the navigator school. He was sent to New Caledonia and assigned to PT boats (USS PT-247). He describes the armament and propulsion of the 70 foot Higgins boat and the actions and procedures of the navigator during a torpedo attack run. He tells of working with code talkers concerning downed flyers, probable targets, etc. Eastwood also describes PT-247 being hit by Japanese shore batteries on 5 May 1943 resulting in fatalities, the sinking of the boat and his recovery by a sister boat. He was sent to the Samson Naval Hospital in Geneva, New York for recovery. Upon recovering, he was send to Colgate University to attend classes in PT boat operations. Upon completion of the course he was commissioned an ensign. Soon thereafter he received a medical discharge as a result of wounds.
Date: December 31, 2002
Creator: Eastwood, H. G.
System: The Portal to Texas History