Oral History Interview with Roy Crawford, September 19, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Roy Crawford, September 19, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Crawford. Crawford joined the Navy in January of 1944. He completed Radar Operator School, and served aboard the USS Richard P. Leary (DD-664) beginning late February. He worked as a radarman and engineers’ yeoman. They traveled to Pearl Harbor and in July provided escort duty to Eniwetok and Saipan. In September they supported landings at Peleliu, and at Leyte in October. They launched torpedoes at the Japanese battleship Yamashiro during the 25 October Battle of Surigao Strait, and rescued survivors from the USS Albert W. Grant (DD-649). Crawford recalls a kamikaze attack to the ship. They supplied gunfire support for the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Upon arriving at Adak, Alaska in August they learned that Japan had surrendered. They returned to the US in September of 1945. Crawford was discharged in March of 1946.
Date: September 19, 2004
Creator: Crawford, Roy
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William McDowell, September 19, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with William McDowell, September 19, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William McDowell. McDowell joined the Navy in October of 1942. He completed radar and sonar school, and worked in radar maintenance and later as Chief Radio Technician aboard the USS Bennion (DD-662) beginning December of 1943. They arrived at Pearl Harbor in March of 1944 escorting the USS Bataan (CVL-29) to the Pacific. They served as a fighter director and radar picket ship during numerous campaigns, including the Tinian, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations. They also participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait in October of 1944. Once they arrived to the Aleutian Islands, they received word that the Japanese surrendered. They returned to the US and McDowell was discharged in late 1945.
Date: September 19, 2004
Creator: McDowell, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Morgan, September 19, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with William Morgan, September 19, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Morgan. Morgan joined the Navy in January of 1944. Beginning June, he served aboard the USS Holt (DE-706) as a Seaman 2nd Class, and worked as a quartermaster. They provided anti-submarine patrol, protection for operations in Leyte Gulf and escort services to Hollandia, New Guinea. They steamed with a convoy toward Mindoro for the establishment of a motor torpedo boat base on the island, and the Holt provided gunfire support during the invasion. In March of 1945 they transported troops to Port Legazpi and provided gunfire support during the landings. From May through December, they were assigned to weather patrol in the eastern South China Sea, sending reports to help guide movements of the fleets operating in the Pacific. Morgan returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: September 19, 2004
Creator: Morgan, William
System: The Portal to Texas History