Oral History Interview with Gerard J. Carriera, May 16, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gerard J. Carriera, May 16, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gerard Carriera. After graduating high school, Carriera studied drafting and designing at JM Wright Technical School and worked for Electrolux. He received a deferment after joining the Navy in October 1941 and reported back to Electrolux, where he worked on many projects, including the incendiary bomb, Sperry gyroscope, and water purification systems. Carriera was a natural fit for the Seabees and was assigned to the 103rd Naval Construction Battalion. On Guam, he helped design the Pacific Fleet Headquarters and met Admiral Nimitz, who had one of Carriera’s drawings of a C-43 framed and hung in the conference room. While constructing the airport, Carriera instructed the electrical crew on how to assemble the lighting system. He was later assigned to the 8th Naval Construction Battalion and made a map of Okinawa for General Buckner. When the time came for Carriera to return home, his commander delayed him and requested an architectural design for a ranch house, which was later erected in California. Carriera returned to the States in January 1946, resuming work at Electrolux, eventually retiring as a senior manufacturing engineer.
Date: May 16, 2008
Creator: Carriera, Gerard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gerard J. Carriera, May 16, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Gerard J. Carriera, May 16, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gerard Carriera. After graduating high school, Carriera studied drafting and designing at JM Wright Technical School and worked for Electrolux. He received a deferment after joining the Navy in October 1941 and reported back to Electrolux, where he worked on many projects, including the incendiary bomb, Sperry gyroscope, and water purification systems. Carriera was a natural fit for the Seabees and was assigned to the 103rd Naval Construction Battalion. On Guam, he helped design the Pacific Fleet Headquarters and met Admiral Nimitz, who had one of Carriera’s drawings of a C-43 framed and hung in the conference room. While constructing the airport, Carriera instructed the electrical crew on how to assemble the lighting system. He was later assigned to the 8th Naval Construction Battalion and made a map of Okinawa for General Buckner. When the time came for Carriera to return home, his commander delayed him and requested an architectural design for a ranch house, which was later erected in California. Carriera returned to the States in January 1946, resuming work at Electrolux, eventually retiring as a senior manufacturing engineer.
Date: May 16, 2008
Creator: Carriera, Gerard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History