Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Jowdy. Jowdy enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age of 15, with his parents’ consent. His first assignment was pulling bodies out of sunken ships in Pearl Harbor. At Guadalcanal, his ship was torpedoed. Due to the presence of enemy subs, he could not be rescued initially and spent two weeks floating in a raft. Then he joined a rescue effort to aid the USS Wasp (CV-7), only to be torpedoed again, spending another four days in the water. Jowdy was then assigned to the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25), patrolling the Bering Sea and participating in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands as a second loader on a 40-millimeter. After witnessing the Marianas Turkey Shoot and also seeing MacArthur film his famous return, Jowdy participated in the bombardment of Iwo Jima, amidst kamikazes and suicide boats. After the war, he survived a typhoon and served occupation duty in Japan, later transporting troops as part of the demobilization effort before being discharged in January 1946.
Date: September 21, 2008
Creator: Jowdy, Al
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Jowdy. Jowdy enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age of 15, with his parents’ consent. His first assignment was pulling bodies out of sunken ships in Pearl Harbor. At Guadalcanal, his ship was torpedoed. Due to the presence of enemy subs, he could not be rescued initially and spent two weeks floating in a raft. Then he joined a rescue effort to aid the USS Wasp (CV-7), only to be torpedoed again, spending another four days in the water. Jowdy was then assigned to the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25), patrolling the Bering Sea and participating in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands as a second loader on a 40-millimeter. After witnessing the Marianas Turkey Shoot and also seeing MacArthur film his famous return, Jowdy participated in the bombardment of Iwo Jima, amidst kamikazes and suicide boats. After the war, he survived a typhoon and served occupation duty in Japan, later transporting troops as part of the demobilization effort before being discharged in January 1946.
Date: September 21, 2008
Creator: Jowdy, Al
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History

Newsmap. For the Armed Forces. 237th week of the war, 119th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Southeast Asia, Italy, USSR, Southwest Pacific, Central Pacific, Kuriles. Maps: Central Pacific; Cassino area; Burma. Insets: Cassino. Includes 6 photographs. Back: USS Ranger. 10 photographs and text illustrate recent operations.
Date: March 27, 1944
Creator: [United States.] Army Service Forces. Morale Services Division. Army Information Branch.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, February 21, 1944 : week of February 10 to February 17 : 232nd week of the war, 114th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Italy, USSR, Western Europe, Southwest Pacific, Central Pacific, Submarines. Maps show the Gulf of Finland, Russia; Italy. Inset map shows Cassino area, Italy. Includes 11 photographs. Back: Landing Craft. Illustrations and photographs of various landing craft with descriptive text.
Date: February 21, 1944
Creator: [United States.] Army Service Forces. Morale Services Division. Army Information Branch.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, January 10, 1944 : week of December 29, 1943 to January 5, 1944, 226th week of the war, 108th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: U.S.S.R., Southwest Pacific, Italy, Air offensive Maps: Central Italy, Rumania/Poland, New Britain Island./ Inset maps: Cassino region; Chieti region. Photographs: Delivering supplies to troops in Central Italy, Gen. Eisenhower with Sir Charles Poetal and Sir Arthur Tedder after the Tehran conference, Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, and Gen. Sir Alan Brooke inspect Nazi prisoners on the Italian front in New Zealand; Germans prepare to evacuate the Crimea, Landing craft are protected by B-25 medium bombers at Arawe. Back: Illustration and photographs show the many ways Army nurses serve.
Date: January 10, 1944
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, December 6, 1943 : week of November 25 to December 2, 221st week of the war, 103rd week of U.S. participation

Text describes action on various war fronts: Italy, USSR, Germany, Central Pacific, Southwest Pacific, China, Plans. Inset maps: central Italy, northeast New Guinea, Action areas in central and southwest Pacific, Truk Is., Nauru, Wotje, Jaluit, Makin, Tarawa. Photographs: Australian Air Force Beaufighter, Sgt. Ben Kuroki of Hershey, Nebraska, Captured Soviet equipment, Rescued blindfolded Nazi. German built road in Isernia. Back: Text and 11 illustrations highlight the 11 general orders that must be known by sentinels.
Date: December 6, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, October 18, 1943 : week of October 7 to October 14, 214th week of the war, 96th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Russia, Central Italy, Italy, Azores, Air offensive, Norway, Southwest Pacific, Wake. Large world map shows United Nations, Axis and Axis occupied areas, countries with Axis relations broken, and neutral countries. Includes inset maps: Eastern Europe, Roads to Rome, the globe, Scene of combined operations in the southwest Pacific. Photographs: Burma bombing campaign, Modern road to Rome, Wake Island, Tailgunner Sergt. Harris Goldberg of Brookline, Mass. Back: Photographic view of the world with the center at Tokyo, Japan. Includes instructions for using a detachable scale that, when centered on Tokyo, measures distances along any line running through Tokyo.
Date: October 18, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, October 4, 1943 : week of September 23 to September 30, 212th week of the war, 94th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Italy, Corsica, Russia, New Georgia, Gilbert Is., Ellice Is., New Guinea, Western Europe. Maps show Northeast New Guinea; central Italy; Italy, Yugoslavia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tunisia. All maps show Nazi or Japanese occupied areas. Includes photographs: Naples, On the beach at Salerno, Smoke screen over Palermo, Ship with a mouth. Back: A mournful melody, or, a dud dood it again : and watch out for booby traps! 8 cartoon panels graphically describe the dangers of unexploded projectiles.
Date: October 4, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, August 30, 1943 : week of August 19 to August 26, 207th week of the war, 89th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Italy, Russia, Kiska, Berlin, Conference, Burma, China, New Guinea, New Georgia. Maps show Russian front -- Southern Italy. Includes photographs: Kiska, Sicily. Back: Weapons of the German Infantry Division. 17 weapons are identified and described, including the size, maximum range, and number found in various German Army units. Each weapon is keyed by number to a battle illustration.
Date: August 30, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, August 23, 1943 : week of August 12 to August 19, 206th week of the war, 88th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text desribes action on various war fronts: Air offensive, Sicily, Russia, New Guinea, New Georgia, Borneo, Kuril Is., Pacific. Maps show military activities throughout Europe and the Solomon Islands during the week. Includes photographs: the raid on oil refineries in the Ploesti area of Rumania; Looking Southeast from Salamaua. Back: China's army is a seasoned military team. Illustration of Chinese soldiers with text describing historical and cultural points. English - Chinese translation of common phrases used by soldiers.
Date: August 23, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, April 26, 1943 : week of April 16 to April 23 : 189th week of the war, 71st week of U.S. participation

Text describes action on various war fronts: Tunisia, Raid on Japan, Southwest Pacific, Italy, Air offensive, Russia, Aleutians. Large world map is keyed to text. Shows United Nations countries, Axis and Axis occupied areas, countries with Axis relations broken, and neutral countries. Inset maps show Italy, Sardinia, and northern Tunisia; Axis held areas in Tunisia; Nazi held areas around the Sea of Azov. Back: Fox Holes: Dig!..Or Die! Photographs and illustrations describing proper fox hole preparation and use.
Date: April 26, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, April 12, 1943 : week of April 2 to April 9, 187th week of the war, 69th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Russia, Solomons, New Guinea, Aleutians, Bolivia, Tunisia, Air offensive. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps show Sicily and Tunis. Includes photographs: Malaria control, Super block-buster [8,000 lb. aerial bomb], Change of ownership [captured Mercedes Benz troop-carrier], Bren-gun carriers support British Grenadiers in Kasserine Pass, Italian troops in the African war zone. Back: The Marine Corps. A unified fighting force. Graphic image shows helmeted Marine soldiers with rifles attacking a tropical island with ships and transport boats in background, as well as various photos of parachutes, bombardments, etc.
Date: April 12, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, March 22, 1943 : week of March 12 to March 19, 184th week of the war, 66th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Tunisia, Aleutians, New Guinea, Solomons, Pacific and Far East, Burma-China, Russia. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps show northern Tunisia, and along the Russian front. Includes photographs: Pulling together for victory [Chinese laborers flatten a runway with a heavy roller]; Sgt. Robert Wilson of Wichita, Kansas rides a wheelbarrow taxicab; Yanks in the Far East care for Burmese orphans; Amphibian jeeps; Wet feet are no worry [jungle fighting in New Guinea]; Allied troops wade from stream to shore [New Guinea]; American gun crew lowers their sights to fire into the jungle in New Guinea. Back: Military Courtesy. Color illustrations of Army and Navy uniforms and insignia of the United States, U.S.S.R., France, Poland, China and the British Empire. Accompanying text describes how to address each rank.
Date: March 22, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, March 15, 1943 : week of March 5 to March 12, 183rd week of the war, 65th week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Russia, Air offensive, Unrest (France, Belgium, Norway), Southwest Pacific, Tunisia. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps show Russia, Tunisia. Includes photographs: Convoy to Russia; American tank in Russia; Joint Assignment; Airborne engineers; Shower bath - desert style. Back: Learn to recognize these vehicles (half-track vehicles). Labelled illustrations of American, Canadian and German vehicles with a quick guide to features for comparison.
Date: March 15, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, March 1, 1943 : week of February 19 to February 26, 181st week of the war, 63rd week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: North Africa, Russia, Burma-China, New Guinea, Solomons, Aleutians, Sinkings (sea losses). Large world map is keyed to text. Includes table: Great Circle Distances in Statute Miles. Inset map shows Tunisia. Includes photos: Nazi Panzers in Bizerte, Air base at Dakar, Hold on Kharkov, Hunting enemy submarines. Back: Poster provides recognition cues and front and profile drawings of Allied and Axis heavy, medium, and light armored cars. Includes range scale.
Date: March 1, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, February 22, 1943 : week of February 12 to February 19, 180th week of the war, 62nd week of U.S. participation

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Russia, New Guinea, Solomons, China, Pacific and Far East, French fleet, North Africa. Large world map is keyed to text. Includes table: Great Circle Distances in Statute Miles. Inset maps show Tunisia and Russia. Includes 8 photographs. Back: Poster provides recognition cues and front and profile drawings of Allied and Axis light tanks and self-propelled weapons. Includes range scale.
Date: February 22, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, February 8, 1943 : week of January 29 to February 5

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps: [Rostov area] ; [Tunisia coast]. Includes 8 photographs. Back: The World at War map indicates points where U.S. forces are stationed.
Date: February 8, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, February 1, 1943 : week of January 22 to January 29

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Allied Council, North Africa, Western Europe, Solomons, New Guinea, Wake, Russia, Aleutians. Includes ten photographs. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps show North Africa and Russia. Back: "Soviet Infantry." Two posters by Glen Mitchell show Soviet infantry in action. Also included are images of Soviet uniform insignia and Soviet weapons.
Date: February 1, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, January 11, 1943 : week of January 1 to January 8

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Rabaul, Solomons, Pacific, Wake, New Guinea, Burma, North Africa, Russia, Aleutians. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Includes inset maps: Tunisia; USSR. Photographs: Japanese Bull's eye [a Nip carrier making a perfect circle trying to escape in the Battle of Midway]; "Kamerad" in Tunisia; Waiting for actions on a U.S. carrier; "General winter". Back: "Learn to Recognize These Vehicles" poster gives identifying features and illustrations of various heavy tanks and self-propelled artillery.
Date: January 11, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, January 4, 1943 : week of December 25 to January 1

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: North Africa, Command, Libya, New Guinea, Solomons, Burma, Russia, Fr. Somaliland. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Includes inset maps: Indonesia -- Rostov region [USSR]. Photographs: Blimp patrol -- Supplies for Guadalcanal -- Along the road to Tunisia. Back: The Nerve System of the Army: text, illustration, and photographs show contributions of the Signal Corps to the war effort.
Date: January 4, 1943
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, December 28, 1942 : week of December 18 to December 25

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: New Guinea -- Burma -- Solomons -- East Indies -- Tunisia -- Libya -- Russia -- Aleutians -- Pacific. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps show roads and railways in Burma -- Tunisia, [Libya, and Algeria throughout the Mediterranean Sea and Italy]. Includes photographs: Tin Fish Launched [bomber] -- Mosquito Bomber -- Ready for Trouble [U.S. Warship loaded with ammunition] -- [trenches] -- [Moving an army] -- [Lockheed] -- Assault Gun [mounted on Mark III] Back: For Yanks Dreaming of A White Christmas. Text and photographs highlight the tasks in winter operations.
Date: December 28, 1942
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, December 21, 1942 : week of December 11 to December 18

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Libya; Tunisia; New Guinea; Solomons; China; Russia; Aleutians Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Includes inset maps: New Guinea; Mediterranean Sea; Russian front. Photographs: Supply dock; wrecked by recoil; Captured Italian flag; Hot on Rommel's heels; Yanks advance on Japs in New Guinea Back: Text describes the history and power of infantry. Includes 19 photographs and a map of Stalingrad and the Caucasus operations area.
Date: December 21, 1942
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, December 14, 1942 : week of December 4 to December 11

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: New Guinea, Solomons, Pearl Harbor, Tunisia, Libya, Dakar, Toulon, Italy, Russia, France. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Includes inset maps: Dakar; Northeast Tunisia; Tripoli and environs; Russian Front; Guadalcanal Island; Bougainville Island; New Britain Photographs: Convoy to Africa; Advance to Tunisia; Street scene: French Morocco Back: The text entitled "Antiaircraft artillery" describes antiaircraft weapons. The other text "The Dance of the Ninety" describes a 90mm gun. Includes photographs: KEEPS 'EM FALLING -- EYES -- EARS
Date: December 14, 1942
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library

Newsmap. Monday, December 7, 1942 : week of November 27 to December 4

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Tunisia, Supply, Libya, Toulon, Russia, New Guinea, Solomons, Aleutians. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Includes inset maps: Tunisia -- Russian Front. Back: Maps and texts highlight the battleground of North Africa. Photographs: Crash landing -- Target sighted, mission completed -- Stalingrad strikes back.
Date: December 7, 1942
Creator: [United States.] Army Orientation Course.
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library