The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Trimmer. Trimmer was born in Cumberland, Maryland 18 September 1918. Joining the Navy in 1940, he initially trained at Norfolk, Virginia, and then went aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as an electrician. He describes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and recalls sixty-two of his shipmates died. After repairs in California, the Pennsylvania participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal. In July 1942, Trimmer reported to a gyro and battery school. In December, 1943, he went aboard the submarine S-37 stationed at San Diego. One year later he was transferred to the USS Redfish (SS-395) at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In July 1944 the Redfish departed Pearl Harbor for its first war patrol. By October 1944, they sank five Japanese ships. Only later were they notified that one of the ships carried 250 Australian prisoners of war. On the next patrol, the Redfish was accompanied by two sister boats that located and sank seven ships in a convoy. The Redfish was credited with sinking a transport. While in the Sea of Japan, in December 1944, they joined forces with the USS Sea Devil (SS-400) and damaged the Japanese carrier …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Trimmer. Trimmer was born in Cumberland, Maryland 18 September 1918. Joining the Navy in 1940, he initially trained at Norfolk, Virginia, and then went aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as an electrician. He describes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and recalls sixty-two of his shipmates died. After repairs in California, the Pennsylvania participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal. In July 1942, Trimmer reported to a gyro and battery school. In December, 1943, he went aboard the submarine S-37 stationed at San Diego. One year later he was transferred to the USS Redfish (SS-395) at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In July 1944 the Redfish departed Pearl Harbor for its first war patrol. By October 1944, they sank five Japanese ships. Only later were they notified that one of the ships carried 250 Australian prisoners of war. On the next patrol, the Redfish was accompanied by two sister boats that located and sank seven ships in a convoy. The Redfish was credited with sinking a transport. While in the Sea of Japan, in December 1944, they joined forces with the USS Sea Devil (SS-400) and damaged the Japanese carrier …