Today I met with Ed, yet another member of the greatest generation.Ed is 97 years old. He is a veteran of WW II having served 10 years in the U.S. Navy.
Ed enlisted in the navy in 1935 at the age of 21. Because he had no training or skills, he had extreme difficulty finding employment. This was complicated by the Great Depression.
He joined the navy in order to have a job and acquire a useful trade.
Ed went to Machinist Mate school for 20 weeks. He is pictured here in front of the instrument panel of the number two engine for the USS Mississippi.
When Ed finished his training he was assigned to the light cruiser, USS Helena.
On December 7, 1941 the Helena happened to be docked at Pearl Harbor. Early that morning, while Ed was showering, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Ed escaped through a port hole (window) and swam to safety.
The Helena was heavily damaged but it could be and ultimately was repaired.
After repairs, the Helena with Ed aboard headed for the Pacific. And that is where a whole new set of adventures begin.
I'll be seeing Ed and Bert (see previous post) again next week at which time I'll have more to tell you.
2 comments:
I'll just bet that you have perked up their lives a great deal by interviewing them.
You're one of the "good one's," George.
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Fascinating. I am sharing your stories with my son. He is very interested in anything to do with WWII. And that instrument panel in the photo is something! I can not imaging trying to figure that out.
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