Oral History Collection. Oral History Collection

Scope and Contents Donald Bosetti served aboard Growler as an engineman second class from 1959 to 1961. He began his interview by discussing his decision to join the Navy and his experiences in boot camp. Bosetti recalled his first days in the barracks as well as the ensuing arguments and fights that occurred between the recruits from the North and the recruits from the South. He also noted that, as boot camp came to an end, the recruits were given psychological tests, some of which he described in detail, and...

Scope and Contents Douglas Peterson served aboard Intrepid as an attack aviator in VA-34, flying A-4 Skyhawks during Intrepid’s second deployment to Vietnam in 1967. Peterson began his interview by discussing his interest in airplanes and his desire to fly. He then continued, stating that he entered the Naval Academy in June of 1960, graduated in 1964, and immediately began flight training at Saufley Field in Pensacola, Florida, where he primarily flew T-34s. While discussing flight training, Peterson also...

Scope and Contents Duane F. Heatwole served aboard Growler as a commissaryman petty officer second class from 1960 to 1964. Heatwole began his interview by discussing Growler’s galley. He also described how he acquired different types of food, how this food was loaded into the boat, and how the food was stored. Heatwole then discussed some of the meals that he prepared for the crew, including filet mignon, lobster, and crab legs from Alaska. He then continued, describing a process called snorkeling, which...

Scope and Contents Gerald Feola served aboard Intrepid as an aviation structural mechanic third class with VAW 33 during the ship’s second Vietnam War deployment, from May to December 1967. He began his interview by mentioning his two uncles and one cousin who served in World War II, and his Catholic Church’s sea cadets program, which provided him with somewhat of an exposure to the Navy. Feola then described his decision to join the Navy, being assigned to a squadron, seeing Intrepid for the first time, and...

Scope and Contents Helen M. Mehl married Lieutenant Wayne Mehl in 1961, and spent three years living in Hawaii during Wayne’s service aboard Growler. Mehl began her interview by discussing her childhood and her upbringing in a traditional Methodist family. She then stated that after graduating high school, she attended Stanford University to study art and art history. This was where she met Wayne Mehl, and she noted that by her senior year, they were engaged. Mehl then continued, stating that she moved to...

Scope and Contents Herman Nascimento served aboard Growler from 1958 to 1961, as an engineman petty officer third class. Nascimento began his interview by providing a brief overview of his time in the Navy. He then explained his family history, discussed growing up in Hawaii, and recounted some of his memories of growing up in Hawaii during WWII. Nascimento next discussed his motivation for joining the Navy and volunteering for the submarine service. The interview then shifted toward submarine training...

Scope and Contents Jack Gabler served aboard Growler as a sonarman third class from 1963 to 1964. He began his interview by stating that he had initially planned to become a veterinarian, however he explained how a turn of events and a chance meeting with a Navy recruiter resulted in him joining the Navy. Gabler then discussed boot camp, which he described as a “real eye awakening moment.” He also recounted his introduction to the submarine service, stating that submarines sailors came to speak with the...

Scope and Contents James Smith served aboard Intrepid during World War II, from 1943 to 1946, and was a seaman first class stationed as a first loader on a 40mm gun. Smith began his interview by providing a brief background of his life before he joined the Navy. He then discussed his decision join the Navy, how he felt after the Pearl Harbor attack, being assigned to gunnery, and his job as a first loader. After focusing on his initial Navy experiences, Smith described the first time he saw Intrepid, as well...

Scope and Contents James Day served aboard Growler as a hospital corpsman from 1961 to 1963. He began his interview by discussing why he joined the Navy and providing a brief overview of his service. Day noted boot camp, hospital corps school in San Diego at the Balboa Naval Hospital, operating room technician school at Bethesda Maryland Naval Hospital, being stationed at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, and his time as an OR tech aboard the hospital ship Haven during the Korean War. Day also stated that he left...