Oral History Interview with Laurence Norris, August 18, 2001 Page: 6

                                
Mr. Norris:
Mr. Misenhimer:
Mr. Norris:
Mr. Misenhimer:
Mr. Norris:

Well, I don't know. We left there on the ship. They took
us up by Guadalcanal. That ship was a mess. I don't think I'd get
on it again. It wasn't too fancy. I know one day - they did feed
you two meals a day. Things were segregated back then and there
was a, well - I think he was a Sergeant. But anyway, they fed this
group of black guys first and he just had a fit. Cause they had the
blacks eat ahead of us. It didn't bother me any. I don't feel that
way. They're people too, just like me. In fact, my son is married
to a black girl.
This group of blacks, were they soldiers or what were they?
I'm not sure. They had black Seabees, I believe they were.
Black Seabees. OK. When you got to Guadalcanal, what did you
do there?
Well, we joined the 1st Marine Division. It was just more
training. Of course I was pretty well built back then. Now I'm
about nothing. But I joined "Easy" Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st
Marines. The Lieutenant saw me and wanted me to operate a flame
thrower. So I took flame thrower training. There were five or six

of us that took flame thrower training. I know this one fellow was
supposed to help me.   There was supposed to be two flame
throwers. Grover Townsend was his name. He was a Corporal
and I was a PFC and when we started together I said, "Well, Grover,
why don't you take it one time and I'll take it the next." "Oh, all
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