Oral History Interview with Frank Nemec, November 15, 2015 Page: 52

                                
Mr. Nemec:
Mr. Zambrano:
Mr. Nemec:
Mr. Zambrano:
Mr. Nemec:
Mr. Zambrano:
Mr. Nemec:
Mr. Zambrano:

Mr. Nemec:
Mr. Zambrano:

We went to the Marine Base, to the discharge center, but I turned
in with my back problem to the sick bay. The sick bay took me to
the hospital then. I got it over here what time I entered.
Can you tell me again how it is that you hurt your back?
Well, it was in the front line on Okinawa. The tank was disabled
and needed new batteries; it wouldn't start. The batteries went
dead for some reason. I went by myself; they didn't give me a
helper. The batteries weigh 165 pounds and I weighed 155. You
have to lift it up to the top turret out there, and get it in there and
take the old one out with some wrenches to get the old one out and
get those things out there; grab those things and get that 165
battery out of that hole and put it out here, and put the other one in
there. That's how I hurt my back. Doing it in a hurry. Inside I
wasn't worried so much as I was on top trying to get it in, because
you're an open target.
You said earlier that you were being shot at while you were doing
this, right?
Well, yes. You're always being shot at no matter what you're
doing out there on the front line, because the Japanese, they got an
eye view on you.
You told me a little earlier that your back hurt so much that you
couldn't touch your toes?
Well, I had a hard time, with great pain, to tie my shoes.
Oh, that was it, to tie your shoes.

But I hurt; but I still hurt pretty good. I didn't want to really--
when I went to China, I started getting better a little bit. First thing
you know, you hit the good cafes out there. T-bone steak, French
fries, and rice and all this and that. I sold my cigarettes on the
street and got enough money to buy some good food and some
beer. Are you thirsty or anything?
Oh, no. I'm fine; thank you.

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