Oral History Interview with Johnny F. Gavlick, April 10, 2003

Oral History Interview with Johnny F. Gavlick, April 10, 2003

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Track One 1:57:40

Description

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Johnny F. Gavlick. He was born in Falls City, Texas on September 14, 1925. He enlisted into the Navy on August 3, 1943. He gives a detailed account of his six weeks at boot camp in San Diego. Upon graduating he was sent to Coronado, California to train in LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) and LCMs (Landing Craft Mechanized) and qualified as coxswain. He hitch-hiked to Los Angeles upon graduation from Landing Craft School where he visited the Hollywood Canteen and was served coffee by Clark Gable and … continued below

Physical Description

1 sound recording (1 hr., 57 min., 39 sec.)

Interviewers

Publisher

National Museum of the Pacific War
Place of Publication: Fredericksburg, Texas

Audiences

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Provided By

National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Established in 1967, the Museum honors the 8 million Americans who served in WWII in the Pacific Theater by sharing their stories with the world. Located in Fredericksburg in the restored Nimitz "Steamboat" Hotel, the Museum partners with the Texas Historical Commission to preserve the historical resources of the era.

Description

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Johnny F. Gavlick. He was born in Falls City, Texas on September 14, 1925. He enlisted into the Navy on August 3, 1943. He gives a detailed account of his six weeks at boot camp in San Diego. Upon graduating he was sent to Coronado, California to train in LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) and LCMs (Landing Craft Mechanized) and qualified as coxswain. He hitch-hiked to Los Angeles upon graduation from Landing Craft School where he visited the Hollywood Canteen and was served coffee by Clark Gable and danced with Debra Paget. In November 1943 he boarded the USS Harry Lee (AP-10) and sailed to Pearl Harbor. He recalls sailing to Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands at the end of 1943. He describes his duty at Tarawa aboard a LCM, transporting supplies and personnel from the island to ships anchored outside the reef. After returning to Pearl Harbor, Gavlick volunteered for an assignment with the 33rd Army Division, training at Kauai for a landing in the Philippines. Upon completion of training, he sailed to Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands, where he participated as part of a boat crew in the invasion in February 1944. He recalls on one occasion ferrying the captain of the USS New Jersey (BB-62) ashore and on numerous other occasions carrying officers from ships anchored beyond the reef. He recalls several experiences on the island of Majuro and seeing Bob Hope with the USO on Tarawa and Eniwetok. He was in the Marshall Islands when the war ended. He and several other sailors, in their eagerness to return to home, embarked on a Dutch Merchant ship that was being towed to San Pedro, California. He was discharged from the Navy on December 5, 1945.

Physical Description

1 sound recording (1 hr., 57 min., 39 sec.)

Subjects

Keywords

Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms

Library of Congress Subject Headings

World War, 1939-1945

University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure

Language

English

Item Type

Sound

Identifier

Unique identifying numbers for this recording in the Portal or other systems.

Accession or Local Control No: OH00874
Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metapth1608130

Relationships

Oral History Interview with Johnny F. Gavlick, April 10, 2003, [transcript] ark:/67531/metapth1604321

Collections

This recording is part of the following collections of related materials.

National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection

This oral history collection depicts an instrumental era in American history. In these transcripts of interviews with World War II veterans are personal experiences with the war, from the Doolittle Raid and D-Day to the Battle for Bataan.

National Museum of the Pacific War Digital Archive

The Digital Archive presents digitized collections from the Center for Pacific War Studies collections at the National Museum of the Pacific War. Collections and material are continuously being added and represent only a small portion of the archives' physical holdings.

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