Oral History Interview with Ralph Nelson Smith, April 19, 2012
Description:
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ralph Nelson Smith. Smith joined the Merchant Marines in the spring of 1945 at the age of 17. Upon completion of training at Catalina Island, which included hand-to-hand combat and jumping into flaming gasoline-covered water, he was assigned to the SS H. Weir Cook (1944) as a messman and storekeeper. In August 1945, he sailed out of San Francisco in blackout conditions but soon learned of the Japanese surrender. Despite that…
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Date:
April 19, 2012
Duration:
1 hour 14 minutes 32 seconds
Creator:
Smith, Ralph
Partner:
National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation