Joe joined the United States Merchant Marine on March 5,
1945 at the age of 18. He said that his friends talked him into joining so hopefully
they could serve together. As usually happens, things don’t always go as
planned.
After training, Joe was assigned the duty as a Deck Hand, 1st
Class, on a T2 type oil tanker.
During World War II, oil tankers traveled the world’s oceans
delivering fuel to far-flung bases and outposts on every continent. Some oil
tankers were used to fuel ships while in motion. This was very hazardous duty with
the lines strung between the two ships sometimes snapping during heavy seas.
Joe’s ship was anchored in the harbor at Okinawa when the
surrender documents, ending World War II were signed in Tokyo Bay.
The war was over, but in October 1945, 1000 ships, including
Joe’s, were sent out of anchorage to ride out a typhoon that was approaching
Okinawa. At the end of the massive storm, almost 100 ships were sunk and many more
hundreds damaged. Many of these ship and amphibious landing craft were to have
been used in the invasion of Japan (Operation Olympic) if the Japanese had not
surrendered earlier.
Joe says that he felt that he was lucky; his ship was never
hit by Japanese kamikazes while sailing near Okinawa during the war.
He was discharged in March, 1947.
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