Oral history interview with David T. Meskill, 1997 May 05.

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Oral history interview with David T. Meskill, 1997 May 05.

Interview with David T. Meskill, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His duties in the S Division as paymaster and disbursing officer; battle station in the Combat Information Center; comments about the skipper, Lieutenant Commander Henry J. Armstrong; assignment to Solomon Islands as part of Destroyer Squadron 23 (DesRon 23); combat in "The Slot"; comments about Commander Arleigh Burke; Bougainville landings; Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, November 1, 1944; morale and recreation ashore; treatment of Japanese prisoners-of-war; everyday life aboard the Spence; origins of the "Little Beavers" nickname for DesRon 23; action off Truk; invasions of Saipan and Tinian, 1944; transfer off the Spence to stateside duty; separation from the Navy; lasting effects of wartime experience. Appendix includes copies of questions that were asked, notes, and other information.

63, [13] leaves ; 29 cm.

Related Entities

There are 6 Entities related to this resource.

University of North Texas. Oral History Collection.

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World War II Pacific Theater (Naval Engagements) Oral History Project.

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Spence (Destroyer : DD-512)

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Alexander, William John, 1855-1944

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William John Alexadner was born of Scottish parents in Hamilton, Canada West, in 1855. He was educated in Hamilton and at the University of Toronto where he won a scholarship which enabled him to study English at the University of Wales College in Charlottetown for two years. He obtained a PhD in Greek And Philology at the newly constituted Johns Hopkins Unviersity in 1833, and spent a further year studying modern languages in Heidelberg. Dr. Alexander was appointed professor of English language...

Meskill, David T., 1917-

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United States. Navy

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Built and launched at New York Navy Yard; commissioned Nov. 12, 1944; scraped in 1993. Served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. From the description of USS Bon Homme Richard (CV/CVA-31) photograph collection 1944-1971. (The Mariners' Museum Library). WorldCat record id: 41657866 The federal government decided in 1941 to send Supply Corps personnel to Harvard Business School for training in the business of equipping the Navy. This was effected by a transfer...