Oral history interview with John R. Thomas [sound recording], 2008.

ArchivalResource

Thomas, John Rea, 1918-. Oral history interview with John R. Thomas [sound recording], 2008.

Oral history interview with John R. Thomas [sound recording], 2008.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/664354006

John Thomas, a Beloit, Wisconsin native, discusses his World War II and Korean War service as a chaplain in the Navy. Thomas touches on junior ROTC in high school, his theological training at Carroll College (Wisconsin) and McCormick Theological Seminary, marriage after graduation, and naval chaplain school at the College of William & Mary (Virginia). Assigned to Kinston Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield (North Carolina), he explains he also had duties at Marine Corps Outlying Landing Field Oak Grove (North Carolina) and relates that one of the pilots transporting him between bases gave him a wild ride. He describes two of the base officers, Major Jones and Colonel Christiansen, and recalls having an argument with the colonel, who got angry about Thomas taking a Jewish soldier to a local synagogue. He recalls officiating the marriage between a second cousin and a Marine sergeant and writing an amusing letter home about it. Thomas talks about his wife spending three months with him in Kinston and critiquing his sermons. He mentions marrying a couple that the other chaplain had refused, being invited to wear a Marine uniform, organizing a Christmas party in 1945, and going on an active duty training cruise in 1946. He details giving marriage counseling to a young woman who had gotten impregnated by a Marine and keeping in touch with her. Living in the Chicago area (Illinois), he talks about finding housing with his wife, specializing in clinical pastoral education, and resettling in San Diego (California). After volunteering for active duty in 1950, he was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 7 and later went through twenty-three different transfers over fifteen months. Thomas recalls having just one bad captain, drinking too much coffee while making his rounds, and taking Dramamine for seasickness. He describes some photographs in a scrapbook. He states his career kept him too busy to join veteran's organizations, but he did attend a couple ship reunions.

Sound recording : 2 sound cassettes (ca. 70 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 2 sound cassettes (ca. 70 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 19 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center