Oral history interview with Edwin Boettger, [videorecording], 2002.

ArchivalResource

Boettger, Edwin F., 1917-2011. Oral history interview with Edwin Boettger, [videorecording], 2002.

Oral history interview with Edwin Boettger, [videorecording], 2002.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/764607168

Edwin F. Boettger, a Two Rivers, Wisconsin native, discusses his service in the Merchant Marine aboard the USAT Oneida and the USAT James Parker during World War II. Boettger describes his childhood interest in ships and his later awareness of the United States' efforts to build a naval supply line through the Merchant Marine. He talks about signing up through an apprentice program, narrowly avoiding being drafted into the Army, and training at Hoffman Island (New York), which was an anchor for New York City's submarine net. Boettger comments on the gun and boat training, the armaments on the Parker, and his choice to work in the engine room. He portrays work in the engine room and the boilers' getting first priority for fresh water. Boettger explains the difference between a Liberty ship and a Victory ship. Assigned to a training station at Sheepshead Bay (New York), he speaks of stowing a delivery of boats before a storm hit, fixing the kitchen's soup kettles on Thanksgiving, and his efforts to be reassigned to a ship so that he would more opportunities for promotion. Assigned to the USAT Oneida, he reveals he was one of the only two men from the engine room to survive the ship's sinking. Boettger states because he was one of the newest members, he was assigned an emergency station on deck and wore an overboard suit to stay warm. He details a torpedo causing an explosion, being blown off the deck, finding other survivors in the water with the help of the attacking submarine's search lights, helping stabilize the captain, whose legs were broken, and being picked up by a destroyer nineteen hours later. Boettger talks about recovering at a hospital in New York and the emotional reaction of civilians to the group of survivors at a train station. He tells of retrieving laundry he had left at a Chinese laundry, clothes he had stowed at Seaman's Church Institute, and receiving 300 dollars from the government for "loss of gear." Boettger discusses being interviewed for a special assignment and being chosen to serve aboard the USAT James Parker because he was small enough to fit through the manhole of a water box. He mentions recovering from a scalp wound after the sinking of his ship, and he characterizes the Oneida's captain, whom he later met again after the war. Boettger comments on getting promoted to more important duty stations, making continuous trips in the wintertime to transport troops to Great Britain, and being based at a port in Mers-el-Kébir (Algeria) during the summertime. Boettger explains that crewmembers did not take vacations because they were afraid of being replaced, and he addresses why they thought the Parker was a wonderful ship. He characterizes the Parker's chief engineer, who had an artificial leg and who encouraged Boettger to get qualified for becoming a temporary officer. He explains the ship's role as a task force leader, describes its special "Town and Country" horn, and addresses the change in composition of convoys as the war progressed. Boettger comments on communication methods between ships and the use of splash buoys. He details three casualties among the engineers and the perks of his being promoted to an officer. After attending Officers Candidate School in New London (Connecticut) in 1944, he states he was recalled to the Parker, which then led a fleet of 1000 ships to the invasion of Southern France. Boettger highlights picking up the officers who surrendered Italy as prisoners of war and transporting them to Africa under strict Geneva Convention codes, including providing them with brand new mattresses. He talks about transporting Africa Corps prisoners of war to the United States, the successful use of Enigma to create safe passage, breaking the windows of Gracie Mansion (New York) by blowing their loud horn, and disappointing Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia when he arrived to meet the Italian prisoners and discovered they had been swapped for Germans. Boettger recalls a mission when they were ordered to empty the ship, watched V-2 rockets attacks on London for seven days, and then took one unidentified, important prisoner to New York. He portrays the Parker's capacity and conditions in the troop hold. Boettger reflects on the importance of the Merchant Marine to the war effort. After the war, he talks about transporting art treasures and war brides from Europe and delivering land mines to Germany during the Berlin Crisis.

Video recording : 5 video cassettes (ca. 150 min.) ; sd., col.; 1/2 in.Transcript : 28 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center