Oral history interview with Ronald F. Thomas, 2000.

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Oral history interview with Ronald F. Thomas, 2000.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/85362481

Ronald F. Thomas, a Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin native, discusses his Korean War service with the Navy working in the engine room and as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the USS Southerland. After boot camp at San Diego (California), Thomas talks about boarding the Southerland (DD-743) off the coast of Japan, duty operating the boilers as the "oil king," and technical details about his destroyer. He comments on learning to use the 20 millimeter guns and adapting to life at sea. Thomas describes shore bombardment, the support the Southerland provided for Marines at the invasion of Inchon, and naval combat. He discusses creating drinking water, different types of shipboard guns, and capturing a barge full of North Korean troops. Thomas describes activities around Wonsan and the evacuation of Hungnam, including rescuing crews whose mine sweepers were sunk and transferring wounded shipmates to a cruiser for medical treatment. He recalls some close calls from enemy shore batteries and having his hearing damaged. After the truce, he touches upon aircraft carrier escort and training Chinese naval personnel in Formosa. Thomas comments on his use of the GI Bill for home loans and to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and attending reunions of the Southerland.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 40 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 40 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcrpit : 22 p.Military papers : 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder)

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

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SNAC Resource ID: 8333232

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

Related Entities

There are 5 Entities related to this resource.

McIntosh, James F., 1923-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dv1gzw (person)

Dr. James F. McIntosh (1923- ) attended Medical School through the ASTP program and served as a surgeon aboard the USS Haven during the Korean War before returning to practice in Urology. From the description of Oral history interview with James F. McIntosh [sound recording], 1997. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 84901467 ...

Wisconsin Veterans Museum

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69s5frp (corporateBody)

Thomas, Ronald F., 1933- ,

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kh4k2q (person)

Thomas (b.1933), born in Iowa and raised in Wisconsin, enlisted in the Navy in April of 1950. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged in December of 1953. He eventually settled in Middleton (Wisconsin) and had a career as an air conditioning specialist. From the description of Oral history interview with Ronald F. Thomas, 2000. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 85362481 ...

Southerland (Destroyer)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bw42bq (corporateBody)

United States. Navy

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68m0zj8 (corporateBody)

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...