Oral History Interview with William J. Stewart, June 11, 1981 Page: 4
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4
USS Chaumont, which was one of the naval transports there.
He announced over the ship's announcing system about the
war and that we would change our course and go to Australia
instead of going to the Philippines.
Describe what the Houston looked like from a physical stand-
point when you went aboard it.
Well, the Houston was a beautiful ship--a classic. There
has never been any built to look like her since. It, of
course, had several outstanding features, It had, of
course, the big tripod mast in the front with the "doghouse"
up on top, which, when the enemy saw that part sticking up
over the horizon, they got ready to start shooting because
they knew that it was us, Then it, of course, had the
three big gun turrets and had two funnels and carried four
airplanes. It was just a tremendous ship, and I could
not see how a ship like that could ever be sunk.
When you went aboard, did you seem to sense that the crew
had a great deal of pride in being aboard a ship like that?
Yes and no. Of course, whenever I first went aboard, we
were in Darwin, and in the few weeks remaining, we made
a ship convoy or two in there. The crew was kind of dis-
gruntled or something: "Why aren't we going after the
Japanese? We're staying down here in safe waters!" They
didn't really like the situation.
However, a little later on, when we were up on anotherMarcello:
Stewart:
Marcello:
Stewart:
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Marcello, Ronald E. & Stewart, William J., 1920-. Oral History Interview with William J. Stewart, June 11, 1981, book, June 11, 1981; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1944633/m1/6/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Oral History Program.