Oral History Interview with James B. Perry, April 3, 2003
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Oral History Interview with James B. Perry, April 3, 2003 (Sound)
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Perry. Perry was born in Dallas, Texas in 1921 and graduated from high school in 1940. He joined the Navy in 1942 and was sent to boot camp at San Diego. He was selected for radio operator training. During this time he was put in the brig for five days for a rules infraction. Upon release, he was sent to North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. Here, while having no particular job assignment, he volunteered for the submarine service. After being accepted, he was sent to Mare Island, California. He was assigned to the USS Haddo (SS-255) as a fireman with additional duties as a mess cook. The captain of the boat was Chester W. Nimitz, Jr. He recalls an incident where the submarine was attacked by a Japanese plane dropping a depth charge and how frightful the experience was. After making several uneventful war patrols, he was assigned to a rest camp at Perth, Australia as a bar tender in the officer’s club. He remained on that job until the Japanese surrendered.
Oral History Interview with James B. Perry, April 3, 2003 - ark:/67531/metapth1608093
Oral History Interview with James B. Perry, April 3, 2003, text, April 3, 2003; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1604281/: accessed May 31, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.