Oral History Interview with Robert L. Hyde, September 21, 2007

Oral History Interview with Robert L. Hyde, September 21, 2007

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Description

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hyde. Hyde first attempted to join the Navy when he was 17, but was rejected due to his dental health and low weight. In January 1944 he enlisted. As a seaman, Hyde was appointed as storekeeper aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). He made friends with many onboard, including some of the black officers’ stewards, with whom he was not supposed to mingle. Initially sailing off China, moving between Hong Kong and Singapore, he recalls the ship participating in airfield raids. In the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Hyde … continued below

Physical Description

30 p.

Creation Information

Hyde, Robert L September 21, 2007.

Context

This text is part of the collection entitled: National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection and was provided by the National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation to The Portal to Texas History, a digital repository hosted by the UNT Libraries. More information about this text can be viewed below.

Interviewee

Hyde, Robert L

Interviewers

Publisher

National Museum of the Pacific War
Place of Publication: Fredericksburg, Texas

Audiences

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Provided By

National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Established in 1967, the Museum honors the 8 million Americans who served in WWII in the Pacific Theater by sharing their stories with the world. Located in Fredericksburg in the restored Nimitz "Steamboat" Hotel, the Museum partners with the Texas Historical Commission to preserve the historical resources of the era.

Description

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hyde. Hyde first attempted to join the Navy when he was 17, but was rejected due to his dental health and low weight. In January 1944 he enlisted. As a seaman, Hyde was appointed as storekeeper aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). He made friends with many onboard, including some of the black officers’ stewards, with whom he was not supposed to mingle. Initially sailing off China, moving between Hong Kong and Singapore, he recalls the ship participating in airfield raids. In the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Hyde had his first encounter with a kamikaze, which exploded below the bow. In addition to knocking out the ship’s steering, communications, and lights, the explosion caused a gasoline leak that soaked Hyde. Even worse, he was temporarily trapped below deck, in the dark, until he alerted crew above by pounding the hatch with a wrench. He helped his African American peers out first and was the last of the group to ascend to safety. A more harrowing experience was enduring a major typhoon, which sank four destroyers in their group. While offshore at Okinawa, he survived a second kamikaze attack, which would have otherwise killed him had he not been recently transferred from a nearby gun mount. At Iwo Jima, he marveled at the air groups’ round-the-clock efforts. Hyde returned home and was discharged in June 1946.

Physical Description

30 p.

Subjects

Keywords

Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms

Library of Congress Subject Headings

World War, 1939-1945

University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure

Language

English

Item Type

Text

Identifier

Unique identifying numbers for this text in the Portal or other systems.

Accession or Local Control No: OH02059
Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metapth1605282

Relationships

Oral History Interview with Robert L. Hyde, September 21, 2007 - ark:/67531/metapth1609092

Collections

This text is part of the following collections of related materials.

National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection

This oral history collection depicts an instrumental era in American history. In these transcripts of interviews with World War II veterans are personal experiences with the war, from the Doolittle Raid and D-Day to the Battle for Bataan.

National Museum of the Pacific War Digital Archive

The Digital Archive presents digitized collections from the Center for Pacific War Studies collections at the National Museum of the Pacific War. Collections and material are continuously being added and represent only a small portion of the archives' physical holdings.

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