Oral History Interview with John Carey, August 22, 2012

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The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Carey. Carey joined the Navy in September 1944 and received basic training at Great Lakes and electrician’s mate training in Gulfport. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Stanton (DE-247) as an electrician striker, running the ship’s generators under supervision. Four hours after he arrived at Pearl Harbor to begin his overseas duties, the Japanese surrendered. Hickam Air Force Base erupted in celebration, the men howling and throwing their hats in the air. Carey remained there working in a service shop on the submarine base until … continued below

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32 p.

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Carey, John August 22, 2012.

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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.

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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.

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The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Carey. Carey joined the Navy in September 1944 and received basic training at Great Lakes and electrician’s mate training in Gulfport. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Stanton (DE-247) as an electrician striker, running the ship’s generators under supervision. Four hours after he arrived at Pearl Harbor to begin his overseas duties, the Japanese surrendered. Hickam Air Force Base erupted in celebration, the men howling and throwing their hats in the air. Carey remained there working in a service shop on the submarine base until he was sent to Guam to do the same. En route to Guam, he maintained the ship’s search lights, which he describes as welding irons with mirrors behind them. Suspended from a rope, he would swing over the water and over the lights, attempting to reach and clean the electrical contacts below. After repairing various small motors at the submarine base on Guam, Carey returned home and was discharged.

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32 p.

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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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Oral History Interview with John Carey, August 22, 2012 (Sound)

Oral History Interview with John Carey, August 22, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Carey. Carey joined the Navy in September 1944 and received basic training at Great Lakes and electrician’s mate training in Gulfport. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Stanton (DE-247) as an electrician striker, running the ship’s generators under supervision. Four hours after he arrived at Pearl Harbor to begin his overseas duties, the Japanese surrendered. Hickam Air Force Base erupted in celebration, the men howling and throwing their hats in the air. Carey remained there working in a service shop on the submarine base until he was sent to Guam to do the same. En route to Guam, he maintained the ship’s search lights, which he describes as welding irons with mirrors behind them. Suspended from a rope, he would swing over the water and over the lights, attempting to reach and clean the electrical contacts below. After repairing various small motors at the submarine base on Guam, Carey returned home and was discharged.

Oral History Interview with John Carey, August 22, 2012 - ark:/67531/metapth1610059

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  • August 22, 2012

Added to The Portal to Texas History

  • Oct. 15, 2023, 8:34 p.m.

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Carey, John. Oral History Interview with John Carey, August 22, 2012, text, August 22, 2012; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1606293/: accessed January 13, 2026), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.

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