Oral History Interview with Earl H. Selover All Tracks

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl H. Selover. He enlisted in the Navy in June, 1934 after graduating high school in Wildwood, New Jersey. After completing boot camp in Norfolk he was assigned to the USS Idaho (BB-42) as a radioman. He recalls undergoing initiation as a Shellback after crossing the Equator during one training exercise. In 1938 he reenlisted and was transferred to the USS Maryland (BB-46). Upon completing advanced training in February 1941 he returned to the ship and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. Selover recalls the chaos and confusion of 7 December 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. On 23 December the Maryland departed Pearl Harbor for Bremerton, Washington. In early January 1942 he was transferred to the USS Indiana (BB-58). He recalls the ship taking part in the bombardment of Kwajalein prior to the Marshall Islands landings in late January 1944. During the bombardment he recalls a collision with the USS Washington (BB-56), which almost sank the Indiana. In early October 1944 he accepted orders to the Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland, where he was when the war ended.

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