Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
2:14 | Nelson takes shore leave and recounts his experiences on Pacific islands. (This interview made possible with the support of DALE GREGORY)
Keywords : Pearl Harbor ships USS Arizona Eniwetok Honolulu Royal Hawaiian Hotel Dress Whites Hula Girls shore leave
Willie Nelson departs from his midwestern farming community to become a Navy machinist. (This interview made possible with the support of DALE GREGORY)
Although his contact with the enemy is limited, Nelson's time aboard the Corregidor is rife with hazards. He witnesses the loss of many great pilots attempting to operate under the rigors of war. (This interview made possible with the support of DALE GREGORY)
Life in the forward engine room is challenging. Willie Nelson and his fellow engineers make the best of the heat and the crazy hours, and form an "arrangement" with the combative galley cooks. (This interview made possible with the support of DALE GREGORY)
Following VJ Day, Nelson's ship heads back to the US with a boatload of marines - braving stormy seas on the way. Their passage through the Panama Canal is a tight fit, and they're forced to make modifications to the ship. (This interview made possible with the support of DALE GREGORY)
Postwar life proves challenging for Willie Nelson, but through charm and determination, he finds a place in the US Forest Service. (This interview made possible with the support of DALE GREGORY)
