Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

COMBAT STORIES FROM World War II

Winfield Baldwin | USS Mellette (APA-156) - Navy

6:06   |   The dawn was beautiful that first day at Iwo Jima, recalls Winfield Baldwin, who was lucky he was not scheduled for the first wave. He was a signalman in the Navy's beach battalion and his turn would come soon. In the meantime, he had a front row seat from the signal bridge of the chaos and misery on shore. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.)

More From Winfield Baldwin

Keywords   :     Winfield Baldwin    USS Mellette (APA-156)    Iwo Jima    Boeing B-29 Superfortress    baptism    signal bridge    signalman    USS Tennessee (BB-43)    Mount Suribachi    Japanese    beach    landing craft

Videos ( 7 )
WWII
  • Winfield Baldwin  |  WWII  |  USS Mellette (APA-156)  |  5:41

    Like all his friends who graduated high school in 1943, Winfield Baldwin was eager to get into the war. He grew up around the water so, naturally, he joined the Navy, where he became a signalman. On the USS Mellette, a troop transport, he was part of the beach battalion, men who landed with the troops and managed the activity on the beach. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.)

  • Winfield Baldwin  |  WWII  |  USS Mellette (APA-156)  |  7:48

    The second day at Iwo Jima, Navy signalman Winfield Baldwin readied himself to go ashore. His job was to land with Marines and do the ship to shore communications. When he got there, he saw a surreal landscape of wrecked machinery, vehicles and weapons. Then there were the casualties. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.)

  • Winfield Baldwin  |  WWII  |  USS Mellette (APA-156)  |  4:35

    Winfield Baldwin was glad to be relieved on the Iwo Jima beach and with a few dozen others on a landing craft, he headed out to return to his ship. Unable to board because of Japanese attack, they struggled to keep up with the ships heading further out to sea. After a queasy night, they woke to a startling sight. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.)

  • Winfield Baldwin  |  WWII  |  3rd Marine Division  |  3:08

    Navy signalman Winfield Baldwin describes his duties and experience as a member of the beach party on Iwo Jima. He had a generator and a signal light for communicating with the boats and ships. Somehow he missed seeing the famous flag. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.)

  • Winfield Baldwin  |  WWII  |  USS Mellette (APA-156)  |  6:26

    Navy signalman Winfield Baldwin would sleep on the signal bridge when he could. He was a little worried below the water line. During the run up to the invasion of Okinawa, he became a "shellback" during the equator crossing ceremony. At Okinawa, the threat from kamikazes was great and the shrapnel from the anti-aircraft fire fell like rain. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.)

  • Winfield Baldwin  |  WWII  |  USS Mellette (APA-156)  |  4:40

    After the surrender, Winfield Baldwin became one of the first Navy personnel to set foot on Japanese soil as part of a landing party securing a Japanese naval base. He also went ashore at Nagasaki and saw the effects of the atomic bomb. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.)

  • Winfield Baldwin  |  WWII  |  USS Mellette (APA-156)  |  4:55

    After the surrender and signing ceremony, Winfield Baldwin's ship went to Manila where, for the first time since he went to sea, he had shore leave with real bars. Somehow this shore party had difficulty returning to the ship. Back home, he decided against a career in the Navy, opting to take advantage of the GI Bill. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.)

Showing : WWII Videos
 1 2 3 >  Last › | Showing 30 / 5,118

Our Sponsors

SpendHQInsight Sourcing  Group

Our Partners