Now that I've learned how to edit, I was able to upload to vimeo a taped interview of my father from 1975 about his Navy days during WW2. It was conducted by my friend, Kevin, as part of a 10th grade History class.
The most interesting parts are when he talks about the Battle of Saipan and being there when the Indianapolis dropped off the bomb and when the Enola Gay took off to drop it on Hiroshima.
The accompanying photo is of my father's ship on VJ day. If you're wondering which of the sailors is him, just ask yourself who is the coolest cat in the picture and chances are you just picked out my father.
p.s.-- My father died in 1981, but thanks to this tape, I knew what ship he served on in the war and I was able to google it and lo and behold, they had photos in the Naval Archives from which I was able to locate one that included a picture of him. The internet is fucking amazing!
Abe Chassman interview (1975) - (
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Thanks for sharing that. The Greatest Generation indeed.
My Dad was on Saipan with the Army Air Force, a part of the Ground Crew on the B-29's. A few years ago, I found on the Internet the Manual for the radial engine run-up procedure.....it made a wonderful birthday gift for Dad.
BillT-- His ship was the USS Phaon (ARB-3).
Near the end of the war, the Armed Forces instituted a point system to allow long tenured guys to go home. My Dad had twice the number of points needed.
Nevertheless, he was told that as a veteran combat officer, he had an obligation to participate in the decisive invasion of Japan. His group was earmarked as D-Day -3, meaning 3 days before the main invasion to do reconnaissance. Suicide. He recounts the dropping of the atomic bomb as the happiest event that could ever have happened, not only for himself and his guys, but also for the millions of Japanese who would have perished in an invasion.
cool memory for you to have of your dad too...
Like many others, Dad felt he had to stay and provide experienced leadership, but he felt that he would have never survived the experience. He felt that the atom bomb was his reprieve from a death sentence.
Like many others, Dad felt he had to stay and provide experienced leadership, but he felt that he would have never survived the experience. He felt that the atom bomb was his reprieve from a death sentence.