Oral History Interview with William I. Smith, November 20, 2003

One of 20 items in the series: World War II Pacific Theater (Naval Engagements) Oral History Project available on this site.

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Description

Interview with William I. Smith, farmer and Navy veteran, concerning his experiences aboard the escort carrier USS Kadashan Bay in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His rural background in West Texas; his decision to join the Navy, in 1943; boot camp and fireman's school, San Diego, California, 1943; assignment to the USS Kadashan Bay, 1943; shipboard routine; the assault on Peleliu, September 14, 1944; the battle of Leyte Gulf, October, 1944; the Luzon landings and being hit by a kamikaze, January 3, 1945; ship's overhaul and repairs in San Francisco, February, 1945; meeting his future wife in Boston, … continued below

Physical Description

84, [6] p. : facsims., ill. ; 28 cm.

Creation Information

Marcello, Ronald E. & Smith, William I. November 20, 2003.

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UNT Oral History Program

Affiliated with the UNT Department of History, the Oral History Program records, transcribes, and archives oral history interviews in order to preserve local, state, and U.S. history. The program also trains UNT students in the theory and methods of oral history, conducts workshops for community members, and maintains partnerships with related institutions and organizations.

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Description

Interview with William I. Smith, farmer and Navy veteran, concerning his experiences aboard the escort carrier USS Kadashan Bay in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His rural background in West Texas; his decision to join the Navy, in 1943; boot camp and fireman's school, San Diego, California, 1943; assignment to the USS Kadashan Bay, 1943; shipboard routine; the assault on Peleliu, September 14, 1944; the battle of Leyte Gulf, October, 1944; the Luzon landings and being hit by a kamikaze, January 3, 1945; ship's overhaul and repairs in San Francisco, February, 1945; meeting his future wife in Boston, Massachusetts while decommissioning the Kadashan Bay. Appendix consists of printouts from the Naval Historical Center giving names of ships present at the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 19445 (six leaves) and a photo of a kamikaze attack on the USS Kadashan Bay (one leaf).

Physical Description

84, [6] p. : facsims., ill. ; 28 cm.

Notes

Interview conducted in 2003 for the World War II Pacific Theater (Naval Engagements) Oral History Project. Interviewer: Dr. Ronald Marcello, Professor of History, University of North Texas.

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UNT Oral Histories

The UNT Oral History Collection in the UNT Digital Library contains a selection of oral history transcripts covering World War II, politics, community activism, desegregation, recollections of life in Texas, and more. Access to some of these items is restricted to the UNT community.

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  • November 20, 2003

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  • Oct. 21, 2024, 4:33 p.m.

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  • Nov. 21, 2024, 2:25 p.m.

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Marcello, Ronald E. & Smith, William I. Oral History Interview with William I. Smith, November 20, 2003, book, November 20, 2003; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2376168/: accessed February 12, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Oral History Program.

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