And you put your hand in there . . .

Heroes Remember

And you put your hand in there . . .

Transcript

I tried to enlist at 17 and was turned down. I've had operation on my eyes and I wore glasses, and my eyes were quite bad. So, I was turned down, the navy, and I thought, well, okay, I'll wait. So, when I got drafted, I was, my number came up, I was 18 in August. I got my call and at the latter part of September, took my physical in October and was inducted in November. I shipped there to Chicago for a final physical. And it looked like an old theatre, and as you come out, there was the ticket booth, but it was all closed in. And there was this slot where (inaudible), and you put your hand in there. And they stamped your hand, you come out, and it said army, navy, or whatever the hell you were going to be. Mine said navy. After having been turned down, I got in the navy. From there, I was transferred to Great Lakes Naval Training Station Camp Borden in Chicago, or outside of Chicago. I took my basic there. That takes 10 weeks, and I got 15 days leave, went home, spent my leave, came back, and was transferred from there to Camp... I gotta think of it, and outside of Rochester, New York, at a storekeeper school, same as my dad. I spent eight weeks there and was transferred from there to what they called Pier 92, New York. That's everybody on the east coast, goes to Pier 92. They send you out from there. From there, I went to Boston and joined my ship, the Monticello, in Boston and three days later, I was crossing the Atlantic.

Description

Mr. Stewart describes his enlistment and deployment in the United States Navy.

Edward Stewart

Mr. Stewart was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1926. Following his father's footsteps, he attempted to join the navy, but was under age. Drafted at the age of 18, he was selected for naval duty. Mr. Stewart served aboard troop ships during the latter stages of the Second World War, both on deck and in the engine room, and spent considerable time ashore in Germany, France and Denmark. He also sailed on one of the mass-produced Liberty ships. Mr. Stewart eventually moved to Harriston, Ontario, where he worked 38 years for Canada Packers.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 01:52
Person Interviewed:: Edward Stewart
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Europe
Battle/Campaign:: North Atlantic
Branch:: Navy
Units/Ship:: Europa
Rank:: Able Seaman
Occupation:: Deck Crew, Engine Room

Language selection

And you put your hand in there . . .

Heroes Remember