Interviewer
Hailey Fink
Files
Description
James D. Holmes describes serving in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. He talks about why he joined the Navy, what basic training was like, and how his company was split between three groups of men from the southern United States and three groups from the northern United States. Holmes talks about shipping out to Japan, then getting an emergency leave due to a family emergency. He notes that he had to obtain help from Senator George to get extra leave time from the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. Holmes describes serving in Japan for a short time before requesting an East Coast transfer to be nearer his family. He details how, after getting the transfer, he participated on a goodwill tour to a number of former World War II sites including Italy, France, and Algeria. He talks about a memorable afternoon he spent in a park in Spain. Holmes briefly discusses going to school on the G.I. Bill, then moving to Montana for work. He concludes by noting that he loved his military service and would do it again if he could.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
U.S. Military; U.S. Air Force; Air Force bases; Radio technician; Glasgow, Montana; Korean War, 1950-1953; Military Service, overseas; Yokosuka, Japan; G.I. Bill; Georgia; Farms; Naval Training Center, San Diego; Camp Elliott, California; Walter F. George; Troop ships; Ammunition ships; Warner Robins, Georgia; Robins Air Force Base; Goodwill tour; USS Shasta (AE-6); USS Pollux (AKS-4)
Original Date
9-7-2019
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
California; Georgia; Japan; Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
The Veteran’s Experience Oral History Project, OH 472
Holding Institution
University of Montana. Mansfield Library. Archives and Special Collections
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights Statement
Rights Holder
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections at the University of Montana, Mansfield Library.
Oral History Number
OH 472-007
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 MP3 file (00:41:29): digital + 1 transcript (11 pp.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:41:29 minutes
Local Filename
OH_472_007.mp3; OH_472_007.pdf
Citation
Holmes, James D., "James D. Holmes Interview, September 2019" (2019). The Veteran’s Experience Oral History Project. 5.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/veteransexperience_oralhistory/5