Edward J. Davis, Jr. oral history interview

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Title
Edward J. Davis, Jr. oral history interview
Interviewee
Davis, Edward J. (Edward James), 1923 or 4-2012
Interviewer
Alberts, John
Contributing Repository
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.). T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History
Biographical Note
Edward Davis attended Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, La. He joined the U.S. Navy on July 2, 1942, and served primarily on the USS Kalk in the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart due to an injury he suffered when the Kalk was bombed in 1944. After the war, Davis settled in Baton Rouge where he attended Louisiana State University, married and had three children. He died in 2012 at age eighty-eight.
Date Created
1999
Subject
Davis, Edward J--(Edward James),--1923 or 4-2012--Interviews
United States--Navy--Military life
Kalk (Destroyer : DD 611)
Missouri (Battleship : BB-63)
Subject
World War, 1939-1945--Alaska--Aleutian Islands--Naval operations, American
World War, 1939-1945--Indonesia--Biak Island--Naval operations, American
World War, 1939-1945--Papua New Guinea--Naval operations, American
Naval convoys--United States
Sailors--Wounds and injuries--United States
Typhoons--Philippines
Description
Davis discusses his service aboard the USS Kalk as a range finder operator and gunner's mate from June 1942 through December 1945. His recollections include patrolling the Aleutian Islands, escorting convoys to North Africa in preparation for Operation Torch, escorting a convoy to Murmansk, Russia, by way of the Panama Canal, and stops in Papua, New Guinea. Davis recalls the bombing of the Kalk at Biak Island, the injury he sustained in the attack, and his recovery. He recounts steering the ship through a deadly typhoon off the Philippines and witnessing Japan's surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri. He recalls other highlights from his service, his trip back to Louisiana, and after the war.
Link to Abstract
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/sites/all/files/oralhistory/abstracts/military/Davis_Edward.pdf
Note
This collection includes materials accessioned as Mss. 4700.1139.; A digital version of the transcript (pdf) exists for duplication purposes.; A digital version of the audio recording (mp3) exists for duplication purposes and public access in the Special Collections Reading Room.; Interview conducted by John Alberts.
Type of Resource
sound recording-nonmusical
Type of Resource
text
Media Type
audio/mpeg
Media Type
application/pdf
Size
1 sound cassette (46 minutes); Transcript (40 leaves); Abstract (2 leaves)
Genre
Oral histories
Digital Collection
Louisianans in the Military Oral History Project
Series
T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History military series
Physical Location
LSU Libraries
Middleton Library: Oral History
Rights
Physical rights are retained by the LSU Libraries. Copyright is retained by Louisiana State University in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.
Contact Information
Please submit an LSU Special Collections reference ticket at https://askus.lib.lsu.edu/special for any questions or comments about this digital object.
Cite As
Edward J. Davis, Jr. Oral History Interview, Mss. 4700.1139, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La.
Item Number
DavisEdwardT1665b_Audio
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