Encoded for the Experiencing War web site for the Veterans History Project.
The recording of the interview with Alvin Joest was digitized.
This transcription was encoded with minimal changes to the original text in an effort to preserve original content and idiosyncrasies of the person interviewed. Period language and terminology are also retained. Encoding is literal with regard to the transcriptionist's capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Spelling errors are indicated with [sic]; however, recurring errors in spelling within a single document have been marked the first time and not subsequently.
This recording is made May 13th 2002 with Alvin J. Joest J-O-E-S-T. Date of birth November 6th 1915. Mr. Joest served in the United States Navy as a Quarter Master II in World War II era. This recording is made Larry Ordner, regional director for Senator Dick Luger.
Mr. Joest, tell me how old you were at the time and what were the circumstances that led up to you entering the Navy?
Well, I was working at Whirlpool. I started here in '34. _+ and along with Chrysler _+. Draft caught me. I got supervision at Whirlpool.
Do you remember where you went for induction? Did you come downtown Evansville, first of all?
Yeah, I think so.
Then they probably put you on the train some place, I guess, didn't they?
Well, yeah. Well --we -- yeah. We came - we came to get the ship -- the shipyard here in town, May 23.
Uh huh.
Then after we left there, too many typhoons in the pacific I transferred to the tug, seaboard tug.
So, you were on an LST?
Yeah.
Do you remember from the time that you were -- you had like boot training, right, where did you go? What was your first assignment; do you remember? Where did they send you first in the Navy?
Well, that was the LST.
Okay.
From then on we were just fighting the typhoons out in Okinawa area.
In Okinawa area?
That's where we lost the ship.
Tell me about that. What happened?
Well, it was just too much for that kind of ship. We couldn't make it. We washed ashore.
Do you remember where you washed ashore at? Was it on a small island, perhaps?
Well, yeah, it was around Okinawa. Then after that, I went back.
Roughly, how many -- how many crewmen would there have been on an LST? Just roughly.
I'd say 85.
85. So you hit a typhoon and the ship --
We hit a bunch a typhoons. Too many typhoons. Ship drifted around like a cart.
Wow, did everyone make it; do you recall?
As far as I know, yes.
Wow.
We were hauling tanks and heavy equipment on the flight deck -- loading deck on the ship. Spent most of our time around Okinawa and that area. And after we lost it, I went back and picked up a tug and shipped out on that seaboard tug.
And then where did you go with the tug; do you remember?
Well, no, not too much about it. I wasn't too much interested in it. Rougher than any other seaboard.
Was it really? Why was that?
The typhoon.
Now why was that? What made it tougher with the tug as opposed to an LST?
Well, I'd say just small type of ship. It was more personal. The other seaboards usually hauling tanks something like that. _+ basically. It was a -- it's been long time ago.
Yeah, it was long time ago. Do you remember where you were when you got out of the Navy? Did the war end and then you were discharged or was the war still going on when you were discharged; do you remember?
No, I think it was over.
The war was over? And then you got to come back to Evansville, right?
Norfolk.
To Norfolk, okay.
Went back to work at my old job at Whirlpool.
Were you able at all to take advantage of the G.I. Bill?
No, I never did. I was on supervision at Whirlpool.
How many years did you work at Whirlpool?
I started in '34 and got out in '72.
Wow, that's long time to be at one company. I'm sure you saw a lot of changes in that time.
I started Whirlpool selling refrigerators at Sears and#38; Roebuck.
Well, let me ask you one final question, what do you think -- how do you look back at your time in the Navy during World War II? How do you feel that the accomplishments of the US did during World War II? How do you feel about that now? What you got to be a part of?
Oh, it was a good thing. I was glad I was in it after I got out. Went on the tug after we had a shipwreck. After going through the typhoon, I went back and I transferred to the tug.
Let me ask you one final question: what is it like to go through a typhoon on a ship? Even a small ship. How bad was the typhoon?
Well, you just didn't know, especially on a big ship with so shallow draft. You got tossed around a lot. You took a beating.
I'm sure that had to be pretty rough.
It was better when we got on the tug. We were out of it then. _+
Okay.
I enjoyed that more than I did the LST. More personal. We had more friends. _+
Anything else you want to add about your time in the military? Any other final comments? Anything you can think of?
No. After I got in it, I was glad I was in it, got to serve. Felt better when I got out.