Howard Herron Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield
Howard Herron Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield
Howard Herron Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield
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<strong>Howard</strong> <strong>Herron</strong> 3 5<br />
Q: Did you see any submarines?<br />
A: Oh, yes I saw lots <strong>of</strong> submarines. We dropped depth charges but we<br />
didn't know whether we got on, if we dropped depth charges, if we saw the<br />
big oil slick, we knew we got them. If we didn't see an oil slick, well,<br />
we weren't sure if we had them, I never was, I was scared. We got<br />
through all right.<br />
Q: Were you ever attacked?<br />
A: Oh yes. We had a man that always stayed in the crow's nest way up<br />
high on a ship and he would have glasses. If he would see a periscope<br />
anywhere--once in a while some guys would decide that they would just<br />
want to see them shoot. They were all young fellows, full <strong>of</strong> hell, some<br />
<strong>of</strong> them were more than full <strong>of</strong> hell. . . . I was glad when it was all<br />
over.<br />
Q: How long were you out at a time?<br />
A: The first time we went clear across, carried the convoy across and<br />
headquartered in France and we would come back with oil and water and<br />
food. Then come back with another convoy about halfway and they would<br />
meet a convoy coming from the States and we would take over the care for<br />
them and they would take over the care <strong>of</strong> us so we just stayed in France<br />
back and forth, we always got halfway across. That began to get<br />
monotonous so. . . .<br />
Q: That's a lot <strong>of</strong> water, isn't it?<br />
A: A lot <strong>of</strong> water between here and France.<br />
Q: What time <strong>of</strong> year was this?<br />
A: Mostly the wintertime.<br />
Q: The winter?<br />
A: Fall and winter. We were halfway across the ocean coming back and we<br />
got word that we were missed and we were very happy. So we got into<br />
Boston then, we'd change ships, I can't tell you all the names <strong>of</strong> them.<br />
We'd take these destroyers and run them awful hard and they had to be put<br />
in the dry dock about three or Sour months to get the particles scraped<br />
<strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> the bottom, get them general overhauled for safety and. . . .<br />
Q: How long were you in the navy altogether?<br />
A: Twenty-two months and twenty-two days. I have my discharge up here<br />
in my lockbox.<br />
Q: What kind <strong>of</strong> pay did a seaman get in those days?<br />
A: Oh, about a dollar a day. I think it was $36 a month.
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