I joined the Navy in September 1942 and was sent to Farragut, Idaho, for basic training. Following completion of "boot camp" I was transferred to the Naval Photographic and film processing. Many aerial photo missions were flown before completing the course. Following completion of short training courses at Washington D.C. and Norfolk Virginia, I was transferred to Boston to board my permanent home - the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp.

The ship departed Boston Harbor in January 1944 to participate in the initial (shakedown) cruise. We steamed to Port of Spain, Trinidad, South America. Following completion of three months training, the ship and crew returned to Boston. After reprovisioning and farewells, we sailed South, then East traversing the Panama Canal, North to San Diego, and finally San Francisco. Army troops were loaded and were ferried to Pearl Harbor. The ship then sped directly to the Naval combat areas in the South Pacific.

Our experiences during the great war were many. I will describe a few of them here.

I was assigned to take movies of our planes landing on the Aft flight deck. Warrant officer Knapp, my photo officer stood nearby. A plane landed, breaking the stop cable. The broken cable snapped over my head at high speed, striking the officer, killing him. I was extremely grief-stricken of his death, however was thankful my own life had been spared.

Many terrifying experiences occurred. Japanese airplane attacks, the roar and flash of blazing guns, and the black of night made our hearts pound with fear. We were especially fearful of the Kamikaze (suicide) attacks. The desperate Japanese would dive their explosive laden planes headlong onto American ships. Many Kamikaze attempts were made on the U.S.S. Wasp, but all were shot down in the ocean.

Periodically the fleet returned to Ulithi Islands for refuel and provisions. Then church services were permitted on Sundays. L.D.S. services were held in the ship's library. Of three thousand five hundred men aboard, approximately twenty five were Mormons. Priesthood meetings, Sunday school, sacrament, and testimonials were conducted by the Elders. We drank the sacrament from fifty caliber machine gun casings which had been sawed short and polished to form attractive little cups. I played a borrowed accordion to accompany the singing. Tearful testimonies were borne by young men who were lonely, frightened, and homesick.

Each morning via ship's intercom the "plan of the day" was announced, preceded by the Boatswain's whistle. The usual announcement was simply "turn to" which signaled the commencement of the ship's activities. Christmas 1944 found us deep in enemy waters near Formosa. Each of us hoped for some degree of relaxation during this special day. This special Christmas announcement enhanced our day. "It's a good ship, you're a good crew. Merry Christmas - turn to."

During an enemy attack in March 1945, an armor-piercing delayed action bomb pierced the flight deck amidships. It burrowed downward through five steel decks exploding deep in the ship's innards. The galley was destroyed, and the lives of more than a hundred of our shipmates were taken. Three of our Mormon brethren were among the casualties. To those who survived was given the unforgetful task of clean-up. Many were buried at sea with last rights conducted by the Chaplain. Several dozen, who had previously requested burial at home, were draped in white and stacked cord-wood style in the refrigerated film storage room. On several occasions it was my duty to go alone in this room to procure fresh film, which was lighted only by a dim, eerie, red light. Needless to say my visits there were abbreviated.

It was essential that the ship return to the States for burial services and repairs. Thirty days leave was granted to all personnel at Bremerton, Washington. It was during this leave that Dot and I were married, May 20, 1945.

It was difficult to leave loved ones again to return to duty. But the advent of the Atom bomb and war news greatly encourage us. The ship returned directly to the Pacific combat area where we rejoined the task force. Time passed rapidly during the remaining months of the war. It was all over when Japanese finally surrendered. I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Naval Reserve on 2 November, 1945.