Video Transcript
Donald R Coffman

Uh thank you Don for inviting us over to interview you on your military career. Um what is your is your military career from beginning to end.

My goodness it happened so long ago it’s hard for me to recall but ill try the best I can. Goes back to 1944, some time in the summer I graduated from college and enlisted in the navy. Took a while for me to get my orders to report. I got on a bus and had to go to New York city then get on a train to Geneva, New York I think it was called camp Sampson. When I started the good old boot camp, I went through a big boot camp, must’ve been little more than 4-5weeks of boot camp. Then they sent me to the same location. To a quartermaster school. And for some of you people who have been in the army think a quartermaster has to do with clothing, a quartermaster in the navy is a navigator. So I went to navigator school where I learned to navigate by celestial navigation which means by the stars the moon and sun. And suddenly it was early October and looks like I've gone finished the quartermaster class. I have previously asked my hometown sweet heart if she’d marry me last June. And she said yes so we thought what a great opportunity I got a leave of absence from Sampson. Ill go back to New Jersey where I was born and she was and get married. It was October 14, 1944. After that I had to go back to Sampson of a couple more weeks of I think its mat braiding or something like that. There was enough time for Gloria to get on the bus and join me for a...Geneva New York. She stayed in a hotel, I was still in the base so we had a few dinners with each other and she went home. My next assignment I had to go to New Port Rhode island. To pick up a crew at the same time there was another quartermaster course being offered while my crew was being assembled. It took quite a while to get a 60 men crew signed up. So I enrolled in another 2-3 week quartermaster school. At that time the crew was formed. Next time we were uh…I got a note here to keep my memory right. At the North Fort Virginia and at a few times a few days when gathering to get the crew together to go to where our ship will be. And Gloria came down to visit me, we had thanksgiving dinner. Served by a nice young lady in the house we were renting a room. And she served a brought a huge tray of thanksgiving dinner that we had. Newly weds. A nice thanksgiving dinner on the bed. That’s where I said goodbye sweet heart, because were off to Evanston Indiana. Where our ship was just being built. It’s a brand new ship. We later had a hull of a LST. Which you sailors remember an LST looked like a tanker with a super structure aft, well this ship had a super structure forward with an extra deck on top. But we still carried quad 40mm front and back and 50calabor machine guns on each side of the deck. The extra deck was built because we were going to be assigned another 200 marines to take them aboard because we had four 30 foot assault craft on board. Because were apart of a total big assignment called in the pacific called Philippine liberation so we were part of this whole big thing. And we were suppose to have troops on board and assault to help the landing. However, instead of being a complete LST in the hull of the ship instead of rooms for tanks we had food lockers. So we were also assigned to bring food. So we got on board on in Evanston Indiana which if you on the Mississippi river. So we went down the Mississippi river. In order to go down the Mississippi river even though I was a navigator we needed to take a pilot on board. To navigate through the river. And for reason or another we found we couldn’t move down the river at night. So late in the evening wed pull over close to shore and drop the anchor. We were so close to shore that I picked a couple leaves off the tree and sent them to Gloria telling her where they were from. Any how farther down the Mississippi we went and we arrived at the 1^st station which was New Orleans. For some reason we were able to stop in New Orleans and we were prepared for shakedown crews because this was a brand new ship. We did have enough liberties to go on shore. So I had a good time in New Orleans with about 5000 other sailors. Back on board ship ….shakedown crews. We had to run the ship full blast. It’s a little humorous to use that term because the ships maximum speed was 15 knots. It was a very slow ship. In fact the LST hull we carried is similar to the nagum LST the salt ships that would go a shore. LST remembered was Large Slow Target. Which is not so funny when you go out to sea. Our next trip was the Galvanism Texas. To stop and take on food. And prepare to go through the canal. We took a look at Galvanism and were warned suddenly a hurricane was coming. We didn’t know how big it was. We got radio contacts and headed to the nearest harbor. And there were various harbors convenient to some of the islands down there…Caribbean. So we got to a safe harbor. Dropped the anchor pulled her over. And it was a very bad …60-80mile an hour winds. It was too bad for us. That was over. On we went the next stop was cocoa solo panama. Again we took on fuel or some other commodity. I don’t remember. Now we had to turn to go through the canal. By this time the other quartermaster and my self had practiced using the sun and the moon. So we went through the canal because the next stop was Pearl Harbor. We went through the canal which I forgot that it took 2 days or so. And suddenly we were in the pacific ocean, all by our selves. And the war was still on. So we can image being mostly land lubbers. And enemy submarines could be around. Anyhow we were told all lights could be out and all hatches close. So we traveled by ourselves heading towards Pearl Harbor. Now the flight stayed at 15 knots so believe it or not it took us 23days to get to Pearl Harbor. And when we saw the first peak of the Pearl Harbor mountains. We were overjoyed because the other quartermaster and my self had never been to sea. And there were the mountains and we were going to make it. And the only other officer on board that could navigate was the captain and he didn’t bothered very much he just checked on us. So the two of us did the navigation all the way to Pearl Harbor. By the time we got to Pearl Harbor. Moving into the way to get into the harbor. This was quite a challenge because the quartermaster was also the helmsmen. We were what they used to called general quarters incase of attack. So I was assigned to the helmsman of this 380ft ship. Never been on anything bigger than a 15ft sailboat. We entered the harbor. The skipper was out on deck calling down the directions degrees in where we should head. What was interesting to me was a little feeling I had. Was when the captain was yelling directions through a speaker “steady as you go” it was quite a current in the uh…going into the port. So believe it or not a 380ft ship could still feel it as I was moving my wheel so steady as you go was quite a comment. We arrived at Pearl Harbor and by this time things happened. Germany declared surrender. And … took panama. He had returned to panama. Panama was secured. So instead of carrying 250 marines. So they had something else in mind for our ship. So we were in Pearl harbor for a few days. And long behold we were provided several high ranking international officers. Apparently they were electrical chemical…all kinds of different officers. There were Americans, French, British, and Australian officers. Hand picked for some reason we found out later. So we proceeded anyhow to manila Philippines. One of the evasion ships called an LCI, landing craft infantry. It didn’t carry food so during the time when we were in manila we had some of these small ships pick up food. There in manila for 3-4 days I don’t remember if we took on fuel or not. Our next stop was probably going to be Tokyo. Well there’s another navigation challenge for us. One of the things that quartermasters do during these times. When we were underway with no particular problem involved. We’d spend hours in the chart room correcting the charts. Were we had radio contact of sunken ships. There were obstructions to add to the information before we entered Tokyo harbor. On the way the skipper was nice enough to take us far enough south to go across the equator. Well that was a big celebration. Not as big as you used to see on the old sailing ships on your movies that you watched. But we all had extra ice cream or strawberries or whatever. As we crossed the equator. I still have a card in my safety deposit box. And as we proceeded we did stop in latay island. On one short trip and I forget we and lots of time. The captain allowed us to ….close to shore on the sand, since we had a LST bow. We could drop the bow and open it up on the shore. Believe it or not this was the south pacific but we had on foul weather gear on heavy heavy fur lined coats and fur hats. We were allowed to go to shore. I don’t know if we were gonna… but believe it or not our ship was allowed to carry 3.2 beer. But of course liquor wasn’t allowed to be … so were allowed to go ashore and have a lopping of 3.2 beer. It was very cold and the beer was cold. It was a slight experience on the pacific islands. The next day having dropped the anchor. Aft back up the motor and pull the ship back out to sea. We headed for Tokyo harbor. I can’t remember all the days and weeks that were going by and all of a sudden we were in Tokyo harbor. And pulled up a long side the dock in the harbor. So we were secure. And we allowed the high ranking officers to disembark. There job was to scour the continent for any gear that may be valuable to have any knowledge of. While we were in the harbor we had a chance to go on shore. You must remember our ship was part of the invasion ship so our ship was camouflaged. The old brown and orange and all kind of colors to make it look like a mountain or an island. So an old term the tin can sailors laugh at, because we were an amphibious group. The dungaree sailors since they don’t remember wearing a uniform besides dungarees and a dungaree shirt. When we went on shore we had a dungaree shirt and pants and what they used to call an Eisenhower brown jacket. Phil had a white hat on. It was a strange uniform. We also carried 45 pistols since we were a little apprehensive of the neighbor hood. But we still had a chance to go down Ginza street. They had little shops open believe it or not. Some of the Japanese wanted to welcome us in a way. And also sell us what ever they might be able to sell. So I was able to buy a couple of sheets of silk to my wife. We were given some special money to use on shore. So I was walking down Ginza street with my 3 comrades. And I noticed a small sign on the top of a door way leading up stairs. It said recording. I said what the heck lets see what it’s about. So I went up and they had a small recording machine and a piano. And lone behold they agreed to let me sit down and play the piano to send home to my sweet heart. … I rapped it up and sure enough I was able to send it home to Gloria. While we were out on shore we were able to commandeer a jeep. And we drived down the road. To fort landings. And we noticed a merchant ship tied up. And since the war was over and what’s gonna happen on the way of getting home. Our choice of a ship that sails 15knots maximum speed or a maybe something else. So we hallered up to a guy leaning over the railing of the merchant ship. Where are you going? He said san Francisco. We said when. In about a week. We said do you got any room. He said I don’t know you’ll have to ask the 1^st mate. So he came over. Well I don’t know we have 26 air force pilots that are do to take the quarters. I'll tell you what if you go down to yokohoma and talk to captain something or another. And he says ok ill let you on. So we went on yokohoma and he said once my men are on board I don’t care what you do. So we went back and talked to the 1^st mate again and he said ok we got some room. There’s a wooden shack on top it was used for merchant marina cadets. That’s available it’s got 2 doors 3 windows and 6 bunks. We said great. So we went back to our captain and he said we each got our individual orders. This means we got an envelope with all our military history in it and we joked around saying we could just disappear and no one would know where we were hahahah. Any how we did just that. We got our orders got on board the ship. And chief Wilston… welcomed us and said we are so happy to be on board we’ll do anything well paint or scrape anything. Don’t you lift one finger because you guys have been out here fighting the war I want you to do nothing but take your trays back to the kitchen when you’re through. So we took of 3-4 days later for San Francisco. So our ships captain decided to take a different rought home instead of taking the great circle we were gonna go straight across. And we were both navigators so we kind of knew what that meant. Sounded like we were taking the longest way. But we weren’t gonna argue with the captain he was doing us a favor. So we were going our way in the pacific and in the distance I don’t know how far it was maybe a mile or two. We passed a navy ship more like a tin can or cruiser. Just for the heck of it the other sailors that went with us was a 1^st class signal men. That meant he knew how to use the signal lights professionally. So we asked the captain if we could use the signal lights and he said sure. So we got on our signal light on our merchant ship and he flashed the cruiser in the distance and the cruiser answered back go ahead. So our signal men goes instead of going da duh da duh. He really let go. The cruiser came back to I don’t want to use the words so he said who the hell are you. Couldn’t imagine anyone on a merchant ship could signal that well so that was a funny time. Many days later we were approaching San Francisco this was December 1945. And uh… we were all having a good easy time being warm and shorts and having larges to eat it was a real treat. 12 hours out of San Francisco we got a signal da duh da duh or whatever. Change course to cocoa solo. You could image what happened to the army air force guys who were from Washington Nevada, California. And here we are heading back through the canal again. So many days later we went through the canal this time we stopped at cocoa solo I thought we were picking up sugar or coffee or something. Only 2 days in cocoa solo or something. Back up to the Hudson river. Of course we had to go up the Atlantic coast to the Hudson river. Luckily we had good weather since we were on the Atlantic which is normally stormy. And we arrived at Hudson river harbor. Now we were military on a civilian ship. And the captain wasn’t sure what he could do with us. Besides docking this ship on his assignment. So we had a pilot come aboard to take us up the Hudson river and then get permission to get on the pilot boat. There was 6 of us that went aboard. 2 quartermaster 2 signal men a radio man and a 1^st class gunner mate. So when the harbor master came on board the pilot rather. He said ok so we were able to get on board... his lil tug boat. Then we went on shore. I don’t remember what the place was. It was not a navy port. And here we were 6 navy guys we had to go to civilian customs. So we did that with all our package. And somebody told us there’s a navy officer over there in some building or another. We went over there got a telephone and called up...we were told to call I think it was called pier 39. A big navy port of demarcation. We called up and this is like 2 in the morning. And he said well we have a bus coming your way we have to take some over to … well come down and pick you up. They came down and picked us up and we told the driver instead of taking us all the way down to … why don’t you drop us off at the first restaurant. So naturally we got off at the first restaurant. We had our 1^st real beer a big steak and French fries we hadn’t had in 2 years. About an hour later he comes by picks us up. Now it’s about 3 in the morning we arrived at pier 32 or 39 I can’t remember the name of it… whatever it was. … And it was uh... a young sailor on duty…we have beautiful chimes in the backround to celebrate what were doing or whatever. Any how the sailor was also a 1^st class gunner’s mate. And he said you know you guys I don’t know what to do with you guys. Even our gunners mate…said to the other guy said look we’ve got 3 days before we land. Yeah but but your suppose to get a …and he said come on come on come on. So he said take off. So we all dispersed. So knowing al little bit about New York city being born and brought up in new jersey. I knew were to get the 8^th avenue subway. The 8^th avenue subway up at Washington heights. Got on the bus heading over to new jersey. Gotten over to new jersey tenic new jersey got off the bus. So now this is cold January. Just wearing a jacket and a hat that’s it. Anyhow it didn’t bother me because where I was going was the best. So I got off the bus and walked about 2 miles to where my wife was living with her parents. I approached the house it looked like nobody was home. So I went around the house I knew where Gloria’s’ bedroom was. Having visited her house many times when we were courting. I picked up a few pebbles from the ground and threw the up at the window until the light came on and suddenly she opened the door and there she was my wife. And she said don is that you. Said yeah it sure is. Oho what are you doing here she had no idea what I was doing. And I had no way of telling her on when I was gonna get here. To make a long story short on this escapade. I found that the Gloria’s father was having the house painted so I said what the heck. And I climbed up the scaffolding up to her window and climbed in the window and got my first kiss in 2 years from my dear wife. So as far as the end of my career goes. I went back to New York I think it was called little beach for my discharge. And if you can insert an epilogue you could say the next couple of days after visiting my parents then hers again. It was time for our honeymoon. Which we hadn’t had we were married on a week end. So I had ...I bought her a sequin evening dress and I got my old socks out of my … we jumped in our old 41 ford and drove down to ..Virginia. For a wonderful homecoming dancing drinking and partying. That’s the end of my career thank you gentlemen. Hope it was fun for you it was fun for me remembering the best I could. I don’t think I’ve forgotten everything.

Um, we still have a few questions for you though.

Yeah

A few short ones. (Pause) Um, what was the inspection you were talking about?

Pardon me?

The inspection, what was that?

From my understandings, these special officers um were assigned to go ashore throughout Japan and locate any unusual innovations of machinery for the military otherwise to be able to copy or (pause) obtain knowledge of. That was their assignment. (Pause) So they were still, they were still there when we left. I don’t really know how long they stayed there. I had a, just before I left the ship, the ships Commanding Officer said, “Don, I gotta get this ship decommissioned, why don’t you come along, I’ll get you a commission.” And I said I got enough points to go home, I’m going home, thank-you very much, so long!

Um, did you bring back any souvenirs?

Hm?

Did you bring back any souvenirs from the war? (Pause)

Are we still on the record? (Andrew nods yes off camera) (pause) Well, well I told ya I sent some silks to Gloria and she got the record which she still had, found it and brought it up to the local bookstore and made a CD out of the record.

So did you bring back any enemy weapons? (Pause)

Well, I got an old beat up 25 from, which were gathered um from an old scrap heap like out near the shore or some place was a big pile of pretty banged up pile of guns in a secured area I got a 25 rifle is what it was but isn’t worth much any more because I carved Tokyo on the stock so it’s antique value is low even though its over 70 years old.

Um, so did you enlist or were you drafted?

Well, I enlisted because I finished my training at Colgate I still had to pay so I did that to close my void so I didn’t serve until after I finished college. (Pause) So I volunteered. (Pause) Want to see my Jacket?

Uh, yes please Don. Yes.

Can you hold on a minute.

Yes.

Yep.

I can’t get in it anymore; got big.

So, what uh do all these patches and medals mean?

That’s Petty Officer 1^st class Quartermaster. That’s a Ruptured Duck which means I’m out of the service. The Carribean Theater, Pacific Theater, Victory Medal, and Philippine Liberation. (Pause) Not bad, See?

Well, (Pause) thank-you Don.

Hope I didn’t stammer too much. (Grunts)

Thank-you for letting us interf-, interview you again.

Didn’t, wasn’t sure if I didn’t want everybody to know if I had a 25, my 25 rifle.

Quite alright Don.

Hehe.

Thanks Don.