World War II Veteran
Forrest Eaton
1926 - 2013

Interviewed by:

Corrinn Jusell

"When the Kamikaze planes were coming at us, coming straight at you firing their guns, they were either going to hit you or the plane was going to hit you."

~ Forrest Eaton 07:37

Forrest Eaton's Story

Forrest Eaton, resident of Brewster, grew up off Cape, in towns of Eastern Massachusetts, in a large family of 11 with four brothers and four sisters. He enjoyed roller skating and was busy with his paper route and other activities.

At seventeen years of age, he enlisted himself in the United States Navy. He was taken from Boston at 4 O’clock in the morning, for boot camp with destination unknown. In October 1943, he arrived in Samson NY to a snow storm. He served 16 years combined with the US Navy and the National Guard. Mr.Eaton worked as an Electrician Mate 3rd Class, on the Landing Craft Support Barge 37.

On Easter morning April 1^st 1945 he engaged in the Battle of Okinawa. On June 11^th 1945 eleven days before the battle ended his barge was badly damaged, and needed to be assisted by local ships. On the 82nd day of battle, off Okinawa, they were attacked by a “Skunk” that blew their barge out of the water. He was controlling the ship from below deck, when all the engines were knocked into one big pile in the center of engine room. When working his way up out of the hole from the generator room, he suffered a concussion, was knocked out, and didn’t know what happened or how long he had been out for.

Years later, he was called back to the National Guard to fly as a medic when taking photos during the Blizzard of 78, as the helicopter required a medic to take flight. He, with a group of veterans, formed the Land Craft Support National Association. They own a ship out of California and have permission to a birth right next to the USS constitution, in the Boston Navy Boat Yard.

He recently enjoyed the holidays with fifty-four of his closest family members and has seven children of his own. Mr.Forrest A Eaton Sr. is a valued member of our community, and I feel privileged to have this chance to say “thank you for your service”.