Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Earl William Long Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: 86th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees)
- Location of Service: Adak and Aleutian Islands (Alaska); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Highest Rank: Machinist First Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/2316
Arriving in the Aleutians on Christmas Eve, 1943, Machinist First Class Earl Long spent the next 11 months on Adak Island, constructing causeways and driving trucks with the 86th Naval Construction Battalion. Winds on the island were so damaging that he was forced to remove his truck's windshield wiper blades every night, lest they be blown away. In between battles with the weather, which he characterizes as a "main and constant concern," he found solace in books, as well as in correspondence with his wife. To ease her worries over his location, he made references to "Aunt Ada," in order to signal that he was on Adak Island without drawing the attention of the military censors.
Earl William Long Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayTransfer to the Aleutians; destination was given as Island X; standing watch aboard ship in bitter cold. 00:12:41.0 - 00:14:27.0
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PlayEnduring a storm known as a willowaw. 00:14:30.0 - 00:17:09.0
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PlayInitial impressions of the Aleutians; arriving at Navy Town on Adak; becoming fascinated by books. 00:17:11.0 - 00:20:17.0
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PlayVarious jobs and responsibilities; learning to drive a truck; impact of the weather on their work. 00:20:19.0 - 00:22:37.0
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PlayDisguising his location in letters to his wife. 00:22:35.0 - 00:23:36.0
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Earl William Long Collection
Interview / Recording
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About this Item
Title
- Earl William Long Collection
Names
- Long, Earl William
Home State
- New Jersey
Headings
- - Long, Earl William
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: 86th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees)
- Location of Service: Adak and Aleutian Islands (Alaska); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Highest Rank: Machinist First Class
- Dates of Service: 1943-1945
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 1997-12-25; 2004-08-12)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2004-07)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [2 items] -- Reference copy (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- (collected 1998-12-25)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [2 items] -- Reading (collected 1999-05-17)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/2316
Cite as
- Earl William Long Collection (AFC/2001/001/2316), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text