Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording William Henry Harvey Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975; World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: 4th Battalion, 16th Division
- Location of Service: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Cook First Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/27509
Though segregation in the Navy limited him to serving as a Cook First Class, William Henry Harvey did much more aboard ship than simply prepare food: when needed, he would also serve as an alternate medic and signal officer. When the bombs fell on December 7th, 1941, he assisted in rescuing sailors from the burning harbor. A veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, he is still haunted by the horrors he witnessed at Pearl Harbor--and the discrimination he faced as an African American sailor.
William Henry Harvey Collection
Interview / Recording
Share
-
PlayReveille and breakfast the morning of the attack; most of the ship getting ready to go on leave; raising the flag when he saw planes approaching; bombs and torpedoes being dropped; gathering rifles and ammo; trying to get men out of water. 00:07:06.0 - 00:10:59.3
-
PlayHeaded to Sunday school that morning; wearing brand new tailor-made "whites"; uniform cost a month's pay, and was ruined during attack; friendly fire; Monday, December 8th, his ship went out on patrol, looking for Japanese submarines; sailing to Guam, Midway, and Palmyra islands. 00:11:19.1 - 00:15:04.6
-
PlaySegregation in Navy; blacks not offered the same opportunities or ranks as whites; as a cook, he did more than just prepare meals; he would assist with the medics, also with Morse code, sometimes served as a signal officer; took and passed the exams to enter the V-12 program, but the Navy deemed him irreplaceable. 00:18:56.4 - 00:21:47.2
-
PlayThoughts on segregation in the military; frustrations at doing the same jobs as white but not getting promoted; could only get a temporary promotion; working to gather wounded from the beach and then having to return to the ship and cook meals; hurdles made him determined to succeed. 00:29:58.3 - 00:33:26.4
-
PlayWill never forget the horror of the attack; going to see the memorial at the USS Arizona; meeting sailors from other ships and embracing them; realizing how lucky they were; the heroism of ordinary soldiers. 00:48:05.3 - 00:53:43.0
About this Item
Title
- William Henry Harvey Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
- West, Rosalynn Shropshire
- Harvey, William Henry
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Harvey, William Henry
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Form
- Audio Cassette
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: 4th Battalion, 16th Division
- Location of Service: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Cook First Class
- Dates of Service: 1940-1945
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Military Status: veteran
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-03-11)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/27509
Cite as
- William Henry Harvey Collection (AFC/2001/001/27509), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio