Billy M. Mathews Interview (2007)
World War II Oral Histories
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Interview
Place Covered: Philippines, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2007-09-13
Duration: 00:16:43
Subjects: Mathews, Billy M. | World War II | Military | Veterans | World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives | United States. Navy | World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean | World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Philippines | Leyte Gulf, Battle of, Philippines, 1944 | Manning (Destroyer escort) | MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964 | Kamikaze airplanes
Contributors:
- Mathews, Billy M. Interviewee
- Lefebvre, Marian Interviewer
Description
An oral history interview conducted on September 13, 2007, with Billy M. Mathews, a member of the United States Navy stationed on the USS Manning during World War II. He discusses: joining the Navy; his deployment to the South Pacific; participating in the invasion of the Philippines at Leyte Gulf and Mindoro; witnessing General Douglas MacArthur wading ashore at Leyte Gulf; being attacked by kamikaze planes; the difficult conditions on the ship, especially around the equator; sailing through a typhoon near Guadalcanal; and his return home.