Part seven

This is a picture of Wally Holmer S1c LST 1009
in the U.S. Navy during World War II
1943-1946

My biography in the US Navy:

It was Dec. 1943 I got my greetings from Uncle Sam. I received my notice that I was drafted into the Armed Forces of the United States. I was 18.I was living in Redmond. Oregon with my parents. They asked me what did I want to be in the Army, Navy, or the Marines ?

Well I left Redmond, Oregon for Portland, Oregon to get my physical examination. I did not know which one to join. So on the bus to Portland, Oregon
I prayed if you want me to join the Navy make it rain in Portland . I guess the Lord must have laughed at this because it always rains in Portland. Well needless to say it rained. I went to Coeur d'Alene Idaho for my boot training. After taking my training they offered me some rates. Which was a signal man and other things like that. I wanted to get the hospital core. But I did not have enough education
to get in. So I turned down all those rates not realizing you would end up as a seaman. This is the lowest thing you could get in.

From there they sent me to Norfolk, Va. we were staying in a tent .They were getting a crew together for an LST. In the crew they had some sailors that were on some other Navy ships. They call those sailors salts. When they got their crew together they sent us to Boston, Mass. We were put in a fancy hotel. They were still building our LST. I asked Jesus for two things. That I would not get sea sick and I did not want to come back with my arms and legs blown off. God answered my prayers.

Soon they had our ship built. We left Boston. We were on our way to Norfolk Va. and we hit a storm like you would not believe.

Click here to part eight.