David M. Armstrong Oral History Interview

May 9, 1988; June 10, 1988; July 7, 1988
Oral History #OH0108
Creator(s)
Lennon, Donald R. (Interviewer); Armstrong, David M., 1919-1998 (Interviewee)
Physical description
0.02 Cubic Feet, 4 audiotapes, 5.25 hours, 118 pages
Preferred Citation
David M. Armstrong Oral History Interview (#OH0108), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions


Scope and arrangement

Commander Armstrong describes his background and schooling in the Washington, D.C. area, his attendance at American University and Columbia Preparatory School, and his experiences at the U.S. Naval Academy. He discusses involvement in boxing and soccer, classes, discipline, and the Youngster cruise to Europe in 1938. Post graduation topics covered include duty in the U.S.S. ZANE, the Japanese attack upon Pearl Harbor, social life of a young officer in Hawaii, and wartime patrols, including the attack on Guadalcanal.

In interview #2, Armstrong continues his discussion of W.W. II. Among the topics covered are the Guadalcanal— Solomon Islands Campaign involvement of the USS ZANE; duty in the USS TERRY at Rabaul, Saipan, Guam, and the Philippine Sea; kamikaze attack on USS HIGBEE; and post war duty in the Pacific as commander of the USS DOYLE.

Interview #3 covers his service as a student and faculty member of the Naval Intelligence School, assignments in naval intelligence, duty in the USS ROCHESTER, Pentagon duty with OPNAV, command of the WILLIS A. LEE, and assignment to the NATO Command in Naples, Italy


Administrative information
Source of acquisition

Gift of David M. Armstrong

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

General note

1930s-1960s


Key terms
Personal Names
Armstrong, David M., 1919-1998
Corporate Names
United States Naval Academy
United States. Navy--Officers--Interviews
Topical
Guadalcanal, Battle of, Solomon Islands, 1942-1943
Korean War, 1950-1953--Naval operations
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Mariana Islands
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Ocean