Biographical/historical information

Commander Silverman, a native of Colorado, enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school and was assigned to the USS NEW MEXICO. He subsequently received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1941.

Scope and arrangement

In this interview, Commander Silverman reviews his background, describes his experience at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS MONTGOMERY during the Japanese attack, and comments on subsequent minelaying duties. He also describes putting the USS ROSS in commission as its executive officer and participating in shore bombardments throughout the South Pacific. Other comments concern his ship hitting two mines at Leyte Gulf, efforts to repair the ROSS in a floating drydock, and a kamikaze attack upon the drydock. He also reports on the repairs to the ROSS, its action at Iwo Jima, going ashore at Tokyo, and showing the flag in China as commander of the USS VAMMEN.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of Milton J. Silverman

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.

Metadata Rights Declaration

General note

1930s-1970s

Key terms

Personal Names

Silverman, Milton J.

Corporate Names

United States. Navy--Officers--Interviews

Topical

Leyte Gulf, Battle of, Philippines, 1944
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Japan
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Ocean

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