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.
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.
Gift of Milton J. Silverman
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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1930s-1970s