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Fredericksburg, Texas
Center for Pacific War Studies
Interview with
Mr John Bartuck
USSLangley-USSCalpins
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Historical
interview
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support
is
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Rick
taking
What
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years
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of
1917.
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that’s
Where
It
you
underwent
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was
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you
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it
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but
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experiences
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school
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couldn’t.
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anymore,
and
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Preservation
about when
interview
This
you
My
but
were
five
father of
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Bartuck:
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Bartuck:
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when
My
just
got
little
school
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of
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thought
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place
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State.
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Sea
wanted
this.
had
me.
friend
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Navy
to
disturbed
USS
they
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did
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and
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they
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year
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not
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man
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did
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mean,
joined
to
became
takes
Henderson.
made
you
on
in
Navy’s
were
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Hawaii.
you
going.”
the not
going. went
was
happened
did
get
you
in.”
to
like
January
deck,
you
aboard
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to
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a
care get
why
training?
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his
everything
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lot
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said,
that.
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about
the
Then
1938.
going
to
machinists
enlisted
pay the
the
you
the
was
the
time,
Calpins,
state
the
me
AP,
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words,
they
1937,
when
reason
military?
for
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goof
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do Army
to
or
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throughout
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went
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and
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asked
send
flight
something machinist’s
So,
guns.
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it
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rate,
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you more.
aboard
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asked
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a used
me
a
him, joined
Corps
as
school.
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said,
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goof to
chief
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me
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to
the
simple
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like had
I
joined?
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mate,
pot
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to
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captain,
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truth.
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at
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pilot.
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came
this
was
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get
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in
recruiting
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go
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spend
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kid.
get
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flew
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for
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if
down
happened
if
want,
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you
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you they
flight
to
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went
we
the
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battleship.
or
did.
a
everything.
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here,
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year
send
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little
job
the
which wanted
station
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how
school.”
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me
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and
school
on
you
bit.
that
had.
was
they
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it
to
there.
you
deck.
we
to
the
a
The
He Garden
He
time
go
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I
operate.
wrong.
year
The
because
in
got
flight
to
send
brig.
said,
to
said,
I
Navy
Canal And
1943
learn
you
Baruck
a
only
was,
It I
- 2
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Bartuck: Pratt:
Bartuck: Pratt:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Bartuck: Pratt:
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Pratt:
A
clip
No,
paravane
paravanes,
warrant
No,
Fire
Whenever
What Yes,
that? Japanese
So
so clothes
aboard
When
sunk,
How
us. they
anything. know
before
At
elevators.
At
He
into pilots
paravane--they
we
you
them
ther&s
describe
first,
what
But
control,
I
flew
got
did
flight
was
was
wouldn’t
the
I much
do
were
the
bosun
the
which
there
got
and
since
is,
any
you
point
gunfire,
PBYs
we
your not
which
Whipple
Because
on
another
I
war,
Mt.
school
back
don’t
ran
that.
is
on
about
they’d
part
were
find
the
was
were
fly
put
I
that
get
position were
Vernon,
and
the
was
I
whaleboats,
put
I
to
like
Langley.
but
got
you? of
me
no
out
did bit
name
you
with
Pearl
supposedly
so
brought
Langley
go
what
the
seaplanes
a
the
them
you
they
Pacific
into
on
we
by
big,
coxswain,
about
before
off
usually
States.
the that
on
war
for
Harbor,
that
fire,
you
were stationed
to
the
used
too
on
the
Japs,
at
us
it.
Pearl
was
Fleet. there,
one
motor
job,
we
called I
both
captain’s
big
the
and
We
south
the
But
only
had
back
Langley
to.
I
got
side.
a
we
and
so
had
time
for
Harbor?
got
They
The Adriatic
the
transport,
aboard everything
that’s
sides
launches,
a
it,
fly
that’s didn’t
sunk.
of
to
bunch
us.
they
We
back
a
Pacific
fire
Japs
she
gig.
that
a
at
Australia,
part
flew
and
what
We
fighter,
had
that
had
what
the
I
was
control?
when
Kino
fleet When
of
so
streamed got
of
all
stayed
back
if
6o-foot
Fleet
men
else.
Langley?
I
men
a
we
time?
the
sunk?
there
type
I
did.
them.
anything
only
task
Langley
had.
that’s
Pearl
Perth.
didn’t
to
that
deck
was
that
there
Before
of
were force San
officers’
You
had
the
And
craft
supposed
Harbor shot
it.
was
which
get
They
was
overnight
Francisco.
about
paravanes.
were
so
mines,
there.
But
my
I
them.
supposed
the
in
was
many
sunk
boats,
job
was
issued
my
hit--of
contact
one
it,
Navy
The
to
on
the
was
just
and
they
friend
ships
and
of
come
And
and
the
You
Edsel
us
had.
paravanes
to
the
course,
also
with
the
forward
then
never
guns
put
we Australian
I
there,
know
over
flew
survivors
finally,
Now
Pecos
was
to
them.
stayed
it
we
but
we
stream told
and
out. everything.
what
of
sunk
if
and
went
would
was
didn’t
the
you
the
just
us
help
Bartuck
south
of
Army
if
by
a
the get -
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr. Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Bartuck:Yes.
Bartuck:
Pratt:
flight
the
a So
That’s
drill
No,
About
So
with
How
them.
would
had
The
How
called
Not How
Where
I
Yes.
Did
After
CVL Yes.
They
went
we
that
West
before
a
a
YMS
very
long
you
the
school.
long
long
made
they
We
hole how
line
six
it,
do were
would you
to
were
Coast,
paravanes.
a long,
come
is
months.
9.
were
had
a
were
we’d
that. were
called
I
and
wooden
were
the
destroyer
a
go
They
remember.
you
be
type
people,
about
to
you
out
into
watch,
you
It
invasion
throw
you
about on
it.
the
stationed
had
was
Then
of
where
on
mine
on
San
on
the
It
six
Pacific.
in
defense
as out
a
the
was the
thats
the
1943?
the
Mt.
We
number,
the
I
Francisco?
months.
there,
the
sweep.
the
went on
end, mine
mine
in
Lardner?
after
Vernon,
had
East
mines
what
the
That’s
shipping
Philadelphia,
against
and
it
to
sweep?
Out
sweep?
nurses
Coast,
fantail
that?
they
From
was
they
an
would
from
where
they
of
AKA
the
Christmas
didn’t
lanes
would there
Staten
the
in
and
there
shipped
come
mines?
I
the
and
and USS
told
it
were have
I
do.
Island.
was
next
went
I
up
I
I
Lardner.
went
of
you,
made
put
you
a
They
and
we’d
supposed
‘42
compartment,
name,
to
my
it
back
to
sweep
when
a
the
had
in shoot
mine
the
captain
they
commission,
to
invasion
a
USS
to
we
mines,
them,
the
show
sweep.
get
weren’t
were
wouldnt
Calpins,
States?
and
the
every
just if
in
A
in
there
these
North mines
very
and
YMS,
like
North
night.
let
a
we light
were
big.
guys
I
me
and
Africa.
as
said
Africa.
went
they
What
go
carrier,
any.
would
tow
we
to
Bartuck
to
did
We we
- 4
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Bartuck:
Pratt:
So
Kingsville.
difference. paying
was
When
And
it
Kingsville, Where
retired. Well,
It’s
foot
the
When
In
When
States.
and
When
sent We
What
we
saw
Yes.
Diego,
So
is
you
1957.
paying
cold
eight.
you
less
you
were
were
tugboat
put
planes
it’s
them
I
We
put
S3600.
do
did
the
other
the
was
I
were
up
don’t
expensive.
troops
1
mostly
were
went
in
They
you
It’s
your
After in
Texas.
put war
you
1500
war
getting
in
there.
over
Okinawa
action
action
in
off
a
Here
live
New
have
in
was
in
muster
20
to
ended,
have
low
in
Brooklyn the
foggy.
the
The
20
on
tax.
a
amphibious
now?
years
Northern
knocked
Jersey
over
task
in
We
all
were
war
income
a
years.
us.
West
one
where
That
heating
reason
Kingsville,
out where
I
the
have
force
was
I
in,
had
in
you
Navy
was
I
Coast
while.
of
I
was
and
place
had
Corpus
off
Japan,
they
over
a
already
no
I’m
were
the
in?
there.
bill
on
school,
YO,
Yard.
all
a
you
a
state
on
I
had
where down
We
an
lot Navy?
I
five
like
don’t you?
over.
a
learned
and
the
they
retired...
From
APA,
had
125
then.
invaded
those
Later
income
and
bedroom
you
Calpins.
here
then
we
When
even
call
foot.
in
there
and
from
And
did
live,
kamikazes.
service
I
12
is
A
we
went
pay
tax.
those
Then
we
years,
did
up
because
&
now house,
there I
and
went
got
M
went
8500
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you
class.
up
islands,
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my
Corpus. we
went
transferred,
so
went
to
to
at
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leave
to
my
for
have
son
I
don’t
China,
I
that
Newfoundland.
either.
thought, China.
back
had
wife
two
aboard
we
has
the
a
time,
know
college tug
were
houses.
then
to
is
a
We
Navy?
we
ranch
from
tugs
an
boats, I
about
how
might
went
we
came
in
APA.
there,
So again.
action,
Texas,
came
home,
we
20
I
to
that’s back
as
had
the
never
A
Japan
years
back
And well
and
&
the
he’s
last
a
to
the
M
hundred
San
got
finish
ago,
then
Japs
to
I
first
thing
lkiruck
find
the
hit.
I I
-
I 5
Transcribed
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Bartuck:
Pratt:
Pratt:
Bartuck:
Bartuck:
by:
I
war.
Well,
I
time,
got
out
he’s
up
scholarships.
That’s
Except
We’re
Now
I
enjoyed
want
was
right,
in
about
going
you’re
he
Harbor June
maybe
27
touch
doing
Betty
to
the
my
was
it.
years
the
thank
him,
to
problem
1,
grandchildren
living
with
Paieda
all
he’ll
The
way
only
try
003
City,
in
it
you
right,
the
him,
youngest
must
another
I
follow
a
the
CA
brought
with
for junior,
pros.
we’re
good
they
have
taking
the
in
job,
are
When
one
wanted
he
them
not
his
life.
been
kids
doing
too.
the
was
is
hurting.
grandfather’s
he
today,
up.
6
because
time
him
throwing
foot
was
well,
I
have
to
to
4,
they
a
But
because
junior
talk
his
go
225
two
that’s
70
don’t
to
footsteps.
coach
with
pounds.
yards.
Annapolis.
grandsons
in
my
the
plan
high
us,
got
way
sons
and
He
anything.
in
school,
played
contact
I
both
I
share
and
planned
don’t
the
daughters
in
your
And
two
know
with
college
coach
it
years
that’s
stories
when
them.
how
from
on
brought
in
too
they
I
football
about
At
Europe,
was
Annapolis
bad.
that
found
Hartuck
them
a
the kid.
— 6