THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR

THE NIMITZ MUSEUM

PRESENTS

AN ORAL HISTORY BY

DENO PETRUCCIANI

TAPE # 344 SIDE ONE

TODAY IS DECEMBER 8, 2001. I AM INTERVIEWTING MR. DENA PETRUGGCIANI.

DENO PET RU C ANI. PETRUGGGCIANI)

INTER THAT MAKES IT EASY. MR. DENO PETRUGGCIANI. THIS INTERVIEW IS TAKING PLACE IN FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS NEAR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR. THE INTERVIEW IS IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIIC WAR CENTER FOR WAR STUDIES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION RELATED TO WORLD WAR II. MR. PETRUGGCIANI, WE WANT TO THANK YOU VERY,VERY MUCH FOR GIVING THE MUSEUM YOUR TIME AND TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE MUSEUM FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL STUDY THIS IN THE FUTURE. TO START WITH, I WOULD LIKE ASK, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHERE YOU WERE BORN AND WHEN YOU WERE BORN?

DENO KALIMAR, ILLINOIS. INTER AND WHAT WAS THE YEAR? DENO 1922. INTER WHAT WERE YOUR PARENTS NAMES AND MAY BE THE WHERE THEY WERE BORN? DO YOU HAVE ANY RECALL ON THAT?

DENO MY DAD’S NAME WAS ROBERT AND MY MOTHER’S NAME WAS, I DON’T KNOW WHAT HERE NAME WAS. SHE DIED EARLY. HER LAST NAME WAS MOOCHY (phonetic).

INTER DO YOU REMEMBER IF THEY WERE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES? DENO NO, THEY WERE BORN ACROSS THE POND.

2 INTER THEY CAME OVER FROM EUROPE? IMMIGRATED? DENO YEAH. INTER WHERE WAS YOUR FATHER FROM? DENO HE WAS FROM FLORENCE. INTER ANDYOUR MOTHER? DENO MY MOTHER WAS FROM BOLOGNA INTER YOUR FATHER CAME FROM FLORENCE AND YOUR MOTHER FROM BOLGNA? DENO YEAH. FIRST GENERATION TO BE BORN OVER HERE. INTER FIRST GENERATION TO BE BORN OVER HERE. DID YOU HAVE ANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS?

DENO YES, I HAD ONE BROTHER AND TWO SISTERS. INTER DO YOU REMEMBER THEIR NAMES? DENO YES. INTER YOU HAD HOW MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS? DENO ONE BROTHER AND TWO SISTERS. INTER WERE THEY OLDER OR YOUNGER THAN YOU? DENO THEY WERE OLDER. INTER DID ANY OF THEM SERVE IN THE MILITARY AS WELL, OR WERE THEY----?

3 DENO NO. INTER SO YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE. WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL? DENO IN PANAMA, ILLINOIS. INTER IN PANAMA, ILLINOIS. DID YOU COMPLETE THRU HIGI SCHOOL OR DID YOU LEAVE EARLY?

DENO I COMPLETED 3 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THE 4TH YEAR, I HAD TO GO TO THE COUNTY SEAT TO GET INTO COLLEGE. I USED TO TAKE 2 CLASSES OF TYPING. THEY LOOKED AT ALL THE GRADES AND LET US OFF.

INTER SO YOU GRADUATED FROM THE COUNTY? DENO YEAH. INTER FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE? DENO FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL. INTER WAS IT AFTER THAT THAT YOU WINT INTO THE NAVY, OR WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION TO GO INTO THE NAVY?

DENO I WENT IN THE NAVY SEPTEMBER 25, 1940. INTER WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE NAVY? DENO I THOUGHT I WOULD GO SEE A LOT OF THE WORLD. I SAW A LOT WATER. INTER YOU ENLISTED, OR WERE YOU DRAFTED? DENO I ENLISTED.

4 INTER DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WENT FOR BASIC TRAINING? DENO AT GREAT LAKES. INTER IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU REMEMBERABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE AT THE GREAT LAKES DURING BASIC TRAINING THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SHARE WITH INDIVIDIUALS WHO ARE GOING TO READ THIS?

DENO NO. INTER WAS IT A LONG BASIC TRAINING OR A SHORT BASIC TRAINING.? DENO IT WAS FAIRLY LONG. WE LOADED ON TO A TRAIN AND WENT TO THE WEST COAST. INTER THIS WAS AFTER BASIC TRAINING? DENO YES. INTER DID YOU GO OUT TO SAN DIEGO? DENO NO INTER WHERE DID YU END UP ON THE WEST COAST? DENO IN BREMERTON, WASHINGTON. INTER WHEN YOU LEFT BASIC TRAINING, DO YOU REMEMBER WHETHER AT THAT POINT, HAD THEY SENT YOU TO ANY SCHOOLS YET OR HAD THEY SAID WHAT KIND OF FUNTION THEY WANTED YOU TO PERFORM AT THAT POINT IN THE NAVY?

DENO NO. INTER WHAT HAPPENED AT BREMERTON, THEN? DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL THERE?

5 DENO NO. INTER YOU WANT TO TELL US IN YOUR WORDS WHAT HAPPENED THERE? DENO I WENT ABOARD SHIP. CHIPPED ALL THE PAINT OFF IT. INTER IS THAT WHAT YOUR JOB WAS? DENO YEAH. INTER WAS THAT ON THE MARYLAND? DENO YES, INTER SO THAT’S WHERE YOU BOARDED AND WERE ASSIGNED TO THE USS MARYLAND? DENO YES.I WENT TO THE WEST COAST AND WENT TO BREMERTON, WASHINGTON. WHAT I DID WAS NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I CHIPPED PAINT, PAINTED.

INTER YOU PROBABLY HANDLED THE SHIPS LINES FOR MOORING? DENO I DIDN’T DO THAT. INTER YOU DIDN’T DO THAT? DENO NO. INTER AFTER YOU BOARDED THE USS MARYLAND WHICH IS A BATTLESHIP AND YOU WERE IN THE DECK DIVISION, CHIPPING, PAINTING AND WHAT NOT, DO YOU REMEMBER ANY OF THE EXERCIZES OR THE DEPLOYMENT, WHERE THE SHIP WENT BEFORE YOU GOT TO PEARL HARBOR? DID YOU DO ANY EXERCIZES?

DENO NO. WE JUST WENT TO SEA FOR A SHORT TIME AND CAME BACK AND PAINTED SOME MORE.

6 INTER ANYONE WHO DID SOME TIME IN THE NAVY DID SOME OF THAT. DENO. PAINT AND CHIP AND WHATEVER ELSE I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. THEN WE BOARDED A TRAIN AND WENT TO THE COAST.

INTER WHICH COAST? DENO THE WEST COAST. INTER THAT’S WHEN YOU BOARDED THE USS MARYLAND. THEN YOU WERE IN AND OUT OF PORT DOING SOME SEA EXERCIZES GETTING THE SHIP IN SHAPE OBVIOUSLY. DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WENT TO PEARL HARBOR?

DENO OH YEAH. I WENT THE IN JANUARY IN 1941. INTER YOU SAILED ABOARD THE MARYLAND IN HER DEPLOYMENTS. DO YOU REMEMBER ---- LET’S GO TO PEARL HARBOR DAY WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR. DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE THAT MORNING AND WHAT YOU WERE DOING?

DENO I WAS SLEEPING. INTER YOU WERE ASLEEP ON THE SHIP? DENO YEAH. INTER DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US JUST WHAT YOU CAN REMEMBER ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE THAT DAY AS YOU REMEMBER THEM? HOW WERE YOU AWAKENED? DID THEY SOUND GENERAL QUARTERS?

DENO YES. VOICE OF SOMEONE WITH DENO YOU REMEMBER. YOU TOLD ME BEFORE.

7 DENO I KNOW. I WAS ASLEEP AND WOKE UP. I COULDN’T FIND MY CLOTHES. I HAD A PAIR OF SHOES ON. I WENT DOWN TO MY BATTLE STATION WHICH WAS THE THIRD DECK AFT, AFTER STEERING. I GOT TIRED. I WAS DOWN TO (GARBELED) I SAID, I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE. THEY CALLED FOR A MAN TO COME TOPSIDE—

INTER VOLUNTEERS? DENO YEAH. I VOLUNTEERED TO GO UP TOPSIDE AND BOY! I GOT TOPSIDE AND THERE WAS FIRE ON OIL AND ???BURNING OUT BAD. THERE WERE BLOOD AND OIL. BOY, THAT WAS BAD. YOU COULD HEAR THEM HOLLERING FOR HELP. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. WE TRIED TO GET THEM OUT. THEY WERE HOLLORING UNTIL THEY BURNED UP AND IT WAS QUIET.

INTER THESE WERE YOUR SHIPMATES? THESE WERE YOUR FRIENDS ABOARD SHIP. WERE THEY ON THE MARYLAND OR WERE THEY ON ANOTHER SHIP?

DENO I DON’T KNOW WHAT SHIP THEY WERE ON OR WERE THEY WERE FROM. I DON’T KNOW. I CAN’T REMEMBER.

INTER BUT, YOU COULD HEAR THEM IN THE WATER? DENO YEAH. THEY WERE SCREAMING. THEY WERE BURNING UP IN HOT BOILING OIL WAS 30 FOOT DEEP. IT WAS FUEL OIL, SPILLED OUT OF THE SHIPS, CAUGHT FIRE. THOSE KIDS WERE IN THE OIL, SWIMMING AROUND, BURNING UP. THERE WA NOTHING WE COULD DO. WE COULDN’T GET THEM OUT. WE DIDN’T HAVE A BOAT AND THEY BURNED IN THE OIL.

INTER DO YOU HAVE ANY --- DO YOU REMEMBER HOW YOU ESCAPED, HOW YOU SURVIVED THAT DAY. WITH ALL THAT WAS GOING ON?

DENO YES. THEY CAME AND GOT ME. THEY THREW ME ROPES THAT CAME FROM THE SHIP THAT WAS TIED ALONGSIDE OF US, THE OKLAHOMA HAD TURNED OVER.

8 INTER YOU CUT THE ROPES? DENO YEAH. INTER WHAT HAPPENED? DENO I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE FIRE------INTER SO YOU CUT THE OKLAHOMA LOOSE, CUT THE LINES YOU WERE MOORED ALONGSIDE THE OKLAHOMA AND DO YOU RECALL THEN, BECAUSE YOU WERE MOORED OUT OF BATTTLESHIP ROW, DID YOU REMAIN ABOARD THE SHIP OR DID YOU----?

DENO YES. I STAYED ON THE SHIP AND THEY CAME AND GOT ME AND MY BUDDY WAS OUT RHERE FIGHTING THE FIRE. WE GOT AWAY FROM THAT. THEY TOOK US UP THERE TO CHOP THE ROPES. WHEN WE GOT THROUGH WITH THAT, THEY PUT US BACK DOWN BY THE FIRE. ALL YOU COULD HEAR WAS THE GUYS IN BOILING OIL.

INTER DO YOU RMEMBER WHETHER THE MARYLAND SUSTAINED A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE THAT DAY?

DENO WE GOT A BOMB AND A TORPEDO. ONE MAN WAS KILLED. HE WAS UP ON THE BRIDGE. A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL TOR HIS THROAT OUT. HE WAS DEAD. HE WAS A LIEUTENANT.

INTER THE FIRE WAS YOUR BIGGEST MEMORY, IT BURNED SO FIERCELY. ALL THE MEN SWIMMING AROUND IN THAT OIL TRYING TO-----

DENO YEAH. I DON’T HOW MANY WAS IN THERE. THE JAPS CAME BACK THROUGH THERE. THEY WERE SCREAMING AND HOLLERING. ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WERE QIUET.

INTER

9 DID YOU HAVE ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS ABOARD THE USS MARYLAND THAT WERE KILLED THAT DAY?

DENO NO INTER NOBODY THAT YOU WERE PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO? DENO NO INTER AFTER THE ATTACK ENDED, DENO, DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION ABOUT YOU DID AT THAT POINT OR HOW UTILIZED THOSE WHO WERE STILL LIVING TO BATTLE TO BATTLE THE FIRES AND ANY EXPERIENCES THERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHARE?

DENO THEY TOOK US DOWN TO THE FIRES AND I CAN STILL HEAR MY SHIPMATES SCREAMING AND HOLLORING TO HIGH HEAVEN.

INTER AND THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD DO. DENO NOTHING WE COULD DO. INTER WHAT DID YOU DO THE REST OF THE DAY AFTER THE ATTACK? DENO THEY CAME AND GOT US AND WE CARRIED A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP. THEY SHOVED IT DOWN A HOLE AND PUMPED OUT THE WATER.

INTER AND THAT WAS IN THE MARYLAND? DENO YEAH. INTER WAS THAT NEAR WHERE YOU GOT HIT BY THE TORPEDO? DENO AFTER THE TORPEDO HIT.

10 INTER AFTER THE TORPEDO HIT, YOU WERE TRYING TO PUMP OUT WATER WHERE THE HOLE WAS?

DENO YEAH. INTER YOU HAD A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP, PUMPING THE WATER OUT? DENO YEAH. THE PUMPS WEIGHED 400 POUNDS. INTER 400 POUND PUMPS? DENO YEAH. I COULDN’T BELIEVE THEY TOLD US TO GO BACK INTO THE FIRE. WE COULDN’T HARDLY BELIEVE WHAT WE SAW OR HEARD. THEY WERE BURNING ALIVE.

INTER HOW LONG DID YOU REMAIN ON THE MARYLAND/? DENO FOUR YEARS, SIX MONTHS AND TWO DAYS. INTER AFTER PEARL HARBOR, DID THEY DO THE REPAIRS TO THE MARYLAND RIGHT THERE OR DID YOU GO ----?

DENO NO. WE WENT BACK TO BREMERTON. THEY PATCHED US UP THERE, PUT SOME MORE GUNS ON, TOOK SOME MORE MEN ON.

INTER DO YOU REMEMBER SOME OTHER CAMPAIGNS DURING THE WAR THAT FOLLOWED AFTER PEARL HARBOR AND AFTER YOU GOT THE SHIP PATCHED UP IN BREMERTON? YOU WENT BACK OUT INTO THE WAR AGAIN.

DENO NO, INTER DO YOU REMEMBER ANY OF THE PLACES YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN?

11 VOICE YOU REMEMBER THEM. YOU WENT TO LEYTE GULF. YOU TOLD ME YOU DID. DENO ON YEAH. THAT WAS WAY AFTER VOICE WHAT CAME BEFORE LEYTE? DENO A LOT. A LOT CAME BEFORE. VOICE WHAT WAS THE FIRST ONE YOU RECALL AFTER PEAR HARBOR? DENO I’M TRYING TO---BUT I CAN’T. INTER YOUR MOST VIVID MEMORIES ARE OF PEARL HARBOR AND THE ACTUAL DAY OF THE BOMBING AND THE FIRES.

DENO THEY WEREN’T A GLEAM IN THEIR MOTHER’S EYES. I DIDN’T KNOW A WIFE UNTIL AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER.

INTER SO YOU MET YOUR WIFE AFTER THE WAR? DENO YEP. I MET HER WHEN SHE WOULD COME TO MY NEIGHBOR’S AND I MADE A DATE. WE WENT OUT AND WE WERE TOGETHER FOR 51 YEARS.

INTER THAT’S WONDERFUL. YOU HAD 51 YEARS. DENO YEAH. VOICE DO YOU RECALL ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE LEYTE GULF AND AFTER PEARL HARBOR? I THINK YOU WERE IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

DENO YEAH. THAT WAS WAY AFTER PEARL HARBOR.

12 VOICE WHERE DID YOU GO AFTER BREMERTON AND YOU GOT FIXED UP? YOU GOT MORE GUNS PUT ON AND YOU GOT MORE MEN. DO YOU RECALL WHERE YOU WENT AFTER THAT?

DENO WENT OUT TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC. WENT OUT OFF OF AUSTRALIA. INTER NEW GUINEA OR NEW ZEALAND? DENO NEW GUINEA AND AUSTRALIA. THAT’S WHERE THEY LOST A BATTLESHIP WITH A CARRIER. THERE WERE A LOT OF GUYS I MET AFTER HIGH SCHOOL; MY FOURTH YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL IN HILLSBORO, IL. I WENT TO HILLSBORO COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

INTER AND YOU MET SOME MORE OF THE GUYS DOWN THERE? DENO YEAH. THE WAR WAS OVER THEN. INTER YOU WERE IN NEW GUNEA THEN. DENO I MANAGED THAT. THEY GAVE US TWO CANS OF BEER. INTER THEY GAVE YOU TWO CANS OF BEER? WHILE YOU WERE IN NEW GUINEA? WAS THAT ABOARD SHIP OR WAS THAT ASHORE?

DENO ON SHORE. INTER AND YOU RAN NTO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL BUDDIES? DENO YEAH, THEY CAME. INTER WHAT SHIP WERE THEY ON? DENO THEY WEREN’T ON A SHIP. INTER ON, THEY JUST CAME DOWN TO SEE YOU.

13 DENO YEAH. THEY WERE IN THE ARMY. INTER YOU RAN INTO SOME ARMY BUDDIES? YOU ALL GOT HOOKED UP. DENO YEAH INTER IT MUST HAVE BEEN HARD TRYING TO FIND THEM. DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE SOLOMON ISLAND CAMPAIGN OR THE LEYTE GULF OR TARAWA?

DENO THE LEYTE GULF, WE WERE IN THERE. THE JAPS CAME IN THERE AND TRIED TO CHASE US OUT. WE FOUGHT LIKE A SON OF A GUN. AND CHASED THEM OUT.

INTER YOU CHASED THE JAPS OUT. DENO YEAH. INTER THAT WAS A BIG VICTORY FOR FOR THE U.S. NAVY WASN’T IT? DENO YES VOICE DID YOUR SHIP GET HIT THERE? DENO NO VOICE HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU SHIP GET HIT? DENO I THINK AT PEARL HARBOR. INTER AT PEARL HARBOR. THEN BACK TO BREMERTON AND YOU GOT ALL PATCHED UP. WERE YOU HIT A NUMBER OF TIMES AFTER THAT AS WELL?

VOICE AS I RECALL, YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD TO GO BACK AGAIN.

14 DENO YEAH VOICE KIND OF HARD TO REMEMBER SOME OF THOSE THINGS. IT WAS A ALONG TIME AGO. DENO YEAH INTER THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO BUT YOU HAVE DONE VERY WELL. ARE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS DENO, THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT WERE EITHER FUNNY OR THINGS THAT YOU TRIED TO SUPPRESS?

DENO ONE GUY GOT SHOT RIGHT IN HIS MOUSTASH. IT SHOT HIS MOUSATCH OFF. INTER GOT SHAVED BY THE SHRAPNEL. BY SHRAPNEL OR A BULLET? DENO BULLET. INTER NEAR MISS VOICE TELL US ABOUT THE TIME YOU HAD A FIRE AT NO. ONE TURRET. DENO THAT’S WHEN WE LOST A BUNCH OF MEN. VOICE TELL US ABOUT THAT TIME. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THAT HAPPENED? DENO I WAS AT CENTRAL STATION. INTER YOU WERE AT CENTRAL STATION. YOU WERE AT YOUR BATTLE STATION. DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE THE SHIP WAS?

DENO WE WERE IN THE PACIFIC. INTER DO YOU REMEMBER WHICH BATTLE YOU WERE IN WHEN THAT TURET GOT HIT? DENO I DON’T KNOW.

15 VOICE ONE OF MANY, WASN’T IT? TELL US ABOUT WHEN THAT TURRET CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHAT WAS GOING ON. YOU HAD A STORY ABOUT THAT.

DENO THAT WAS CLEARER TO ME THEN THAN IT IS NOW. VOICE SEE IF YOU CAN RELATE THAT. THE NUMBER ONE TURRET WAS ON FIRE? DENO YEAH. THAT WAS WHEN IT WAS HIT BY A SUICIDE PLANE. INTER WAS THE NUMBER ONE TURRET HIT BY A KAMIKASE? DENO YEAH.. AND ABOUT 19 MEN GOT KILLED. VOICE ` YOU NEEDED A LADDER TO GET UP THERE DIDN’T YOU? DENO I DON’T KNOW WHETHER THERE WAS A LADDER THERE. YOU HAD TO CLIMB UP THE BEST WAY YOU COULD. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE DEAD. WE HAD TO PICK UP SAILORS WHO WERE ALIVE. WE TOOK THEM TO A STATION WHERE THEY COULD GET-----.

INTER WERE YOU A FIREMAN THAT DAY? DID YOU GET A HOLD OF THE HOSE? DENO NO. I HAD A HOLD OF THAT HOSE. VOICE WHEN THAT TURRET WAS ON FIRE? DENO YEAH VOICE YOU DID GET IT. YOU HAD HOLD OF THE HOSE? DENO NO VOICE YOU DIDN’T. OK. INTER ANY THING ABOUT THAT ADDITIONAL THAT YOU REMEMBER?

16 VOICE HE TOLD ME A STORY ABOUT THAT ONE TIME. THAT TURRET WAS ON FIRE. HE HAD TO GET UP TO THE TOP. A GUY WAS STANDING ON THE HOSE OR SOMETHING, YOU TOLD ME YEARS AGO. WAS THAT A DIFFERENT PLACE?

DENO THAT WAS A DIFFERENT PLACE. VOICE TELL US ABOUT THAT TIME. DENO I HAD AN OFFICER, THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF PEOPLE, PERSONNEL. I GRABBED A HOSE AND RAN UP, CLIMBED UP ON TOP OF THE TURRET. THE TURRET WAS ALL ON FIRE AND TURNED THE WATER ON AND IT SQUIRTED A LITTLE BIT AND STOPPED. I LOOKED OVER THE SIDE AND IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND A CLEAT. THIS OFFICER WAS STANDING DOWN THERE AND I YELLED AT HIM. I SAID, “GET THAT HOSE UNHOOKED.” I WAS UP THERE ON TOP AND AMMUNITION WAS GOING OFF. THEY WERE GOING OFF AND I WAS DUCKING DOWN. THE SHELLS WERE GOING OFF AND HE WAS DOWN THERE STANDING ON A HOSE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT HE YELLED.

VOICE I THINK YOU TOLD ME YOU SAID, “GET THE HELL OFF THE HOSE.”

DENO I TOLD HIM TO GET OFF THE GALDERN HOSE. INTER THEN WHAT HAPPENED? DENO I PUT THE FIRE OUT. THERE WAS ONE MAN WHO WAS ALIVE ON THERE.OF ALL THE MEN THAT WERE UP THERE, ONE MAN WALKED OFF THE TURRET.

INTER THE REST HAD ALL BEEN KILLED OR INJURED? DENO HE FELL OFF THE TURRET. HE NEVER GOT TOUCHED. THEY WERE TRYING TO GET THE MEN. THEY WERE TRYING TO GET FINGERPRINTS SO THEY COULD IDENTIFY THE MEN. I GUESS THEY DIDN’T GET THEIR FINGERPRINTS.

17 VOICE BUT THAT DAY, YOU HAD THE END OF THE HOSE? WAS THAT YOU THAT PUT OUT THE FIRE?

DENO YEP. VOICE BECAUSE HE MOUTHED OFF TO THE OFFICER, HE GOT IN TROUBLE LATER, OTHERWISE HE WOULD HAVE GOT A MEDAL FOR THAT.

DENO THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE ME A MEDAL. I CAME DOWN OFF THE TURRET. I NEVER GOT HURT. INTER SO, YOU DIDN’T GET THE MEDAL BECAUSE OF THIS OFFICEER BEING UPSET THE WAY YOU HAD ADDRESSED HIM.

VOICE HE TOLD HIM TO GET THE HELL OFF THE HOSE. GIVE ME SOME WATER TO FIGHT THIS FIRE WITH.

DENO I NEED THE WATER UP ON TOP OF THE TURRET .HE FINALLY MADE IT OFF THE HOSE INTER THEN YOU GOT THE FIRE OUT? DENO YEAH. THAT TURRET UP THERE WAS ABOUT AS BIG AS THIS TABLE AND IT WAS FULL OF AMMUNITION.

INTER YOU HAD THE HOSE OVER THE TOP? YOU WERE JUST HOLDING IT THERE LIKE THIS? YOU FINALLY GOT IT OUT?

DENO IT FINALLY WENT OUT. INTER IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU SAW A LOT OF DESTRUCTION AND TOOK A LOT OF FIRE.

18 DENO IT WAS A HOLE ON TOP OF THE TURRET AND WATER WAS RUNNING IN THERE.. I STUCK THE HOSE IN A READY BOX. I SAID TO MYSELF, “YOU WENT TOO FAR. YOUR’E GOING TO HEAVEN.

INTER GOING TO BLOW THE ENTIRE SHIP OFF. DENO I GOT THE READY BOX. I STUCK THE HOSE IN THERE AND TURNED IT ON. VOICE EVERYBODY WAS AFRAID THERE WAS GOING TO BE A BIG, ANOTHER BIG EXPLOSION? DENO YEAH. INTER IF THOSE SHELLS HAD GONE OFF, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG EXPLOSION. DENO THEY DIDN’T GO OFF. INTER YOU WERE A HERO THAT DAY, AGAIN. VOICE HE WAS UP FOR A MEDAL THAT DAY. WHOEVER THAT OFFICER WAS THAT HE TOLD TO GET THE HELL OFF THE HOSE.

DENO HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. INTER HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE SHIP? DENO YEAH. INTER HE PROBABLY DIDN’T LIKE THAT.BUT HE GOT OFF THE HOSE. DENO YEAH. I TOLD HIM TO GET THE HELL OFF THE HOSE. INTER THAT’S A GOOD STORY. DO YOU HAVE RECALL OF ANY OTHERS LIKE THAT WHILE YOU WERE ABOARD?

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DENO NO. I WENT DOWN AND A GUY WAS MANING A 40mm AND HE GOT HIS SHOES BLOWN OFF. HE WAS RUNNING AROUND AND I TOLD HIM HE BETTER GET SOME SHOES ON. YOU WILL GET YOUR FEET CUT.

INTER DO YOU REMEMBER ANY OTHER STORIES LIKE THAT THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US TODAY?

DENO THE TURRET USED TO SWING AROUND. IF YOU GET ON A TURRET AND GET TOO FAR, AND THEY WOULD FIRE THEM, IT WOULD TEAR THE SHIRTS OFF THE GUYS AND SHOES IF THEY DIDN’T GET OUT OF THE WAY.

INTER DID YOU STAY IN UNTIL THE WAR ENDED? DO YOU REMEMBER? DENO YES INTER DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE THE DAY THEY DROPPED THE BOMB OR WHEN YOU LEARNED THAT THEY HAD DROPPED THE BOMBS ON JAPAN? WERE YOU ABOARD SHIP?

DENO YEAH. WE WERE OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. INTER YOU WERE AT THAT POINT? DENO UH UH. INTER WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT DID EVERYBODY DO? DID THEY ANNOUNCE IT? DENO THE SHIP’S LOUDSPEAKER AND THE GUYS THAT HED THEIR TIME IN WERE WANTING TO GET OUT. WE PULLED INTO THE DOCKS. BOY, THEY WENT HOME LIKE FLIES.

INTER TO CELEBRATE? THAT WAS LONG BEACH?

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DENO YEAH. IT WAS THERE AT LONG BEACH. INTER DID YOU GO OFF TO CELEBRATE THAT DAY? DENO NO, I DIDN’T GO OFF. INTER YOU HAD THE DUTY? DENO YEAH INTER AFTER THAT OCCURRED, WAS IT A LONG TIME BEFORE YOU WERE DISCHARGED, OR DID IT HAPPEN FAIRLY QUICKLY?

DENO I STAYED AT THE RECEIVING STATION AND THEY KEPT ME THERE. I STAYED THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND FINALLY GOT DISCHARGED.

INTER WAS THAT NOT ABOUT 1946 OR 1947? DENO 1946 INTER YOU SHARED WITH US A FEW MOMENTS AGO ABOUT MEETING YOUR WIFE AFTER THE WAR. DID YOU MEET HER BACK IN ILLINOIS OR SOMEPLACE ELSE?

DENO I MET HER IN ILLINOIS. INTER MET IN ILLINOIS. WENT HOME. HAD YOU KNOWN HER BEFORE THE WAR? DENO NO. INTER THEN YOU GOT MARRIED AND HAD THESE TWO WONDERFUL BOYS? VOICE AND A SISTER WHO IS NOT HERE WITH US.

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VOICE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT? INTER ANYTHING AT ALL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? VOICE ANYTHING ABOUT THE WAR OR FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS? VOICE WHAT WAS THE HIGHEST RANK THAT YOU GOT DAD? DENO I GOT FIRST CLASS. INTER YOU WERE A FIRST CLASS PETTY OFFICER? DENO YES. INTER AND YOU WERE IN A TOTAL OF ABOUT FIVE YEARS? DENO SIX YEARS AND 10 DAYS. INTER HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY OF THE US MARYLAND REUNIONS. DENO JUST THIS ONE. INTER JUST THIS ONE IN DENVER IN 1989. DENO ALL THE MEN ARE GETTING OLDER. INTER HAPPENS TO ALL OF US. VOICE OK DAD. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT? DENO I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE. VOICE OK

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MR. PETUGGCIANA, YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF WHAT YOU DID BOTH DECEMBER 7 OF ’41 AND WHAT YOU DID TODAY TO SHARE THIS WITH US.

DENO IN ’41, I DIDN’T DO MUCH IN ’41. INTER BUT YOU WERE THERE AND YOU HELPED WITH THOSE WHO SURVIVED AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT. THE MUSEUM REALLY THANKS YOU FOR TAKING THIS TIME WHILE YOU ARE HERE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF IT AND MAYBE WITH RUSSELL’S HELP YOU CAN EDIT IT AND YOU MIGHT EVEN THINK OF SOME OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO INSERT IN HANDWRITTEN FORM AND WE CAN ADD THOSE AS WELL, WHEN THEY DO THE EDITED VERSION AND TRY AND CAPTURE AS MUCH OF YOUR RECALL AS WE CAN. YOU HAVE BEEN A REAL TROOPER AND WE REALLY APRRECIATIE IT. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? RUSSELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP TOO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VOICE (RUSSELL ?) THERE WAS AN OFFICER THAT STOOD UP FOR YOU WHEN YOU TOLD THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO GET THE HELL OFF THE HOSE.

DENO YEAH VOICE WHAT DID HE SAY? DID HE HAVE RANK? DENO NO. INTER HE PROBABLY DIDN’T HAVE THE SAME RANK AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER HAD. DENO NO. THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ME GETTING A MEDAL. INTER YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD A MEDAL FOR BRAVERY. DENO I SAID, “TO HECK WITH IT, I DON’T NEED A MEDAL.” STICK IT IN YOUR ASS.

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VOICE DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE THAT WAS DAD? DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT BATTLE THAT WAS?

DENO THE LAST BATTLE THAT THE BATTLESHIP HAD. VOICE DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE IN THE PACIFIC? WERE YOU IN THE PHILLIPINES THEN OR MAYBE OKINOWA?

DENO WE WERE AROUND THERE. PHILLIPINES, OKINWA, I MADE ALL OF THEM. INTER WAS IT THE LAST BATTLE THAT THE MARYLAND WAS IN? DENO YEAH. INTER I’LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

END OF TAPE

TRANSCRIBER NOTE: I WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THEN NAME OF THE INTERVIEWER SO HE IS LABELED “INTER”.

TRANSCRIBED BY FOREST J. REES FREDERICKSBURG, TX APRIL 2002

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