Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing James Alvin Jolly Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Merchant Marine
- Unit of Service: MT Edmond J. Moran (Tugboat)
- Location of Service: Gallups Island, Massachusetts; Boston Harbor, Massachusetts; Alaska
- Highest Rank: Ensign
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/26895
James Jolly had completed one year at the junior college of the College of the Pacific in Stockton, California, when he was selected for a United States Maritime Service program on Gallop's Island in Boston Harbor, where he started training in September 1940. When Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1941, Mr. Jolly's graduation was expedited by three months. His first assignment was as a Radio Officer aboard the tugboat Edmund J. Moran. Mr. Jolly was aboard the tug when it was sent to be part of the invasion of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, where he earned the Merchant Marine Combat bar. While at sea, Mr. Jolly had numerous close encounters with submarines, including once being hit, while on a tugboat carrying drums of aviation fuel, by a torpedo that turned out to be a dud.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayRescuing torpedoed British ship, ship was torpedoed again while being tugged back Miami, submarines could identify ships by the speed of the engine. 00:13:30.3 - 00:16:00.0
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PlayEncountering a German submarine in the Windward Channel, sub clipped tug while trying to avoid depth charges, eventually destroyed by depth charges. 00:16:55.7 - 00:19:36.6
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PlayInvasion of Kiska Island in the Aleutians. 00:20:04.3 - 00:23:18.6
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PlayBeing struck by a unexploded torpedo during a trip, but not realizing it until reaching port many days later. 00:23:53.6 - 00:27:19.5
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- James Alvin Jolly Collection
Names
- Daughters of the American Revolution, Sacramento Chapter
- Green, Marjorie J.
- Parker, Sandra
- Jolly, James Alvin
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Jolly, James Alvin
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Merchant Marine.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Merchant Marine
- Unit of Service: MT Edmond J. Moran (Tugboat)
- Location of Service: Gallups Island, Massachusetts; Boston Harbor, Massachusetts; Alaska
- Highest Rank: Ensign
- Dates of Service: 1940-1946
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2005-02-17)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [6 items] -- Photograph (collected 1941-1943)
- Manuscript: Clippings [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2005-01-14)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1994)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [3 items] -- (collected unknown)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2005-02-17; 2005-02-18)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/26895
Cite as
- James Alvin Jolly Collection (AFC/2001/001/26895), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video