Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Vern Peters, Jr. Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Coast Guard
- Unit of Service: USS Tacoma (PF 3)
- Location of Service: Atlantic Ocean; Leyte Gulf (Philippines); Luzon (Philippines); Aleutian Islands; European Theater; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Machinist's Mate Third Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/60697
Vern Peters chose to enlist in the Coast Guard because of an especially persuasive recruiting poster depicting a bare-chested seaman loading a shell into the breech. Peters completed basic training at Government Island, Alameda, California, where many of his fellow recruits were movie stars. As a Machinist's Mate Third Class aboard the USS Tacoma, Peters tended to one of the ship's engines and manned the 20mm gun as his ship sailed in convoys over the Atlantic and Pacific, delivering supplies and escorting other ships.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayDeciding to enlist in the Coast Guard because of a persuasive recruiting poster. 00:03:23.5 - 00:04:16.3
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PlayThe "Hollywood Navy" at Government Island, Alameda, California where Peters completed boot camp, included many actors and others associated with the film industry. 00:07:37.1 - 00:09:14.0
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PlayCommanding officer on ship diving in after a seaman who had been swept overboard and rescuing him. 00:25:24.4 - 00:27:10.8
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PlayPlaying pranks aboard ship. 00:32:50.2 - 00:33:33.3
About this Item
Title
- Vern Peters, Jr. Collection
Names
- Peters Jr., Vern
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center & Nursing Home, Sepulveda, California
- James, Becky
- Davis, Vance
- Pete Polini
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Peters Jr., Vern
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Coast Guard.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Coast Guard.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Coast Guard
- Unit of Service: USS Tacoma (PF 3)
- Location of Service: Atlantic Ocean; Leyte Gulf (Philippines); Luzon (Philippines); Aleutian Islands; European Theater; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Machinist's Mate Third Class
- Dates of Service: 1943-1945
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Coast Guard
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2005-04-11; 2005-10-20)
- Photograph: Digital print [36 items] -- Photograph (collected 1943-1945)
- Manuscript: Unit histories [3 items] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 2008-04-02)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/60697
Cite as
- Vern Peters, Jr. Collection (AFC/2001/001/60697), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Aleutian Islands
- Atlantic Ocean
- European Theater
- Leyte Gulf (Philippines)
- Luzon (Philippines)
- Pacific Theater