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Sea
Stories
This section
contains seven video segments, starting with "Getting
Underway" and finishing with "V-J (Victory over Japan) Day".
Simply double-click on the blue icon or title of each story.
Below each title is provided background information for Mr.
Fielder's vivid testimonials of timely and significant
events in World War II history. Watch them come to
life as if they occurred days ago. Please excuse
the dated terminology of the historical footage and with
Mr. Fielder's stories as they are represented from
another era and may be considered inappropriate for contemporary
discussion.
Otherwise, enjoy the
stories.
Fay Fielder
enlisted in the U.S. Navy soon after the attack on Pearl
Harbor. After a year of boot camp and navy
schools, Mr. Fielder wrapped-up advanced training and met
much of
his future shipmates along a cross-country train ride.
Eventually, he got underway aboard his ship and home for
the next two years, LST-458. (run time 7:37)
This historical
footage identifies the operations conducted by General
Douglas MacArthur’s Seventh Amphibious Force
“island-hopping” campaign in the Southwest Pacific from
1943 to 1945. LST-458 was engaged from the first to the
last of the operations. (run time 2:13)
In her first major landing at Lae, New Ginuea, LST-458 unloaded equipment and troops from the legendary
Australian Army 9th Division. In the following
amphibious landing group, sister ship LST-471 was badly damaged by an enemy
torpedo and was dead in the water. LST-458 was
called upon to find LST-471 and beach
her to safety. (run time 14:15;
Note: referenced
ship LST-475 in story may have actually been LST-473)
LST-458 saw her
share of sea combat. While making several beach
landings and while at sea, she engaged enemy aircraft on
occasion. Mr. Fielder initially manned a 20-mm
machine gun as a
pointer (shooter) aboard his ship, before increased
responsibilities eventually brought him back into the
engine room during battle or general quarters. (run time
6:58)
Mr. Fielder
had advanced quickly the Chief Petty Officer (Chief
Machinist's Mate) during his time aboard LST-458.
One night, with the enemy nearby, his ship was losing speed and
falling out of the transport convoy. Chief Fielder was
summoned by the Skipper, and the fate of the ship was in
his hands. (run time 15:07)
LST-458
was a highly decorated ship, as were many LST's
supporting Pacific operations. Listen to Mr.
Fielder's story of how ships were marked after certain
events. (run time 2:11)
In the Summer of 1945,
the allies were preparing for a final assault on Japan.
Mr. Fielder was in San Francisco, awaiting orders to
board another ship. This particular day (August 15) turned-out to be one of relief.
The war was
over. (run time 5:09)
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