Synopsis of oral history interview with William T. Burrows

              Video Log
Veteran’s Name: William Burrows
War: World War II
Branch: Navy
Born: February 22, 1927
Interview Date: January 9, 2010
Interviewed By: Michael M. Van Buren
00:00:00 introduction
00:00:54 where, why, what branch enlisted in
00:01:30 first days in service; training in NY state
00:02:00 initial feelings of pride
00:02:20 Boot Camp experiences—marching, swimming and tower jumping
00:03:00 Newport Rhode Island—gunnery school: 5” and 20 mm guns assembly
00:05:14 discusses weight gain/loss
00:05:45 destination after Newport RI; Boston—assembled crew and commissioned destroyer
Drexler; breakdown cruise; escorted carrier Bon Homme Richard to Trinidad
00:06:45 general quarters alarm over sea turtle
00:07:04 Panama City liberty---bars only; then through canal
00:08:00 to San Diego
00:08:17 Honolulu—gathered provisions/ammo; firing practice with targets towed by planes
00:08:48 headed to Guadalcanal area
00:09:02 role on gun crew---sightsetter
00:10:42 arrival at Guadalcanal, Iron Bottom Bay---swimming despite orders
00:13:08 headed north to other islands—Tarawa—coconut shoot—blasting snipers from offshore prior to landing; 4th of July shelling
00:14:32 discusses ship size relative to cruisers, battleships, carriers and minesweepers; crew size of his ship the Drexler—about 350 men