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Home CCSU Veterans History Project Oral history interview with Norman J. Taillon recorded 2007 April 13

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Oral history interview with Norman J. Taillon recorded 2007 April 13

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Title	Oral history interview with Norman J. Taillon recorded 2007 April 13
Description	Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Norman J. Tailon enlisted into the U.S. Navy in 1944. At the time he was living in Bristol, CT. He attended basic training in Sampson N.Y, and then later was transferred to Key West (FL) for sonar training. He was assigned to a newly built ship, the USS GEORGE E. DAVIS (DE-357), John C. Butler class destroyer escort, and joined with crew in Norfolk (Va.) for training. The crew was then sent to Orange (TX) where the ship was built, and they departed for the Pacific. The ships major operation was to escort a supply convoy in the Southwest Pacific ocean, mostly to support the Philippine campaign. The crew traveled to and from Hollandia, Leyte Island, New Guinea, and Mindanao. The ship also performed anti-submarine duty patrolling around Okinawa. Toward the end of the war they also saw many Japanese Kamikaze pilots overhead. After the Japanese surrendered, the ship went on to escort other ships in East China sea, where she supported American and Chinese Nationalist troops during reoccupation operations along the coast of northern China. Tailon's position on board was sonar men 2nd class, which he and two other men operated sonar equipment to detect underwater movement which indicated the presence of submarines. He was also a movie operator for the ships entertainment, when the ship would stop at a new port, Tailon would trade the movie reels for newer films. Tailon recalled many memorable experiences about daily life on board the ship including the mail service, the equator crossing ceremony, entertainment, and food. After the war ended, the ship went back to United States to be decommissioned and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Tailon remained in the reserves after the war had ended. He went home and took construction and engineering courses and became a plumber working on a heavy construction site. When the Korean War began, he was recalled into service. He served on board a destroyer repair ship in a Charleston (S.C.) base to put decommissioned ships back into service. He was assigned to the be part of the crew of USS George E. Davis again, however, he was discharged before the ship was put back into service. He was discharged from the Navy in 1953 and received a battle star for the Philippine Campaign. He married in 1955, and he worked for The Connecticut Mutual Company for many years before retiring. He and the crew keep in touch and have regular reunions. He also joined the American Legion where he attended meetings regularly.
Coverage	1944-1953
Date Original	04/13/2007
Digital Format	video/x-ms-wmv
Duration	01:33:46
Contributors	Hurst, Eileen
Software	Windows Media Player required for viewing
Access Restrictions and Permissions	No access restrictions. For permission to reproduce contact Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research at (860) 832-2976
Image Identifier	VHP2007/16
Creator/Owner	Taillon, Norman J.
War or Conflict	World War, 1939-1945 Korean War, 1950-1953
Branch of Service	United States. Navy
Unit of Service	United States. Navy. USS George E. Davis (DE-357)
Rank	Sonarman 2nd Class
Status	Veteran
Subject	Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Philippines Destroyer escorts -- United States -- History
Geographic Location	Formosa New Guinea Hollandia (Netherlands New Guinea) Manila (Philippines) Leyte Gulf (Philippines) Subic Bay (Philippines) Okinawa-shi (Japan) Nagasaki-shi (Japan)
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University. Center for Public Policy and Social Research
Language	eng
Relation	Veterans History Project (U.S.)
Type of Resource	Moving image
Citation	Norman Tailon J. Papers. VHP2007/16. Veterans History Project; Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research.
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