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CCSU Veterans History Project

Oral history interview with Benjamin J. Walker recorded 2008 Oct. 3

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Oral history interview with Benjamin J. Walker recorded 2008 Oct. 3

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Title	Oral history interview with Benjamin J. Walker recorded 2008 Oct. 3
Description	Interview conducted by Joshua Randorf. Benjamin Walker enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June of 1944. He went to basic training at the Sampson Naval Training Center. After he completed basic, he was sent to advanced training at Camp Endicott in Rhode Island. Camp Endicott was a Seabee training base. Seabees were naval construction battalions who were responsible for constructing and engineering countless bases, air strips, and roads for military use. Walker was assigned to the 121st Naval Construction Battalion, which was attached to the 4th Marine Division. They were shipped into the Pacific Theatre of the war in early 1945. Walker was assigned to Tinian Island, which had already been captured from the Japanese, but still held much in the way of danger to the troops, as many Japanese soldiers hid in the caves on the island. The Seabees were responsible for building four runways on Tinian, which were mainly designed for B-29 landings and take offs. Tinian Island, where the infamous Enola Gay and Bocks Car were housed, played an important role in the atomic bomb drop. Walker recounts how surprised he and his fellow sailors were that a B-29 could hold a bomb that could do that much damage. Walker also recounts the origins of the character “Kilroy was here”, a widespread case of graffiti that appeared on naval ships everywhere. Walker was discharged from the navy in June of 1946, and he went on to use the G.I. Bill for his education, eventually going to law school, while working for Aetna Insurance Company.
Coverage	1944-1946
Date Original	10/03/2008
Digital Format	video/x-ms-wmv
Duration	01:53:47
Contributors	Randorf, Joshua
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	VHP2008/14
Creator/Owner	Walker, Benjamin J.
War or Conflict	World War, 1939-1945
Branch of Service	United States. Army United States. Navy
Unit of Service	121st Naval Construction Battalion
Rank	3rd Class Petty Officer
Status	Veteran
Subject	World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews United States. Navy. Seabees B-29 bomber World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Mariana Islands World War, 1939-1945 -- Graffiti Enola Gay (Bomber) Indianapolis (Cruiser)
Geographic Location	Sampson Naval Training Station (Sampson, N.Y.) Camp Endicott (R.I.) Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands) Guam
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	Benjamin J. Walker Papers. VHP2008/14. Veterans History Project; Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research.
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Oral history interview with Benjamin J. Walker recorded 2008 Oct. 3

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