Interview with Donald G. Martin, WWII veteran. CCSU Veterans History Project

Interview conducted by Vincent Roche. Donald Martin was drafted into the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1944. He went to Bainbridge, MD for basic training, and then received an addition 12 weeks of specialized training as a navy hospital corpsman. His first job was in the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, MD where he worked in the venereal disease ward. After about 8 weeks of hospital duty, he was reassigned overseas to Tinian Island. He was assigned to the Navy Military Hospital #204 where he was promoted to a Pharmacist's Mate 3rd class. The hospital was relatively small, although it was well supplied. This hospital was specifically for Japanese and Korean civilians on Tinian Island, and many of the doctors and nurses in the hospital were Japanese citizens. Although, the war was declared over, Martin was stationed on the island until May of 1946. He was discharged as a Pharmacist's Mate 2nd class by the end of May 1946. He then returned to Penn State to continue his studies as an industrial engineer, at which time he also joined a reserve unit, which he notes was an extremely inactive unit. After graduation he was working in Detroit at the Ingersoll Rand Company, when he was called to report for duty in Sept. 1950. When he reported for duty he was instead inducted into the Marine Corps as a Staff Sergeant, and went to Field Medical Service School at Camp Lejeune for eight weeks of training. By December of 1950, Martin was in Korea and assigned to the Charlie Medical unit, part of the 1st marine division, which was similar to a MASH unit. It was a small medical unit with 50 doctors and nurses that served wounded marines brought there by helicopter and ambulance. During a misunderstanding with a superior officer, Martin was transferred to a combat unit and was placed near the front lines. After 30 days in the line unit, he was transferred to the back of the line and worked in Battalion Aid until he was eligible to move to a base in Japan. He was there for about 30 days before receiving his orders to return to the United States. He was discharged from the Marine Corps in January of 1952. In the interview he also discusses some of the close friends he made, as well as some the experiences he had on leaves and liberties.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• CCSU
• VHP
• WWII
• WW2
• veteran
• interview
• oral history
• Korean War

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