Oral History Interview with Preston Holcomb, September 1, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue with Preston Holcomb. Holcomb joined the Navy in Houston, Texas in 1938 when he was 17 years old. He volunteered for service in China and was assigned to the USS Tulsa (PG-22) when he arrived in Hong Kong in November 1939. Holcomb recalls fighting fires at the fuel docks at Cavite shortly after the Japanese attacked the Philippines. He describes some of his adventures eluding the Japanese Fleet as the Tulsa made her way to Australia. Late in 1943, Holcomb was detached from the Tulsa and ordered aboard the USS Tinsman (DE-589). He returned to the Philippines on the Tinsman in time for the liberation