Oral History Interview with MJ Cotter, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with M J Cotter. Cotter joined the Navy in March of 1941. After boot camp, he provided upkeep and maintenance of the 16-inch gun turret aboard the USS Maryland (BB-46). They traveled to Hawaii around July of 1941. The Maryland was present on Battleship Row during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Cotter was aboard the ship and describes his experiences through this fateful day, including their 50-caliber gunner taking down a Japanese plane. After repairs to their ship, they participated in the battles of Midway, Tarawa, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Cotter was discharged in July of 1946