Oral History Interview with Joe Tacker, October 5, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Tacker. Tacker was born in Cornith, Mississippi on 6 November 1924. Enlisting in the US Navy in January 1943 he underwent boot camp at San Diego, California. He then attended quartermaster school. In August 1943 he was assigned to the USS Buchanan (DD-484). He recalls cruising off the coast of Bougainville when the ship was subjected to shelling by Japanese shore batteries resulting in casualties. He tells of going aboard the USS Hazelwood as the helmsman soon after it was hit severely damaged by kamikazes and describes the death and destruction he observed. Tacker recalls being in the typhoon during which the USS Spence, USS Monahan and USS Hull were sunk. After the war, he stayed in the Navy and underwent flight training earning his wings in 1947