Oral History Interview with Johnny F. Gavlick, April 10, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Johnny F. Gavlick. He was born in Falls City, Texas on September 14, 1925. He enlisted into the Navy on August 3, 1943. He gives a detailed account of his six weeks at boot camp in San Diego. Upon graduating he was sent to Coronado, California to train in LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) and LCMs (Landing Craft Mechanized) and qualified as coxswain. He hitch-hiked to Los Angeles upon graduation from Landing Craft School where he visited the Hollywood Canteen and was served coffee by Clark Gable and danced with Debra Paget. In November 1943 he boarded the USS Harry Lee (AP-10) and sailed to Pearl Harbor. He recalls sailing to Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands at the end of 1943. He describes his duty at Tarawa aboard a LCM, transporting supplies and personnel from the island to ships anchored outside the reef. After returning to Pearl Harbor, Gavlick volunteered for an assignment with the 33rd Army Division, training at Kauai for a landing in the Philippines. Upon completion of training, he sailed to Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands, where he participated as part of a boat crew in the invasion in February 1944. He recalls on one occasion ferrying the captain of the USS New Jersey (BB-62) ashore and on numerous other occasions carrying officers from ships anchored beyond the reef. He recalls several experiences on the island of Majuro and seeing Bob Hope with the USO on Tarawa and Eniwetok. He was in the Marshall Islands when the war ended. He and several other sailors, in their eagerness to return to home, embarked on a Dutch Merchant ship that was being towed to San Pedro, California. He was discharged from the Navy on December 5, 1945