Oral History Interview with Arthur G. Whitehead, May 8, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur G Whitehead. Whitehead joined the Navy in October 1942, attending boot camp and receiving hospital corpsman training. Upon completion, he was assigned as a pharmacist’s mate, tending to wounded Marine fighter pilots. Whitehead was stationed in Ewe, Hawaii, before traveling to American Samoa, where he slept in a wooden hut plagued by mosquitos. Moving next to the Ellice Islands, Funafuti, his ship became stuck on the coral reef at low tide, in danger of Japanese submarine attack. He then was sent to Kwajalein, where he remained for nine months. On his first night, enemy planes struck a loaded bomber on the air strip, causing a massive explosion. Whitehead declined the Purple Heart he was offered for the resulting burn across his back. Whitehead transferred back to the States, where he began training on the relief of wounded during landing operations. The war ended as Whitehead arrived on Okinawa, which was surrounded by debris from a recent typhoon. He also visited Nagasaki. After a stay in Sasebo and Guam, Whitehead returned home and was discharged in February 1946