Interview with Eugene W. "Nip" Keeling, Sr., July 11, 1985

Interview Summary

Eugene ("Nip") W. Keeling, Sr., served in the Navy as an aviation machinist's mate. While aboard the aircraft carrier USS Monterey, he also served as a turret gunner in a bomber plane. Keeling discusses the Battle of Tarawa and briefly mentions other battles in the Pacific. He describes an attack on his ship by Japanese Zeros, and recalls taking boxing lessons from future president Gerald Ford. Keeling was aboard the SS Henry Bergh when the ship hit a coral reef and broke in half. He talks about the shipwreck and his subsequent assignment in an aircraft factory in California, and concludes with a brief discussion of his family.

Interview Keyword

military service experience War Veterans World War II World War II veterans

Interview LC Subject

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006 Henry Bergh (Liberty ship) Keeling, Eugene "Nip" W., Sr. Keeling, Eugene "Nip" W., Sr.--Interviews Shipwrecks--California--Farallon Islands Tarawa, Battle of, Kiribati, 1943 World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.