Ottis Littlejohn Interview

Ottis Littlejohn, 1941.

Photo courtesy of Ottis Littlejohn.

Ottis Littlejohn joined the Navy in 1941 and was quickly sent on board the USS Long DMS-12 as a Boatswain's Mate to patrol the waters off the Hawaiian Islands just after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Later, as the ship headed for the Aleutians, it suffered a collision at sea during a training maneuver and had to limp its way into Kodiak. His duty was on 20 mm gun watch while on patrol for Japanese subs and aircraft. He experienced the Battle of Attu first hand during his year-long tour in the Aleutians before being sent to the South Pacific. Following the fleet, USS Long saw action in the invasions of Micronesia (Kwajalein, Enewetak and several places in the South Pacific), the Phoenix Islands and Jayapura (New Guinea). In an interview, he talks about his experiences during the war, life on board the USS Long, meeting and marrying his wife Anne Krupa, a Navy nurse, and the perils of Aleutian weather.

Download a full transcript of Ottis Littlejohn's interview.

• Interiew - Ottis Littlejohn

  
  

  A Boatswains mate on the USS Long DMS-12 Ottis Littlejohn served in Hawaii, the Aleutians, Micronesia and South Pacific and including several invasions.

  Credit / Author:

  NPS

  Date created:

  03/22/2012

  Audio Transcript

  Ottis Littlejohn Transcript Summary (full transcript can be downloaded above)

  0:00:08.4 Greetings and requesting permission to tape interview

  0:01:02.6 Mr. Littlejohn enlisted in 1941

  0:01:46.6 Mr. Littlejohn chose to enlist in the Navy

  0:02:28.7 Mr. Littlejohn met his wife, got married, and lived in Illinois

  0:03:38.5 Moving back to Louisiana in 1954

  0:04:33.6 Training at boot camp in San Diego when Pearl Harbor was attacked

  0:05:46.0 Patrolling the Hawaiian Islands

  0:07:10.0 Description of the USS Long

  0:08:23.8 Heading to the Aleutians in 1942 and colliding with another ship

  0:10:42.9 A very slow ride to Kodiak to get the ship repaired

  0:12:01.1 Trip to San Francisco for repair after collision

  0:12:55.6 Going home on leave and visiting family

  0:14:26.3 Spending a cold year in the Aleutians

  0:17:22.8 Seeing war firsthand while on Attu

  0:19:52.6 Signaling the ship while stranded in the ocean

  0:21:50.3 Patrolling near Attu for submarines and Japanese planes

  0:23:43.5 Mr. Littlejohn describes the miserable weather in the Aleutians

  0:25:51.6 Using a mountain as a navigation guide while out in the ocean at night

  0:27:46.6 A big storm while awaiting parts in Kodiak

  0:29:50.9 Four-hour gun watch shifts outside in the weather

  0:30:39.3 Clothing adequacy and preferring Army shoes to Navy ones

  0:32:20.2 20-mm gunner duties and defective ammunition

  0:34:29.3 An Allied plane signaled to them for coordinates to Adak

  0:36:42.3 Ship personnel and sleeping quarters

  0:38:42.3 Soldier going AWOL in San Francisco

  0:40:10.0 Morale on the ship

  0:42:39.3 Playing cards to pass the time

  0:43:56.9 Sending his earnings home during the war

  0:44:55.6 Trips to the islands to drink beer

  0:47:10.9 Refueling at sea in the South Pacific

  0:47:56.3 The invasion of Adak after the Japanese left

  0:50:34.0 Getting sunburned on the way back to Hawaii

  0:52:25.9 Serving in the South Pacific

  0:54:32.9 Invading Hollandia and experiencing fear

  0:57:39.1 "Okie" and his machinery skills

  0:59:48.2 Using code in letters sent home

  1:00:53.4 Censoring of outgoing mail

  1:02:31.6 Mr. Littlejohn met his wife

  1:04:13.6 Profession as a cabinetmaker after leaving the Navy

  1:07:18.9 His wife worked 20 years as a registered nurse on the night shift in the emergency room

  1:08:36.5 Mr. Littlejohn’s wife passed away

  1:09:19.5 Living with his family in a house he helped build

  1:10:36.9 His daughter's teaching and administrative career

  1:11:58.1 Reflecting on water rescues in Saipan

  1:14:15.0 A piece of a parachute that was a souvenir he kept for years

  1:15:27.8 Souvenirs he brought home from Guadalcanal

  1:17:11.3 Removing powder from shell casings

  1:18:30.9 Laundry aboard the ship

  1:19:46.0 Sleeping and eating aboard the ship in rough seas

  1:21:42.7 Exercising on the docks in Kodiak

  1:23:03.6 Aftermath of bombing of Dutch Harbor

  1:23:34.6 Encountering Native people in the Aleutians

  1:24:11.0 Reflecting on his thoughts when the war ended

  1:25:25.0 Transferring to Great Lakes Naval Base where he met his wife

  1:27:33.0 Large number of retirees living in Louisiana

  1:28:59.1 Janis’ hometown and ages of Mr. Littlejohn and his family

  1:30:37.3 Mr. Littlejohn’s daily activity regimen

  1:31:56.1 Helping at church

  1:33:12.0 Mr. Littlejohn’ appreciation for the things he has received from Janis

  1:34:19.9 It was a rough year spent in the Aleutians

  1:36:51.6 Highlights and history of Natchitoches

  1:38:56.0 Transcription of interview

  End of interview at 1:39:21.3