Clifford Irvin Woodside, Oral History

Title

Clifford Irvin Woodside, Oral History

Performer

Clifford Irvin Woodside

Interviewer

William Vollano

Description

Clifford Woodside was born in Masten, PA. on January 22, 1923. Before completing high school, he enlisted in the Navy. This was immediately following Pearl Harbor. He was 17 at the time. Since he had been in the Sea Scouts, he was immediately assigned to training for gunnery. Clifford was eventually assigned to the USS Portland, and later to the USS Yokes. Clifford saw combat at Midway, Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. At one time he was at sea for 110 straight days. Although he enlisted for eight years, he did not make the Navy a career. He had married by that time and elected discharge in 1947. Clifford and his wife returned to Ypsilanti, Michigan and he eventually went to work as a salesman for a local Ford dealer. Clifford and his wife lived on Ford Lake until he could no longer live independently. He and his wife now live in an assisted living facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Subject

Enlisted; United States Navy; USS Portland; USS Yokes; World War, 1939-1945; Second World War - Pacific Theater; Gunner's Mate First Class

Publisher

American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Collection Location

Clifford Irvin Woodside Collection at the Library of Congress

Run Time

1 hour, 27 minutes, 42 seconds

Rights

Library of Congress Rights and Access

Language

English

Date

Dates of Service: 1941-1947

Spatial Coverage

Second World War - Pacific Theater