Donald Westfall
Bio
Donald Westfall enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after graduating from high school in 1952. He attended basic training at Bainbridge, Maryland, before reporting to Norfolk, Virginia, where he was assigned to the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) as a boiler operator. He spent time in the Korean theater from shortly after the armistice in mid-1953 through May 1954. He rotated back to the U.S. and was discharged from the Navy. He has been active in the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) since returning home.
Video Clips
Life on the USS Wisconsin
Donald Westfall describes life aboard the USS Wisconsin. He remembers how the ship was spic and span with no real problems which led to really nice living. He fondly recalls the wide variety of foods being provided to those aboard the ship.
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Stationed Aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64)
Donald Westfall shares that he completed his basic training in Bainbridge, Maryland, before reporting to Norfolk, Virginia, where he was assigned to the USS Wisconsin. He notes that the USS Wisconsin was a battleship measuring 868 feet long and 108 feet across. The ship was equipped with nine sixteen-inch guns, twenty five-inch guns, and forty millimeter guns. He details his duties as one of the crew's boiler tenders which included maintaining the boilers, watching water levels in the boilers, and keeping the fire room clean.
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No Real Difficulties - Nothing at All
Donald Westfall recalls few difficulties during his time on the USS Wisconsin. He greatly enjoying both his job and visiting the countries he could along the way. He notes the hardest part was the heat within the boiler rooms especially when they were running all eight boilers on the ship with the outside ventilation cut off.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tcDCxYXbSo&start=468&end=640
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/donald-westfall#clip-3
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