Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
5:36 | Lt. Speight's life didn't end after the war; he went back home and went right to work. It was during this post-war era that he received some awful news about his older brother, and slowly tried to readjust back to living a normal life. (This interview made possible with the support of SSGT HORACE W. LEE, USMC.)
Keywords : Charles Speight Navy World War II Pacific brother working postwar after war Unadilla GA
Charles Speight recalls his family's experiences with the Great Depression before the start of the second world war, and what it was like after the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor. (This interview made possible with the support of SSGT HORACE W. LEE, USMC.)
Lt. Speight spent all of his time in the Navy in the Pacific fighting the Japanese, and that meant moving from one island to the next. Here are some of his experiences on those islands and how many times he had to transfer. (This interview made possible with the support of SSGT HORACE W. LEE, USMC.)
Lt. Speight was part of a well respected division of the Navy, Air Group 9. During that time, he had a lot of close encounters with enemy planes in the skies, including Kamikazes. He also lost a lot of good friends, some of which he will never forget serving with. (This interview made possible with the support of SSGT HORACE W. LEE, USMC.)
Due to his efforts of bravery, Charles Speight was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On top of that, he gives us an abundance of details about the end of World War II, including his reaction to the dropping of the atomic bombs. (This interview made possible with the support of SSGT HORACE W. LEE, USMC.)
