Artifacts

1. Hat worn by Rodger Morris while stationed at Pearl Harbor.

2. Gordon Smith and his buddies chipped in to buy this Emerson radio while in training at Great Lakes Naval Station. When they shipped out, they held a drawing to see who would keep the radio and Smith won. The radio still works.

3. Upon entering boot camp in the Navy, enlisted personnel received The Bluejackets’ Manual, or the “Blue Bible” as they called it. This manual provided information on everything from naval hierarchy to bayonet use.

4. As a gunner’s mate on the USS Little, Gordon Smith maintained the destroyer’s guns, including its seven 20mm anti-aircraft guns that shot shells like this.

5. The P-38 can opener (top) was standard issue in canned field rations. These cans of water were for emergency supply and not field rations - they still have water in them.

6. This book includes photographs and information on the US Navy’s ships and aircraft, as of 1942.

7. Model of an Iowa-class battleship. The USS Iowa was one of six battleships built just before the start of World War II to serve in the Pacific.

8. In order to preserve their night vision, submarine crews wore red goggles in lighted areas. That made it difficult to see the red suits on playing cards, so the Electric Boat Company designed cards with the hearts and diamonds outlined in black.

9. Marines used entrenching shovels like this to dig out defensive positions in battle.

10. Marine KA-BAR knife, one of the most popular military knives.

11. Mk2 hand grenade, also known as the pineapple grenade (disarmed).

12. Gordon Smith found this Japanese pocket knife in a coast bunker on Saipan.