Jimm Larry Hendren Oral History
Object NameRecording, Video
Transcript
Narrator
Jimm Larry Hendren
Association
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)
DateNovember 11, 2013
PeriodVietnam War; Museum Era
MediumMTS, PDF
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Jimm Larry Hendren. OHP.023
Object numberOHP.023
DescriptionJimm Larry Hendren, from Gravette, Arkansas, served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11) as the ship’s legal officer during the 1966 WESTPAC cruise to Vietnam. The Museum recorded his oral history interview on November 11, 2013.See transcript for complete interview. Below is a summary:
Hendren began his interview by discussing his family’s history and describing his education, from high school through Naval Justice School. He stated that his first assignment was as assistant legal officer at Commander Fleet Air Norfolk, where a fortuitous meeting with Captain Giuseppe Macri and Captain John Fair resulted in his becoming Intrepid’s legal officer.
As the interview continued, Hendren discussed his time aboard Intrepid. He began by recalling Intrepid’s transit to Vietnam, which included an eventful passage through the Suez Canal. He then discussed his job as Intrepid’s legal officer. Hendren stated that one of his duties was performing JAG manual investigations, and he recounted two events that had occurred which required him to perform these investigations: a hydrogen sulfide leak in a void space, which killed three crew members, and a flight related accident where a pilot crashed into the water while lining up for landing.
Hendren then discussed the court martial process, explaining their procedures, participants and his role as legal officer. He also noted that courts martial occasionally provided him with life lessons, and he recalled one humorous memory involving an insubordinate sailor. Hendren then explained that a legal officer had specific duties when a ship visited another country, and he recounted instances such as negotiating a contract with authorities in Naples in order to determine where the ship could be berthed, and going ashore in Yokosuka, Japan, with Commander Rezzarday, Intrepid’s executive officer, to speak with Yokosuka’s mayor in order to return a jailed sailor to the ship.
Throughout the interview, Hendren covered topics such as morale and leadership, and he recalled specific examples of leadership shown by Captain John Fair and Commander Harry Parode. Hendren also took time to discuss his decision to join the Navy and serve as a lawyer, as well as his feelings toward military service and draft dodgers. Before the interview came to an end, Hendren provided one final narrative, explaining his collateral duty as junior officer of the watch on the sea and anchor detail. Jimm Larry Hendren ended his interview by emphatically stating how lucky he was to serve as the legal officer aboard Intrepid.
Extents: 7 media files, 22 page transcript
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