Howard Hitsman Oral History
Object NameRecording, Video
Transcript
Narrator
Howard Hitsman
Association
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)
DateJuly 11, 2015
PeriodCold War
MediumMTS, PDF
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Howard Hitsman. OHP.079
Object numberOHP.079
DescriptionHoward Hitsman served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11) from 1971 to 1974 as a chief yeoman (YNC). The Intrepid Museum recorded his oral history interview on July 11, 2015.See transcript for complete interview. Below is a summary:
Howard Hitsman began his interview by discussing his childhood in Flint, Michigan, and his decision to join the Navy. He described his boot camp experience and his training as an aviation machinist’s mate. He explained how he came to transfer to the yeoman branch and his various postings on sea and on shore before he was assigned to USS Intrepid. He worked for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and served aboard USS Outpost (AGR-10), and USS Northampton (CLC-1). On Intrepid, Hitsman went on North Atlantic and Mediterranean cruises.
The interview shifted to the Cold War context of Hitsman’s service. He reflected on the Cuban Missile Crisis and meeting President John F. Kennedy. He then explained how he came to have a set of silver from USS Outpost.
Next, Hitsman described the yeoman branch and his duties on Intrepid. He discussed his relationship with the yeomen he supervised, bringing messages to the captain, and taking notes at captain’s masts. He then turns to the racial unrest on Intrepid in 1971. He explained how events in the U.S. affected the crew morale, leading to acts of violence in the crew. He said that the captain gathered the chiefs, including many Black chiefs, to find a solution. The chiefs decided to patrol the ship to keep sailors from visiting other compartments at night. Hitsman recalled a particular patrol where he threatened to call the Marine detachment on Black sailors who would not follow orders. Hitsman said the unrest ended when the patrols identified three sailors as the instigators and removed them from the ship.
The interview continued with the decommissioning of the Intrepid. Hitsman explained what it means to decommission a ship and what the crew needed to do to prepare it. He noted how his job as chief yeoman changed during that time and how official documents and ship components were disposed of. He shared positive and negative memories from his time aboard and described the decommissioning ceremony.
At the end of the interview, Hitsman described his uniform and ribbons. Then he reflected on what it meant to him to see Intrepid as a museum. He shared a story about visiting the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) with his grandchildren. Finally, Hitsman and his son honored the work and service of Hitsman’s wife in raising their family independently.
Extent: 8 video files, 32 page transcript
On View
Not on viewCollections
