This is an interview taken by Gerald's Granddaughter Jennifer Jost when she was in 5th grade for a class project.

When Gerald E. Rivet was 24 years old he joined the United Sates Amphibious Force, US Navy, that is/ Where the navy goes in first for an invasion. During this time he lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota with a wife and a one year old daughter.

Before he was able to go into the war, he had hours of trining His training included on how to land the ships and how to drop off the solders when they were going to war.

His first ship he was on was the USS LSMR 506 (the 5 was for the month of May, the 6 for the date, and the 0 separated the 5 and the 6).

When they were not at war the men had to make fresh water from salt water. The fresh water was made in evapoators and after so many gallons of fresh water they had to clean the scum that the salt water left.

During the war they had 4 hours on and 4 hours off watch for enemies. One of their stops to drop their men off was in Pharno, Italy. "I don't like to bring that up 'cause it was horrible," states Gerald. Also during this time the navy had picked up 3 German Africa Core prisoners. Lastly, their "sister ship got hit in the Pacific Zone and when they went to find it, they couldn't find anything.

His last shp he was on had the same power as a distoryer for eight minutres. This ship was called a rocket ship which had 10 rocket mounds, some located below the deck, a 5 inch 38 gun, and 2 twin forties.

Before the war was over, Gerald was trapped during a fire on board the ship in the engine room, a short circut in the electrical system he said. He was releazed from the Naval Hospital in Panama transfered to the San Diego, hosp. after the second bomb was dropped on Japan and was shortly returned to his wife and daughter.

Gerald Euclide Rivet