Historical Archives Oral History Collections
In 1997-1998, the Tulane Naval ROTC Midshipmen interviewed Tulane Naval ROTC Alumni who had served in WWII. These interviews were recorded for instructional purposes to provide the next generation of Navy and Marine Officers insight into combat operations and how the Tulane Naval ROTC unit prepared Officers for their mission.
Special thanks to the Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 2014 for contributing their time to provide short synopses of the oral histories that enable site visitors to easily search and identify items of interest.
Judge Thomas C. Wicker, Jr. (ret) – Class of 1944
I graduated from Tulane in Feb 1944 with a BBA degree, was commissioned an ensign on the same day and received orders to report aboard the USS LACKAWANNA (AO40) at about the same time. While aboard the LACKAWANNA, my ship participated in the Hollandia campaign, Saipan, Guam, Battle [...]
Edwin S. Wright – Class of 1944
Personal Data Edwin S. Wright, USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1944 BS Civil Engineering, Southern Methodist University Commissioned February 1944 at 20 years old. Historical Events World War II, Pacific Theater Korean War Assignments / Engagements Amphibious training in Norfolk, Virginia Invasion at Mindoro. Invasion at [...]
James W. Stevenson, JR – Class of 1976
Personal Data James W. Stevenson, JR, RADM USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1976 BA in Political Science from Tulane University, 1976 MS in Information Systems, Naval Post Graduate School Commissioned May 1976 Historical Events Cold War End of Cold War Desert Storm Assignments / Engagements His [...]
Conrad Meyer III – Class of 1942
Personal Data Conrad Meyer III, USN Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1942 Commissioned June 1942 Louisiana Native Historical Events World War II, Pacific Theater Assignments / Engagements Commissioned upon graduation in June 1942. Served aboard USS Monssen (DD 436) as a gunnery officer. During Mr. Meyer's service aboard [...]
James L. Mcconnell – Class of 1944
Personal DataJames L. Mcconnell, USNTulane Naval ROTC Class of 1944BS in Geology from Tulane University, 1948Commissioned 1942Historical EventsWorld War IIAssignments / EngagementsAtlantic Theater:Was assigned to a ship in the north Atlantic whose mission was mine sweeping but was there for only two months.Went to Miami anti-sub school to learn [...]
Spalding Kenan Manson, JR – Class of 1942
Personal Data Spalding Kenan Manson, JR, LT, USN Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1942 BS Civil Engineering Commissioned 1942 Historical Events World War II, Atlantic and Pacific Theaters Assignments / Engagements Atlantic Theater: USS TEXAS, BB 35, gunnery junior officer in turret #1. Escort convoys to Freetown, Sierra [...]
Noah H. Long, JR – Class of 1965
Personal Data Noah H. Long, JR, RDML USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1965 BS Civil Engineering Commissioned May 1965 Historical Events Vietnam War Desert Storm/Desert Shield Assignments / Engagements RADM Long received a NROTC scholarship and attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He studied civil [...]
Thomas G. Lilly – Class of 1955
Personal Data Thomas G. Lilly, RADM USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1955 BS Business, Tulane University LL.B. degree in 1960, University of MS J.D. degree in 1968, University of MS Commissioned May 1955 Historical Events Cold War Assignments / Engagements After receiving his commission, RADM Lilly [...]
Allen B. Koltun – Class of 1943
Personal Data Allen B. Koltun, USN Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1943 BA Business Commissioned October 1943 Louisiana Native Historical Events WW II Assignments / Engagements Pacific Ocean Convoy Was assigned to the USS SC-1028 (Submarine Chaser, SC-497 Class) but didn't find it until 60 days later 10 [...]
Gregory W. Kahn – Class of 1966
Personal Data Gregory W. Kahn, LCDR USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1966 BA Political Science Commissioned May 1966 Louisiana Native Historical Events Korean War Assignments / Engagements Initial Schools ( Jun 1966 - Jul 1966) CIC at Point Lorna Amphibious Warfare at Coronado - Mexican Invasion [...]
Ernest P. Johnson, JR
Personal Data Ernest P. Johnson, JR, CAPT USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1942 Commissioned 1942 Louisiana Native Historical Events WW II Assignments / Engagements Started active duty in 1942 on the USS Portland along with two other Tulane midshipmen. November 1944 promoted to Lt Junior Grade, [...]
James B. Godwin, III
Personal Data James B. Godwin III, RADM USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1973 BS Civil Engineering at Tulane University MBA at George Mason University Commissioned May 1973 Historical Events Desert Storm Assignments / Engagements Rear Admiral Godwin's initial tours included numerous fleet assignments with VA-147, VA-122 [...]
Charles W. Frank – Class of 1943
Personal Data Charles W. Frank, JR, CAPT USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1943 BS Chemical Engineering Commissioned 1943 Historical Events WWII Southwest Pacific Theater Assignments / Engagements USS New Jersey, BB 62, DEVG (Deck or Engineering Volunteer General) First engagement was Operation Flintlock in the Marshall [...]
Arthur W. Foss, Jr. – Class of 1944
Personal Data Arthur W. Foss, JR CDR, USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1944 BS Chemistry Commissioned 1984 Louisiana Native Historical Events WW II Pacific Theater Korean War Homefront Assignments / Engagements Pacific Theater WWII Joined NROTC unit at age of 16. Enlisted in February 1942 at [...]
Norris L. Fant – Class of 1944
Personal Data Norris L. Fant, LCDR Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1944 BS Engineering Commissioned February 1944 Louisiana Native Historical Events World War II Short Atlantic Theater Involvement Assignments / Engagements Commanding Officer of OCIL-1033 Helped move Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek to Taiwan Active duty for 2.5 [...]
David L. Eustis – Class of 1964
Personal Data David L. Eustis USN Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1964 Commissioned December 1964 Historical Events Vietnam War Cold War Assignments / Engagements 1965 Flight training, designated Naval Aviator and Helicopter Pilot Dec.1965-May 1969 HS-10(RAG) HS-2 San Diego May-Jun 1969-Aug 1971 HT-8 Pensacola (Ellyson Field) Other Notable [...]
Albert “Gus” Caire – Class of 1943
Personal Data Albert "Gus" Caire Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1943 Commissioned 1943 Historical Events World War II Pacific and Philippine Typhoon Assignments / Engagements Assigned to the USS EVENS DD-552 1943-1945 roughly a 2 year deployment. Went to Anti Submarine School and Radar School, although he feels [...]
Wayne Bienvenu – Class of 1959
Personal Data Wayne J. Bienvenu, Colonel, USMC (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1959 Commissioned June 1959 Louisiana Native Historical Events Vietnam Cold War Assignments / Engagements 1JUN59 Student, TBS, MCS, Qunatico, VA 7MAR60 TAD, OSO, RS, New Orleans, LA 7APR60 Plat Comdr, 2d Plat, Co E, 2nd [...]
Mike Hallal – Class of 1984
Personal Data Hallal, Mike, CDR, USN (Ret.) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1984 BS Physics Commissioned May 1984 Louisiana Native Historical Events Cold War End of Cold War Submarines Assignments / Engagements Enlisted: Nuclear Power School, Orlando, FL Nuclear Prototype training, Idaho Falls, ID PCU CARL VINSON (CVN [...]
Brian Bourgeois – Class of 1982
Personal Data Bourgeois, Brian, CAPT, USN (Ret) Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1982 PhD in Electrical Engineering, Tulane University, 1991 Historical Events: Cold War Persian Gulf Tanker War Assignments / Engagements Enlisted: Dec 1975 – Enlisted USN JAN-MAR 76 Recruit, Recruit Training Command, Orlando, FL Basic Electricity and [...]
James W. Stevenson, Jr. – Class of 1976
Personal Data Native of Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Alexandria, Virginia Rear Admiral Stevenson graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science in May of 1976. Assignments / Engagements Commissioned as an Ensign through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (Naval ROTC) in May [...]
Michael Bagot – Class of 1943
Personal Data Michael H. Bagot, USN Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1943 Historical Events World War II Assignments / Engagements Served aboard USS Colorado BB45 as a gunner officer assigned to 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft batteries. Other Notable Content During Mr. Bagot's service aboard Colorado, she operated in [...]
W. Scott Howson, Jr. – Class of 1942
Personal Data Howson, Jr., W. Scott US Naval Reserve Tulane NROTC, Tulane University (1st ROTC Class) Class of 1942 Historical Events World War II Atlantic Theater and South Pacific Theater Assignments / Engagements USS Wyoming, BB 32, Gunnery Training Virginia Beach, Fire-fighting School USS Ericson, DD 440, Assistant [...]
William Goldman – Class of 1942
Personal Data William S. Goldman Retired Lieutenant Commander Tulane NROTC Class of 1942 BS Civil Engineering Tulane University Historical Events WWII, Battle of Mid-Way WWII, Invasion of Guadalcanal WWII, Battle of Santa Cruz Assignments / Engagements Battle of Mid-Way ship was damaged and had to be taken to [...]
St Marc Flotte – Class of 1942
Personal Data Native of New Orleans Graduated Jesuit High School Tulane Class of 1942, College of Commerce, Beta Gama Sigma USMC Assignments / Engagements New Orleans Airport: Elimination-Based (E-Base) training. Member of Black Wing. Responsible for construction of new air base. Passed through E-base with 4 hours solo time—6 [...]