Oral History with 102-year-old WWII Seabee Cam Pelletier

In this special 4th of July episode, Bill takes a handoff from Seth and records his first ever oral history. The subject is 102-year-old World War II veteran Cam Pelletier, a Seabee at Guadalcanal, the Russell Islands, the Green Islands, and most notably on Peleliu.
#seabees; #history; #worldwar2; #pacific ; #peleliu; #usmc; #firstmarinedivision

[@normvanduker9999]

Interviews such as this will over the years come to be cherished as a national treasure. Thank you for preserving this small slice of our history and national identity

[@richardbennett1856]

Well said. Thanks Seth and Bill. This entire series belongs in the National Library of Congress. Your interview was sharp, short, and sweet.

[@johnvogt5847]

99% agree with you, only reason I don't say 100% is because it is cherished right now, it won't take years (a little pedantic, I know, but it's my poor attempt at humor)

[@lavernedofelmier6496]

Thanks captain Toti for interviewing this youngster, sharp as a tack. You get an A+ as the interviewer.

[@gregpfaffe4098]

What a wonderful guy! I knew so many; they were the teachers, business owners and artisans in my memory. A great great generation

[@epistemologist1571]

My step uncle, Edward Reiff's favorite story of his service in the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal was about Thanksgiving Day. He had been sent to the beach to deliver a message. On his way back to headquarters he shared Thanksgiving dinner with the Seabees. He said it was a complete Thanksgiving Spread. Turkey, dressing and all of the trimmings. On behalf of my uncle Ed, Thanks to the Seabees for their hospitality to a stranger. It was his most precious memoriy of the war.

[@keithdavis9897]

wow, WOW, WOW.....!!! Great interview !! He's in phenomenal shape and his memory is so good. Many thanks to Captain Toti and Mr. Pelletier.

[@michaelhollman9470]

Thank so very much for sharing Cam’s story. I could listen to oral histories forever. We are so indebted to this generation. Thank you Captain Toti for making this video. 🇺🇸

[@curtsmall8596]

Capt Toti and Camille, thank you for this valuable slice of history! --Former LCDR William Small MC USNR former Battalion Surgeon for NMCB One in 1983-84....

[@flparkermdpc]

Thanks, Bill. You picked the exact right person to talk with about the Twentieth Century. He did it all. What a blessing.!

[@larserickson2862]

Thanks Captain Toti for a wonderful interview and to Seth as well for preserving this important history! Mr. Pelletier is one of the last of a tough and patriotic generation! Well done! I enjoy your important podcast!

[@joangibson859]

What an absolutely wonderful interview. Cam is a treasure.

[@davidk7324]

What an absolute gem of a guy. Thank you, Bill. Well done.

[@PalleRasmussen]

What a wonderful and lively old chap.

[@georgespencer737]

Thank you Captain Toti for a great interview with a great man.

[@kilcar]

Thank you for covering the SEABEES, My request was honored. Thank you!! My dad was a plank owner in the 20th Naval Construction Battalion, first cruise, 1942-1944

[@johnmarlin4661]

Thank You Capt for this interview ,its Golden history !!

[@philoaviaticus]

So glad you interviewed a Seabee. My grandfather was a Seabee in Pacific WWII would love to figure out where to find out about him. Too much PTSD I think so never talked about it. Suggestions?

[@user-ur1ke5zc3j]

１０２歳というお年とは思えない明晰な受け答えをされてます、脱帽です。　それにしても１９２２年のお生まれということはケネディ大統領より五才年下でロバートケネディさんよりも三才年上なんですね。　時の流れは本当に早いものですね。

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Translation: Hats off to him for his clarity in his responses, which makes it hard to believe he is 102 years old. In any case, he was born in 1922, which means he is five years younger than President Kennedy and three years older than Robert Kennedy. Time really does fly.

[@pscaglione3]

Thank you for this interview.

[@derrickcochran4180]

Thank you for this special episode

[@davidlavigne207]

Thanks Mr. Pelletier, from another descendant of French-Canadian Grandparents. I also resided in Massachusetts for many years, but further west near Springfield. It was nice to hear Cam's "Yankee" accent. I could close my eyes and listen and it was as if I was listening to my Grandfather (Also another Navy Veteran) back then. To Captain (Retired) Toti, what a wonderful, respectful, and sensitive interview with this old Sea Bee as he recalled his past. Well done Sir for your first interview. I can see why you were an effective leader with your great ability to communicate.

[@CJrun]

Thank you for the memeories Mr. Pelletier and thanks for visiting, Capt. Totti.

[@servantofgod5642]

Fantastic. Thought it was Tuesday at first.

[@montebradshaw128]

Thoroughly enjoyed! Great job Bill Thanks! My Grandpa was a Sea Bee in the Pacific's Marianas Campaign so Cams interiew is especially interesting... Thank you Cam and God Bless...

[@georgehughes8698]

Thank you, Captain Toti, for preserving this gentleman's story!

[@williamault2490]

These oral histories are so very very important. My Uncle Robert sat down with my Grandfather John Ault, and for three hours recorded my grandfather’s oral history. From going ashore with the follow-up forces after Operation Torch landings had taken place, through North Africa, Siscelly, Salerno, Italy, France, and finally as occupation forces in Northern Italy. He commanded a battery of 105mm howitzers during the war. Sadly when my uncle past away those reel-to-reel tapes were lost as well. I never heard my grandfather’s oral record of his experiences during WWII.

[@williampockets]

Oh wow. Thank you. Happy 4th. To you fellas and your families.

[@briancooper2112]

His memory is outstanding!

[@orlandofurioso7958]

Wonderful job, Bill. And, the ending was sublime. Perfect.

[@arneldobumatay3702]

For 102 years old, he's got most of his marbles. My mother lived to 96 and the last 3-4 years she didn't know that I was her son. P.S. I'm digging that t-shirt!

[@fettfan91]

Congrats on your first oral history Captain Toti, well done!

[@gregcollins7602]

Thank you very much for this. It's a great supplement for Torpedo Tuesday. I have always been extremely fascinated with the Seabees and have been reading anything I can get my hands on about the battalion. Great job Skipper. It is what it is. Happy Independence Day! Down with King George III!

[@michaelholt8590]

Heroes are remembered, but legends never die

[@desobrien3827]

Great interview Bill...the dynamite caps nothing short of "Gold"...funny now, not at the time! Lot's of great stories..you really did a top notch job, leading Cam to tell so many stories. Cam is sharp as a tack, I can only hope to have such a sharp mind...if I last that long.

[@jimsedlacek4897]

I chuckled when Cam mentioned Camp Parks (Dublin, CA). For short time Camp Parks was used to train Korean War era Air Force enlisted personnel and later LLNL stored excess equipment there.

[@kilcar]

My dads Seabee experience mirrord his very closely,except for green islands and Pelilu,but all the east coast training camps such as Bradford very closely mirrored my dads training camps. He was a highwsy engineer in Oregon so he gat a full Chiefs Rating ( CCM) IN BOOT CAMP! Please give my kindest regards to Cam, from a Seabee family ( NCB 20, WW2)

[@richardmardis2492]

Trying to sneak one past me! It didn’t work- 37 minutes late, but I’m here now!

[@henriyoung3895]

Thank you Seth n CPT Bill n Jon .

[@Mildly.Squeued]

Incredible job Bill. its not easy coaxing history from these guys and you did an excellent letting him steer his own interview. Thanks for the Seabee interview and much more for all that you guys do.

[@seancrumby3241]

God bless you sir thank you for your service

[@user-it4vg4yz4m]

Bill, excellent job on the interview! One nugget in the interview is the average age of the men in the unit was 20+ years older than one would expect! Recruiting experienced and/or well-trained men meant that they would be older.

[@timothyshea6715]

Great job Bill. Covered a lot of ground and that fellow is sharp for 102.

[@raykaufman7156]

Great job, Bill. Hopefully you can find more guys that are still around.

[@johnwilson9364]

Wonderful record created so many years after the events occurred. What an amazing veteran Cam is. A treasure from the Greatest Generation. Thank you so much Bill. A perfect set up for a podcast on Allied Construction units.

[@jordanbrown4886]

These interviews are always amazing. I had the opportunity to interview a Pearl Harbor survivor in high school. I wish I would have recorded it.

[@christianlim772]

Thank you for this interview. I live right next to Bellingham, MA and it is remarkable to hear his recollections from the ‘20s and ‘30s. Great interview, Bill!

[@jeffreybaker4399]

Well done Bill and Mr. Pelletier. An interesting, straight forward man.

[@miamea2]

Please continue to post interviews of any WW2 vets. This was quite enjoyable, and I have to admit my favorite episode so far

[@williamwoods8970]

Thank you for the interview, my great uncle was a Sea Bee. This gives me a first hand account of what his experience might have been like.

[@rundownaxe]

I skipped over the thumbnail a few times expecting some cheesy HBO documentary. Seeing the channel underneath it was the fastest click ever. Some clue that identifies your channel at a glance in the thumbnail would have gotten you my view much quicker. Food for thought. :) Thanks for the countless hours of education you have provided us. Watched everything I think. Many more than once. There are many great channels but your episodes add so much 'color' to the more factual or tactically inclined styles out there. Watch dots on a board to get an idea of the order of battle and come here to feel it come to life in vivid detail. And now with a 102 year old hero with ancestry from my home province of quebec.

[@Seawizz203]

What a great interview! Mr. Pelletier is my parents age and grew up in the same area where we lived, and still do. His story is very much like those I heard from my parents and uncles of the war years.

[@johnfriend240]

Wow, sharp as a tack and his hearing is excellent! (I struggle to be heard by my 97-year-old mother-in-law.)

[@TomBukoski]

Great interview. Cam is a treasure, as are all WWII veterans. I'm all for more about the SeaBees, Army Engineers, the Navys service forces, and the complex logistics of the Pacific War. Keep up the great work.

[@garyscharf9232]

My uncle was in the Seabee's also and came from a family of 15 children. I wish he was still alive, so I could hear where he served.

[@richardmardis2492]

Ooo- we’re French/Canadian too! My Pepere (grand father) lived to be over a hundred 1895-1996. Mind was sharp as a tack until he died. Was coastal artillery during WW1. Why they didn’t send him to France, I’ll never know. He couldn’t be a translator- his English was never any good 😁

[@helenel4126]

Thank you, Mr Pelletier, for your service, and for this interview!

[@davewalter1216]

That was lovely. Very nice to see someone passed 100 who's memory and ability to communicate are so sharp. Makes me more hopeful about my future, especially after seeing a very different example recently. Great interview with a good person.

[@gustaloni3107]

Interesting. Great. Inspiring.

[@georgemannsr8708]

Great interview with a true hero ! Could you do an interview about the Sea-bees on Guadalcanal ?

[@philoaviaticus]

Yeah my Granddaa liked the Marines too. Only picture I remember was a little Irish guy on a bulldozer behind a mounted 50 cal. He was 35 when called up.

[@wdcjunk]

Very classy ending there Captain!

[@calumthestrong]

My dad was a Seabee until the early 2000's. So this hits close to home. Keep up the amazing work guys.

[@patrickkidd2711]

Thank God for you and Seth. Men and women like these are truly National Treasures

[@jammininthepast]

Thank you Captain Toti, excellent presentation, good work. Thank you Cam for your service and sharing your history. You're appreciated.

[@timscherrer9924]

I love this vet.

[@craigfiler3779]

Nice Old Dude, Reminds me of my Poppa

[@mikeat2637]

Great job Bill !!!!! For a first-timer you did very well. I know it isn't easy because I have had to do similar interviews when I worked in the insurance industry. This gentleman looks amazing at 102 years old and is in pretty good shape from what I can see. His recall is quite good considering it was 80 years ago. As others have stated below, interviews like this are definitely a national treasure and represent a good look into the country before and during the war. I can't wait for the next one. !

[@bughunter1766]

What an amazing individual. They just don't make them like that anymore.

[@briancooper2112]

Great man.

[@Thumpalumpacus]

Bravo Zulu to both of you. ETA: a very sensitive interview.

[@kilcar]

Commodore: your Viewers may see the original Cruise Book for the 33rd NCB 1943-45 Online free. Just plug in the title and you'll have choices, among which are in pdf format. This gentleman will likely be in the muster roll and very likely photos, although youll have to troll the Company Rosters to find him a very good read too.

[@christopherj.osheav5807]

DATELINE 50.450001, 30.523333 Bill, Terrific interview. Very well done. A moving experience. Thank you. V/r - IB