We (Walk Among Heroes) are pleased to welcome R.W. Pratt as our guest for Episode 19.  Mr. Pratt was born, raised, and still resides in San Antonio, Texas, today.  He commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was part of an LST (Landing Ship, Tank) crew in the Pacific Theater.  In 1944, Mr. Pratt commissioned LST 781, sailed down the Mississippi River, made a pit stop in New Orleans to arm his ship, then set sail for the Pacific.  LST 781 sailed throughout the Pacific, hopping from island-to-island re-supplying the invasion forces.  In April 1944, Mr. Pratt and his LST were part of the invasion into Okinawa, narrowly avoiding Japanese ‘one-way bombers,’ which destroyed many ships during that invasion.  

After the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Japan finally surrendered, LST 781 was assigned minesweeping duty near Hiroshima.  Mr. Pratt and several of his ship-mates borrowed a Jeep and drove into Hiroshima just weeks after the bomb was dropped, becoming one of the first groups of Americans to witness the damage first-hand, on-the-ground.  Mr. Pratt’s description is chilling, and the men that visited Hiroshima with him have all since died from cancer, most likely a bi-product from the radiation they experienced, Mr. Pratt assumes.

This episode will consist of multiple parts.  Episode 19A discusses Mr. Pratt’s childhood, education, and joining the U.S. Navy.  

Mr. Pratt is an accomplished businessman and has one of the sharpest memories we’ve ever seen!  It’s truly an honor to visit with Mr. Pratt, and it’s an honor to share his story with you. 

Thank you, Shreyas Ganesh, for donating your time as sound engineer for this podcast.