date: 01 jan 2009
recorded in IWM USS Indy Radio rm exhibit

Robert (bob) Begeman
USN RT 2nd class 1944-1946
Born Sandborn IN   (85)
Indianapolis  IN.  Current residence.

_Before the War was attending college Vincennes University
has an assoc degree from there.
Attended Purdue Univ. for electrical engineering.

_Drafted but joined the navy...
_Boot camp..
_Navy schools were:
attended Humanity HS , Chicago IIL ,1mo training
Gulfport MS 3 mo.
Navy peir, Chicago, IL 8 mos. Radio tech schools.

_Schomaker Ca. 1st station abt 3mos.

_Served on the USS George Climer, AGC
Attack transport. 1945 to end of WAR then out of navy.
ship had 4 radio rooms. abt size same as CA-35 
_worked on sonar, loran, radar & radio gear.
same types as the CA-35 gear.
_ship had 12 RT's  total.. bob stayed on the ship most.

_ most unfavorite job was getting parts from the forward hold
of the ship..."made him sea sick!"
_"Boot camp getting shots was not fun! He passed out!"

_most memorable story,  Two days that Sea (salt ) water got into the 
radio 4 Generators. !
_Just left states when they heard about the war ending...and
Ship board celebrations with smuggled booze !"

_Bob Is a USS Indy radio room exhibit (plank member) and our WWII radio expert.
he is also an Extra class Amateur radio operator.

by Chuck Crist-W9IH