Cecil Ezell McLain was born in November 1921 in Auburn, Alabama. He grew up through the Great Depression in Robertsdale [Annotator's Note: Robertsdale, Alabama]. His father worked several jobs to care for his family. McLain also did various jobs to help support the family like picking potatoes and working in shipping. He graduated from high school in 1939 but did not attend college because his parents could not afford it. He was getting out of a movie when he was told by some friends that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii]. At that time, McLain was working for Brookfield Air Force Base [Annotator's Note: Brookfield, Ohio]. He decided to join the Navy in June 1942 because he heard they had good schools and he wanted to see the world. He completed his six week basic training program in San Diego [Annotator's Note: San Diego, California], and then sent he was sent to Fire Control School. There he was taught to fire the guns on the ships, how to operate and maintain stable elements, and how to maintain range finders and other instruments. He was sent to Bremerton, Washington where he reported aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43). He remembered the ship had analog computers to help shoot down aircraft. He was on the ship when it bombarded Okinawa [Annotator's Note: Okinawa, Japan] and they shot down 26 aircraft during the invasion. During the bombardment of Okinawa, the Tennessee was hit by a Kamikaze and several crew members died. McLain worked on the computers during battle stations. He also worked on a switch board. After the battle of Okinawa, his ship had to be repaired.

Cecil Ezell McLain was aboard the battleship [Annotator's Note: USS Tennessee (BB-43)] when it bombarded and took Kiska [Annotator's Note: Kiska, Aleutian Islands]. This was his first combat experience. McLain recalled that it was very foggy and they could not see anything. They could not tell that the Japanese had already left the island. He also remembered that the weather was freezing. They headed to Tarawa [Annotator's Note: Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands] where he learned how to properly shoot at pill boxes to be effective. They headed to the Northern Mariana Islands and Marshall Islands, and Peleliu [Annotator's Note: Peleliu, Palau]. At Peleliu, they worked on shooting down a light house that the Japanese were using as a watch tower. He was also on board the ship when they went to support the Allies at Guam [Annotator's Note: Guam, Mariana Islands], Saipan [Annotator's Note: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands], and Tinian [Annotator's Note: Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands]. At Leyte Gulf [Annotator's Note: Leyte Gulf, Philippines], he witnessed the greatest Naval Battle that ever took place. He was involved in the Battle of Surigao Strait. His ship fired 13 salvos and hit their target 12 out of the 13 times. At one point during the battle, they were receiving friendly fire and had to cease fire. McLain and his crew were on Iwo Jima [Annotator's Note: Iwo Jima, Japan] when they raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi. After Okinawa [Annotator's Note: Okinawa, Japan] was secured, he remembered his ship was caught in a typhoon. After the surrender of Japan, McLain and the rest of the crew on the ship went ashore at Wakayama [Annotator's Note: Wakayama, Japan] and marched into town. McLain gave out candy and chewing gum to the children. They were ordered to Tokyo [Annotator's Note: Tokyo, Japan] where he stayed until the Navy sent him home.

Cecil Ezell McLain stopped in Singapore before heading home and witnessed five people die and several people blinded by drinking bad alcohol. He visited other places before returning to the United States on the USS Tennessee (BB-43) and he was discharged in Memphis, Tennessee. He spent over three years on the USS Tennessee. He has been to a few reunions since the end of war and rekindled friendships.