Morton William Werner was born in February 1927 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a middle-class home. His father was able to support the family with his job as a bakery salesman. During the Great Depression [Annotator's Note: The Great Depression was a global economic depression that lasted from 1929 through 1945], his father lost his job and inevitably lost their newly bought home. Werner’s family had to move into an apartment. Werner attended public school with white and black students. He enjoyed and excelled in school and had great teachers. Later in life he taught as a profession. He graduated high school at age 17 after World War 2 had already begun. Werner did not know what he wanted to do once he graduated. He could not afford college and did not receive any scholarships. He joined the Post Service [Annotator's Note: United States Postal Service] and worked as an usher at Forbes Field [Annotator's Note: baseball park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]. That summer after he graduated, Werner and a friend decided to join the Navy. The recruitment office told them that they were all filled up and come back in October [Annotator’s Note: October 1944]. In the meantime, Werner’s friend turned 18 and was drafted. His friend was later wounded in Okinawa [Annotator’s Note: Okinawa, Japan]. In October, Werner reported to Sampson Naval Base, New York [Annotator’s Note: Naval Training Station Sampson in Seneca Lake, New York] for his basic training. Werner kept up with the war by radio. Werner chose the Navy because he was told he would receive three meals a day. He said he was glad he was on a small ship because there was less stringency and less discipline. After basic training, he was sent to Virginia Beach, Virginia for radar school and stayed in a nice hotel that the Navy took over. He served aboard a PC [Annotator’s Note: USS PC-1220 Patrol Craft] as a petty officer. Werner was excited to become a radar man. Many of the college guys had trouble learning the operation of the radar. They would often wake him up to verify they had the correct locations. Werner’s ship was not in any major battles but was preparing for the invasion of Japan. While he waited to be assigned to his ship, he enjoyed visiting New York City [Annotator’s Note: New York, New York]. He then went Key West, Florida. His ship was loaded with depth charges [Annotator's Note: also called a depth bomb; an anti-submarine explosive munition resembling a metal barrel or drum] and guns. His ship was sent with a convoy and because he was on a smaller ship, they were used for communications. While on the ship, he had four hours of duty and then eight hours off, so he slept a lot.

Morton William Werner [Annotator’s Note: assigned to the USS PC-1220 Patrol Craft] was in the Gulf of Mexico near Key West [Annotator’s Note: Key West, Florida] when he learned that the Germans had surrendered. They were ordered to head up to New York and began to prepare for the invasion of Japan. They did exercises out in the ocean for several days at a time. He saw planes fly over them, and being the radio man aboard ship, communicated with navigators in the planes. His ship often circled the International Date Line [Annotator's Note: internationally accepted boundary between one calendar day and the next], constantly having to adjust the date. Werner liked being on a small ship and enjoyed his duty. He had a friend that took him on the USS Wisconsin (BB-64), and he felt like he was in a suburban city. Everyone had to wear uniforms and it was very crowded. He had a stay in Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii] around the time World War 2 concluded. He visited the ship that sunk [Annotator’s Note: USS Arizona (BB-39)] during the attack [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. He visited the beaches and went to the movies. His ship was refurbished during this time but was sent back to the United States. Because he had low points [Annotator's Note: a point system was devised based on a number of factors that determined when American servicemen serving overseas could return home] he was assigned to a weather ship. He was trained to use electronic equipment. He was often on duty for four hours and then off for eight hours. He worked in the radar room and confirmed if they saw anything in the ocean. Then he also worked with sonar equipment to look for submarines. His other duty would be working on the bridge. While he was at Pearl Harbor, they sent him to school to learn a new navigation device. This device would send out radio waves to help find a location. When he was on the weather ship, he was often awakened to use the new navigation device. When he was on his way to Guam [Annotator’s Note: Guam, Mariana Islands] the commander told him they received orders to head to Bikini Island [Annotator’s Note: Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands] where they had atomic testing [Annotator's Note: testing nuclear weapons]. Werner almost had enough points to go home, so his captain told him to train the communication officer to use the new navigation equipment. After giving the communication officer training, Werner was transferred onto a troop ship and sent back to the United States. The troop ship stopped in the Philippines to pick up a group of sailors. His quarters were hammocks and he had to live out of his duffle bag. They kept running out of room. He was later transferred to petty officer quarters. He was given commissary duty and commanded eight other men on the ship. Werner deboarded in San Francisco [Annotator’s Note: San Francisco, California]. It was a long trip but very relaxing.

Morton William Werner’s most memorable experience of World War 2 was when he was on his way to Japan, but then was sent to San Diego [Annotator’s Note: San Diego, California] when the war concluded. Knowing that he was not going into combat was such a relief. Times when he received promotions or traveled to places were also memorable. Werner served in World War 2 because of his patriotic feelings, and he also felt like he had not purpose or direction in life at the time. The service changed his life because he had to grow up fast. [Annotator’s Note: Werner shows photos to the interviewer]. He was working in the Post Office [Annotator's Note: United States Postal Service] before he enlisted but was restless and wanted to do more. His service opened all kids of doors for him, and he had many opportunities. Years before America got into World War 2, things were bad, but the United States did not want to be involved. Werner is ethnically Jewish, so World War 2 gave him a purpose and he was ready to go and fight. He is proud of the country. Werner has not gone to any military museum on purpose. He believes we should continue to teach World War 2 to future generations.

Morton William Werner returned to San Francisco [Annotator’s Note: San Francisco, California] and then took a train to New Jersey. He was required to take a physical before being discharged, including submitting a urine sample. Werner, for some reason, could not urinate on the spot, so the guy next to him gave him his urine sample. Werner was discharged from the Navy. Werner did not want to stay in the Navy because he wanted to go home. Being in the service changed his life. Through the benefits of the G.I. Bill [Annotator's Note: the G.I. Bill, or Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was enacted by the United States Congress to aid United States veterans of World War 2 in transitioning back to civilian life and included financial aid for education, mortgages, business starts and unemployment], he was able to receive an education and pursued electrical engineering. After three years in the engineering program, he decided to change his career direction to teaching. He graduated with an education degree. The government really took care of the service men by providing education and supplement benefits. Werner and his friends to not discuss their war experiences. If the Japanese had not surrendered, he would have been on a ship for the invasion of Japan. Werner made a career out of teaching elementary school children. When he first started teaching, he taught many children that migrated from the South and were very behind in their education. When the principal of the school wanted him to paddle the children, he asked the school board to be transferred to another school. He felt more comfortable in his new school. He later went into sales work after his wife got pregnant. Years later, when he and his wife broke up, he decided to go back to teaching. That was the best decision he ever made. He taught in a middle school and enjoyed his teaching career. He remarried to a second-grade teacher. He had three other children from his first marriage and one child from his second marriage.