[Annotator’s Note: The video begins with interviewee talking about how he wanted to write a book and working with a reporter at 0:00:00.000 – 0:4:29.000.] Sam S. McKeel was a good student and attended a school near Greenville, North Carolina. He had some teachers that pushed him to work hard and prove himself, while he had other teachers that were too critical of him. He grew up in a farming area in Green County, North Carolina. He remembered when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941], and soon after, his first cousin was drafted into the Army. McKeel decided to enlist soon after his cousin left. In August 1943, he went to a Naval Recruiting Station in Wilson, North Carolina where he volunteered for the Navy. His mother supported his decision even though he was two weeks from being 17 years old. Joining the Navy was the best thing he could have done. He grew up in the Navy. His uncle was in the Navy during World War 1 [Annotator's Note: World War 1, global war originating in Europe; 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918]. He went to boot camp in Bainbridge, Maryland. His morning inspector told him to shave everyday long before he thought he needed to shave. McKeel was given a test to determine what he was capable of, and so he was sent to a Naval Base in Newport, Rhode Island for fire control school. He was trained to handle offensive weapons by way of remote control. He was given a few days leave to attend his grandfather’s funeral, but had to graduate from his fire control school in a class behind his original one. After graduation, he was assigned to an LST [Annotator's Note: Landing Ship, Tank] and reported to Indiana for duty.

After graduating from Navy training, Sam S. McKeel was assigned to LST-579 [Annotator's Note: Landing Ship, Tank] and reported to Indiana for duty. McKeel described his childhood as simple because he grew up in the small town of Waldenburg, North Carolina. His father died of a terminal illness when he was only two years old. His uncle tried to be a father figure to McKeel, but he was a bachelor himself. McKeel attended a country school, but it was well known for its academics and athletics. He played on the basketball team and other sports throughout his time in school. He lived a minimal life because his mother did not have a lot of money. His house did not have plumbing or running water. There was a well pump on the back porch. He received a toy gun that shot sparks one year for Christmas. He childhood was a pleasant experience. He grew up with two older sisters and was very close to the middle sister. After joining the Navy and being assigned to LST-579, he boarded a troop train and was sent to Great Lakes Naval Base near Chicago [Annotator’s Note: Chicago, Illinois] for gunnery practice. He then boarded the train again and headed to Indiana to join his crew. The LST traveled down the Mississippi River to New Orleans [Annotator’s Note: New Orleans, Louisiana]. There was radar installed on the vessel. As they sailed underneath bridges, many people cheered them on. His ship went on a three-day shakedown cruise off the Gulf of Mexico. The LST then left for overseas going through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific. His LST headed towards Leyte [Annotator’s Note: Leyte, the Philippines] and saw a Japanese Zero plane [Annotator's Note: Japanese Mitsubishi A6M fighter aircraft, referred to as the Zeke or Zero] for the first time. His ship was then ordered to Mindanao [Annotator’s Note: Mindanao, the Philippines]. During his overseas deployment, his ship was given four battle stars and credited for shooting down two and half Japanese planes.

Sam S. McKeel served in the Navy as a fire director controlman on the forward twin 40mm Bofors guns [Annotator's Note: Bofors 40mm antiaircraft automatic cannon] aboard USS LST-579 and took part in three campaigns in the Philippines. His ship went to three or four islands including Mindanao [Annotator’s Note: Mindanao, the Philippines] carrying the amphibious flag. They were able to unload the supplies and personnel at the beach while being fired upon. He felt fortunate that his ship was not bombed nor experienced any kamikaze attacks. In early 1945, his ship joined a convoy. He worked on the twin 40mm Bofors guns, kept constant maintenance, and did testing on them. The guns ran off electricity and there was a control room that he worked in to maintain the guns. During general quarters, a cargo ship next to his LST was hit by a torpedo and sunk. He remarked that “It was a day in hell.” Japanese zero planes [Annotator's Note: Japanese Mitsubishi A6M fighter aircraft, referred to as the Zeke or Zero] filled the sky above them. His ship was positioned in “coffin corner” in the convoy and was an easy target. One plane turned directly down on the ship, but missed it just slightly. His ship reached Luzon [Annotator’s Note: Luzon, the Philippines] and was given a pass to go to Manila [Manila, the Philippines] for a little while.

Sam S. McKeel served in the Navy as a fire director controlman on the forward twin 40 mm Bofors guns [Annotator's Note: Bofors 40mm antiaircraft automatic cannon] aboard USS LST-579 and took part in three campaigns in the Philippines. His ship reached Luzon [Annotator’s Note: Luzon, the Philippines] and was given a pass to go to Manila [Manila, the Philippines] for a little while. He was with a group that saw a brothel. Some of the guys went into the brothel while McKeel waited because he did not know what to do. The group then went to different bars around the city. When they returned to the LST, he was the only sober one that could walk up onto the ship by himself. The rest of them had to be hoisted up on deck in a net and then stand at captain’s mast, which was a relatively informal and low-level forum for handling minor misconduct. One time, the captain, Hugh Seavers, stopped the LST in the middle of the Pacific when the water was very calm. He lowered the ramps and allowed the sailors to swim in the ocean. It was an enjoyable experience. He was a Pollywog [Annotator’s Note: in naval tradition, a seaman who has not crossed the equator] until he crossed the Equator for the first time and became a Shellback [Annotator’s Note: in naval tradition, seamen who have crossed the Equator]. [Annotator’s Note: Interviewer pauses interview at 0:54.00.000.] At the end of the war, McKeel’s LST made two trips to Japan, one in September in 1945 and one in November 1945. He believes that the Navy was the best thing that happened to him. It gave him a sense of responsibility and helped him grow up. He really enjoyed the Navy and being on LST-579. The Pacific Ocean was less rough than the Atlantic. He returned to the United States in January 1945. In December 1945, he received orders to transfer to LST-492 and was given the role of quartermaster. His captain was able to trade beer for machine guns with the Air Force.

After World War 2, Sam S. McKeel was assigned as quartermaster on LST-492 [Annotator's Note: a Landing Ship, Tank]. He did not have a lot to do besides maintain the ship until he returned to the United States. His ship pulled into Pearl Harbor [Annotator’s Note: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii] for a couple of days and then headed to Long Beach, California. While he was helping with unloading barrels of gasoline, he developed a hernia and had to stay in the hospital for some time. He boarded a train and returned home to be discharged from the Navy. He enrolled in Atlantic Christian College [Annotator’s Note: today known as Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina] in May 1946, and then transferred to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1947 on the advice of one of his sisters. She was a great mentor to him. McKeel decided to pursue journalism. He graduated in 1950 and later owned four weekly newspapers in various North Carolina counties. He recalled an event that happened in North Carolina about a black veteran who was about to be hung by a group of white men. He escaped and was able to get away. He later enrolled in Columbia University in New York and really enjoyed many of his professors. He enjoyed living in New York as a young man. He worked at several newspapers in the East of the country.

Sam S. McKeel graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism and was offered a job at the Northern Observer newspaper in North Carolina. Within six months, the paper was bought out. He was then offered a transfer to Akron, Ohio to assist a publisher there, and was then promoted to business manager. There came more transitions, and he was transferred to Philadelphia [Annotator’s Note: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]. The last job he had was as chairman and publisher. Newspapers started to take a hit due to the internet, social media, and television.

Sam S. McKeel dropped out of high school at age 16 to enlist in the Navy during World War 2. He knew he was going to get drafted at 17, and he did not want to go into the Army, so he enlisted in the Navy. His mother agreed to sign his papers. He chose the Navy because he liked the water, and he had a relative that lived close to a bay where he was often taken sailing. He served in the Navy as a fire director controlman on the forward twin 40mm Bofors guns [Annotator’s Note: aboard USS LST-579] and took part in three campaigns in the Philippines and one in Borneo. He did not receive much leave time [Annotator's Note: an authorized absence for a short period of time] during his overseas deployment. He was given a few hours in Manila [Annotator’s Note: Manila, the Philippines] and later in Japan after the war ended. During down time, they played cards and dice games. McKeel was on night watch when he was first told that the war had ended. Every ship in the convoy began shooting their ammunition in the air. He believes that it was right to use the atomic bomb [Annotator's Note: nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 6 and 9 August 1945] because he would not have been here today otherwise. He was able to visit Nagasaki after the bomb was dropped and the reaction was one of dismay. He returned to the United States and was discharged.

Sam S. McKeel returned to the United States and was discharged from the Navy in March 1946. He enrolled in at Atlantic Christian College [Annotator’s Note: Today, known as Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina] in May 1946. Becoming a civilian again was a delight. He used 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] for his education and could not have had the education he received without those benefits. His service in the Navy made him a successful man professionally and financially. He believes that America is the greatest country in the world, and is worried that the government is going to screw it up. McKeel also wanted to be stated that his wife had a great impact on his life and was a wonderful contribution to their community.