“I went aboard the America and thought, it’s a city...I was flabbergasted about how big that ship was.”
Senior Chief Petty Officer Jose C. Untalan, USN
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the August 2018 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Senior Chief Petty Officer Jose C. Untalan. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Senior Chief Petty Officer Jose C. Untalan at the USS America CVA-66 reunion at Buffalo New York in the fall of 2016.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Jose C. Untalan not only spoke of his proud service memories in the United States Navy during the Cold War but also extraordinary memories of his childhood during the Second World War on the Island of Yap. He began the interview by sharing, “I was born in Yap of the Western Caroline Islands in 1937… during the War, I was four years old, I remember a lot, especially in the middle of the war." He shared vivid accounts of life during the Second World War under Japanese occupation, losing his home, forced labor, and the execution of loved ones. Following World War Two, he attended school on the Island of Guam and decided to join the United States Navy. In October of 1958 he departed Guam for Boot Camp and arrived in San Diego in November. Upon completion of Boot Camp his first assignment was to tug boat duty at Port Chicago. Untalan then received orders to report to the USS 
Zelima AF-49 and would participate in five deployments to the Western Pacific. He shared, “AF-49 was a provision ship, we carried tons and tons of food...we would replenish the combat ships so that they could stay out longer.” The Zelima played a key role replenishing ships that would assist in the quarantine zone during the Cuban Missile Crisis. From his sea service, he was ordered to the Naval
Communications Station in Cheltenham Maryland. From there he would travel back to the Pacific to the Naval Supply Depot in the Philippines at Subic Bay. He was responsible for supplies for the PTF Patrol Boats which were operating along the coast of Vietnam at the height of the conflict. He would travel to Vietnam and observe and participate aboard Patrol Boats to check on the systems of the vessels. From there he served as a store keeper in Guam until receiving orders to the East Coast to an Aircraft Carrier.
His next assignment was to the USS America CVA-66. He remarked, “I went aboard the Americ
a and thought, it’s a city...I was flabbergasted about how big that ship was.” He fondly remembered participating in the 1971 Mediterranean Cruise and the 1972 WestPac Cruise. His assignments with the Supply Department included working with a team of 37 sailors. He proudly shared key assignments such as the ordering of over 200,000 parts which were necessary for carrier operations and working on the budget for the ships company and airwings. Following his time on the USS America, he would serve in supply roles at Naval Air Station Oceana and Naval Station Norfolk before returning to civilian life.
The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Senior Chief Petty Officer Jose C. Untalan, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at http://navylog.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service. To view this interview please visit the USS America Reunion Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.
Interview of Jose Untalan Part One Childhood Memories of Yap, Japanese Atrocities, and
World War Two
Interview of Jose Untalan Part Two Memories of the Second World War on the Island of YAP and VJ Day
Interview of Jose Untalan Part Three Joining the Navy, Service at Port Chicago, and Sailor of the Year
Interview of Jose Untalan Part Four Service on the USS Zelima AF 49 and the Cuban Missile Crisis
Interview of Jose Untalan Part Five and Service in the Pacific and Operations During the Vietnam War at Da Nang
Interview of Jose Untalan Part Six Memories of the USS America CVA 66 in the Supply Department in 1972
Interview of Jose Untalan Part Seven Service at NAS Oceana Naval Station Norfolk and Civilian Life