The 1st Veteran Stories Podcast is with Mr. Harold Ball, and it covers his stories and experiences related to his service in the Merchant Marines (1942-1943) and the U.S. Navy (1943-1946) during War World II.  His first ship was a Liberty Ship the SS Zane Grey:

• February - June 1943: Shipped locomotion engines to India via Australia; Port visits to Egypt and Israel as "Invasion of Crete" deception
• July 1943: Invasion of Sicily (8th Army support) near the loss of SS Timothy Pickering
• August 1943: Malta & Gibraltar; mine damage to the SS Harrison Gray Otis
• August - Sept 1943: Atlantic Ocean crossing with "Baby Carriers" providing protection

Harold was then at the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY from the Fall 1943 - Early 1944.  His second ship was the USS Pickaway Attack Transport:

• 1944: Pacific Theater
• 1945: Pacific Theater including the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (14-20 March 1945)

 (Size 15.7 MBs, Running Time 34m20s, Originally Published 11-11-06)