CENTER FOR U.S. WAR
VETERANS' ORAL HISTORIES
World War II
Cosina Adamo
World War II Oral History Interview
US Navy, USS McConnell / Navy Armed Guard
Date: February 27, 2009
Interviewer: Carol Fowler
Summarizer: Matthew Berger
Veterans History Project
Summary
Cosina “Gus” Adamo was born in 1923 and, along with his older brother Anthony, raised in Lyndhurst, New Jersey by his mother and father. Anthony enlisted in the Army during the early stages of World War II and would see combat in Italy. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Adamo enlisted in the military at the age of twenty in February of 1943. He joined the Navy because of his love of the sea, and a yearning for adventure that he believed sailing across the oceans would fulfill.
Adamo found the transition from civilian life to military service to be relatively seamless. After passing the naval qualification exam, he reported to Norfolk, Virginia, where he received his initial training, and then, in June 1943, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where he was deployed as a Seamen First Class aboard the destroyer USS McConnell (DE-163).
Adamo’s job aboard the destroyer included day-to-day activities that allowed the ship to run smoothly. The USS McConnell’s assignment was escorting aircraft carriers, fleet fuel tankers, and troop transports in the Pacific. Prior to the ship’s departure for the Far East, Adamo spent a short time in Bermuda at gunnery training school. His service in the Pacific theater of war allowed him to travel to island nations scattered throughout the region, including Fiji, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands. After receiving a promotion to Storekeeper Third Class, Adamo’s responsibilities aboard ship shifted to overseeing the ordering and distribution of supplies, as well as managing the crews’ payroll slips. He also worked in the ship’s canteen for a few months.
Adamo enjoyed his time at sea and had memorable experiences throughout his time in the service, including traveling across the equator and participation in the rituals that accompanied it. One of his favorite moments occurred while on leave when, on December 3, 1944, he married his longtime sweetheart before reporting back to duty.
I liked it and I didn’t like it. You’re going out with a girl; you wonder, will I ever see her again?
There was a downside, however, with the constant threat of impending enemy attacks by submarines and aircraft, especially Japanese Kamikaze suicide pilots, which produced apprehension in the sailors at all times of the day and night. Deceptive techniques like releasing oil or clothing from submarine torpedo tubes, which replicated the remains of a sunken ship, kept sailors in a state of unease. Adamo manned a 20 mm gun on the ship during dangerous times. The USS McConnell played a critical supporting role during both the Guam and Philippine campaigns of the war. He and the crew earned the Philippine Liberation Medal for their efforts in delivering supplies following the invasions.
Following another home leave, Adamo was assigned as a member of the US Navy Armed Guard gun crew on a Merchant Marine vessel during the final months of his service. The ship and its crew delivered supplies, including fresh provisions, to the various outposts in the Pacific.
I never got seasick. I was one of the lucky ones.
At the end of the war, Adamo was reassigned once more, this time to shore duty, where his military career began, the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He considered reenlisting, but his rank of Storekeeper was no longer needed, as ships shifted towards peacetime operations.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy in January of 1946, Adamo returned to civilian life in his hometown of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, where he and his wife raised a family together. In his post military career, Adamo worked several manufacturing jobs in the steel industry until he retired.
Adamo proudly kept a journal throughout his time in the Navy as a tool for self-reflection and a way to pass the time. These entries allowed for a detailed retelling of his military career and life journey. He is the recipient of the World War II Victory medal and NJ Distinguished Service medal for his service.
Cosina “Gus” Adamo died on October 25, 2019.
