JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Donald Evans joined the U.S. Navy when he was just barely 18 years old.
He was shipped out of California to the South Pacific, an area of the world full of "hundreds of islands" he had never experienced before his military duty, he said.
This week, Evans went to see the classic musical "South Pacific" at the Florida Times-Union Center. The Artist Series production featured a special military night Wednesday.
The musical, based on a Pulitzer-Prize winning book by James Michener, portrays the struggle with prejudice.
That's something his service in the South Pacific taught him to push aside, he said.
Evans said the "natives" in the island sided with American troops because of their opposition to the Japanese.
The people on the islands were important to the sailors because, Evans said, they told the American troops about Japanese movements. They also knew the water depth and position of islands not even on maps.
The U.S. gave them small hand-held radios to communicate with American troops. Evans said the Americans had linguists to interpret the native languages and dialects.
The people were "warm and friendly," said Evans.
Now in his 80s, Evans' eyes light up with pride when he talks about his service to the U.S., as if he were working just yesterday on his ship as an electrician's mate. He still remembers events with detail.
The United States is losing its World War II veterans quickly. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, about 1,000 World War II vets die each day.
At one time 16 million strong, the veterans now number below 2.5 million.
In Duval, Nassau, and Clay counties, 3,000 World War II veterans are still living. The musical performance of "South Pacific" continues this weekend in Jacksonville, Oct. 15 and 16 at the Florida Times- Union Center.
Tickets are still available.
First Coast News