Part one of a two part documentary. Jack Perkins speaks with Cliff Carrigan and Sylvia Whitehouse.
In 1942, Cliff Carrigan was a 17 year old United States marine based at Titahi Bay near Wellington. He explains how even though he was under age, he was accepted into the Marines because he applied directly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Sylvia Whitehouse was a 16 year old school girl living on a nearby farm next to the open sea which, as she explains, made her family potentially vulnerable to enemy attack. She talks about the precautions her father made and first contact with the American forces.
Originally from Chicago, Cliff arrived in New Zealand in Scout Company November 1942, and describes his first impressions and how he and Sylvia met. They share a couple of stories about their friend Spinks, a bouquet of vegetables and the strangeness of eating beef (Sylvia) and mutton (Cliff).
Cliff describes coastal defences. They both talk about Wednesday night dances, the local Māori pā, rations, chaperones.
The two knew each other for a short time before Cliff was drafted north to the Pacific. After losing contact for 38 years Cliff visited New Zealand in 1985 and the couple were married in 1991.