Joe Orsatti was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps during the war between the United States and Japan. He was part of a five-inch gun-crew aboard the USS Boise at Manila when Japan attacked on January 12, 1941. He'd been on the USS Brooks with Pete McGill, who was transferred aboard the Boise not long after the attack. McGill remembered Orsatti's face and name. Orsatti just remembered his face. When a Japanese attack came, Orsatti had McGill act as shell-jerker for their gun. Combat was a bonding experience for all involved.