Joe Itson was interviewed for the Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project. Born in Cedar City, Utah, in 1928, Joe Itson moved to Long Beach, California, at just two months old. His early years were spent around the San Pedro harbor, where sold newspapers and shined shoes on the Navy ships during the 1930s. He describes how he pestered his parents to allow him to go to sea, eventually joining the Merchant Marine during World War II. Itson recounts his first voyage aboard the Niagara Victory, a ship crewed by locals from San Pedro, where he witnessed the end of the war in Okinawa. Itson’s career on the sea expanded over the years, eventually becoming a captain of oil tankers for Union Oil Company. He discusses the intricacies of managing multi-cargo oil tankers, emphasizing the precision required to avoid contamination of different fuels and the potential dangers involved, especially in collision incidents. Itson also reflects on the technological advancements in maritime navigation and safety, noting the introduction of electronic charts and inert gas systems in tankers. Itson shares his involvement with the Lane Victory, a World War II cargo ship restored as a museum ship. Finally, he reflects on the changes in the Port of Los Angeles over the decades, highlighting both environmental improvements and the evolution of maritime work.