Roy Coats was born on January 31, 1914, in Ladora, Iowa. He graduated high school in Des Moines, Iowa, where his family moved after his father's business failed during the Great Depression. Coats enlisted in the Navy in 1933 after a prolonged waiting period and trained in San Diego. He served on the USS Chester and the USS Houston, both heavy cruisers. After his naval service, he transitioned to a civilian career and began working at Cal Ship on Terminal Island in February 1941, where he worked in shipbuilding during World War II. 

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Roy Coats, part of the Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project, covers his experiences and contributions to the maritime industry, particularly during World War II. Coats discusses his early life in Iowa, his enlistment and service in the Navy, and his transition to working at Cal Ship on Terminal Island. The interview details the construction of ships, the work environment at the shipyard, and the shift changes implemented to maximize production. Coats recounts specific memories of significant events, including Pearl Harbor and the subsequent changes in shipyard operations. He also shares anecdotes about the cultural environment of San Pedro and Long Beach during the 1930s and 1940s. Additionally, the interview explores his post-war activities, including the scrapping of ships and his efforts to preserve maritime artifacts, which led to his involvement with the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.