Aniello (Henry) D’Auria began working as a welder's helper at Todd's Shipyard in 1933-34.  Learning on the job he became a skilled welder.  

D'Auria describes the  working conditions in shipyards as  poor, noisy and noxious.  He witnessed an explosion in an oil tanker when work was ordered to begin before the tanks were certified as safe.  Although he loved welding, D'Auria turned to restaurant work after WWII because he believed it would provide a more dependable income. 

The complete interview, done by his grandson, Brian Vilnrotter, as a humanities project for Clark Magnet High School, in California can be found here: 
http://www.clarkhumanities.org/block3/0440.htm