The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Pauls. Pauls joined the Navy in January of 1941. He provides some details of his training. He served as a watertender aboard the USS Medusa (AR-1) beginning April of 1941. The Medusa was in Pearl Harbor the morning of 7 December 1941. Pauls provides vivid details leading up to, during and after the attack by the Japanese. They shot down two Japanese Aichi dive bombers, provided rescue assistance to other ships in the harbor and performed their primary role as a repair ship. In 1942 he was transferred to the USS Titania (AKA-13). Pauls served as an engineer on one of the tank lighters aboard the ship. They helped train Marines and soldiers in Chesapeake Bay. They participated in the Invasion of North Africa in late 1942. From there he went back to the U.S. and then in February of 1943 went to Guadalcanal. In October and November of 1943, they participated in Operation CHERRY BLOSSOM, the initial landing at Cape Torokina, Bougainville. Around January of 1945 Pauls was assigned to the USS Soubarissen (AO-93) and traveled to Okinawa and Leyte. In late 1945 he served aboard the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clarence Heidemann. Heidemann joined the Marine Corps. He was first assigned to the 4th Defense Battalion and traveled to Hawaii aboard the USS Henderson (AP-1). He was on liberty in Honolulu during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes what he witnessed on the day of the attack. He served on guard duty around the Navy yard and various posts after the attack. On 22 December his outfit was sent to Midway Island. They were sent back to Pearl Harbor; their unit was reorganized and Heidemann was transferred to a five-inch coast artillery unit. This group was sent to the New Hebrides for one year. His job was in fire control on the range finder. They later traveled to Guadalcanal and Vella Lavella. Heidemann spent 3 years in the South Pacific. From there he went back to the States where he completed Optical Ordnance School. Heidemann served 20 years in the Marine Corps, retiring in 1961.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hagee. Hagee was one of eleven children and grew up in Alto, New Mexico where he attended a one room school. Upon graduating from high school he joined the US Navy and went to boot camp at San Diego, California. Following boot camp he was assigned to the USS Bainbridge (DD-246). While Hagee was aboard, the Bainbridge intercepted various fishing boats carrying diesel fuel believed to be used for German submarines prowling the Atlantic. Describing the procedures used by German U-boats to penetrate convoys, he tells of the sinking of the USS Ruben James (DD-245) and of the Bainbridge assisting in recovering survivors. Hagee describes the weather conditions encountered in the North Atlantic and of an incident that so damaged the ship, she had to visit a Navy yard for structural repair and refitting. Hagee requested a transfer into Naval Air Services, which led to his assignment as a maintenance chief in Patrol Bombing Squadron 20 (VPB-20). The squadron was designated as a Black Cat Squadron flying PBM3 aircraft. He discusses various missions they flew from different islands on which they were based. Returning home in 1945 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clarence Heidemann. Heidemann joined the Marine Corps. He was first assigned to the 4th Defense Battalion and traveled to Hawaii aboard the USS Henderson (AP-1). He was on liberty in Honolulu during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes what he witnessed on the day of the attack. He served on guard duty around the Navy yard and various posts after the attack. On 22 December his outfit was sent to Midway Island. They were sent back to Pearl Harbor; their unit was reorganized and Heidemann was transferred to a five-inch coast artillery unit. This group was sent to the New Hebrides for one year. His job was in fire control on the range finder. They later traveled to Guadalcanal and Vella Lavella. Heidemann spent 3 years in the South Pacific. From there he went back to the States where he completed Optical Ordnance School. Heidemann served 20 years in the Marine Corps, retiring in 1961.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Merrick. Merrick joined the Air Force Reserves. By 1942 he had earned his pilot license and completed two civilian pilot training courses. He graduated as a flight officer from the glider pilot program in Lubbock, Texas in May of 1943. Merrick was assigned to the 437th Troop Carrier Group and the 84th Squadron. In January of 1944 he was shipped to England and provides details of his experiences there and additional training. In June of 1944 his outfit participated in D-Day. He also participated in Operation Market Garden in September of 1944. He served as a glider pilot during the war and provides detail of his experiences through these events. He returned to the U.S. in July of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Bunnell. Bunnell joined the Marine Corps in 1942, fresh out of high school, and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion of radio school, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Division, working a Hagelin coding machine in the message center. He was instructed that in the event of impending enemy capture he should burn his records and then commit suicide. But by the time he arrived in Iwo Jima, his skills had become obsolete and he stepped aside to let Navajo code talkers take over. Bunnell returned home after the atomic bombs were dropped and was discharged. He was shocked to learn secondhand that his father had participated in the Manhattan Project, though his father would never admit to it.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Pauls. Pauls joined the Navy in January of 1941. He provides some details of his training. He served as a watertender aboard the USS Medusa (AR-1) beginning April of 1941. The Medusa was in Pearl Harbor the morning of 7 December 1941. Pauls provides vivid details leading up to, during and after the attack by the Japanese. They shot down two Japanese Aichi dive bombers, provided rescue assistance to other ships in the harbor and performed their primary role as a repair ship. In 1942 he was transferred to the USS Titania (AKA-13). Pauls served as an engineer on one of the tank lighters aboard the ship. They helped train Marines and soldiers in Chesapeake Bay. They participated in the Invasion of North Africa in late 1942. From there he went back to the U.S. and then in February of 1943 went to Guadalcanal. In October and November of 1943, they participated in Operation CHERRY BLOSSOM, the initial landing at Cape Torokina, Bougainville. Around January of 1945 Pauls was assigned to the USS Soubarissen (AO-93) and traveled to Okinawa and Leyte. In late 1945 he served aboard the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hagee. Hagee was one of eleven children and grew up in Alto, New Mexico where he attended a one room school. Upon graduating from high school he joined the US Navy and went to boot camp at San Diego, California. Following boot camp he was assigned to the USS Bainbridge (DD-246). While Hagee was aboard, the Bainbridge intercepted various fishing boats carrying diesel fuel believed to be used for German submarines prowling the Atlantic. Describing the procedures used by German U-boats to penetrate convoys, he tells of the sinking of the USS Ruben James (DD-245) and of the Bainbridge assisting in recovering survivors. Hagee describes the weather conditions encountered in the North Atlantic and of an incident that so damaged the ship, she had to visit a Navy yard for structural repair and refitting. Hagee requested a transfer into Naval Air Services, which led to his assignment as a maintenance chief in Patrol Bombing Squadron 20 (VPB-20). The squadron was designated as a Black Cat Squadron flying PBM3 aircraft. He discusses various missions they flew from different islands on which they were based. Returning home in 1945 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Bunnell. Bunnell joined the Marine Corps in 1942, fresh out of high school, and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion of radio school, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Division, working a Hagelin coding machine in the message center. He was instructed that in the event of impending enemy capture he should burn his records and then commit suicide. But by the time he arrived in Iwo Jima, his skills had become obsolete and he stepped aside to let Navajo code talkers take over. Bunnell returned home after the atomic bombs were dropped and was discharged. He was shocked to learn secondhand that his father had participated in the Manhattan Project, though his father would never admit to it.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Merrick. Merrick joined the Air Force Reserves. By 1942 he had earned his pilot license and completed two civilian pilot training courses. He graduated as a flight officer from the glider pilot program in Lubbock, Texas in May of 1943. Merrick was assigned to the 437th Troop Carrier Group and the 84th Squadron. In January of 1944 he was shipped to England and provides details of his experiences there and additional training. In June of 1944 his outfit participated in D-Day. He also participated in Operation Market Garden in September of 1944. He served as a glider pilot during the war and provides detail of his experiences through these events. He returned to the U.S. in July of 1945.