The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Takeo and Roberta Shiroma. Takeo Shiroma was born in Fresno County, California to parents who were both born in Okinawa. Roberta Shiroma, wife of Takeo, was born in Los Angeles, California in 1932. Her mother was born in San Francisco and her father was born in Japan. Takeo & Roberta were both relocated to an internment camp on an Indian Reservation in Poston, Arizona. They share their remembrances of learning of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the treatment of Japanese Americans, and life in the internment camp.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Wertz and Russell Wheeler. Both Wertz and Wheeler served in the Navy aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Wertz enlisted in the Navy in January of 1940 and Wheeler enlisted around 1942. Wertz served aboard the Hornet as Boatswain Mate 2nd Class and Wheeler served as Seaman 1st Class. Both men were in the 3rd Division, 40mm guns, which Wertz had charge over. Considering that Wheeler was only 15 years old when he joined, Wertz took extra care of him while aboard the Hornet. They traveled through the Panama Canal. They helped qualify fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, and transported Marines to various islands. Their ship operated around Formosa, Guam, New Caledonia, Iwo Jima and the Aleutian Islands. They share various incidents aboard the ship, including kamikaze plane attacks, air raids, memorable landings and takeoffs from their carrier and life in general aboard the Hornet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Spires and Murdock Walley. Both Spires and Walley joined the Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Spires worked as a 3rd Class Fireman. Walley worked in damage control in the ship repair division, as well as fire fighting in the pump room and as a plumber. They both boarded the ship around October of 1943, and speak on the 3 skippers they worked under, including Captain Browning, Captain Sample and Captain Doyle. Spires and Walley speak on their individual work aboard the ship, comradery between shipmates, transporting a Marine detachment, qualifying fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, traveling to Kwajalein, New Guinea and Hollandia and life in general aboard the Hornet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hannibal Tadlock. Tadlock joined the Navy in 1940. He worked as an oil king aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36). Tadlock was aboard the Nevada while docked at Pearl Harbor during the attack on 7 December 1941. He was then stationed on the USS Lexington (CV-2) in the fire room during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942. He was then assigned to similar work aboard the USS Core (CVE-13) beginning December of 1943. They travelled across the Atlantic to England and Scotland, in search of German U-boats. They protected cargo and liberty ships and encountered German sailors from a bombed U-boat. In April of 1945 he was transferred to the USS Boxer (CV-21), working as a machinist’s mate. Tadlock was honorably discharged in April of 1946.

Transcript of an oral interview with Kenneth J. Ruff. Ruff joined the Army Air Forces while attending college in Missouri in 1942. He describes all the places he trained as a pilot, from Texas to Wisconsin and Oklahoma. He eventually was selected to be a flight instructor. He ferried one aircraft to Australia and when he returned, he went to Reno, Nevada for more flight training. Upon completion, Ruff ferried an airplane to India via Brazil and Africa. Once he arrived in India, his job then consisted of flying material in C-46 transport planes over "the Hump" to China. He flew 72 missions from India to China over the Himilaya Mountains. Ruff shares several experiences of his while flying in China and India. After the war, while Ruff was in the Reserves, he was recalled to fly supplies to German citizens in the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949). Ruff spent 20 years in the Air Force after WWII.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Tucker. Born in Amherst County, Virginia in May 1925, Tucker was a freshman at the Virginia Military Institute when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Graduating with a civil engineering degree, he entered the Navy in November 1944. When he completed boot camp he was sent to Midshipman’s school. Upon graduating in May 1945, he was commissioned. During a rail trip with a group he was escorting from Providence, Rhode Island to Camp Shoemaker, California word was received that Japan had surrendered. He remained in California for a month and then received orders to report to the 94th Naval Construction Battalion stationed on Guam. He remained on Guam until August 1946 when he returned to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Szymanski. Szymanski joined the Navy in October of 1942. He served as an aviation machinist mate aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). During the invasion of Hollandia, New Guinea, Szymanski’s job was to help mine the anchorage in Palau so the Japanese could not sail their fleet ships. He shares details of his experiences through the Battles of the Philippine Sea, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Kreamer. Kreamer joined the Marine Corps and trained at San Diego. He went overseas in October, 1943 to Noumea before going to New Zealand. He then was in the assault on Tarawa. He recalls going to Camp Tarawa, then on to Saipan. Ralph’s wife, Ivy Kreamer, also contributes her recollections. She recalls various conditions at her home in England during the war and some of the rocket attacks.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Ruttan. Ruttan joined the Marine Corps in November 1942. He was assigned to the First Marine Division. Ruttan briefly discusses his combat experiences during the battles of Cape Glouster, Peleliu, and Okinawa. He then traveled to China after the surrender. Ruttan describes his journey home by ship. He left the service soon after his return to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Greene. Greene dropped out of high school and joined the Navy in 1939, going to boot camp in Norfolk, Virginia. Afterwards, he went to the USS Kilty (DD-137). After a year on her, Greene was assigned to the USS Detroit (CL-8) in December 1940, remaining on her until December 1945. The Detroit changed its home port from San Diego to Pearl Harbor and was there on 7 December 1941. Greene states the Detroit was light in the water at the time of the attack, and therefore enemy torpedoes went underneath her. They rendezvoused with the USS Enterprise (CV-6) before coming back into Pearl Harbor. The Detroit escorted two ocean liners back to the States after the attack. Then, the Detroit provided escort duty to Australia and was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. They bombarded Kiska and Attu islands and one of the Japanese islands north of Honshu. At war’s end, the Detroit went into Tokyo Bay to find a safe way to get through the mined channel. Greene recalls taking the gold, silver and currency that the submarine USS Trout (SS-202) had taken from the Philippines to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Watters. Watters enlisted in the Naval Reserves in Los Angeles in November, 1940. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to the USS New York (BB-34) for a training cruise, which went to Cuba. After 30 days on the battleship he applied to midshipman’s school in New York. Watters was commissioned and assigned to an aircraft squadron, VP-23, based at Pearl Harbor. Watters’ primary duty in the squadron was administrative but he also flew as a crewmember as the commander wanted his men to learn navigation, etc. He was on Ford Island on 7 December 1941 when the Japanese attacked. He recalls going to the hangar area and pushing planes away from burning ones. Eleven of the squadrons 12 airplanes (PBY) were damaged. Later, VP-23 were among the first supporting the initial Solomon Island campaign. After Watters returned, he was assigned to a PB4Y squadron. He served as liaison officer from the fall of 1942 to the spring of 1944. In March 1944, he rotated back to Olathe, Kansas where he was the assembly and repair officer at the air station. Watters separated from active duty in March 1946 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hannibal Tadlock. Tadlock joined the Navy in 1940. He worked as an oil king aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36). Tadlock was aboard the Nevada while docked at Pearl Harbor during the attack on 7 December 1941. He was then stationed on the USS Lexington (CV-2) in the fire room during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942. He was then assigned to similar work aboard the USS Core (CVE-13) beginning December of 1943. They travelled across the Atlantic to England and Scotland, in search of German U-boats. They protected cargo and liberty ships and encountered German sailors from a bombed U-boat. In April of 1945 he was transferred to the USS Boxer (CV-21), working as a machinist’s mate. Tadlock was honorably discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Wertz and Russell Wheeler. Both Wertz and Wheeler served in the Navy aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Wertz enlisted in the Navy in January of 1940 and Wheeler enlisted around 1942. Wertz served aboard the Hornet as Boatswain Mate 2nd Class and Wheeler served as Seaman 1st Class. Both men were in the 3rd Division, 40mm guns, which Wertz had charge over. Considering that Wheeler was only 15 years old when he joined, Wertz took extra care of him while aboard the Hornet. They traveled through the Panama Canal. They helped qualify fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, and transported Marines to various islands. Their ship operated around Formosa, Guam, New Caledonia, Iwo Jima and the Aleutian Islands. They share various incidents aboard the ship, including kamikaze plane attacks, air raids, memorable landings and takeoffs from their carrier and life in general aboard the Hornet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Tucker. Born in Amherst County, Virginia in May 1925, Tucker was a freshman at the Virginia Military Institute when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Graduating with a civil engineering degree, he entered the Navy in November 1944. When he completed boot camp he was sent to Midshipman’s school. Upon graduating in May 1945, he was commissioned. During a rail trip with a group he was escorting from Providence, Rhode Island to Camp Shoemaker, California word was received that Japan had surrendered. He remained in California for a month and then received orders to report to the 94th Naval Construction Battalion stationed on Guam. He remained on Guam until August 1946 when he returned to the United States.

Transcript of an oral interview with Kenneth J. Ruff. Ruff joined the Army Air Forces while attending college in Missouri in 1942. He describes all the places he trained as a pilot, from Texas to Wisconsin and Oklahoma. He eventually was selected to be a flight instructor. He ferried one aircraft to Australia and when he returned, he went to Reno, Nevada for more flight training. Upon completion, Ruff ferried an airplane to India via Brazil and Africa. Once he arrived in India, his job then consisted of flying material in C-46 transport planes over "the Hump" to China. He flew 72 missions from India to China over the Himilaya Mountains. Ruff shares several experiences of his while flying in China and India. After the war, while Ruff was in the Reserves, he was recalled to fly supplies to German citizens in the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949). Ruff spent 20 years in the Air Force after WWII.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Spires and Murdock Walley. Both Spires and Walley joined the Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Spires worked as a 3rd Class Fireman. Walley worked in damage control in the ship repair division, as well as fire fighting in the pump room and as a plumber. They both boarded the ship around October of 1943, and speak on the 3 skippers they worked under, including Captain Browning, Captain Sample and Captain Doyle. Spires and Walley speak on their individual work aboard the ship, comradery between shipmates, transporting a Marine detachment, qualifying fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, traveling to Kwajalein, New Guinea and Hollandia and life in general aboard the Hornet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Sagebiel. Sagebiel’s father was the nephew of Admiral Chester Nimitz. He recalls visiting the Admiral as a child. He joined the Navy in 1941. He completed dental work for the Marines. He worked at a Marine Corps base in Mojave, California. He traveled aboard the USS Rochambeau (AP-63) as an anesthesiologist to Bougainville and Guadalcanal. He remained in the Pacific for 3 years, traveling from island to island, wherever he was needed in anesthesiology and other medical operations. In mid-1945 he traveled to the Philippines. He returned home in late 1945 after the war ended, and remained in the Reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ivan Brown. Brown joined the Army in 1942. He joined the 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion. His job was working with the 4.2-inch mortar and poison gas. In April of 1943, they deployed to Oran, North Africa. They participated in the allied invasions of Sicily, Italy and southern France, and the Battle of the Ardennes. Brown was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Quinton Pyle. Pyle joined the Navy in 1940 before he finished high school. After training in San Diego, he reported to the USS Bagley (DD-386). The Bagley was in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He was the ‘hot case man’ on number two turret. That day, the turret started firing while the fireman got the boilers lit so they could generate steam and get underway. Pyle states that the ship shot down six Japanese planes that morning. The Bagley got steam up, passed the beached USS Nevada as they were going out, and went to sea. They came back in fairly soon for supplies and fuel but went back out immediately. Pyle states that the Bagley went all over the South Pacific area, had R&R in Brisbane, Australia and was in numerous minor and major skirmishes. The only damage the ship ever received was off Guadalcanal when one of the pilots from a downed Japanese torpedo bomber shot at the 20mm gunner with his pistol. Pyle also talks about the Bagley going alongside the heavily damaged and burning Astoria (CA-34) and taking off survivors during the battle …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Mackay. Mackay joined the Army in June of 1942. Beginning in the spring of 1943, he deployed to Brisbane, Australia and served with the 32nd Infantry Division. He completed patrol work and additional training on Hollandia, New Guinea. From early 1944 through early 1945, Mackay participated in the landing at Saidor, the Battle of Leyte and the Battle of Luzon. He returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with Peter Lanchak. Lanchak joined the Army in 1939 and was sent to Panama to serve in a coastal artillery battery. He enjoyed riding in airplanes and volunteered for duty as a crewman or as a gunner on the various aircraft stationed where he was. Eventually, after the war started, he was shipped to India in 1942. Once he arrived in India, Lanchak began participating in missions over Rangoon and eventually flew over the Himalaya Mountains to China. After 47 missions, Lanchack was shipped back to the US in late 1943. When he returned, he served as an aerial gunnery trainer at Colorado Springs and in Idaho.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nicholas Erdely. Erdely was born in Tolick, West Virginia. He lived in a coal mining town where everything was controlled by the mining company. He joined the Army Air Corps in September 1940 and took basic training at Chanute field, Illinois. After completing radio operator school he boarded a ship bound for Bombay, India. Upon his arrival he went to Assam, where he was assigned to the 759t9h Signal Aircraft Warning Company. He walked three days to get to a signal aircraft warning site. The site was so remote, all supplies had to be dropped by airplanes. Erdely describes the living conditions they endured. The purpose of the eleven man team at the site was to observe and report by radio any aircraft in the vicinity. After seven months the team was relieved and went to Lahore, India. Then they traveled to a remote location in the mountains of northern Burma where they stayed another seven months. The team traveled to Calcutta where they boarded C-46 to fly to Fort Meade, Maryland. Soon after arriving, in the United States, Erderly was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leroy Fisher. Fisher enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In Long Beach, California he studied the workings of a C-47, then trained in towing gliders with the C-47, and then worked with paratroopers. He served as a flying crew chief and his job was to pre-flight the airplane every morning. In 1943 he flew over India and Burma dropping off supplies to the troops. He was a part of the 10th Army, and in the Air Forces 1st Combat Cargo Group, 3rd Squadron. His squadron supported the British 14th Army by dropping supplies. He also went into Kunming, China, transporting supplies to Foochow. He discusses how the British operated and how they utilized their troops. He shares some stories of working with Merrill’s Marauders, and dropping supplies to them. After the war he studied chemical engineering.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Wilcox. Wilcox joined the Marine Corps in 1940. Upon completion of basic training he deployed to Guantanamo for further training. Assigned to artillery, he forwarded targets to the control center. He returned to the States to be treated for appendicitis and was then assigned to the special weapons battery of the 1st Marine Division, 11th Marine Regiment. Wilcox then landed in the third wave at Guadalcanal, where his ship, the USS Hunter Liggett (APA-14), was sunk while being offloaded. After four months of battle, Wilcox sailed to Australia, contracted malaria, and returned to the States. There he joined the Fourth Division at Camp Pendleton, broke his thighbone and clavicle in a truck accident and was hospitalized for six months. His leg never fully healed, so when the war ended he was discharged with partial disability compensation.