The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lew Jinks. Jinks joined the Army in June 1943 and trained as a medic. In November, he went overseas in January 1944 and was assigned to the 147th Infantry Regiment. Jinks went to Emirau with the unit, then the Mariana Islands. He also served as a medic with the unit on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Jinks relates several stories from his experiences overseas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vern Muncy. Muncy joined the Marine Corps in early 1944 and received basic training in South Carolina and North Carolina. Muncy was assigned to the 7th Field Depot, III Amphibious Corps. After the war, he was sent to Tientsin for guard duty. During R&R on Okinawa, he was spared the worst of the typhoon. He returned home and was discharged in July 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Myrven Cron. Cron joined the Navy in 1942 and enrolled in Rice University’s V-12 program. After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering, he attended midshipmen’s school at Northwestern University. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Chicago (CA-136) as a junior gunnery officer. When he arrived at Tokyo Bay, he was reunited with his brother, who was there as part of Underwater Demolition Team 6. Cron later requested and was granted use of a Jeep so that he could visit Hiroshima. He finished his tour of duty near Shanghai and returned home safely.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Buddy McLeroy. McLeroy joined the Navy in 1943 and was sent aboard USS Dallas (DD-199). He was then sent to signalman school in Maine. McLeroy was then assigned to the USS Hilary P. Jones (DD-427). He describes his duties as a signalman, the equipment he used, and shipboard life. McLeroy took part in convoy escort duty in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. He describes the transfer of his ship to the Pacific and mentions some of the activity that it was involved with. McLeroy was at his watch station when he observed the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay. He left the service when he returned to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vern Muncy. Muncy joined the Marine Corps in early 1944 and received basic training in South Carolina and North Carolina. Muncy was assigned to the 7th Field Depot, III Amphibious Corps. After the war, he was sent to Tientsin for guard duty. During R&R on Okinawa, he was spared the worst of the typhoon. He returned home and was discharged in July 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Thomas. Thomas was drafted into the Army in November 1944 after receiving four deferments for working his mother’s farm. He describes how he worked with mules at Fort Sill to transport Pack 75mm artillery. Thomas was then sent to the Philippines where he served as an assistant driver on a two-and-a-half-ton truck. He then traveled to post war Japan for the occupation. Thomas discusses how he worked as a baker for his unit for the remainder of his service. He also describes the damage he observed in Tokyo. Thomas was discharged in November 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Myrven Cron. Cron joined the Navy in 1942 and enrolled in Rice University’s V-12 program. After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering, he attended midshipmen’s school at Northwestern University. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Chicago (CA-136) as a junior gunnery officer. When he arrived at Tokyo Bay, he was reunited with his brother, who was there as part of Underwater Demolition Team 6. Cron later requested and was granted use of a Jeep so that he could visit Hiroshima. He finished his tour of duty near Shanghai and returned home safely.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Dahlke. Dahlke joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed torpedo and machine gun schools. He served as Torpedoman aboard the USS Fletcher (DD-445), beginning May of 1942. They participated in the Guadalcanal operation, the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Lingayen Gulf Campaign. In February of 1945, they provided fire support during the occupation of Bataan and Corregidor. Dahlke returned to the US after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Leighton. Leighton joined the Navy in 1939. After basic training, he was assigned to the USS Ramsay (DM-16). He was aboard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, Leighton stayed aboard the Ramsay and headed for Samoa to lay mines, then to the Aleutian Islands. Leighton was then assigned to the YMS-395 and returned to Samoa. Afterwards, he was assigned to the USS Navarro (APA-215) and was wounded aboard the ship during the Okinawa invasion.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with G. Earl Paulk. In 1933 Paulk completed 15 months with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Arizona, building roads and serving as a telephone linesman. He was drafted into the Navy in September of 1943. He completed diesel engine school in Chicago. He completed advanced mechanic school in Boston. Beginning in December of 1943 Paulk served as a Motor Machinists Mate aboard USS LST-1017. He also served as a 20mm antiaircraft gunner. He provides some details of the LST and the weapons on board. In 1944 they traveled to New Guinea and Mindanao to deliver fuel and supplies to the Army. They provided support and supplies for the battles of Leyte Gulf, Luzon and the invasion at Lingayen Gulf. After the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they transported Japanese Army soldiers back to Japan. Paulk was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Lee. Lee entered the Army Air Forces in November, 1942 as an aviation cadet trainee. After washing out of pilot training, he volunteered to go to gunnery school. After gunnery training, Lee was assigned as a waist gunner on a B-24 crew and went overseas in January, 1945. He arrived in England and was assigned to the 409th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Lee flew on 19 bombing missions between January and April, 1945. His crew returned to the US in May. Lee stayed in the Reserves until 1982.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Thomas. Thomas was drafted into the Army in November 1944 after receiving four deferments for working his mother’s farm. He describes how he worked with mules at Fort Sill to transport Pack 75mm artillery. Thomas was then sent to the Philippines where he served as an assistant driver on a two-and-a-half-ton truck. He then traveled to post war Japan for the occupation. Thomas discusses how he worked as a baker for his unit for the remainder of his service. He also describes the damage he observed in Tokyo. Thomas was discharged in November 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Dahlke. Dahlke joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed torpedo and machine gun schools. He served as Torpedoman aboard the USS Fletcher (DD-445), beginning May of 1942. They participated in the Guadalcanal operation, the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Lingayen Gulf Campaign. In February of 1945, they provided fire support during the occupation of Bataan and Corregidor. Dahlke returned to the US after the war ended.