The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Ashwood. Ashwood joined the Navy in 1943 and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as a seaman. In the Bering Sea, Ashwood stood watch in freezing winds. But later, at Makin Island, it was so hot that sailors around him collapsed from heat exhaustion. Ashwood often worked as an ammunition handler but happened to be working in the food storage locker on the day that a 200-pound can of gunpowder exploded, killing several members of the gun crew. He was then reassigned to the turret as a replacement, becoming a third-class gunner’s mate. Near Saipan and Tinian, he survived the Pennsylvania colliding with loaded ammunition ship USS Talbot (APD-7). After shooting down a record number of planes in the Philippines, he returned to San Francisco, where the ship was modernized in preparation for bombardment of Japan. When the war abruptly ended, Ashwood was discharged in Wallace, Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Ashwood. Ashwood joined the Navy in 1943 and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as a seaman. In the Bering Sea, Ashwood stood watch in freezing winds. But later, at Makin Island, it was so hot that sailors around him collapsed from heat exhaustion. Ashwood often worked as an ammunition handler but happened to be working in the food storage locker on the day that a 200-pound can of gunpowder exploded, killing several members of the gun crew. He was then reassigned to the turret as a replacement, becoming a third-class gunner’s mate. Near Saipan and Tinian, he survived the Pennsylvania colliding with loaded ammunition ship USS Talbot (APD-7). After shooting down a record number of planes in the Philippines, he returned to San Francisco, where the ship was modernized in preparation for bombardment of Japan. When the war abruptly ended, Ashwood was discharged in Wallace, Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Filter. Filter joined the Army in early 1943 and received basic training at Camp Hood. He received specialized training in engineering at DePaul University. Upon completion, he was assigned to San Diego to educate mechanical engineers in the 96th Infantry Division. The unit was then sent to Hawaii for amphibious training. He participated in the liberation of Leyte as a member of G Company, 381st Infantry Regiment. He trudged through swamps as part of the first wave on Leyte Island. On Christmas his unit had a small celebration with makeshift decorations. On 1 April 1945 he landed on Okinawa and met resistance on the third day. He recounts close encounters with Japanese knee mortars while scaling an escarpment later that month. On 16 June 1945 he was wounded by a piece of shrapnel and evacuated to Guam after spending a month in a field hospital. Filter returned home and received medical care at Letterman General Hospital, Schick General Hospital, and Walter Reed Hospital. He was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with S. Tom Morris. He discusses his childhood, education and what led him to join the US Navy Air force. He and interviewer Ken Fields discuss various different types of aircraft that were used during that time, and Mr. Morris tells of his experience on the USS Ticonderoga in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bart Semerero. Semerero joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed bombardier training. Beginning in April of 1944, he served aboard a B-17 with the 326th Base Unit. He was transferred to Florida to completed additional training, where he was stationed when the war ended. He continued his service after the war ended, serving with occupying forces in Germany, receiving his discharge in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Lyon. Lyon joined the Army Air Forces after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He spent over three years as an aviation engineer with the 7th Air Force. Lyon spent most of the war on Makin Island repairing and salvaging parts from B-24s as a member of the 2nd Air Support Squadron. He left the service at the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Filter. Filter joined the Army in early 1943 and received basic training at Camp Hood. He received specialized training in engineering at DePaul University. Upon completion, he was assigned to San Diego to educate mechanical engineers in the 96th Infantry Division. The unit was then sent to Hawaii for amphibious training. He participated in the liberation of Leyte as a member of G Company, 381st Infantry Regiment. He trudged through swamps as part of the first wave on Leyte Island. On Christmas his unit had a small celebration with makeshift decorations. On 1 April 1945 he landed on Okinawa and met resistance on the third day. He recounts close encounters with Japanese knee mortars while scaling an escarpment later that month. On 16 June 1945 he was wounded by a piece of shrapnel and evacuated to Guam after spending a month in a field hospital. Filter returned home and received medical care at Letterman General Hospital, Schick General Hospital, and Walter Reed Hospital. He was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leo Misenheimer. Misenheimer graduated from college in 1941 with an engineering degree and was working for the TVA when the war broke out. He went into the Army Air Force in November 1942, wanting to be involved with aircraft. However, they switched him to meteorology since they needed meteorologists so badly. He was sent to a one year school at the University of Chicago, one of five schools in the country teaching the course. In his class of 500 Aviation Cadets, only 200 finished the course. After graduating and receiving a Second Lieutenant's commission, Misenheimer was assigned to Gore Field at Great Falls, Montana. He did meteorology work in connection with the B-17s (coming over from Seattle) flying to Europe. His main work was with P-38s and P-39s going up to Alaska for pick-up by the Russians. About 100 per week made that trip. After about a year and half, Misenheimer was transferred (November 1944) to Asheville, North Carolina to the weather communication headquarters. He was there about six months and then reassigned to the Army Material Plant at National Airport. He was there when the war ended …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bart Semerero. Semerero joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed bombardier training. Beginning in April of 1944, he served aboard a B-17 with the 326th Base Unit. He was transferred to Florida to completed additional training, where he was stationed when the war ended. He continued his service after the war ended, serving with occupying forces in Germany, receiving his discharge in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Lyon. Lyon joined the Army Air Forces after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He spent over three years as an aviation engineer with the 7th Air Force. Lyon spent most of the war on Makin Island repairing and salvaging parts from B-24s as a member of the 2nd Air Support Squadron. He left the service at the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William W. Wright. He was born in Arlington, Virginia on 15 July 1918 and joined the Marine Corps Reserve in May 1938, receiving his commission in October 1941. In February 1942 he was sent to Camp Lejeune as the Executive Officer of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division. Wright recalls boarding the MS John Ericsson in San Francisco and sailing to Wellington, New Zealand where they transferred cargo to the USS McCawley (APA-4) and practiced amphibious landings. He landed in the second wave at Guadalcanal on 7 August 1942 and his battalion guarded against a Japanese landing. Wright recounts his involvement in action over the ensuing months during which he was awarded the Silver Star. On 15 December 1942 he sailed to Brisbane, Australia where his unit was bivouacked for two weeks before an infestation of mosquitoes forced them to move to Melbourne. On 30 December 1943 his company participated in the landing at Cape Gloucester. He describes his experiences on New Britain and then recalls that he was transferred back to Camp Lejeune on 30 January 1944 where he spent the next year training recruits. When …