The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Bohning. Bohning enlisted for Navy flight training shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He continued his service as a Marine Corps pilot, flying dive-bombers from 1943-1945. He completed several missions at Tarawa, Hollandia, Makin and the Marshall Islands. He remained in active service as a colonel with the Marines until 1973, training servicemen during the Korean War and as an advisor during the Vietnam War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Goeser. Goeser joined the Marine Corps in October of 1942, and was assigned to the air arm. He completed Radio Navigation School. He served as an air crewman in the Philippines and China, completed over 50 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Silver Star. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dick Merrifield. Merrifield was born in Philadelphia in 1925 into a family of three boys and one girl. All three boys served in the military during World War II. Upon graduating from high school in 1942 he joined the Marine Corps and spent thirteen weeks at Paris Island. Upon completion of boot training he was sent to Cherry Point, North Carolina where he was assigned as a gunner/radioman with VMSB-331, flying in Dauntless SBD dive bombers. After completion of dive bomb training the squadron departed by ship to Nukufetau Atoll, arriving in mid-November 1943. From there the squadron flew support missions to various islands. Merrifield flew sixty-three missions. He recalls the feelings and sensations one has when diving at a 90 degree angle. Following the surrender of Japan, Merrifield went to Hawaii where he was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 2. The squadron was sent to Tsingtao, China in support of the Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-shek. Merrifield returned to the United States in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James F. Sansom. Sansom joined the Army in 1940 and began training on anti-aircraft guns in Florida. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissiond a second lieutenant in 1942. He was assigned to the 843rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Warning Battalion, which made its way to India via the Panama Canal and Australia. Shortly after reaching Calcutta, the unit moved to Myitkyina, Burma. After the war, Sansom was assigned to Sagumo Prison outside Tokyo where japanese war criminals were being held while on trial for war crimes. He describes some of the routines and residents in the prison. Sansom taught Hideki Tojo how to play card games like gin rummy. Sansom also describes the process of executing convicted prisoners as he carried out some sentences. In all, he executed nine convicted war criminals.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rueben Watlov. Watlov joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He completed radio and gunnery school. In January of 1943 Watlov joined Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 331 (VMSB-331), working as an aerial gunner aboard a Douglas SBD Dauntless divebomber. Beginning in November of 1943, they were stationed at Nukufetau Airfield on Motulalo Island. They participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign. Watlov joined a detachment of their squadron at Tarawa, aiding in patrol operations. They remained in the Pacific and carried out air strikes against bypassed Japanese positions for the remainder of the war. They returned to the US in October of 1945 and he was discharged in November.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Ross. Ross was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 1922. After graduating from high school he played football at the University of Wisconsin in 1940 and 1941. While in college, he participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Enlisting in the Naval Aviation cadet program in 1942 he began pre-flight training at Iowa City, Iowa. He then went to the Glennville Naval Air Station in Illinois. While there he requested a transfer into the air arm of the US Marine Corps. Upon being accepted he went to Cherry Point, North Carolina where he was assigned to VMSB-331 to pilot SBD dive bombers. The squadron traveled to San Diego where they were put on the USS Nassau (CVE-16) for deployment to Nukufetau Airfield. He was a member of a detachment of the squadron that spent several months on Tarawa where they were subjected to nightly bombings by Japanese aircraft. During June 1944, while on a mission over Maloelap, Ross was forced to ditch due to flak damage. He and his crewman were picked up by a PBY. In July, the squadron converted to F4Us with experienced Corsair pilots …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Glist. Mr Glist enlisted in the military November 3, 1942; the War Department, Ordnance Section which became a part of the U. S. Army. He didn't really go to boot camp because the ordnance department had specific technical assignments. Glist's first duty assignment was in medium maintenance (through 37mm weapons). Then, they sent him to school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he came back, took a test and ended up going to the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). He was shipped to Oregon State College where he spent ten months studying to be a mechanical engineer. After that he went back to Aberdeen where he went to OCS, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant. From there he went to Wilmington, California where he went aboard the General Morton, a troop transport, which sailed on February 8, 1945; going over as a casualty replacement. They were on their way to Calcutta; it took them forty days and nights. He was assigned to the Chinese Combat Command. The mission of the Chinese Combat Command was to act as liaison between the Chinese Army and the American Army. They were to ensure …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard R. McTaggart. McTaggart had finished two and a-half years at Texas A&M when he was drafted into the Army on 2 February 1943 and had basic training at Camp Wolters. He also attended the NCO academy and the basic parachute course. After that he attended the German language program at Berkeley, graduating in the spring of 1944. From there his group went to Camp Bowie, Texas where they joined the 13th Armored Division which had just finished its preparation for overseas. Most of the private soldiers suddenly got orders to go overseas as replacements (D-Day was approaching). He landed a La Havre which was just being developed. McTaggart served with B Company of the 59th Armored Infantry Battalion, attached to the French 2nd Armored Division. When the Germans began their offensive in Belgium, his unit was assigned to the 9th Armored Division to bolster the defenses. They went through Luxembourg and then Bastogne and ended up northeast of there. Interview includes discussion of the fighting in this area and his unit's moves. Crossed the Rhine at St. Goar. Assigned to the 513th Counter Intelligence Corps detachment and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan W. ""Buck"" Saunders. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, then going to flight school to be a pilot. He was stationed in India and discusses flying supplies into China over the Himalayas, ""the Hump"", trading items like jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma, and meetings he had with native Burmese. He also talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders of New Braunfels, Texas, a veteran of the Army Air Force during World War Two. The interview includes Saunders' personal experiences while in the Air Force, including the China-Burma-India Theater and memories of flying cargo to China over the Himalayas. Mr. Saunders also talks about life before and after his service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rueben Watlov. Watlov joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He completed radio and gunnery school. In January of 1943 Watlov joined Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 331 (VMSB-331), working as an aerial gunner aboard a Douglas SBD Dauntless divebomber. Beginning in November of 1943, they were stationed at Nukufetau Airfield on Motulalo Island. They participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign. Watlov joined a detachment of their squadron at Tarawa, aiding in patrol operations. They remained in the Pacific and carried out air strikes against bypassed Japanese positions for the remainder of the war. They returned to the US in October of 1945 and he was discharged in November.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dick Merrifield. Merrifield was born in Philadelphia in 1925 into a family of three boys and one girl. All three boys served in the military during World War II. Upon graduating from high school in 1942 he joined the Marine Corps and spent thirteen weeks at Paris Island. Upon completion of boot training he was sent to Cherry Point, North Carolina where he was assigned as a gunner/radioman with VMSB-331, flying in Dauntless SBD dive bombers. After completion of dive bomb training the squadron departed by ship to Nukufetau Atoll, arriving in mid-November 1943. From there the squadron flew support missions to various islands. Merrifield flew sixty-three missions. He recalls the feelings and sensations one has when diving at a 90 degree angle. Following the surrender of Japan, Merrifield went to Hawaii where he was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 2. The squadron was sent to Tsingtao, China in support of the Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-shek. Merrifield returned to the United States in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Ross. Ross was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 1922. After graduating from high school he played football at the University of Wisconsin in 1940 and 1941. While in college, he participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Enlisting in the Naval Aviation cadet program in 1942 he began pre-flight training at Iowa City, Iowa. He then went to the Glennville Naval Air Station in Illinois. While there he requested a transfer into the air arm of the US Marine Corps. Upon being accepted he went to Cherry Point, North Carolina where he was assigned to VMSB-331 to pilot SBD dive bombers. The squadron traveled to San Diego where they were put on the USS Nassau (CVE-16) for deployment to Nukufetau Airfield. He was a member of a detachment of the squadron that spent several months on Tarawa where they were subjected to nightly bombings by Japanese aircraft. During June 1944, while on a mission over Maloelap, Ross was forced to ditch due to flak damage. He and his crewman were picked up by a PBY. In July, the squadron converted to F4Us with experienced Corsair pilots …

Interview with James F. Sansom, an officer in the U. S. Army during World War II. Sansom joined the Army in 1940 and began training on anti-aircraft guns in Florida. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1942. He was assigned to the 843rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Warning Battalion, which made its way to India via the Panama Canal and Australia. Shortly after reaching Calcutta, the unit moved to Myitkyina, Burma. After the war, Sansom was assigned to Sagumo Prison outside Tokyo where Japanese war criminals were being held while on trial for war crimes. He describes some of the routines and residents in the prison. Sansom taught Hideki Tojo how to play card games like gin rummy. Sansom also describes the process of executing convicted prisoners as he carried out some sentences. In all, he executed nine convicted war criminals.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James F. Sansom. Sansom joined the Army in 1940 and began training on anti-aircraft guns in Florida. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissiond a second lieutenant in 1942. He was assigned to the 843rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Warning Battalion, which made its way to India via the Panama Canal and Australia. Shortly after reaching Calcutta, the unit moved to Myitkyina, Burma. After the war, Sansom was assigned to Sagumo Prison outside Tokyo where japanese war criminals were being held while on trial for war crimes. He describes some of the routines and residents in the prison. Sansom taught Hideki Tojo how to play card games like gin rummy. Sansom also describes the process of executing convicted prisoners as he carried out some sentences. In all, he executed nine convicted war criminals.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Glist. Mr Glist enlisted in the military November 3, 1942; the War Department, Ordnance Section which became a part of the U. S. Army. He didn't really go to boot camp because the ordnance department had specific technical assignments. Glist's first duty assignment was in medium maintenance (through 37mm weapons). Then, they sent him to school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he came back, took a test and ended up going to the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). He was shipped to Oregon State College where he spent ten months studying to be a mechanical engineer. After that he went back to Aberdeen where he went to OCS, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant. From there he went to Wilmington, California where he went aboard the General Morton, a troop transport, which sailed on February 8, 1945; going over as a casualty replacement. They were on their way to Calcutta; it took them forty days and nights. He was assigned to the Chinese Combat Command. The mission of the Chinese Combat Command was to act as liaison between the Chinese Army and the American Army. They were to ensure …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard R. McTaggart. McTaggart had finished two and a-half years at Texas A&M when he was drafted into the Army on 2 February 1943 and had basic training at Camp Wolters. He also attended the NCO academy and the basic parachute course. After that he attended the German language program at Berkeley, graduating in the spring of 1944. From there his group went to Camp Bowie, Texas where they joined the 13th Armored Division which had just finished its preparation for overseas. Most of the private soldiers suddenly got orders to go overseas as replacements (D-Day was approaching). He landed a La Havre which was just being developed. McTaggart served with B Company of the 59th Armored Infantry Battalion, attached to the French 2nd Armored Division. When the Germans began their offensive in Belgium, his unit was assigned to the 9th Armored Division to bolster the defenses. They went through Luxembourg and then Bastogne and ended up northeast of there. Interview includes discussion of the fighting in this area and his unit's moves. Crossed the Rhine at St. Goar. Assigned to the 513th Counter Intelligence Corps detachment and …