The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Don Engleking. Engleking was born in San Antonio in 1923. Upon graduation from high school, he entered the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Texas A&M University in 1941. He was withdrawn from college and placed into Officers Candidate School, receiving his commission in 1942. After graduation he was sent to the Philippines. Upon his arrival on Luzon, he was assigned as company commander of a prisoner of war unit and named the camp commandant without receiving formal instructions regarding the supervision of such facilities. He remembers being surprised that so many of his Japanese inmates could speak English and comments on the intelligence and self-discipline of his charges and notes that all of them were enlisted men. After the camp was disbanded and the Japanese inmates sent to Japan, he returned to the United States and reentered Texas A&M.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with J D Hunt. Hunt joined the Marine Corps in early 1943. He served as a Machinist with the Motor Transport in the Seventh Field Depot. They helped form Camp Linda Vista in California. In 1944, Hunt went in on the third wave during the Battle of Saipan. While on the island for 9 months, he drove a deuce-and-a-half truck and set up a machine shop. Hunt also participated in the Battle of Okinawa where he continued his machinist work. He traveled to China after the war ended, to serve on guard duty, overseeing Japanese prisoners and helping feed the Chinese citizens. Hunt returned to the US and received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War present an oral interview with Carmine Giuliano. Giuliano was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1922. He recalls his early life as a child of immigrant parents. He received his draft notice while attending Berkley College and entered the Navy Aviation Cadet Training Program in February 1943. He tells of flight training before being notified of the reduction of cadets. He was then sent to boot camp and then Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame. After being commissioned as an ensign, he attended radar school for assignment as an air traffic controller. He was assigned to USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) and recalls being on duty in the combat information center when the nearby USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was hit by a kamikaze. He recalls picking up Allied POWs in Nagasaki and transporting them to various ports. Giuliano also includes a story about meeting Admiral and Mrs. Nimitz.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Rancloes. Rancloes was drafted into the Marine Corps in April 1943. Upon completion of pontoon bridging school, he was sent to Camp Pendleton to train officers. His unit, the 7th Service Engineers, was typically split up to provide support where needed. Rancloes landed in the second wave on Saipan, operating heavy machinery. After the island was secured, he managed a lumberyard with an African-American crew, many of whom outranked him. Recognizing the unfairness of that arrangement, he appointed one of the crewmen as a liaison so that they would not have a white corporal giving orders. After bringing supplies to Okinawa, Rancloes stayed there in a sugarcane hut. When his unit became ill from mold toxicity, the village was condemned and burned to the ground. Rancloes suffered from respiratory problems for the rest of his life. Before returning home in 1946, Rancloes's final duty was supervising Japanese laborers in China.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold M. Wordsman. Wordsman was born in Manhattan, New York, in May 1924. Inducted into the Navy in February 1943, he went to boot camp at Bainbridge, Maryland. He was then assigned to electrician’s school at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. After completing school he went aboard the USS Texas (BB-35). The ship was involved in Operation Overlord and he recalls a medical team coming on board and setting up a surgical center in a portion of the ship. On 8 June 1944, wounded Army soldiers were brought on board for treatment. He recalls the ship’s crewmen provided comfort to the wounded. On 24 June the Texas participated in the bombardment of Cherbourg, France and while doing so was hit by German artillery. After undergoing repairs at Plymouth, England the Texas joined other ships to provide fire support during Operation Dragoon. Upon the ship’s return to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Wordsman was assigned to an APD. He recalls the ship was carrying a UDT team and was proceeding to Kyushu when Japan surrendered. The ship returned to Pearl Harbor and he was discharged soon thereafter. Following his discharge in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with A J Durham. Durham joined the Navy in February of 1943. He served with Composite Squadron 55 (VC-55). After basic training, Durham worked at the Naval Air Station in Astoria, Oregon and unloaded ammunition ships. He later served with the Ordnance Department, synchronizing 30 caliber machine guns aboard TBMs. Durham transferred to Composite Squadron 4 (VC-4), and completed Torpedo School, and served as a Torpedo man and an Aviation Ordnance Mate aboard a TBF Avenger. In April of 1944, he began serving aboard USS White Plains (CVE-66) and recalls his experiences aboard the carrier during invasions of the Mariana and Palau Islands, and through the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Durham remained aboard during Operation MAGIC CARPET, returning troops back to the US. He continued his service in the Reserves, receiving his discharge in the early 1950s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Rancloes. Rancloes was drafted into the Marine Corps in April 1943. Upon completion of pontoon bridging school, he was sent to Camp Pendleton to train officers. His unit, the 7th Service Engineers, was typically split up to provide support where needed. Rancloes landed in the second wave on Saipan, operating heavy machinery. After the island was secured, he managed a lumberyard with an African-American crew, many of whom outranked him. Recognizing the unfairness of that arrangement, he appointed one of the crewmen as a liaison so that they would not have a white corporal giving orders. After bringing supplies to Okinawa, Rancloes stayed there in a sugarcane hut. When his unit became ill from mold toxicity, the village was condemned and burned to the ground. Rancloes suffered from respiratory problems for the rest of his life. Before returning home in 1946, Rancloes's final duty was supervising Japanese laborers in China.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with J D Hunt. Hunt joined the Marine Corps in early 1943. He served as a Machinist with the Motor Transport in the Seventh Field Depot. They helped form Camp Linda Vista in California. In 1944, Hunt went in on the third wave during the Battle of Saipan. While on the island for 9 months, he drove a deuce-and-a-half truck and set up a machine shop. Hunt also participated in the Battle of Okinawa where he continued his machinist work. He traveled to China after the war ended, to serve on guard duty, overseeing Japanese prisoners and helping feed the Chinese citizens. Hunt returned to the US and received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with A J Durham. Durham joined the Navy in February of 1943. He served with Composite Squadron 55 (VC-55). After basic training, Durham worked at the Naval Air Station in Astoria, Oregon and unloaded ammunition ships. He later served with the Ordnance Department, synchronizing 30 caliber machine guns aboard TBMs. Durham transferred to Composite Squadron 4 (VC-4), and completed Torpedo School, and served as a Torpedo man and an Aviation Ordnance Mate aboard a TBF Avenger. In April of 1944, he began serving aboard USS White Plains (CVE-66) and recalls his experiences aboard the carrier during invasions of the Mariana and Palau Islands, and through the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Durham remained aboard during Operation MAGIC CARPET, returning troops back to the US. He continued his service in the Reserves, receiving his discharge in the early 1950s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War present an oral interview with Carmine Giuliano. Giuliano was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1922. He recalls his early life as a child of immigrant parents. He received his draft notice while attending Berkley College and entered the Navy Aviation Cadet Training Program in February 1943. He tells of flight training before being notified of the reduction of cadets. He was then sent to boot camp and then Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame. After being commissioned as an ensign, he attended radar school for assignment as an air traffic controller. He was assigned to USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) and recalls being on duty in the combat information center when the nearby USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was hit by a kamikaze. He recalls picking up Allied POWs in Nagasaki and transporting them to various ports. Giuliano also includes a story about meeting Admiral and Mrs. Nimitz.