The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clyde Covey. Covey joined the Navy in October of 1945. He served as a Fireman aboard the patrol craft escort, the PCE-870, in Hawaii, completing patrols around Pearl Harbor, and in between the equator and the Aleutians. They had about nine different posts, where they would send up weather balloons with transmitters, radioing weather information back to Pearl Harbor. Covey later completed motor machinist school, and was assigned to PCE-852 at the Underwater Sound Laboratories in New London, Connecticut, developing underwater communication. He received his discharge in December of 1948.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Copeland. Copeland joined the Navy in June, 1943. In September, Copeland was assigned to USS Haskell (APA-117) as a radio operator. Copeland made the invasion of Luzon in January, 1945 and provided shore to ship radio communication. He did the same at Okinawa. He remained with the Haskell throughout the war and upon returning to the US, was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clyde Covey. Covey joined the Navy in October of 1945. He served as a Fireman aboard the patrol craft escort, the PCE-870, in Hawaii, completing patrols around Pearl Harbor, and in between the equator and the Aleutians. They had about nine different posts, where they would send up weather balloons with transmitters, radioing weather information back to Pearl Harbor. Covey later completed motor machinist school, and was assigned to PCE-852 at the Underwater Sound Laboratories in New London, Connecticut, developing underwater communication. He received his discharge in December of 1948.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Copeland. Copeland joined the Navy in June, 1943. In September, Copeland was assigned to USS Haskell (APA-117) as a radio operator. Copeland made the invasion of Luzon in January, 1945 and provided shore to ship radio communication. He did the same at Okinawa. He remained with the Haskell throughout the war and upon returning to the US, was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Mitchell. Mitchell, a native Choctaw Indian, joined the Marine Corps in 1943. After completing training in artillery as well as radio and telephone communication, he joined the 5th Marine Division, 13th Artillery Regiment. His primary function was to call in coordinates for a 105mm gun. At Iwo Jima, Mitchell landed under enemy fire which included attack. He developed battle fatigue and was relieved from the front lines, working instead at the fire direction switchboard. He then transferred to an MP company in the 2nd Marine Division, serving occupation duty at Kyushu. There he coaxed villagers out of the ruins of Nagasaki as part of a westernization program. After his discharge in 1946, Mitchell initially struggled with PTSD before finding his way as a fisherman in Alaska.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Blood. Blood joined the Naval Reserves when war started in Europe. He was called to active duty in early 1941. After boot camp in Newport, he received specialized training in signaling and radio communication. In early 1942, Blood joined a radio maintenance group and boarded USS Lexington (CV-2). He was then transferred to Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2) aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3). He transferred again, to USS Enterprise (CV-6) and Fighter Squadron 6 (VF-6) as a petty officer and third class radioman. Near Guadalcanal, Blood was on the flight deck and realized after launching aircraft that he was in danger based on radar readings and radio chatter. He took cover below deck just before enemy aircraft strafed and bombed the deck. In August 1944, Blood received orders to go to advanced radio school. Upon completion, he stayed on as an instructor, making chief before the war ended. He turned down full lieutenancy in favor of returning home. Blood later rejoined the Navy and accumulated 23 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Mitchell. Mitchell, a native Choctaw Indian, joined the Marine Corps in 1943. After completing training in artillery as well as radio and telephone communication, he joined the 5th Marine Division, 13th Artillery Regiment. His primary function was to call in coordinates for a 105mm gun. At Iwo Jima, Mitchell landed under enemy fire which included attack. He developed battle fatigue and was relieved from the front lines, working instead at the fire direction switchboard. He then transferred to an MP company in the 2nd Marine Division, serving occupation duty at Kyushu. There he coaxed villagers out of the ruins of Nagasaki as part of a westernization program. After his discharge in 1946, Mitchell initially struggled with PTSD before finding his way as a fisherman in Alaska.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Blood. Blood joined the Naval Reserves when war started in Europe. He was called to active duty in early 1941. After boot camp in Newport, he received specialized training in signaling and radio communication. In early 1942, Blood joined a radio maintenance group and boarded USS Lexington (CV-2). He was then transferred to Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2) aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3). He transferred again, to USS Enterprise (CV-6) and Fighter Squadron 6 (VF-6) as a petty officer and third class radioman. Near Guadalcanal, Blood was on the flight deck and realized after launching aircraft that he was in danger based on radar readings and radio chatter. He took cover below deck just before enemy aircraft strafed and bombed the deck. In August 1944, Blood received orders to go to advanced radio school. Upon completion, he stayed on as an instructor, making chief before the war ended. He turned down full lieutenancy in favor of returning home. Blood later rejoined the Navy and accumulated 23 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Leavelle. Leavelle graduated from high school in May 1944 and on July 8, 1944 he was sworn into the US Navy in Amarillo, Texas. His high school had offered a special course in radio operating, so he enrolled in the course and learned basic radio theory as well as how to copy Morse code. On 18 July, he reported to the Navy Recruiting and Processing Station at Lubbock, Texas where he was officially sworn into the Navy for a second time and enlisted under the Navy Reserve V-6 program. After boot camp at the San Diego Naval Training Station, Leavelle went to Navy Radio Operator School, graduating in May 1945 as a Seaman First Class Radioman. From there, he went to Camp Shoemaker (outside Oakland, California) for ship assignment - the USS Tamalpais (AO-96), reporting on May 23, 1945. The Tamalpais was new construction, just built in Sausalito, California at the Marin Ship Yards. After shakedown exercises off San Diego and loading five million gallons of potable water in San Pedro, the Tamalpais sailed for Eniwetok Island in the Marshall Islands on June 23, 1945. The Tamalpais …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Leavelle. Leavelle graduated from high school in May 1944 and on July 8, 1944 he was sworn into the US Navy in Amarillo, Texas. His high school had offered a special course in radio operating, so he enrolled in the course and learned basic radio theory as well as how to copy Morse code. On 18 July, he reported to the Navy Recruiting and Processing Station at Lubbock, Texas where he was officially sworn into the Navy for a second time and enlisted under the Navy Reserve V-6 program. After boot camp at the San Diego Naval Training Station, Leavelle went to Navy Radio Operator School, graduating in May 1945 as a Seaman First Class Radioman. From there, he went to Camp Shoemaker (outside Oakland, California) for ship assignment - the USS Tamalpais (AO-96), reporting on May 23, 1945. The Tamalpais was new construction, just built in Sausalito, California at the Marin Ship Yards. After shakedown exercises off San Diego and loading five million gallons of potable water in San Pedro, the Tamalpais sailed for Eniwetok Island in the Marshall Islands on June 23, 1945. The Tamalpais …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Modersohn. Modersohn joined the Navy in April of 1943. He completed Radio, Radar and Electrical School by March of 1944. Beginning in May, he served as Radio Technician Third-Class aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), participating in the Philippine Campaign and combat in the South China Sea and around the southern part of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Todd. Todd joined the Marine Corps on 10 December 1941. He was sent to Bougainville as a member of a heavy weapons squad. Todd mentions a patrol narrowly escaping getting cut off by the Japanese. He then took part in the invasion of Guam and describes following the tanks through the jungle and forming a defensive line at night. Todd discusses the equipment including the .50 caliber heavy machine gun, 37mm anti-tank gun, and 1-ton trucks. His unit was held in reserve at Iwo Jima and landed after 4 days. Todd describes driving his truck off of a landing craft and immediately becoming stuck. He was wounded after four days in battle and evacuated to Guam for surgery. Todd was sent back to the US for duty and remained there until the war ended. He was discharged September 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with William Batty. Batty was drafted into the Army Signal Corps in April, 1944 after he finished high school. After training, he joined the 58th Signal Repair Company in late 1944 and headed for England. His unit eventually moved to the continent and into Germany. Their job was to repair telephones, but they did not encounter too many. Batty shares several anecdotes of his time in Europe during and after the war. When the war ended in Europe, Batty recalls his unit packing its gear for transport to the Pacific. He was Marseilles when the Japanese surrendered. He returned instead to the US and was discharged in April, 1946. Batty went to college in Mississippi and then went to work for IBM.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eleanor Brown. From early 1942 through 1944, Brown served as a general mechanics helper at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, and had completed flight training. In April, she joined the Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASPs) in Sweetwater, Texas. Brown graduated, though WASP was disbanded in December of that same year. She returned to Kelly Field and continued to work as the first woman mechanic at the Air Force Base.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Placido Lozano. Lozano joined the Navy in October of 1943. He completed Radio School. He was assigned to a Landing Craft Infantry participating in the Battle of Saipan in June of 1944. He was later stationed aboard a carrier in the Pacific. Lozano was assigned as a radioman to a Douglas SBD Dauntless divebomber. The pilot taught Lozano how to fly and they flew cover for the carrier in the Philippine Sea. He also participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Modersohn. Modersohn joined the Navy in April of 1943. He completed Radio, Radar and Electrical School by March of 1944. Beginning in May, he served as Radio Technician Third-Class aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), participating in the Philippine Campaign and combat in the South China Sea and around the southern part of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Neil McBride. McBride was born in Crossingville, Pennsylvania on 20 November 1920. Graduating from high school in 1938, he attended the University of Oklahoma for two years before joining the Navy. After completing five weeks of boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois he was sent to Pier 92 in New York City where he remained until the USS PC-470 was launched in June 1942. Following the shakedown cruise, the vessel went to the Banana River, Florida dry dock for repairs to the gun mounts. McBride recalls the crew’s attempts to locate a German submarine that had torpedoed a ship in an Atlantic convoy the PC-470 escorting. After spending thirty months based in Panama, PC-470 participated in the invasion of Leyte during which the boat was hit by shelling from a Japanese shore battery. There were several crewmembers wounded as a result. McBride returned to the United States on leave. He was then assigned to the landing craft repair ship USS Achelous (ARL-1), on which he continued to service until he was discharged November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dwight Mayo. Mayo joined the Marine Corps in October of 1942. Beginning in late 1944, he served as an F4U Corsair fighter pilot, stationed aboard USS Bennington (CV-20) in the Pacific. He took part in strikes against the Japanese home islands, and in raids in support of the Okinawa campaign. Mayo completed 100 missions. He continued his service after the war ended, retiring in 1962 with the rank of major.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Beardsley. Beardsley provides two interviews, one in 1990 and the other in 1998. Both focus on his career in the Navy. Beardsley joined the Navy in 1941 and earned a commission in January 1942. He served aboard the USS Big Horn (AO-45) for a while before commanding USS PC-1140 in 1944. After further anti-submarine warfare training, Beardsley commanded USS PCE(R)-858. He was on his way to the invasion of Japan when the war ended. He was discharged in 1946, but stayed in the reserves until 1964.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled Up Periscope! discussing submarine operations in the Pacific from 1941 to 1945. The first session is included in this recording, "Historical Perspectives". The program is moderated by Paul Stillwell. Panelists include Dr. Carl Boyd, Cpt. Akihiko Yoshida, and Capt. Roger Pineau.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Benzinger. Benzinger joined the Navy in June of 1944. He completed Radio School. He was stationed as a Radio Technician at the Navy Pier in Chicago and worked with all Navy communications equipment. He graduated from Navy Pier just as the war ended and continued on with his service. He worked in a receiving station on Leyte Gulf in the Philippine from September of 1945 through May of 1946. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward H. Vaughan. Vaughan went into the Army in January 1943. He relates a few amusing stories from his basic training days and at radio operator school. After training, Vaughan was attached to the 574th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion. When he went overseas, he boarded trhe SS Cape Newenham (1943) and headed for New Guinea in 1944 arriving on Biak. Eventually, his unit headed for Palawan, Philippines. When the war was over, Vaughan was mustered out in a hurry because his father had had a bad heart attack and his mother sent for him. He rode a liberty ship back to San Francisco from the Philippines. When he was discharged, Vaughan elected to stay in the Army Reserve and eventually joined the Texas National Guard.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Kenneth Ryan. Ryan joined the Marine Corps in May of 1943. By February of 1944, he completed Radio Operator School, Radio Material School and High Speed Code School. Ryan served as a radio technician with the 3rd Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO), 3rd Marine Division. He participated in the Battle of Guam and the Battle of Iwo Jima. Ryan returned to the US in August of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al D’Agostino. D’Agostino joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and received training in Brooklyn. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Monterey where he worked as a butcher. His first trip to the Pacific was transporting European troops, who were unhappy about the looming invasion of Japan. The war ended while the Monterey was in transit, and the soldiers returning home were a much happier bunch. Even more joyful was the reunion of families when the Monterey picked up war brides and their babies from all over the Pacific and brought them back to the States. He transferred to a Liberty ship that brought German war criminals back to the States from South America, although he believes that the majority of the passengers were actually concentration camp survivors. D’Agostino was discharged but was drafted again during the Korean War and served as a radio relay operator atop a mountain in dangerous and harsh winter conditions. When he was discharged a second time, he applied his kitchen experience and attended Cornell’s hotel school. D’Agostino became the director of food service for Trans World Airlines. Before retiring, he moved …