The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Botard. Botard was born on a Texas ranch 28 December 1916. Graduating from high school in 1935, he attended Texas A&M University. He was called to active duty in February 1942, reporting to the Army’s 4th Calvary at Manhattan, Kansas where he received intensive training with horses. He was then sent to Fort Meade, South Dakota where his unit began training with vehicles. After spending six months training in the desert at Blithe, California the unit was sent to Camp Maxey at Paris, Texas. Here they prepared for overseas duty. Botard was placed in charge of D company and he describes the type of equipment the unit had. Departing the US in a large escorted convoy, they arrived in Portsmouth, England and began preparation for the invasion of Normandy. Botard landed at Utah Beach on 7 June 1944 and describes the problems getting the tanks and other equipment ashore. He describes in detail the battles in which he was involved and the difficulties presented by the hedgerows in the movement of his tanks. He recounts an incident where his column of tanks was proceeding down a road …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wayne Hissong. Hissong joined the Army in March, 1941 and served in a horse cavalry outfit before moving into tanks. He joined the 712th Tank Battalion and went to Normandy in late June. Hissong shares a story of being captured and liberated within 72 hours while overseas. He also shares several anecdotes about supplying the tanks with fuel and ammo. He describes a few encounters with General Patton. Hissong was discharged in October, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Turner. Turner joined the Navy in 1943 and attended boot camp in Virginia with the Seabees. He shipped overseas in early 1944 and headed first for the Solomon Islands in time for the invasion of the Admiralty Islands with the 11th CBs. He was attached to the 71st CB in time for the invasion of Okinawa and went ashore on the first day. at both places, his outfit either built air bases or improved airfields. Turner recall souvenir hunting on Okinawa. He was there when the war ended and was discharge din early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Callanan. Callanan joined the Army in March of 1942. He trained in California, building airstrips, hangars, temporary bridges, Quonset huts and worked on other construction projects. Callanan served as a master sergeant with the 1876th Engineer Aviation Battalion in New Guinea and in the Philippines. He returned to the US in December of 1945.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled "The Lessons Learned" discussing United States military preparedness from 1941 to 1988. This recording features remarks given by General Gayla, Admiral Abbot, Joe Alexander, General Bowser, John Olson, John Lunstrum and Tex Hill before being opened up to audience questions.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Shivley. Shivley joined the Navy when he was fourteen years old in August, 1944. After boot camp, Shivley went to radio operator school then aerial gunnery school. He then reported aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) in February 1945 and attached to Air Group 5. He flew in torpedo bombers as a radioman. He was aboard when the Franklin was attacked on 19 March. He rode the ship back to Hawaii and volunteered for duty aboard another ship afraid of going home and having his age discovered. Shivley was assigned to the radio shack aboard USS O'Bannon (DD-450). He was aboard when the war ended and went to Japan during the occupation.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Harold Garty. Garty joined the Marine Corps in July 1941, receiving basic training in San Diego. He was assigned to the antiaircraft division of the 4th Defense Battalion, stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. He was peeling potatoes at the mess hall when the first air raid started. Throughout the war, Garty’s battle station was loading fuse pots, and he describes in detail the teamwork involved in firing a three-inch shell. His left ear was always beside the gun when it fired, causing him tinnitus later in life. He spent time on Efate and Espiritu Santo in June 1942, building airstrips on coconut plantations by hauling felled trees with a tractor. He learned to make spirits by adding raisins to coconuts and allowing them to ferment. In New Zealand he was on MP duty, and in Guadalcanal he became a telephone lineman. There he witnessed a successful diversion of Washing Machine Charlie, with lights strung in the ocean to imitate a landing strip. Garty contracted malaria. He was sent to Camp Pendleton, where he had his wisdom teeth removed. There he reunited with a friend …