Newsletter of the War Savings Staff, Treasury Department including articles and information to support the sales of war savings bonds by staff in the field.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alton Halbrook. Halbrook joined the Marine Corps in 1938 while enrolled at John Tarleton Agricultural College (Tarleton State University). After training at San Diego, Halbrook was assigned to duty in Shanghai before serving as a sea-going Marine aboard the USS Augusta (CA-31). Due to seasickness, he returned to the 4th Marine Regiment in China. Halbrook shares several stories of duty in China prior to the outbreak of war with Japan. When he asked permission to marry a Greek girl in Shanghai, the Marines shipped him to Cavite in the Philippines in early 1941. Halkbrook was present at the Cavite Navy Yard when the Japanese attacked in December, 1941. He recalls being supremely confident, cocky even, that when it came to a fight with the Japanese, the Americans would prevail easily. His illusion was shattered the day following the attack on Cavite when he was burying his dead friends. During the battle for Bataas, Halbrook hauled supplies from Manila until he was assigned to beach defense on Corregidor. Before Bataan fell, Halbrook volunteered to command a hastily organized unit of Philippine Army riflemen and went back to Bataan. He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Smith. Smith joined the Army in May of 1944. He was placed in the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program. In the spring of 1945, he traveled to an infantry replacement center in Leyte, in the Philippines. He was assigned to the Americal Division on Cebu Island, the 164th Regiment, aboard a Landing Craft Infantry. He was trained to work on the radio. Smith’s regiment was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the bombs were dropped and the war ended. They traveled to Japan in September of 1945 and served as occupation forces. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean Woodward. Woodward joined the Marine Corps in April 1942. He was trained as a radio operator and sent to the 2nd Marine Division. Woodward describes the landing at Tarawa and his role as a member of a shore party. He tells of a narrow miss by a sniper at the end of the battle. Woodward also discusses his involvement in the landing on Saipan as a radio operator. He rotated back to the US and was there when the war ended. Woodward was discharged in April 1946. He was commissioned as an officer in the Army a few years later and tells of his service from Korea through his retirement as a lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue by E H Mitchell. In November, 1941, Mitchell received orders to the Philippines. He left with the conviction that his two-year assignment would not end before war with Japan was declared. He also assumed he would be captured because he was unaware of any relief plan for the Philippines should war occur. Upon arrival, Mitchell was assigned to the Southern Philippine command on Negros Island where he joined the 61st Philippine Army Division on 6 December. On 8 December, he assumed command of his regiment. On Christmas Day, Colonel Mitchell was order to Mindanao. There, his unit was to secure a position on the south end of the island and defend against a Japanese landing. After the Japanese landed and advanced inland, Mitchell got separated from his command and was eventually captured. Mitchel recalls several experiences as a prisoner of war on Mindanao. He was eventually moved to Manila. Sometime in early 1943, Mitchell and some other officers were transported to Formosa and remained there until they were taken to Japan in October 1944. From there, the POWs went to Korea, then into the POW camp at Mukden, China. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Elizabeth Robinson. Robinson was born in Sabine, Texas. In the mid-1930s she moved to New York and became a Broadway dancer. Beginning in May of 1941 Robinson performed with the United Service Organizations (USO) traveling shows, under the name Betsey Berkley. By 1949 the USO Camp Shows, Inc. was formed and designated by the Navy and War Departments as official entertainment for the men and women of the armed forces. In 1945 Robinson traveled overseas to New Guinea, Biak, the Philippines Islands, and Korea in 1946. Robinson describes how the organization was formed, their travels, their uniforms, how she became an integral member and her experiences performing for the service men and women.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bowser, Gross and Johnson. The three-way conversation begins with Frank Gross discussing his activity at the Battle of Wake Island when the garrison had to surrender to the Japanese at the outset of the war. Frank joined the Marine Corps in late 1938. He also describes a lot of his travels during the Great Depression. Johnny served as the postmaster on Wake Island. Walter was on Wake Island, too. The men share several anecdotes about their time on Wake Island during the battle and some stories of their captivity. At times, these men go into great detail about their experiences on Wake Island fighting the Japanese, being captured and interacting with the civilians.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bowser, Gross and Johnson. The three-way conversation begins with Frank Gross discussing his activity at the Battle of Wake Island when the garrison had to surrender to the Japanese at the outset of the war. Frank joined the Marine Corps in late 1938. He also describes a lot of his travels during the Great Depression. Johnny served as the postmaster on Wake Island. Walter was on Wake Island, too. The men share several anecdotes about their time on Wake Island during the battle and some stories of their captivity. At times, these men go into great detail about their experiences on Wake Island fighting the Japanese, being captured and interacting with the civilians.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by James Patterson. Patterson joined the Navy around 1936. He served with the medical department and deployed to Manila, Philippines in October of 1941. After the Japanese invaded Luzon, Patterson was captured and imprisoned at Camp O’Donnell, Cabanatuan and Bilibid until his liberation in the spring of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by James Patterson. Patterson joined the Navy around 1936. He served with the medical department and deployed to Manila, Philippines in October of 1941. After the Japanese invaded Luzon, Patterson was captured and imprisoned at Camp O’Donnell, Cabanatuan and Bilibid until his liberation in the spring of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral history interview with Ken Calvit. Calvit was born 15 November 1920 in Alexandria, Louisiana. In 1940 he enlisted in the United State Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 48th Materials Squadron and shipped to Manila, Philippine Islands in late November 1941. He tells of the Japanese attack on Fort McKinley and of moving large quantities of aviation gasoline in 55 gallon drums to an airfield at San Jose to refuel B-17s. Calvit relates his experience of hiding from the Japanese in a village and the flight of his group to the island of Cuyo before surrendering to the Japanese forces. As a prisoner of war, he was assigned to the Tayabas road detail. He comments on the unsanitary condition of the camp and the frequent deaths of the prisoners. When Calvit was ill, he placed in the Zero Ward because he was not expected to survive. He tells of riding the hell ship Noto Maru to Tokyo. Calvit also describes being in Sendai #6 prison camp and working as a slave laborer in the Mitsubishi Copper Mines. He also recalls the physical abuse by various guards, being notified …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul R. Nixon. Nixon grew up in Kenya. After reporting for duty in Nairobi, he enlisted in the Army at 20 in Eritrea. He was assigned as an engineer near Cairo, Egypt. While on guard duty, he saw Faruk I, King of Egypt. His work involved mostly civil engineering. He won a trip to Palestine. After visiting, he then traveled through Iran and Iraq by plane to assist in building an airport in Dhahran, Arabia. Although VJ Day occurred while the work was still being laid out, the team still went forward with the work. The surveying team had to move out of the ARAMCO facilities when ships brought the construction team to the future airport. Then the surveying team went to a location halfway between Cairo and Dhahran, Duwaid, to built another emergency airport. He is sent by land back to Dhahran so that he can be a guide for the return trip. Then Nixon returned to Cairo. From Cairo he traveled to Alexandria, then to France and Belgium. He was assigned to Bad Neuheim and became a chaplain's assistant. He was discharged at Fort Dix, New …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Beck. Beck was an orderly for General Guy Fort when they were both captured by the Japanese and sent to Fort Santiago in Manila. There Beck was interrogated for a month, badgered with what seemed to be irrelevant lines of questioning. He was transferred to Bilibid on 10 October 1942; General Fort stayed behind and gave Beck the thumbs-up sign as he was leaving. Beck believes he was the last American to see General Fort alive. Rations at Bilibid consisted of only 110 grams of rice per day, and Beck soon fell ill and was bedridden. After 19 months he was sent to Cabanatuan, where he worked as a farm laborer for the Japanese. One day, he was beaten with a baseball bat as punishment for trying to smuggle a sweet potato into camp. In early 1945 Cabanatuan was liberated. Beck returned home in March 1945 and was discharged. He returned to service for the Korean War and retired from the Air Force in 1966.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with William Garbo. Garbo was born in Laurel, Mississippi on 10 November 1924. Drafted in 1942 he was sent to Camp Lee, Virginia for fourteen weeks of basic training. He recalls sparring with Joe Louis there. Upon completing basic he went to San Carlos, California and became a dog trainer. Upon completion, he was placed in the 26th Quartermaster Corps War Dog Platoon, composed of thirty men and sixty dogs. On 14 May 1944 the unit went to Papua, New Guinea. When they entered the combat zone, they were assigned to work with the 112th Cavalry. Garbo participated in the battle of the Driniumor River. He recalls missions and explains dog handling and patrolling with canines. Leaving the K-9 unit, he was assigned to the 112th Cavalry as assistant gunner with a machine gun squad. The unit boarded the Frederick Funston (APA-89) and landed during the invasion of Leyte. Recalling kamikaze attacks on the transports Garbo tells of one narrowly missing his ship. Garbo describes the sights and sounds of combat and tells of the loss of fellow soldiers and his hospitalization after being wounded. Not long after he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with William Garbo. Garbo was born in Laurel, Mississippi on 10 November 1924. Drafted in 1942 he was sent to Camp Lee, Virginia for fourteen weeks of basic training. He recalls sparring with Joe Louis there. Upon completing basic he went to San Carlos, California and became a dog trainer. Upon completion, he was placed in the 26th Quartermaster Corps War Dog Platoon, composed of thirty men and sixty dogs. On 14 May 1944 the unit went to Papua, New Guinea. When they entered the combat zone, they were assigned to work with the 112th Cavalry. Garbo participated in the battle of the Driniumor River. He recalls missions and explains dog handling and patrolling with canines. Leaving the K-9 unit, he was assigned to the 112th Cavalry as assistant gunner with a machine gun squad. The unit boarded the Frederick Funston (APA-89) and landed during the invasion of Leyte. Recalling kamikaze attacks on the transports Garbo tells of one narrowly missing his ship. Garbo describes the sights and sounds of combat and tells of the loss of fellow soldiers and his hospitalization after being wounded. Not long after he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Allen Hugh. Hugh reads a series of letters dated 1907, when he was 21 years old, written to his mother while serving in the Navy. He speaks about schooling in the Navy and interactions with Chester Nimitz, whom he served with. He served as a deck and ordnance officer. He comments on traveling to Manila, Philippines, and his experiences hunting, swimming and touring the island. He served aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64), where he traveled to Nagasaki, Japan and Kuling, China. He speaks on visiting a Mr. McNally there and riding in sedan chairs with three other midshipmen. Hugh describes serving aboard the USS Decatur (DD-5) that Nimitz commanded in 1907.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Philip Cochran. Cochran joined the Army Air Corps in 1936 as an aviation cadet. He flew fighters off the British aircraft carrier HMS Archer (D78) against targets in North Africa. Later in the war, he was transferred to Burma to help plan the air portion of the invasion with the First Air Commando Task Force. He was back in Europe making similar plans when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Irvin Strobing. Strobing joined the Army Air Corps in July of 1939. He completed Army Signal School at Fort Monmouth and worked as a radio operator. He traveled to Manila, Philippines in May of 1940 and joined the 10th Signal Service Company. He shares his experiences as an apprentice, working and general life in the Philippines. Following the surrender on Bataan, Corregidor became the focus of Japanese forces. Strobing had an operating position in one of Corregidor’s network of tunnels. He speaks on Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright surrendering the Corregidor garrison to the Japanese on 6 May 1942. Strobing provides vivid recollections of his experiences through his capture and imprisonment at Bilibid and later Cabanatuan. Strobing shares details of his time in prison, the living and food accommodations, work, illness, death, interactions with the Japanese guards and their liberation from the camp. He rejoined his family in the States in late 1945.

A recording of the Yamamoto Mission Retrospective Symposium academic panel, including Dr. Dean Allard as the moderator and panel speakers including Dr. Joseph Dawson III, Dr. Roger Beaumont, Capt. Roger Pineau, Dr. Paul Woodruff, and Dr. Manuel Davenport. The five speakers discuss the historical context to attacks upon senior military leaders, the planning of the Yamamoto mission, and the ethical issues involved in signalling out for attack.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled "December 7, 1941": Part One: The Gathering Storm, discussing the events leading to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. This recording contains the afternoon session of day 2 of the symposium, including a speech by Dan Martinez.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled 1942: Issue in Doubt discussing the events following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the War in the Pacific. This video shows the beginning of the symposium, including remarks by Bruce Smith, Paul Stillwell and Keynote speaker Admiral Thomas Moore. Other speakers include Walt Whitman Rowstow and John Castello.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled 1942: Issue in Doubt discussing the events following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the War in the Pacific. This video features remarks given by John Castello, Col. Arthur Poindexter, Col. Donald Wills, Frank Ficklin and Hattie Brantley.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled 1942: Issue in Doubt discussing the events following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the War in the Pacific. This video features a continuation of Arimas recollection told by John Lundstrom, followed by remarks given by Donald Goldstein, Evan Barnet and James Kincaid.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled Turning to Victory discussing the events that changed the course of the war. This video contains a continuation of a panel held on the second day of the symposium featuring Edwin Simmons, Judge Blair Reeves, Martin Clemons, Mr. Martel, Mike Ryan and David Richardson.