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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Baine Kerr. Kerr was born in Rusk, Texas on 24 August 1919 and entered law school upon graduation from the University of Texas in March 1939. While in law school, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. In April 1942 he was called to active duty and attended officer training at Quantico, Virginia. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines located at Camp Elliott. He recalls several anecdotes concerning his time in New Zealand. In December 1942 his regiment arrived on Guadalcanal. His regiment moved across the island to clear out the remaining Japanese. Kerr was shot in the leg in an ambush and was evacuated to a field hospital in Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. Next he was transferred to a hospital in Auckland, New Zealand and contracted malaria, which extended his stay for three months. Upon release, Kerr remained in New Zealand serving as the executive officer of a company conducting amphibious training with rubber boats. In late November 1943, his unit went to Tarawa and landed on Betio Island on D+1. Kerr recalls his battalion’s advance across the southern portion of the island and an …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glen McDole. McDole was born in Orleans, Nebraska 6 February 1921 and after graduating from high school, enlisted in the Marine Corps in the fall of 1940. Following basic training, he went to Cavite Navy Yard where he performed security guard duties as a member of the 1st Separate Marine Battalion. The battalion was moved to Corregidor Island after the Japanese began attacking the Philippines. There, he was in close contact with General MacArthur. He witnessed MacArthur’s evacuation with General Wainwright assuming command. McDole describes his close proximity to Wainwright and the eventual surrender of Corregidor. He describes his ordeal as a prisoner of war over the next few years, including building a large, concrete Japanese runway in the village of Puerto Princesa on the Philippine island of Palawan. During this time he endured an emergency appendectomy with no anesthesia and no infection-fighting drugs. He also describes the events of 14 December 1944 when the Japanese killed 139 of the 150 remaining prisoners on Palawan, by burning many of them alive. He managed to escape and find refuge among friendly villagers, and eventually was evacuated from the Philippines …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Gill. Gill was born in Pennsylvania 21 July 1920. He attended Pennsylvania State College and graduated in December 1942. He then reported to Ft Benning, Georgia to attend Infantry Officers Candidate School. Upon graduation in March 1943 he was commissioned and assigned to the 98th Infantry Division at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky. While there he was assigned as an air-ground umpire during maneuvers and he explains the functions of those assigned to this position. In early 1944 the unit went to Camp Stoneman, California where they boarded the USS General W.M. Black (AP-135) where they joined the 304th Infantry Regiment for a trip to Honolulu. Upon their arrival, the unit maintained defensive positions among the islands. In 1945 after receiving advanced training for the invasion of Japan, they began loading the ships for the invasion. When the war ended, the division became part of Operation BLACKLIST and proceeded to Wakayana, Japan. Soon after his arrival, he was assigned to his regiment’s ordnance company to supervise the collection and destruction of Japanese weapons. In October, Gill reported to the US Army War Crimes Legal Section in Tokyo. He investigated …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frederick W. Rosen. Rosen was born in Kings County, New York 9 September 1917. Graduating from the University of Georgia in 1939 he entered the US Navy in 1941. In October 1942 he reported for duty at the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Center, Melville, Rhode Island, where he met John F. Kennedy. Upon completion of the limited training he was assigned captain of PT-207 in Squadron 15. He tells of the boats being loaded onto the USS Housatonic (AO-35) and taken to Gibraltar. Rosen relates his experiences while based in Bizerte, Tunisia, Palermo, Sicily and Maddalena, Sardinia. He describes in detail participating in a multi-boat attack on a German convoy which resulted in damage to his boat. In May 1944, Rosen returned to the United States. He was then assigned as gunnery officer on the USS Randolph (CV-15) and he tells of the ship being hit by a kamikaze. His next assignment was to the USS Noble (APA-218), which participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Following the Japanese surrender, the ship was sent to Korea and China to pick up Allied prisoners of war and he relates several …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Olson. Olson joined the Army as an Infantry officer in June 1940 after graduating from West Point. He was assigned to the Philippines, at Fort McKinley, with the 57th Infantry Regiment. Olson was among those who surrendered to the Japanese and endured the Bataan Death March. At the prisoner-of-war camp, the Japanese assigned administrative duties to Olson. When prisoners were moved to another camp, Olson stayed behind and tended to those too weak to travel. Olson was then sent to work at a factory in Japan. After the armistice, Olson persuaded the guards to let him travel to Osaka with a Nisei. During his travels, he stayed in the Emperor’s suite at the Miyako hotel in Kyoto, which was occupied entirely by the American military. While there, he arranged for the liberation of his camp and was assigned to coordinate the evacuation of other camps. Olson returned home and enjoyed a long and prestigious career with the military. He retired in 1982 as the vice president of international development for Black and Veatch.

The National museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Allen Stafford. Stafford enlisted in the Army in January 1941. Once the war got started, Stafford found himself as an infantry instructor in Brownsville, Texas. He went overseas with the 124th Cavalry Regiment in 1943 to India for training before being deployed to Burma. He relates an anecdote about driving 500 mules from the docks at Bombay to the 124th encampment 18 miles inland. Stafford also reads excerpts from his personal journal and discusses the raid on the airport at Myitkyina. Later in the campaign, Stafford was wounded. After evacuation and stays in hospitals in India, he returned to New York in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with W. G. (Bill) Campbell. Campbell grew up in Texas, attended Texas A&M, and married in 1939 before joining the Army in 1943. After training, he went to Australia, Dutch New Guinea, Palu, Leyte, and Mindanao. He describes riding in amphibious vehicles and interacting with the natives. He discusses various illnesses he had during the war and his interactions with his brother, an engineer. He also describes surveying work in some detail. After the war, Campbell eventually became a public school teacher.