The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank R. Strebel. Strebel was born in San Francisco 31 August 1919. He graduated from high school in 1938 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. Strebel joined the Army National Guard in 1937. His unit, Company F, 159th Infantry, 40th Infantry Division, was called to active duty in March 1941. The unit was sent to Camp San Luis Obispo for three months of training. Following maneuvers at Fort Lewis, the 159th was assigned to a coastal gun battery at Fort Cronkite, California. In May 1942, Strebel was assigned as a first sergeant in the 96th Infantry Division. From there, he attended Officer Candidate School and graduated with a commission. On 15 March 1944 he reported to Company F, 415th Infantry Regiment, 104th Division as a platoon leader. On 25 August 1944 the company arrived at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and boarded the USS Lejeune (AP-74). They landed at Cherbourg, France 7 September 1944. On 15 October they boarded boxcars to Belgium where they joined the 1st Canadian Division in an assault. Strebel describes various combat situations in Aachen and Lammerdorf, Germany. His company suffered 60% casualties in their …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Steenhagen. Steenhagen was drafted into the Army in mid-1942. He was sent to the Pacific as a replacement and joined the Americal Division on Guadalcanal. Steenhagen was then sent to Bougainville. There he suffered from malaria, yellow jaundice, and jungle rot. He discusses conducting patrols and life in a fox hole. Steenhagen traveled with the Americal to the Philippines where he was wounded. He talks about his time at the hospital and going AWOL to rejoin his unit. Steenhagen fought with his unit on Cebu until the war ended. He details the combat conditions and the loss of several inexperienced lieutenants (90-day wonders). Steenhagen was part of the Occupation of Japan and left the Army soon after he returned to the States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Breyer. Breyer enlisted in the Army and was attached to the 922nd Field Artillery Battalion after a brief stint in the Army Specialized Training Program (which was discontinued before he could complete the course). He was shipped to India, landing in Bombay (Mumbai) in April, 1944. From there, he went to Burma and fought the Japanese with Merrill’s Marauders. Breyer was evacuated back to India because of an infection. He managed to return to his outfit and continue fighting with them in Burma. He shares several anecdotes about his experiences jungle fighting in Burma. He also traveled to Kunming to train Chinese troops. He also comments on the nationalist and communist Chinese starting to fight after the war ended. Breyer was discharged in December, 1945.