Transcript of an oral interview with Olian Perry. Perry went to boot camp in San Diego. They were supposed to have ten week's of training but only had seven before they were shipped overseas on the Mastonia, landing in New Zealand. He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 18th Marines, 1st Battalion, Company "C" as a dynamite man. After some training on New Zealand, they went to Guadalcanal on a troop ship. Once onshore, they started digging their foxholes but couldn't get any sleep because of washing machine charlie coming over. Perry talks about the land crabs crawling into their foxholes after the Japanese would bomb or shell the island. After Guadalcanal, he went back to New Zealand and then to Tarawa. Perry went into Tarawa on a Higgins boat and describes it as "just murder"; he went over the side of the boat and into waist deep water. Perry states "men were dropping around you side by side". After Tarawa, they went to Parker Ranch in Hawaii for R&R. From there they went to Saipan and Tinian. Perry describes seeing a man and woman come out, throw their kids over the cliff, and then jump in right after …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Underwood. Underwood joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. He entered the Navy in 1940 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Portland (CA-33) at Pearl Harbor, where he was trained as a signalman. He was out on maneuvers on 7 December 1941 and recalls seeing a signal come in from the flag ship that the harbor was under attack. When he returned a few days later, the USS Arizona (BB-39) was still smoking. Underwood spent the remainder of the war escorting ships and carrying out shore bombardments. After the Portland was torpedoed at the Battle of Surigao Strait, Underwood enjoyed a few months in Australia. There, he reconnected with old friends he had made on a goodwill tour before the war began. When the war ended, Underwood returned home for shore duty and remained in the Navy for another 20 years. His picture can be found in LIFE Magazine’s January 1942 issue, showing the Portland’s signalmen.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Frasher. Frasher joined the Marine Corps in September of 1943. He provides details of his training. He served as a pilot in a Corsair in Marine Aircraft Group 51 (MAG-51). He served on the carrier USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-107). He provides some details of his experiences catapulting off, and landing on, the carrier. Beginning in April of 1945 he participated in the Battle of Okinawa, covering landings and completing daily bomb runs in the Sakishima Islands. He also covered Australian landings that occurred in Balikpapan, Borneo. He strafed air strips on Formosa and made over 50 carrier landings. He shares some of his experiences of life aboard the carrier. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Stoeber. Stoeber joined the Navy in January of 1940 and completed a 6-year tour of duty. He completed machine gun school, learning how to fire a 50 caliber anti-aircraft gun. He served aboard the USS Whitney (AD-4), which was docked at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He describes his experiences through that fateful day of events. In May of 1942 they traveled to Tongatapu, tending to the destroyers in that area. Beginning in 1944 Stoeber served as Chief Carpenter???s Mate aboard the USS Pickens (APA-190), which participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Philippines. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E J Billings. Billings joined the Navy V-12 program in February of 1943. He completed Navy flight school in October of 1944. He also completed additional training in aerology and navigation. He provides some details of his schooling, carrier landings and various types of planes he flew, including the SNV and the FM-2 Wildcat. He served as a pilot aboard the FM-2 and traveled to Hawaii. While in Hawaii they practiced bombing runs to support Marine landings. He completed landings aboard the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94). They traveled to Guam, Saipan, Tinian and the Philippines, though never participated in combat. Billings remained in the Reserves and was discharged in December of 1953.

Recital presented at The Church of St. Monica in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree.

Student recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Rees. Rees joined the Marine Corps in October 1941 and received basic training in San Diego. After training a few platoons as a drill instructor, he was transferred to Combat Engineers as a crane operator. He improved the airstrip at Guadalcanal and transferred supplies from LCTs to amphibious vehicles at Guam. He arrived at Iwo Jima just after D-Day and left for the States two weeks later. Although he was never on the frontlines, he was at the tail end of invasions and often operated under enemy shelling. Rees returned home and was discharged in October 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernard Campbell. Campbell joined the Navy in May 1941 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was sent to the submarine base at Pearl Harbor, where he became a barber. During the attack on 7 December, he was assigned to an officer, as his foot messenger. He recalls that American planes were shot down by friendly fire later that evening, before personnel were quickly advised on nighttime Identify Friend or Foe (IFF). In 1944 he was transferred to Midway, where he was coxswain of a small boat for transporting the captain of the USS Pelias (AS-14). Campbell returned home and was discharged in September 1945, just one week after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Burdell Cobb. Cobb joined the Navy after graduating high school in 1940. Upon completion of basic training, he was assigned to USS Concord (CL-10) and then transferred to an aviation squadron on Ford Island. On 7 December 1941, Cobb was on the flight line when he heard an explosion and saw smoke rising from his hangar, prompting him to sound the fire alarm. Soon, a plane emerged from the smoke and flew towards Cobb, strafing. Without hesitation, Cobb returned fire with a forty-five. He attempted to flee in a plane that was in need of repair, but he could not find a pilot and instead took cover until the raid ended. The squadron eventually relocated to New Hebrides and New Caledonia, where Cobb maintained reconnaissance seaplanes. He was briefed by intelligence personnel on the atomic bomb, shocked to hear that they could not predict what the bomb’s impact would be like. After the war, Cobb returned to the States and spent two decades as a military recruiter in Dodge City.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Ide. Ide???s father completed the Naval ROTC program at the University of California at Berkley while Admiral Chester Nimitz was there. His father was among Nimitz???s first students. His father joined the Naval Reserve and became a Lieutenant in1940. His father was assigned as skipper of a net tender and he and his family of six headed to Pearl Harbor. They lived at the officer???s quarters. Charles provides some details of life in Hawaii growing up, going to school and checking on the ship with his father. They were there on 7 December 1941, and Charles describes what he witnessed that fateful day, and how his family reacted. He talks about his father???s response in providing generators to the hospital and using his station wagon for a temporary ambulance. After living in Hawaii for one year, the family traveled back to California aboard the SS Lurline. His father participated in Saipan and Okinawa and retired later as a Captain. Charles himself served in the Army.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edwin Schuler. Schuler joined the Navy and in early 1940 was assigned to the USS Phoenix (CL-46) as a fire controlman. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was at the gun director, preparing the ship’s artillery, which required the coordination of several hundred men. He describes the happenings at East Loch that morning, including a moment when he stopped to help a wounded Army man. After the ship got underway, they chased what they thought to be a Japanese ship, going so far as to train all of their guns on it, only to receive a signal at the last minute that it was actually the USS Minneapolis (CA-36). Still, Marines cheered them for their bravery upon return to the harbor. He recounts several escort missions in the Indian Ocean, including one in which the USS Langley (CV-1) was sunk off Java. He remembers that General MacArthur spent several weeks aboard their ship, and it was evident that he and the crew did not like each other. When the ship went back to the States for repair, Schuler returned home. He celebrated V-J Day on the lawn …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gus Seeley. Seeley joined the Navy in July of 1940. During his career, he completed schooling for Yeoman, Naval Intelligence, Stenography and the Portuguese Language. Seeley served as Yeoman Third-Class aboard USS Honolulu (CL-48). They were moored in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Seeley was later transferred to USS LST-312, serving in the European Theater. He participated in the Sicily Campaign, the Salerno landings and the Invasion of Normandy. Seeley was transferred to another LST, and also served in the invasions of the Philippines and Okinawa, and served with occupation forces in China.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Rauschkolb. Rauschkolb enlisted in the Navy in 1938 and was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48). As a third class signalman, Rauschkolb performed bunting maintenance, fixing torn flags as necessary. On the morning of the Pearl Harbor attack, he narrowly escaped strafing by jumping into oily water set ablaze by the USS Arizona (BB-39). He then reboarded his ship to fight fires, dragging a friend out of the flames and to safety. Recovering bodies in the aftermath was the most difficult job he’s ever had. On a trip home to attend his mother’s funeral, Rauschkolb learned that there had also been a service held a for him after he had been erroneously reported killed in action. On his return trip, aboard the USS Raleigh (CL-7), the skipper taught him navigation and requested that Rauschkolb be reassigned to their crew. On V-J Day, the ship fell silent until Rauschkolb suggested they shoot flares in celebration. He returned home and was discharged as a senior chief petty officer.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Ganitch. Ganitch joined the Navy in January 1941 and was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as a quartermaster. He was getting ready to play a football game against the team from the USS Arizona (BB-39) when Pearl Harbor suddenly came under attack. He climbed to his battle station in the crow’s nest, grateful for the extra protection from his football padding. He recalls that American planes were shot down by friendly fire after the attack subsided, before personnel were quickly advised on nighttime Identify Friend or Foe (IFF). Ganitch remained with the Pennsylvania through the end of the war. He lost 26 quartermasters in a torpedo strike at Okinawa just hours before the Japanese surrendered. He was present for the atomic testing at Bikini Island and remained in the service for another 23 years. Ganitch was discharged in October 1963 and went on to work a civilian security job at Naval Air Station Alameda until 1996.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard C Higgins. Higgins joined the Navy in December of 1939. He completed Aviation Radio School in San Diego. In 1940 he transferred to VP-43 at Naval Air Station, Sand Point, Seattle. He then served with a flight crew as Third Class Radioman in Patrol Squadron 22 (VP-22) on Ford Island. In October of 1941 they traveled to their new station at Midway Island. Higgins and his crew were in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 during the attack and he provides vivid details of what he witnessed. He also spent time in Indonesia and was discharged in October of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Simmons. Simmons joined the Navy in July 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He received electro-hydraulics training and was assigned to the USS Davis (DD-395) as a gunner’s mate, his battle station in the lower forward handling room, sending up five-inch shells. He participated in the invasion of Normandy, providing support to troops landing on Omaha Beach. After escorting the USS Texas (BB-35) back to England and attempting a return trip with supplies, the Davis hit a mine and was sent to Scotland for repairs. Simmons returned to the States, where he was diagnosed with asthma and given a medical discharge. He claims to have not suffered any psychological impacts from witnessing drownings at Normandy, but his wife recalls that Simmons would become so nervous watching news reels that they would often leave the theater early together. Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rolland Briar. Briar joined the Navy in 1940 and received basic training at Great Lakes. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Dixie (AD-14) where he was chosen as staff for the Commander of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arthur Herriford. Herriford joined the Navy in April of 1940. In July of 1940 he was assigned to the USS Detroit (CL-8). They traveled to Hilo, Hawaii. He completed Fire Control School and worked as a striker for the Fire Control gang. He later became a rangefinder Operator. He describes both of these positions, and life aboard the ship in general. The Detroit was moored at her base with the USS Raleigh (CL-7) and the USS Utah (BB-31/AG-16) in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He describes what he witnessed that fateful day aboard his ship and those around him. He remained aboard the Detroit until May of 1942. He operated in the Bering Sea during the winter of 1942 and into 1943, after the Japanese had taken over Attu and Kiska. In May of 1943 he was ordered back to the Advanced Fire Control School in Washington, D.C. to complete advanced training. He spent over five years in Navy Technical Service Schools. He served in the Navy for 21 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Avery Willis. Willis left the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and joined the Navy in 1935. After training, he was assigned to the engine room of the USS Nevada (BB-36) as a machinist’s mate. On the morning of 7 December, he was filling in as an engineer on the motor launch. When the initial attack passed, he assumed his station in the engine room just before the ship got underway. Thinking he might be safer on a submarine, Willis soon requested a transfer and boarded the USS Tunny (SS-282). Conducting patrols off of Guam, he was at ease under the expert command of Lieutenant Commander John Scott. After five patrols, Willis was transferred to Mare Island, where he ran errands for Admiral Rickover. As the war came to an end, Willis’s last duty was decommissioning 57 submarines, some of them brand new.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernard Comito. Comito joined the Navy in September 1941 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was sent to Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station as a seaman. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he fired a Lewis gun, despite having only learned to shoot a carbine. After the bombing, he and a group of soldiers stood watch until the following morning, expecting to be invaded. He recalls that American planes were shot down by friendly fire later that evening, before personnel were quickly advised on nighttime Identify Friend or Foe (IFF). He was transferred to the USS Avocet (AVP-4), carrying out patrols and transporting supplies. He brought PBY motors into Dutch Harbor under combat conditions. When the war ended, Comito was discharged and began a long career as a school administrator. He worked at international schools for military dependents worldwide, which included a post in Japan, where he came to appreciate Japanese culture.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernard Rubien. Rubien joined the Army Air Corps after his 22nd birthday and received basic training at Fort Slocum. Upon completion, he was assigned as a clerk typist to bomb squadrons at Hickam Field. He was then transferred to Hawaiian Air Command headquarters. On 7 December 1941 he received a distress signal from Wake Island via teletype. With Pearl Harbor also under attack, Rubien quickly set about burning classified documents. Within a few days, he was relocated to an alternate command post in a mountainside cave. After a year, he returned to the States for Officer Candidate School at Miami Beach. After training troops in Atlantic City, he returned to his former office in Hawaii. He was soon transferred to VII Fighter Command at Fort Shafter as adjutant for the 318th Fighter Group. He then joined ComAirForward, a joint task force designated as Task Force 59. Rubien returned home and later served in the Korean War. He retired after 26 years in the service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George A Richard. Richard joined the Navy during the Depression. Upon boarding the USS Tennessee (BB-43), he was delighted to have free room and board. A second class seaman, he was assigned to the range-finder in the fire control division, later transferring topside and working his way up to boatswain’s mate. After surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor, he helped to recover bodies the following day. In the Philippines, Richard experienced an attack by a kamikaze that dropped a 500-pound dud, as well as collisions with the USS California (BB-44) and USS Black Hawk (AD-9). In the Marianas, while watching Marines land, he gave up his seat to another sailor who was then immediately shelled. At the end of the war, Richard endured a typhoon on the way to Japan and watched a Japanese admiral board the ship to surrender. He stayed in the Navy another year and was discharged as a boatswain’s mate, first class.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gerry Porter. Porter enlisted in the Navy in November of 1940. He completed Machinist School and was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48), main engines M Division. He describes this job and the engine rooms he worked in. Porter talks some on the 3 weeks leading up to 7 December 1941, and the military being instructed to be on alert. The West Virginia was stationed in Pearl Harbor on the day of the attack. Porter discusses the events that occurred that morning both around and inside the ship. His ship was hit by 6 torpedoes that fateful day and sunk in Pearl Harbor. In October of 1942 he was assigned to the USS Bogue (CVE-9). They did convoy and submarine patrol in the Atlantic, operating out of Argentia, Newfoundland. They would convoy and meet the British halfway across the Atlantic, and he provides some detail of these convoy experiences. In July of 1943 he was rotated to the USS Langley (CVL-27), providing training for pilots. In January of 1944 they began operating with the Fleet and continued through April of 1945. By May of 1945 he was classified …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herbert Elfring. Elfring was with the California National Guard, 251st Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft), when it was federalized in September 1940. He was sent to Honolulu and trained with a searchlight battery. Elfring became leader of the radar squad, directing antiaircraft searchlights. On 7 December 1941 he was in his office when a string of bullets struck the ground 15 feet from where he stood. His radar equipment was damaged by strafing, but Elfring survived the attack. He recalls that American planes were shot down by friendly fire later that evening, before personnel were quickly advised on nighttime Identify Friend or Foe (IFF). He was transferred to Fiji in June 1942 and was selected for OCS. He became Radar Officer and Transportation Officer for the 37th Infantry Division at Bougainville. During ground combat, Elfring directed searchlights at the clouds, illuminating the front lines. At the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Elfring set up radar operations at Clark Field. He carried a wounded man out of battle who died soon after. Elfring was on leave in the States when the war ended and he was discharged. He went on to …