Resource Type

Oral History Interview with D. W. Haskin, December 2, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with D. W. Haskin, December 2, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with D.W. Haskin. Haskin joined the Army Air Forces before December 1941. He was trained as a radio operator and was assigned to a B-25. Haskin discusses his duties as a radio operator and gunner. He describes a typical mission skip-bombing enemy shipping. Haskin mentions serving in Australia, the Aleutians, the Philippines, and Burma.
Date: December 2, 2002
Creator: Haskin, D. W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Tim Ashcraft, September 2, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Tim Ashcraft, September 2, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tim Ashcraft. Ashcraft joined the Army in October of 1943. He was assigned to the Medical Department. He worked at Ashford General Hospital in West Virginia. He traveled to Europe in 1944, including Germany and France. He was discharged in 1945.
Date: September 2, 2008
Creator: Ashcraft, Tim
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gerald Benishek, October 2, 2014 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gerald Benishek, October 2, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gerald Benishek. Benishek was drafted into the Army Air Forces in June 1942 and trained at Jefferson Barracks. From there, he went to mechanics school in Nebraska. Once overseas, he went to New Guinea and then to Biak where he worked on C-47 and C-54 engines. When the war ended, Benishek was home in time for Christmas.
Date: October 2, 2014
Creator: Benishek, Gerald
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John C. James, April 2, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with John C. James, April 2, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John C. James. He joined the Army in 1943 and went to training at Camp Crowder, Missouri, where the Signal Corps trained. He then went to the east coast and intercepted German Army radio traffic for a while before heading to California to listen for coded Japanese radio messages. He eventually was transferred to New Delhi, India. After the war ended, he was shipped to Eritrea, Africa for a few months before going back to the US.
Date: April 2, 2002
Creator: James, John C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with B. L. Pettit, May 2, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with B. L. Pettit, May 2, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with B L Pettit. Pettit joined the Navy in 1942, at the young age of thirteen. From April of 1943 through March of 1944, he served as First-Class Electrician’s Mate aboard USS Tallulah (AO-50), providing support through the Guadalcanal Campaign and invasion of the Gilbert Islands. From June of 1944 through October of 1945, Pettit served aboard the USS LCI(L)-750 participating in the Leyte operation. He was discharged in November of 1945.
Date: May 2, 2001
Creator: Pettit, B. L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edmund E. Zega, December 2, 2011 transcript

Oral History Interview with Edmund E. Zega, December 2, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edmund E. Zega. Zega joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1944 when he was 17 and went on active duty in February, 1945. Zega speaks at length about the various weapons he trained on while in training at Parris Island, Camp Lejeune and San Diego. En route to Okinawa aboard the USS Bogue (CVE-9), the war ended and the ship returned to Pearl Harbor. Zega was transferred to the USS New York (BB-34) to serve in the galley as a cook. Zega was discharged in 1946.
Date: December 2, 2011
Creator: Zega, Edmund E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Placido Lozano, June 2, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with Placido Lozano, June 2, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Placido Lozano. Lozano joined the Navy in October of 1943. He completed Radio School. He was assigned to a Landing Craft Infantry participating in the Battle of Saipan in June of 1944. He was later stationed aboard a carrier in the Pacific. Lozano was assigned as a radioman to a Douglas SBD Dauntless divebomber. The pilot taught Lozano how to fly and they flew cover for the carrier in the Philippine Sea. He also participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Date: June 2, 2010
Creator: Lozano, Placido
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Eberhardt Niemeyer, November 2, 2012 transcript

Oral History Interview with Eberhardt Niemeyer, November 2, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eberhardt Niemeyer. Niemeyer finished at the University of Texas in 1941 and was at Midshipman’s school at Northwestern when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When he was commissioned in early 1942, he reported aboard the submarine R-18 and trained the fleet on sounding equipment in the Atlantic Ocean. In early 1944, he put the USS Sea Cat (SS-399) into commission and made four war patrols on her. Niemeyer relates several anecdotes about being aboard submarines during World War II. Niemeyer was discharged in December 1945.
Date: November 2, 2012
Creator: Niemeyer, Eberhardt
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Sammie Marshall, December 2, 2014 transcript

Oral History Interview with Sammie Marshall, December 2, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sammie Marshall. Marshall was a student at the University of Texas where she met her future husband, Keifer. She describes how they met and writing him everyday when he joined the Marine Corps. Marshall discusses knitting sweaters for soldiers that traveled through her hometown by rail. She mentions hearing about the atomic bomb when she was with her aunt who had a son that had been wounded and was in the hospital. Marshall also describes Keifer having nightmares about combat upon his return.
Date: December 2, 2014
Creator: Marshall, Sammie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Connelly, March 2, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Connelly, March 2, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Connelly. Connelly joined the Navy in early 1942. He served as a Radioman aboard the USS DuPage (APA-41). From January of 1944 through early 1945, they landed troops for the assaults on Kwajalein, Guam, Peleliu and the Philippines. Connelly was wounded and returned to the US, receiving a discharge in May of 1945.
Date: March 2, 2015
Creator: Connelly, Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles Sloan, March 2, 2021 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charles Sloan, March 2, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles William Sloan. Sloan joined the Navy in mid-1942. He completed torpedo school in San Diego, California. He landed in Noumea, New Caledonia in January of 1944, then transferred to Tulagi where he worked in a torpedo shop, conducting inspections on Mark 15 torpedoes and preparing them to go aboard submarines and destroyer escorts. Sloan served as Third-Class Torpedoman, working specifically on torpedo engines, air flaps, afterbodies, warheads and exploders. He provides vivid details of his work, and life on Tulagi. He returned to the U.S. in February of 1945 for medical reasons, and received his discharge.
Date: March 2, 2021
Creator: Sloan, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Harold Iverson, October 2, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with Harold Iverson, October 2, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Iverson. Iverson joined the Navy in July of 1943. He completed radio school, and served with the Hospital Corps. Beginning in the spring of 1945 Iverson worked as Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class aboard the USS Tranquility (AH-14). In August, they picked up surviving crew from the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) in the Palau Islands and transported them to Guam. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Date: October 2, 2006
Creator: Iverson, Harold
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Leach, September 2, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Leach, September 2, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Leach. Leach joined the Navy in August, 1942 and after training attended diesel engine school in Missouri. After amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia, Leach headed for Kentucky to join the crew of USS LST-78 in May 1943. In November, USS LST-78 was in on the invasion of Makin. Later, he made the landing at Kwajalein in early 1944. They spent a lot of time running supplies to Guam. In February, 1945, Leach returned to the US. When the war ended, Leach was in Farragut, Idaho having his teeth fixed.
Date: September 2, 2005
Creator: Leach, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Kenneth Alberding, June 2, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Kenneth Alberding, June 2, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Alberding. Alberding joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He completed navigation training, and also worked in the photo lab printing publicity photos of cadets. He completed radio school in April of 1944 in Traux Field, Madison, Wisconsin. He worked in the Headquarters unit, 456th Squadron, as a radio mechanic on B-29s. He remained in the US throughout the war and was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: June 2, 2004
Creator: Alberding, Kenneth
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jacqueline Redstone and Christiane Jenkins, August 2, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jacqueline Redstone and Christiane Jenkins, August 2, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jacqueline Redstone and Christiane Jenkins. In 1940, Jenkins’ family moved to Tientsin, North China, where her father, Paul Henri Brabant, had taken a job overseeing a coal mine. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, they recall what life was like when the Japanese invaded. They were allowed to remain in their home, though had several encounters with the Japanese soldiers. They recall the soldiers being shipped back to Japan after the atomic bombs were dropped. After the war, they traveled to the US, then returned to China and later moved to Hong Kong.
Date: August 2, 2002
Creator: Redstone, Jacqueline & Jenkins, Christiane
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jim Scanlon, June 2, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jim Scanlon, June 2, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jim Scanlon. Scanlon joined the Navy in November of 1942. He served as an aviation radio technician with the VF-41 Night Fighter Squadron. Scanlon provides vivid details of his training, and how he was involved with his missions. Scanlon was one of eleven radio technicians. They oversaw 25 airplanes in their squadron. He then served aboard the USS Hancock (CV-19) beginning November of 1944. Upon returning to the United States in October of 1945, he was assigned to the Naval Air Station in Klamath Falls, Oregon. His discharge date is not noted.
Date: June 2, 2006
Creator: Scanlon, Jim
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clinton E. Morris, November 2, 2011 transcript

Oral History Interview with Clinton E. Morris, November 2, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clinton E. Morris. He discusses his childhood growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to joining the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and the rest of World War Two in the Pacific Theatre.
Date: November 2, 2011
Creator: Morris, Clinton E. & Misenhimer, Richard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Warren Elder, November 2, 2000 transcript

Oral History Interview with Warren Elder, November 2, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Elder. Elder joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1941. In March, he deployed to the Philippines, and was stationed at Clark Field. After the attack on the Philippines, Elder served as a gunner in defending Bataan and Corregidor, surrendering to the Japanese in May of 1942. He was captured and held a prisoner of war at Bilibid Prison and Cabanatuan Camp, until liberated in early 1945. He returned to the US, and continued his service until retirement in 1961.
Date: November 2, 2000
Creator: Elder, Warren
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George William Ogden, May 2, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with George William Ogden, May 2, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George William Ogden. Ogden joined the Navy in February of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School, and trained with amphibious landing vehicles. Beginning in early 1943, he served as a Communications Officer aboard the USS LST-172. They traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Bora Bora, Samoa, New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. They assisted the Marines in preparation for the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended, and was discharged in May of 1946.
Date: May 2, 2008
Creator: Ogden, George William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Stan Martin, October 2, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with Stan Martin, October 2, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stan Martin. Martin was born in New Zealand, and joined the Territorial Army, the New Zealand Navy, around 1941. He worked as a Radarman, and served at radar posts around the Port of Auckland and Wellington. He was later assigned to the Royal Navy, and served aboard a British ship. He participated in the Battle of Okinawa. He became involved with the 2nd Marine Division Association and helped these veterans reconnect with those who helped make them welcome in New Zealand. He was made an honorary member of the association and attended many of their reunions both in New Zealand and the United States.
Date: October 2, 2006
Creator: Martin, Stan
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Raymundo Martinez, March 2, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Raymundo Martinez, March 2, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymundo Martinez. Martinez was drafted in the Army in November of 1941. He served as a Technical Sergeant in the 807th Engineer Battalion for four years. From 1942 to 1944 Martinez was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. During this time, he recalls much combat, casualties, preparing graves for fallen soldiers and a Japanese plane being gunned down during a dog fight. He was then assigned to Hawaii and provides some details of life on the island. From May to September of 1945 his unit served on Okinawa, which he provides vivid details of his experiences. He was discharged in November of 1945.
Date: March 2, 2009
Creator: Martinez, Raymundo
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Willard Frank, February 2, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Willard Frank, February 2, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willard Frank. Frank joined the Navy in July of 1943. He deployed to Waimanalo in Hawaii to an Amphibious Training base. Frank served as an engineer on an LCVP, ferrying supplies from shore to ships. In 1944, he served aboard USS Lindenwald (LSD-6), participating in the invasions of the Marshall Islands, Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.
Date: February 2, 2009
Creator: Frank, Willard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Phelps, April 2, 2012 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Phelps, April 2, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Phelps. Phelps joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He completed flight officer training and navigation school. Phelps served as a B-25 bombardier and navigator with the 12th Air Force, 340th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Squadron. He completed 39 missions in the European Theater. He flew over Italy, including Brenner Pass and Sicily, targeting enemy airfields, railroads and bridges. Phelps was stationed around Mount Vesuvius when it began erupting in March of 1944. He continued his service in the reserves after the war ended.
Date: April 2, 2012
Creator: Phelps, Jack
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bill Feltner, November 2, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bill Feltner, November 2, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Feltner. Feltner was born in Combs, Kentucky in 1921. He joined the Army in 1940 and completed basic training, then entered radio school. After a stint as a battalion communications chief, he was sent to Fort Drum, New York to set up a communications school followed by Officer Candidate School at Fort Hood, Texas. Commissioned in 1943, he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia as a battalion communications officer. In 1944 he was sent to Mindanao as an infantry platoon leader with the 124th Infantry. Later, he was sent to Korea as a military advisor and was wounded. Feltner retired in 1961 as a lieutenant colonel.
Date: November 2, 2015
Creator: Feltner, Bill
System: The Portal to Texas History