The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Richards. Richards joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 and received radio training at Scott Field. Upon completion, he was able to transmit coded messages at 20 wpm. He volunteered for gunnery school, hoping to see combat, and deployed to North Africa with the 301st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 353rd Bomb Squadron, as a B-17 radio operator. In campaigns throughout the Mediterranean and as far east as Athens, he stood out to his colonel as a keen observer. Richards alerted his group when a supposed milk run over Ibiza was rife with antiaircraft fire and was the only one to see that a targeted bridge in Anzio was still standing. He received a warm welcome in Cerignola, Italy, where civilians offered wine and laundry service to the troops. Richards flew the first mission over Rome, admonished to carefully spare the Vatican. He returned home after 50 missions and attended flight school until his discharge in September 1945. Richards completed aeronautics school on the GI Bill and became a commercial pilot.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lefteris Lavrakas. Lavrakas graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in May of 1942. From 1942 to 1949 Lavrakas served aboard four operational units on sea duty, including service in the Atlantic, Caribbean, North Africa, Mediterranean and Pacific during World War II and in post-war occupation duty. Lavrakas was Assistant Gunnery Officer and Officer of the Deck aboard the USS Eberle (DD-430), escorting convoys to England and participating in the invasions of North Africa and Anzio. He later served as Assistant Gunnery Officer aboard the USS Aaron Ward (DM-34), where they were hit with kamikaze planes while on picket duty at Okinawa. He continued his career with the Navy and retired in 1970 at the rank of captain. He was awarded 2 Bronze Stars.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al D’Agostino. D’Agostino joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and received training in Brooklyn. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Monterey where he worked as a butcher. His first trip to the Pacific was transporting European troops, who were unhappy about the looming invasion of Japan. The war ended while the Monterey was in transit, and the soldiers returning home were a much happier bunch. Even more joyful was the reunion of families when the Monterey picked up war brides and their babies from all over the Pacific and brought them back to the States. He transferred to a Liberty ship that brought German war criminals back to the States from South America, although he believes that the majority of the passengers were actually concentration camp survivors. D’Agostino was discharged but was drafted again during the Korean War and served as a radio relay operator atop a mountain in dangerous and harsh winter conditions. When he was discharged a second time, he applied his kitchen experience and attended Cornell’s hotel school. D’Agostino became the director of food service for Trans World Airlines. Before retiring, he moved …

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with William Bates. Bates joined the Navy Reserves in late 1939 as an aviation cadet. He was in primary flight training at Corpus Christi when the war started. He opted to quit flying and went instead to Midshipmen’s School at northwestern and earned a commission and was assigned to the USS APc-21. He describes his journey down the East Coast, through the Panama Canal and on to Australia and the Southwest Pacific. Once there, his vessel would escort LCTs and LSTs provisioning the ground forces in New Guinea. He was aboard the APc-21 when it was bombed and sunk. After returning to the US and some leave, Bates was assigned to the USS ATR-22. He then transferred to the USS Unadilla (ATA-182). He shares a few anecdotes about being at the Panama Canal and experiencing typhoons off the Philippines. Bates returned to the US in early 1946 and was discharged in September.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rickie Feuille. Feuille left the University of Texas Law School the day after Pearl Harbor and enlisted in the Army soon thereafter. After serving for about five months with the Signal Corps in Arizona, he was sent to Air Corps OCS in Miami, Florida and commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduation. His first assignment was with an Air Corps service outfit in Pendleton, Oregon. Within a few months, he was sent to Thermal, California to the 13th Air Service Group. The Group went to Hawaii for jungle training and was split into two groups; Feuille was assigned to the 386th Air Service Group. The 386th went aboard a ship in early January 1945, headed for Iwo Jima but stopped in Saipan first; which was were the invasion fleet was staged. His ship was hit by a kamikaze while in the harbor at Saipan. His unit was put on another ship and they stayed off the beach until February 23rd when Feuille led an advance party of his group to the beach. He saw the famous flag raising and describes seeing bodies everywhere as well as wrecked vehicles; …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Davis Mayes. Mayes joined the Army in the summer of 1936 and received basic training at Fort Sam Houston. While there, he taught himself to type. Upon completion of his three-year enlistment, he left to join the Navy, where his typing experience qualified him to become a radioman, copying down Japanese signals. He was on standby aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) during the attack on Pearl Harbor, bearing witness to the incredible destruction and its aftermath. His next assignment was as chief communicator for the USS Enoree (AO-69), coordinating 50 ships for the delivery of supplies to Europe. Next, he was assigned to a seagoing tug as chief radioman. As the only chief aboard, he instructed the crew in repairing everything from kitchen equipment to motors, salvaging parts from the mothball fleet. In the Korean War, he again went beyond his duties as a radioman and conducted repairs all over the USS Healey (DD-762). Mayes left the service in 1957 and went on to enjoy a 25-year career with the RCA Corporation. He was the only engineer there without a college education.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Braddock. Braddock was born 1 February 1919 in Big Spring, Texas. Joining the Navy during May 1942, he took boot training in San Diego. He was assigned to range finding school and describes the training he received. Upon graduation he was assigned to the USS Saufley (DD-465), which went to Guadalcanal in December, 1942. He describes the bombardment of the island. In May 1943 he was sent to several schools for additional training. Braddock was assigned to the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January 1944 and he describes various battles in which he participated. He recalls the ship being subjected to attack and damaged by kamikaze aircraft on 9 October 1944 and 30 October 1944 which resulted in many casualties. He tells of being evacuated to the USS Santa Fe (CL-60). The Franklin returned to Bremerton, Washington for repairs and he was sent to school again. While in school he was notified that the ship was hit by several bombs with over 700 killed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Richards. Richards joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 and received radio training at Scott Field. Upon completion, he was able to transmit coded messages at 20 wpm. He volunteered for gunnery school, hoping to see combat, and deployed to North Africa with the 301st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 353rd Bomb Squadron, as a B-17 radio operator. In campaigns throughout the Mediterranean and as far east as Athens, he stood out to his colonel as a keen observer. Richards alerted his group when a supposed milk run over Ibiza was rife with antiaircraft fire and was the only one to see that a targeted bridge in Anzio was still standing. He received a warm welcome in Cerignola, Italy, where civilians offered wine and laundry service to the troops. Richards flew the first mission over Rome, admonished to carefully spare the Vatican. He returned home after 50 missions and attended flight school until his discharge in September 1945. Richards completed aeronautics school on the GI Bill and became a commercial pilot.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rickie Feuille. Feuille left the University of Texas Law School the day after Pearl Harbor and enlisted in the Army soon thereafter. After serving for about five months with the Signal Corps in Arizona, he was sent to Air Corps OCS in Miami, Florida and commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduation. His first assignment was with an Air Corps service outfit in Pendleton, Oregon. Within a few months, he was sent to Thermal, California to the 13th Air Service Group. The Group went to Hawaii for jungle training and was split into two groups; Feuille was assigned to the 386th Air Service Group. The 386th went aboard a ship in early January 1945, headed for Iwo Jima but stopped in Saipan first; which was were the invasion fleet was staged. His ship was hit by a kamikaze while in the harbor at Saipan. His unit was put on another ship and they stayed off the beach until February 23rd when Feuille led an advance party of his group to the beach. He saw the famous flag raising and describes seeing bodies everywhere as well as wrecked vehicles; …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Monroe. Monroe joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1942, as an Aviation Cadet. He received his wings and commission in the summer of 1943. He was then stationed in Carlsbad, New Mexico flying bombardiers in a T-11 trainer. Monroe completed 1,000 hours of flying cadets over a period of nine months. He was then assigned as the Assistant Director of Flying, which is where he served for the remainder of the war. In late 1945 Monroe was sent to Warner Robins, Georgia working as a Personnel Control Officer. In early 1946 he was then sent to Europe, serving with a full reconnaissance squadron, and continued his service into the late 1950s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lefteris Lavrakas. Lavrakas graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in May of 1942. From 1942 to 1949 Lavrakas served aboard four operational units on sea duty, including service in the Atlantic, Caribbean, North Africa, Mediterranean and Pacific during World War II and in post-war occupation duty. Lavrakas was Assistant Gunnery Officer and Officer of the Deck aboard the USS Eberle (DD-430), escorting convoys to England and participating in the invasions of North Africa and Anzio. He later served as Assistant Gunnery Officer aboard the USS Aaron Ward (DM-34), where they were hit with kamikaze planes while on picket duty at Okinawa. He continued his career with the Navy and retired in 1970 at the rank of captain. He was awarded 2 Bronze Stars.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Monroe. Monroe joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1942, as an Aviation Cadet. He received his wings and commission in the summer of 1943. He was then stationed in Carlsbad, New Mexico flying bombardiers in a T-11 trainer. Monroe completed 1,000 hours of flying cadets over a period of nine months. He was then assigned as the Assistant Director of Flying, which is where he served for the remainder of the war. In late 1945 Monroe was sent to Warner Robins, Georgia working as a Personnel Control Officer. In early 1946 he was then sent to Europe, serving with a full reconnaissance squadron, and continued his service into the late 1950s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Braddock. Braddock was born 1 February 1919 in Big Spring, Texas. Joining the Navy during May 1942, he took boot training in San Diego. He was assigned to range finding school and describes the training he received. Upon graduation he was assigned to the USS Saufley (DD-465), which went to Guadalcanal in December, 1942. He describes the bombardment of the island. In May 1943 he was sent to several schools for additional training. Braddock was assigned to the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January 1944 and he describes various battles in which he participated. He recalls the ship being subjected to attack and damaged by kamikaze aircraft on 9 October 1944 and 30 October 1944 which resulted in many casualties. He tells of being evacuated to the USS Santa Fe (CL-60). The Franklin returned to Bremerton, Washington for repairs and he was sent to school again. While in school he was notified that the ship was hit by several bombs with over 700 killed.