The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles W. Carson. Carson was born in Ecorse, Michigan on 12 August 1925 and enlisted in the Navy in September 1943. Following basic training he attended aircraft mechanic school, graduating in June 1944. He shipped overseas on the USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43). He provides several interesting anecdotes of the trip to the New Hebrides archipelago, including the ceremony for crossing the equator and international dateline. He arrived on the island of Espiritu Santo in October 1944 and was placed in an aviation engine overhaul unit. Carson describes several of his experiences while on the island. Five months later he went to Guadalcanal where his duties consisted of repairing damaged aircraft near Henderson Field. He stayed on Guadalcanal for a few months and then transferred to Guam. He recalls attending USO shows at each of his duty stations. Carson returned to the United States in December 1945 and was discharged on 6 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Bearden. Bearden was in the Texas National Guard when Japan started the war. He was in the 144th Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division and trained at Camp Bowie. His unit went to Fort Lewis in Washington to guard the coast. Bearden then joined the paratroopers and trained at Fort Benning in August, 1942. Bearden speaks a lot about parachute infantry training. He went to England in December, 1943. He jumped into Normandy on 6 June 1944. Around D+5, Bearden was captured by German soldiers. Liberated by Russians in January, 1945, Bearden headed east and eventually reached Moscow, then Odessa, where he was repatriated. He returned to San Antonio and was discharged in July, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dale Ball. Ball joined the Navy around 1942. In 1943, he began serving as a Storekeeper aboard USS LST-1005 in the Pacific Theater. They traveled to Hawaii, the Caroline Islands, Eniwetok and Leyte Gulf, Philippines. He recalls a typhoon he experienced in 1945. He served with occupation troops in Japan after the war ended. Ball returned to the US, and continued his service in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas M. Baye. Baye was born on 24 October 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was drafted into the Army in July 1943. Following basic training at Camp Roberts and Fort Ord in California, he was sent to Hawaii. In December 1943 he was assigned to the 27th Division, C Company, 1st Battalion, 165th Regiment. After more training, including landings on the beach in an LVT launched from an LST, his unit went to Saipan. They went ashore on 16 June 1944. They saw heavy combat, although as a radio operator, Baye had few chances to shoot his rifle. In August, the 27th went to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides for R and R. In April 1945 they landed on Okinawa. In September 1945, following the surrender of Japan, the 27th was sent to Japan as occupiers. In December, Baye returned to the United States. After brief stays at Fort Lewis in Washington and Fort Carson in Colorado, he was released from the service in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles W. Carson. Carson was born in Ecorse, Michigan on 12 August 1925 and enlisted in the Navy in September 1943. Following basic training he attended aircraft mechanic school, graduating in June 1944. He shipped overseas on the USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43). He provides several interesting anecdotes of the trip to the New Hebrides archipelago, including the ceremony for crossing the equator and international dateline. He arrived on the island of Espiritu Santo in October 1944 and was placed in an aviation engine overhaul unit. Carson describes several of his experiences while on the island. Five months later he went to Guadalcanal where his duties consisted of repairing damaged aircraft near Henderson Field. He stayed on Guadalcanal for a few months and then transferred to Guam. He recalls attending USO shows at each of his duty stations. Carson returned to the United States in December 1945 and was discharged on 6 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Anthony Giglio. Giglio joined the navy in September, 1942 and trained in Virginia. He was assigned to USS LST-454 just prior to commissioning and served as a gunner’s mate. He stayed aboard for 49 months and made 13 invasions. Giglio relates several experiences he had while aboard. He returned to the US after the war and was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Lee. Lee was born in Portland, Oregon in Chinatown in 1924. His mother and father moved from China to Oregon in 1918, when his father was hired to work on the railroad from Oregon to California. Lee shares his family history, his experiences growing up in segregated schools and his Japanese friends going to holding camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In March of 1943, Lee joined the Army Reserves. He completed training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1944, Lee completed the Army Specialized Training Program in North Carolina. He later deployed to England to work as a topographer. In late 1944 through the spring of 1945, Lee created maps from aerial photographs for General Patton’s 3rd Army as they advanced through Belgium and Germany. After the war ended, Lee served in Frankfurt, Germany on a Bomb Disposal Squad, returning to the US in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doyle Ebel. Ebel was drafted into the Army Air Forces in March, 1943 and trained at Miami Beach before going to radio operator school in Missouri. He also attended gunnery school before becoming a crewmember on a B-24 and shipping overseas in July 1944. He was assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group at Saipan in October. Ebel recalls an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. He flew 37 combat missions before the war ended and returned to the US in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Mehling. Mehling joined the Army Air Forces in December, 1942 and trained in Miami Beach before going to radio communication school. Mehling was assigned to the 440th Troop Carrier Squadron and trained with airborne units in North Carolina in 1943. He served as a radio operator aboard C-47s. He went overseas in March 1944. He made the trip over Normandy on D-Day and made several flights in the following day delivering troops and supplies. He also made the drop over Belgium during Operation MARKET GARDEN. On one mission late I n1944, he had to bail out of his disabled aircraft and was captured by the Germans and spent time at Stalag 7A. After being liberated, he was discharged in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Ed Spradling. Spradling grauated from high school and went to work for North American Aviation, building B-24s in Grand Prairie, Texas. When he was old enough, he joined the Merchant Marine. After training, he joined a ship in April, 1945 in San Francisco. Spradling discusses life abord a liberty ship and some of his experiences, including a trip to Manila.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carthon Phillips. Phillips was born in Vera, Texas on 17 April 1920 and grew up during the Depression. Soon after joining the Army Air Corps in 1941, he attended the Aviation School of Medicine in San Antonio. Upon completing the course, he qualified as a flight surgeon assistant assigned to the 7th Bomb Squadron and boarded USS Republic (AP-33) bound for Australia. He tells of being assigned to Cloncurry, Australia and graphically describes a combat mission he flew in a B-17 involving the use of Thermite bombs. Returning to the United States in 1942, he commenced flight training and he tells of the various aircraft he flew. Phillips also relates his experiences as a ground control approach instructor and his involvement in the Berlin Airlift. He retired after twenty-eight years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Carden. Carden was born in Oklahoma 15 September 1922. Upon graduating from high school in 1942 he joined the Navy. He was sent to boot camp in San Diego for six weeks before attending diesel engine school in Los Angeles for eight weeks. Upon graduating as a motor machinist mate he was assigned to the engine room aboard the USS Apache (AFT-67). He tells of participating in several invasions, including Guam, in which they assisted LSTs in withdrawing from the beaches. He tells of being attacked by Japanese planes during the invasion of Lingayen Gulf. The crew shot down three enemy planes. The ship returned to the United States prior to the surrender of Japan and Carden was discharged in September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Bearden. Bearden was in the Texas National Guard when Japan started the war. He was in the 144th Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division and trained at Camp Bowie. His unit went to Fort Lewis in Washington to guard the coast. Bearden then joined the paratroopers and trained at Fort Benning in August, 1942. Bearden speaks a lot about parachute infantry training. He went to England in December, 1943. He jumped into Normandy on 6 June 1944. Around D+5, Bearden was captured by German soldiers. Liberated by Russians in January, 1945, Bearden headed east and eventually reached Moscow, then Odessa, where he was repatriated. He returned to San Antonio and was discharged in July, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Wozniak. Wozniak joined the Navy in January 1943 after having already been in the Army (1937-1940). The Navy trained him as an electrician specializing in repairing motion picture projectors. He shipped out aboard the USS Guilford (APA-112). He also served as the chaplain’s assistant. Wozniak was discharged in January 1946. After the war, he joined the Army Reserves and served another 30 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guadalupe R. Davila. Davila was born in Brownsville, Texas on 27 February 1923 and worked at a Civilian Conservation Camp in Stafford, Arizona after graduating from high school. He joined the Navy in October 1943 and went to boot camp in Kingsville, Texas where he describes working on various aircraft in addition to the basic training. Upon completing his basic training, he was transferred to Treasure Island, California where he describes working as a longshoreman loading and unloading ships. He provides other details of his time there, including attending several USO shows. He was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Brown. Brown was drafted into the Marines in March of 1944 and served in the 2nd Marine Division. He traveled to Eniwetok and Okinawa. In Okinawa his job was to help service the planes. They also traveled to the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dale Ball. Ball joined the Navy around 1942. In 1943, he began serving as a Storekeeper aboard USS LST-1005 in the Pacific Theater. They traveled to Hawaii, the Caroline Islands, Eniwetok and Leyte Gulf, Philippines. He recalls a typhoon he experienced in 1945. He served with occupation troops in Japan after the war ended. Ball returned to the US, and continued his service in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Lee. Lee was born in Portland, Oregon in Chinatown in 1924. His mother and father moved from China to Oregon in 1918, when his father was hired to work on the railroad from Oregon to California. Lee shares his family history, his experiences growing up in segregated schools and his Japanese friends going to holding camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In March of 1943, Lee joined the Army Reserves. He completed training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1944, Lee completed the Army Specialized Training Program in North Carolina. He later deployed to England to work as a topographer. In late 1944 through the spring of 1945, Lee created maps from aerial photographs for General Patton’s 3rd Army as they advanced through Belgium and Germany. After the war ended, Lee served in Frankfurt, Germany on a Bomb Disposal Squad, returning to the US in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guadalupe R. Davila. Davila was born in Brownsville, Texas on 27 February 1923 and worked at a Civilian Conservation Camp in Stafford, Arizona after graduating from high school. He joined the Navy in October 1943 and went to boot camp in Kingsville, Texas where he describes working on various aircraft in addition to the basic training. Upon completing his basic training, he was transferred to Treasure Island, California where he describes working as a longshoreman loading and unloading ships. He provides other details of his time there, including attending several USO shows. He was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leonard Tracy. Tracy entered the Navy at 16 years old in 1940. When the Navy discovered his real age, he was allowed to stay in the service. Tracy served as a gunner on the USS Lexington (CV-2) and was aboard when the war started as well as when the ship sank during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He spent a half hour in the water before being rescued by a destroyer. He was then assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36) and then the USS Texas (BB-35), still working as a gunner. When the war ended, Tracy took his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Carden. Carden was born in Oklahoma 15 September 1922. Upon graduating from high school in 1942 he joined the Navy. He was sent to boot camp in San Diego for six weeks before attending diesel engine school in Los Angeles for eight weeks. Upon graduating as a motor machinist mate he was assigned to the engine room aboard the USS Apache (AFT-67). He tells of participating in several invasions, including Guam, in which they assisted LSTs in withdrawing from the beaches. He tells of being attacked by Japanese planes during the invasion of Lingayen Gulf. The crew shot down three enemy planes. The ship returned to the United States prior to the surrender of Japan and Carden was discharged in September 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Clyde Jauer. Jauer joined the Navy in January 1945 and trained at San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Terror (CM-5) in June. Jauer recalls a few anecdotes about life aboard ship. By the time he reached Okinawa, the island was secure. He also spent some time in Sasebo after the war and shares a few anecdotes. After the war, he made several trips from the Mainland to Hawaii and back repatriating troops. Jauer was discharged in July, 1946.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Ed Spradling. Spradling grauated from high school and went to work for North American Aviation, building B-24s in Grand Prairie, Texas. When he was old enough, he joined the Merchant Marine. After training, he joined a ship in April, 1945 in San Francisco. Spradling discusses life abord a liberty ship and some of his experiences, including a trip to Manila.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Anthony Giglio. Giglio joined the navy in September, 1942 and trained in Virginia. He was assigned to USS LST-454 just prior to commissioning and served as a gunner’s mate. He stayed aboard for 49 months and made 13 invasions. Giglio relates several experiences he had while aboard. He returned to the US after the war and was discharged in December, 1945.