The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Overfelt. Overfelt joined the Navy in August of 1938. From January of 1939 through June of 1942, he served on the deck force, and as a mess cook, aboard the USS Conyngham (DD-371). The ship was moored at Pearl Harbor during the attack. Overfelt was aboard the ship when the Japanese attacked. They completed numerous plane-guarding and submarine patrol missions. In February of 1943 they provided bombardment support through the Guadalcanal operation, and screening reinforcements through the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October of 1944. Overfelt was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Phillip Corsello. Corsello joined the Army Air Corps in May of 1941. He completed aircraft and engine mechanic school, and was stationed in Hawaii when the attack occurred on 7 December 1941. After the attack, Corsello worked guard duty at night and worked on B-17s during the day. He returned to the US in June of 1942 for flight training, but washed out.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Hornok. Hornok joined the Navy around 1940. He served as a Machinist’s Mate aboard USS St. Louis (CL-49). The ship was moored to the pier in Southeast Loch at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He notes how his ship was in 11 major battles, including the Marshall and Gilbert islands, Guadalcanal and Wake Island. They escorted ships back and forth from the US to Pearl Harbor. Hornok was later transferred to a submarine base in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, before he was transferred to the USS Massachusetts (BB-59). He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Somers. Somers joined the Navy in March of 1941. He served aboard the USS Castor (AKS-1). They transported troops from Johnston Island to Wake Island in October. They were docked in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Through February of 1942, they carried cargo from the US to aid in the buildup of Pearl Harbor, then aided in the opening operations in New Caledonia, New Hebrides, the Fiji Islands and New Zealand. In mid-1943 through 1945, Somers served aboard USS Gatling (DD-671). Somers recalls their support during the invasions of the Marshall Islands and Okinawa. He returned to the US and was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.M. Barclay. Barcaly was born in Broadus, Texas 12 September 1923. Upon joining the Navy in 1941 he went to San Diego for boot camp. He then was assigned to the USS Utah (BB-31) as a helmsman. The ship was at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and Barclay recalls observing Japanese planes attacking the fleet and a bomb hitting the Utah. He abandoned ship and tells of Japanese planes strafing men in the water. He assisted in recovering bodies of sailors from the USS Arizona (BB-39). Later in the evening, among a group of sailors resting on an oil tanker, Barclay’s group was subjected to friendly fire, resulting in casualties. For several weeks before the attack, Barclay recalls seeing a foreign submarine on the surface near the ship on a daily basis. He would report the sighting to the captain but no action was taken. In early 1942 he was transferred to the USS Honolulu (CL-48). He recounts several battles and recalls the Honolulu having forty feet of her bow blown off by a torpedo. After a short period of shore duty Barclay was transferred to the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Evelyn Meehan. Meehan and her husband, who served in the Navy, were stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack. At the time of the attack, her husband was at sea aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). They remained in Hawaii after the attack, and Meehan continued working in the Office of Censorship in Honolulu. She speaks on general civilian life during World War II.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Davis. Davis entered the Army Air Corps in 1939. He was sent to Wheeler Field, Hawaii and spent a short time with the 19th Pursuit Squadron. He was transferred to the 58th Bomb Squadron. He recalls he was a crew chief on an A-20 (Havoc) bomber when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Wheeler Field on 7 December 1941. Davis describes the actions he took on that day, which included two days of intense labor repairing aircraft to a flyable condition. He was assigned to flight training, but washed out. Davis was soon assigned to gunnery school at Las Vegas, Nevada. After completion, he went aboard RMS Queen Elizabeth. Upon arrival at Turleigh, England he was assigned to the 306th Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron as a flight engineer and gunner on a B-17. He describes many of the 24 combat missions he flew and tells of several incidents involving members of the crew. After the surrender of Germany, he returned to the United States. He tells of reenlisting and of some of his experiences he had until his retirement in 1965.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur Wright. Wright was born in Craig, Missouri 29 December 1919. He joined the Navy in 1938 and went to San Diego for boot camp. After training he went to Hawaii and was assigned to the USS Oglala (CM-4/ARG-1). On 6 December 1941 the ship’s crew unloaded a cargo of mines at Pearl Harbor. Wright was on board when the Japanese attacked. He witnessed the attack and recalls not firing the ship’s guns as they were unable to get ammunition. He mentions a torpedo went under the Oglala and hit the USS Helena (CL-50). The concussion from the explosion damaged Oglala’s hull so badly, she began to take on water. The crew abandoned ship as it capsized. Wright saw the face of a Japanese pilot as he strafed the ships and docks. He recalls a Japanese midget submarine getting into the harbor and watching the USS Monaghan (DD-354) ram it and drop depth charges, which caused the submarine to surface. He saw Marines in a motor launch board the submarine and take off two crewmen. The Japanese crewmen were handcuffed with hoods over their heads as they went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Werner. Werner joined the Army in January of 1940. He served as a gun mechanic with the 64th Coast Artillery Antiaircraft. Additionally, he worked as an assistant mail censor. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the 7 December 1941 attack. Werner provides vivid details of his experiences on the night before and during that fateful day. In early 1943 he joined the Army Air Forces, and was sent to radio school with specialty training in direction finding. From there he traveled to New Guinea to set up a direction finding station near a military landing strip. He continued on to Hollandia, Australia and the Philippines. He was discharged around January of 1946.

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The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Neal Hachenberg. Hachenberg joined the Navy in June of 1941. He served as First Class Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Detroit (CL-8). They were moored at Pearl Harbor alongside the USS Raleigh (CL-7) and USS Utah (BB-31) when the Japanese attacked. They ran convoy duty from Pearl Harbor, transporting 9 short tons of gold evacuated from Corregidor, to the United States Treasury Department at San Francisco. In early 1945 they transported troops to Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Hachenberg served aboard the Detroit through the end of the war. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wayne Chambers. Chambers joined the Naval Reserve in September of 1940. He completed the V-7 Officer Training Program. Beginning September of 1941, he served in the Engineering Department aboard USS Henley (DD-391). They were moored in East Loch at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. In May of 1942 they rescued survivors of USS Neosho (AO-23) and USS Sims (DD-409), sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea. They protected Marines landing on Guadalcanal, and remained in the area screening ships bringing in supplies and reinforcements. In June of 1943 Chambers transferred to the USS Quincy (CA-71). In June of 1944 they participated in the invasion of Normandy. In that same month they traveled to Cherbourg, France providing bombardment of the batteries surrounding the city in conjunction with the Army ground assault. Chambers returned to the US and was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Barton Dale Messler. Messler joined the Navy in January of 1940. He served as a Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). They were in Dry Dock No. 1 in Pearl Harbor undergoing a refit when the Japanese attacked. He was transferred to the USS Columbia (CL-56), and traveled to Guadalcanal. He also served aboard the USS Amsterdam (CL-101), traveling to Leyte, Okinawa and Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Peace Treaty. Messler participated in 9 major engagements.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Luckham. Luckham joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a deck hand aboard the USS Helena (CL-50). He completed Machine Gun School in the fall of 1941. Luckham was aboard the Helena, moored at 1010 Dock, Navy Yard on the base (southeast) side of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked. In late 1942 Luckham was transferred to USS Feland (APA-11) and served as a 20mm gunner. They transported Marines for the invasions of Tarawa, Saipan and Guam. He remained in the Navy for a total of 20 years, retiring in 1958.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James John. John joined the Navy in June of 1941. He operated the boilers in the engine room aboard the USS Case (DD-370). They were berthed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He recalls dropping a depth charge on a Japanese midget submarine stuck in the mud 40 feet under water, and seeing it surface. After the attack they had patrol duty in the Harbor. From May to August of 1942, they patrolled off Kodiak, Alaska and participated in the pre-invasion bombardment of Kiska. They assisted with further engagements at Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, Truk Island, Iwo Jima and the Mariana Islands. He was later transferred to the USS Knight (DD-633), again serving with the Black Gang. John returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jerold Barnes. Barnes joined the Coast Guard in September of 1940. He recalls serving aboard one of the ships that was turned over to the English during the Lend-Lease program in 1941. He remained aboard his ship to help train the English crew. Barnes was present in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He completed Officer’s Training School at the Coast Guard Academy. He later served aboard the USS Shoshone (AKA-65), providing air and sea rescue services. He returned to the US and was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Erwin Scott. Scott worked at a ship yard until Uncle Sam called him in June 1943. He was at Fort Sam Houston when he volunteered for paratroop training. He was sent to Toccoa, Georgia for some training, Camp McCall, North Carolina for more training, to Fort Bragg for jump school and then back to Camp McCall. He went overseas as part of the 517th Regimental Combat Team; they got to Naples, Italy in May/June 1944. His battalion commander was Dick Sietz, the youngest battalion commander in World War II according to Scott. After staying in camp for about a week or 10 days, they went into combat and got as far as Leghorn after 30 days; then went back to camp (about 10 miles out of Rome). The jumped into southern France on August 15, 1944 and met up with the troops that had landed in Normandy. Scott states that over one-third of his platoon is buried in Europe. They were trucked into the Battle of the Bulge; very cold. This is where Scott froze one foot. He was sent to a hospital in England on December 27, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hamilton McWhorter. McWhorter was born in Athens, Georgia on 8 February 1921 and enrolled in a Civilian Pilot Training Program while in college. He enlisted in the Navy in June 1941 with a pilot’s license. He received his Aviator wings at Pensacola in February 1942. His first assignment was to Fighter Squadron Nine (VF-9) at Norfolk, Virginia. He was flying the much-maligned Brewster Buffalo (F2A-3) trainer when he had the only flight accident of his career at an airfield in Miami, Florida. His first combat flight was off the USS Ranger (CV-4) just off Morocco in support of the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. He was transferred to the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in August 1943. His combat missions in the Pacific consisted of strafing runs on islands and escorting bombers and torpedo planes over Wake Island during which he encountered his first Japanese Mitsubishi A6M (Zero). He shot down another Zero while making a strafing run on Wake Island. He also attacked Rabaul on 11 November 1943 while escorting American bombers. He remembers a strafing run on the Japanese heavy cruiser Mogami, and he shot down …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Carseth. He discusses an early interest in aviation and earned his pilot's license through the Civilian Pilot Training program. He spent a year as an instructor before joining the Air Transport Command. Through 1944 he delivered aircraft to Australia before being assigned to Myitkyina, Burma. He speaks of living conditions at Myitkyina and flying materials over the Himalaya Mountains (the Hump) from Burma to Kunming, China. Carseth has anectdotes about meeting General Claire Chennault, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and a squadron mate who kept a baboon.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Preston. After discovering that he was not the right size for the Army Air Corps, Preston joined the Marine Corps around the time the war began. He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division as a rifleman. His first combat experience occurred on Tarawa, where he was one of the first ashore. After wading through waist-deep water, he crawled along a coconut log wall and had an uncomfortably close encounter with an enemy combatant who tossed grenades before retreating. Afterward, Preston enjoyed a brief R&R in New Zealand, where he tried to stay out of the brawls between New Zealander and American troops. On Saipan and Tinian, Preston saw civilian prisoners used for slave labor and put on the front line as false targets. He once found himself within 10 steps of an enemy tank while his antitank support was unable to fire. Fortunately, the tank was too close to lower its gun on him. Preston also survived a bullet that ricocheted off his canteen. After a brief stint on Saipan pulling guard duty, Preston returned to the States and was discharged a few months later.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Bicknell. Bicknell was drafted by the Army in December of 1942. He served with the 5th Armored Division and was sent to Europe where he drove an ammunition truck for the tanks. He provides details of his training and describes the light tanks they used. In February of 1944 they traveled to England and were attached to Patton’s 3rd Army. They landed on Utah Beach in July of 1944, and traveled through France and the southern part of Belgium, where he participated in the liberation of Luxemburg. Bicknell provides details of his experiences, including running from his ammunition truck when it was struck by a shell and enduring numerous attacks and casualties of fellow servicemen. Bicknell served 3 years with the 5th Armored Division. Bicknell was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George W. Peterson. Peterson was born on a farm near Hermitage, Missouri on 20 November 1918 and was drafted into the Army in 1941. After basic training at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas he went to Fort Riley and was assigned to the mechanized cavalry, training with armored cars and jeeps. Next, Peterson went to Norfolk, Virginia to work in a Ground Observer Corps Filter Center where aircraft and submarine contacts were plotted. After three months he went to Richmond, Virginia as a supervisor over civilian volunteers. After making application, he was accepted into the Army Air Corps cadet training program. He went to Kessler Field, Mississippi for training and took college preparatory classes prior to being sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for ten weeks. In early 1943 he went to Thunderbird Field, Arizona for preflight training. Peterson trained in various planes at several bases and received his wings at Marfa, Texas. He then went to Albuquerque, New Mexico for training in B-24s before being selected for B-29 bomber training at McCook, Nebraska. Upon completion, his crew picked up a new B-29. They flew to Guam and were assigned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Knuth. The Great Depression caused Knuth and his father to relocate often due to financial hardship. After the tenth move, Knuth sought refuge in the Navy in 1944. After basic training he was assigned as a deckhand to the USS Tulsa (PG-22). His battle station was at the 20-millimeter trunnion, unloading spent magazines. In his spare time he managed to converse with Chinese crewmen, despite the language barrier. Arriving in the Philippines in October 1944, the Tulsa was put on escort duty but was rarely used, due to its tendency to outpace other ships. Often under attack by enemy planes in the Philippines, the crew also had to be alert to Japanese saboteurs hiding under boxes that were floating down the river. In 1945, the ship’s name was changed to the USS Tacloban and erroneously received supplies bound for the new Tulsa, which happily included phonograph records. Knuth took an interest in electronics and learned to operate a film projector. Before returning home, he weathered five typhoons, and after arriving safely in November 1945 he stayed in the service another year.

Transcript of an oral interview with Ernest Cothren. Cothren joined the Marine Reserves on his birthday (19 Feb) in 1943 and they called him in about two months later. He went to ordnance, radio and radar schools and finally went to bombardier and gunnery school in El Centro. He was put in a SCD squadron (VMSB-943) and put aboard a carrier in January and sailed for the Marshall Islands. They were in the 4th MAW and supported the 4th Marine Division. He couldn't fly combat missions because he wasn't 18 so he flew submarine patrol. He switched from SBDs to TBMs (and changed squadron number to VMTB-242) after the Marianas. After training on the TBMs in Hawaii, they were taken to the Caroline Islands and were part of the Fifth Fleet. They were put off on Fayette and flew missions against Yap and surrounding islands. From there they went to Guam and then Tinian and ended up flying patrol duty around Saipan and Tinian. When the U.S. got ready to hit Iwo Jima, his squadron went aboard a carrier (CVE) in the harbor at Saipan and bombed Iwo Jima. About 3-4 days after they raised the flag, his unit flew …