The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lawrence Spellman. Spellman joined the Navy in September of 1944. He completed Sound School. Beginning April of 1945, he served as Seaman First-Class aboard the USS Clarence K. Bronson (DD-668). In July, they bombarded Wake Island and served with occupation forces in Japan beginning 27 August. They returned to the US in April of 1946. Spellman continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Surles. Surles was born in 1924 in Louisiana. In December, 1942 he joined the Navy. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After basic training, Surles was trained in fire control and naval gunnery in Washington, DC. Upon completing that, he reported aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January, 1944. Surles describes being aboard the Franklin when it was attacked in March, 1945 off the coast of Kyushu. Surles stayed with the ship all the way back to the US. He was discharged shortly before the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Tetlie. Tetlie joined the Army in February of 1945. He served with the 869th Ordnance Company as a radio operator aboard an M10 tank destroyer. He deployed to the Philippine Islands in August of 1945 aboard the USS President Jackson (APA-18). He worked as a typist at a base in San Fernando, La Union in the Philippines through September of 1946. Tetlie was discharged in December.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irving Westbrook. Westbrook joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in early 1940 and went to Idaho. He joined the Navy in January 1942. When he finished training, he was assigned to a degaussing unit in New Orleans as a signalman. He asked to go overseas and was then trained to be a beach master with the Marines. After getting to the Southwest Pacific, Westbrook participated in the invasion of Leyte in October 1944. He remained on Leyte until December 1945, eventually serving as harbor master as he set up a communications station. When he left he Navy, Westbrook joined the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Valentin R. Ybarra. He discusses Peleliu, Okinawa, occupation duty in Japan and China; being assigned in Spain; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the revolt in the Dominican Republic; service in Vietnam.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert E. Batterson. Batterson was born on 5 May 1921 in Mason City, West Virginia. Following graduation from high school in 1938, he joined the Navy. After competing boot camp at Norfolk, Virginia, he was assigned to the USS Philadelphia (CL-41). During battle stations, he was a powder man on a six inch gun. The ship was anchored at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and he describes what he saw on that day. In 1942, he was selected to enter the V-5 Naval Aviation Program. In January 1943 he began at the University of Southern California. Upon completing the first phase of the training he went to the University of New Mexico for initial flight training followed by pre-flight at Del Monte, California. From there he began flight training at Hutchinson Naval Air Station, Kansas. He was then sent to Corpus Christi, Texas for instrument and advanced training before joining a squadron at Daytona Beach, Florida. After several months, he went to Glennville Naval Air Base, Illinois to learn carrier landing. Upon being qualified as a carrier pilot, he was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20). He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Evans. Evans joined the Marine Corps in June of 1940. He was deployed to Pearl Harbor in September, and stationed at Naval Air Station Kaneohe. Evans helped put the station into commission in February of 1941. He was on watch at the station when the Japanese attacked. He shares memories of rescuers working to get to crewman aboard USS Oklahoma. Evans served with the 6th Marine Regiment. Beginning in January of 1943, he participated in the Battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan, where he was wounded. He returned to the US and was discharged in August of 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guinn Rasbury. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, other transfers around the States, ending up back in the Pacific. He ancedotes how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life, sounding Taps at a memorial service for President Roosevelt, being Chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Bergeron. Bergeron joined the Navy in 1940 and was trained as a radioman. He joined VB-3 and served on SBDs. Bergeron was attached to the USS Saratoga (CV-3). Bergeron describes his observations flying over the recently attacked Pearl Harbor. He was then attached to the Enterprise (CV-6) and helped screen the task force that launched the Doolittle Raid. Bergeron then joined the USS Yorktown (CV-5) for the Battle of Midway where he would earn the Distinguished Flying Cross. He describes in detail the bombing runs that he was a part of and his brother getting wounded. Bergeron rejoined the Saratoga until it was torpedoed off Guadalcanal, after that he flew missions from Henderson Field. He rotated back to the US for advance radio school and then received an honorable discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam H. Snoddy. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division. After training, he participated in the initial landing at Saipan where he was wounded in the knees and shoulder on the beach by shell fragments. He was loaded onto a hospital ship with several other casualties before returning to Hawaii to recuperate. He participated in the Okinawa campaign and spent time at Nagasaki on occupation duty. After being discharged, he went to college on the GI Bill, evetually settling in Texas working in the oil industry.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Herman Krehmeier. Krehmeier joined the Marine Corps in May of 1943. He served as a machine gunner with the 2nd Marine Division. He deployed in January of 1944 to Pearl Harbor. Beginning July of 1944 through April of 1945, Krehmeier participated in the Battles of Tinian and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Person. Person joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. He deployed to Samoa in February of 1943. He served with the 8th Marine Regiment in an antitank outfit, working with 37mm antitank guns. Beginning in November of 1943 through April of 1945, Person participated in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1966.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with H. L. Obermiller. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, and being a Pharmacist's Mate. He ancedotes about having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting a couple Navajo codetalkers, and writing letters back home.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Laudell Raper. Raper joined the Marine Corps in early 1942. In the summer, he deployed to New Zealand and served with the 8th Marine Regiment. Beginning in August of 1942 through August of 1944, Person served as a Corporal in a machine gun section during the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. Raper contracted malaria on Tinian and returned to the US in late 1944. He later completed Non-Commissioned Officer School and joined the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, participating in combat on Guam. Raper was then assigned to duty at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Cook. Cook joined the Army in March of 1943. He served as a private with C Battery, 414th Tank Battalion, 20th Armored Division. Cook’s job was to load the 105mm howitzer aboard the M7 tank. In February of 1945, they deployed to Le Havre, France. In April, Cook served in combat along the Rhine River in support of the 101st Airborne Division near Delhoven, Germany and the 82nd Airborne Division across the river from Hitdorf, Germany. He continued in combat from the Rhine into Munich. Upon entering Salzburg in May, hostilities ceased. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert B. Norman. Norman grew up in North Carolina and finished two years at NC State in Raleigh before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940. Shortly after the war started, Norman qualified for cadet flying school and earned his wings in December, 1942. He shares his experiences while in flight training. Norman had an advantage as he had learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Program while at NC State. Upon graduating, Norman was made an instructo and sent to Marfa, Texas. in 1944, Norman was reassigned to the Air Transport Command and flew C-46 cargo planes and spare parts to India. Norman spent the remainder of the war flying 4-engine C-109 airplanes loaded with fuel for the fighter group in China over the Himalaya Mountains. When the war ended, Norman was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Perry. Perry joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed armament school, and aerial gunner training. He served as a waist gunner aboard a B-17 with the 96th Bomb Group, 338th Bomb Squadron. They deployed to England, and Perry was shot down in March of 1944 during his fourth mission over Brunswick, Germany. He was contained as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 4 and 6, and liberated in April of 1945. Perry returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lawrence Spellman. Spellman joined the Navy in September of 1944. He completed Sound School. Beginning April of 1945, he served as Seaman First-Class aboard the USS Clarence K. Bronson (DD-668). In July, they bombarded Wake Island and served with occupation forces in Japan beginning 27 August. They returned to the US in April of 1946. Spellman continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Surles. Surles was born in 1924 in Louisiana. In December, 1942 he joined the Navy. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After basic training, Surles was trained in fire control and naval gunnery in Washington, DC. Upon completing that, he reported aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January, 1944. Surles describes being aboard the Franklin when it was attacked in March, 1945 off the coast of Kyushu. Surles stayed with the ship all the way back to the US. He was discharged shortly before the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Tetlie. Tetlie joined the Army in February of 1945. He served with the 869th Ordnance Company as a radio operator aboard an M10 tank destroyer. He deployed to the Philippine Islands in August of 1945 aboard the USS President Jackson (APA-18). He worked as a typist at a base in San Fernando, La Union in the Philippines through September of 1946. Tetlie was discharged in December.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irving Westbrook. Westbrook joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in early 1940 and went to Idaho. He joined the Navy in January 1942. When he finished training, he was assigned to a degaussing unit in New Orleans as a signalman. He asked to go overseas and was then trained to be a beach master with the Marines. After getting to the Southwest Pacific, Westbrook participated in the invasion of Leyte in October 1944. He remained on Leyte until December 1945, eventually serving as harbor master as he set up a communications station. When he left he Navy, Westbrook joined the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Valentin R. Ybarra. He discusses Peleliu, Okinawa, occupation duty in Japan and China; being assigned in Spain; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the revolt in the Dominican Republic; service in Vietnam.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert E. Batterson. Batterson was born on 5 May 1921 in Mason City, West Virginia. Following graduation from high school in 1938, he joined the Navy. After competing boot camp at Norfolk, Virginia, he was assigned to the USS Philadelphia (CL-41). During battle stations, he was a powder man on a six inch gun. The ship was anchored at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and he describes what he saw on that day. In 1942, he was selected to enter the V-5 Naval Aviation Program. In January 1943 he began at the University of Southern California. Upon completing the first phase of the training he went to the University of New Mexico for initial flight training followed by pre-flight at Del Monte, California. From there he began flight training at Hutchinson Naval Air Station, Kansas. He was then sent to Corpus Christi, Texas for instrument and advanced training before joining a squadron at Daytona Beach, Florida. After several months, he went to Glennville Naval Air Base, Illinois to learn carrier landing. Upon being qualified as a carrier pilot, he was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20). He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Olcott. Olcott joined the Navy in the spring of 1941. After training, he was assigned to USS Maury (DD-401) at Pearl Harbor. Olcott was at torpedo school at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. When Maury returned to port, Olcott went back aboard and was on the ship when it bombarded Wake Island and went to the Solomon Islands. Olcott stayed on Maury through 1944 and went back to torpedo school. Then, he was sent to a post office in New Guinea for a few months before going to the submarine base at Subic Bay. He was there when the war ended.