The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J. Glen Cleckler. He begins by discussing his background and how he and 7 buddies went to a recruiting offices to get forms to have an excuse for the principal for why they skipped school that day (it was actually to go see a movie) and ended up with the principal allowing them to graduate early to join the Marines. He discusses going through boot camp and other training programs, the battle of Iwo Jima, hygiene during a battle, seeing one of the flags raised on Iwo and a couple stories about Harlan Block, one of the flag raisers and part of the group he joined the Marines with. He ancedotes about getting a ride back to the States on a ship full of Section-8 soldiers (PTSD victims), meeting German prisoners of war and Jim Crow laws.

Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He discusses his background, including the day he and seven of his friends skipped school to see a movie. In order to provide a believable excuse for their absence to their principal, they went to a recruiting office to get informational forms. The principal then gave them permission to graduate early to join the Marines. He discusses his experiences in boot camp and other training programs and the Battle of Iwo Jima, including hygiene during the battle and the famous flag-raising there. He shares some stories about one of the flag-raisers, Harlan Block, who had been part of the group that enlisted in the Marines with him. He also recalls returning to the United States on a ship full of Section-8 soldiers (PTSD victims), meeting German prisoners of war, and living with Jim Crow laws.