The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Art Goetz. Goetz joined the Marine Corps in 1945 and received basic training at Parris Island followed by engineer training at Camp Lejeune. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion, stationed in China, where he performed maintenance work at the American Legation in Peking. He arrived in January 1946 to a welcoming population who lined the streets waving American flags. While there he visited the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Whispering Wall at the Temple of Heaven. The exchange rate was so favorable to Americans that his acquaintance bought a Ming Dynasty urn for a few dollars, and Goetz purchased two cloisonné blouses for 25 cents each. In April 1947 Goetz was transferred to Guam with the 1st Marine Brigade. In 1948 he returned to China, this time stationed at Tsingtao. As the Chinese Civil War intensified, the engineers were the last to evacuate, loading their heavy equipment onto ships as shots were being fired all around the city. Goetz returned to the States in May 1949 and went on to serve in the Korean War. His last duty was as a special …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Parker. Parker joined the Marine Corps in late 1944. In 1945 he completed advanced infantry training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. They trained in preparation for the invasion of Japan. After the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Parker was reassigned to China in early 1946. He served for one year with the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st marine Division at the American embassy in Peking, now Beijing, China. In 1947 he was transferred to Tsingtao, now Qingdao, China, where he served with the 6th Fleet Marine Force. Parker returned home and was discharged in early 1949.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Tierney. Tierney joined the Marine Corps and trained in communications. He was sent to China for occupation duty as a replacement in the 1st Marine Division. Tierney served as a guard on trains to prevent delays caused by Chinese communists and describes the tactics that were employed. Tierney describes conflict between Nationalist and communist forces. He returned to the US in October of 1946 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle Soper. Soper was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on 6 March 1928. After graduating from high school in 1945, he joined the Marine Corps. After completion of training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he boarded the USS Starlight (AP-175) bound for China. Upon arriving at Tangkou, China, he joined the 1st Marine Division, 5th Marines. There, the unit guarded coal stations and oil facilities as well as their ammunition depot. He tells of the efforts of Chinese communist forces to take over or destroy bridges used by the Chinese Nationalist forces and the measures taken by the Marines to protect these locations. In addition to the guard details, the Marines also rounded up Japanese troops to be sent back to Japan. Soper comments that the Japanese looked upon the Marines as protectors. The Japanese feared that if afforded the opportunity, the Chinese civilians would have killed them because of past atrocities by Japanese troops. Soper returned to the United States in December 1946 and was discharged shortly thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William W. Smith. Smith was born in China in 1927 and started school in California when he was five. He did not speak English at the time because his mother was Russian and he had a Chinese nanny. When he was 17 in 1944, he tried joining the Marine Corps, but was denied. He instead went back to work for the forestry service in Northern California. He was in San Francisco on V-J Day. Smith joined the Marine Corps in November, 1945 and went to Basic Training in San Diego. Smith was shipped to China and attached to the 1st Marine Division as a radio operator during the occupation there.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Tizzard. Tizzard was born in Rochester, New York on 30 June 1916. He enlisted in the Army in 1940 and completed several courses of training, including Officer Candidate School after which he received his commission. He was sent to Honolulu as a member of the 184th Regiment, 7th Army Division which was training for the invasion of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. His duties included company officer in charge of automatic weapons. By the time his regiment reached Kwajalein, most of the fighting was over and his company received orders to Truk on 5 January 1945. While enroute to Truk the ship was redirected to Okinawa where they arrived on Easter Sunday, 1945. He recalls that his unit was involved in combat at Shuri Castle and Yonaharu. He describes being in Okinawa on V-J Day in September 1945, after which, his unit was sent to Seoul, Korea to accept the surrender of Japanese forces in Korea. While in Korea, he resigned from the Army, volunteered for the Internantional Red Cross, and was sent to Qingdao, China for five years, assisting in the relocation of White Russians. Following his time …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J. W. “Bill” Boulware. He was born in Amarillo, Texas, 30 April 1926 and enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 1944. After completing basic training, he was sent to the Navy Electronics School in Chicago. Then he went to an air control squadron in Cherry Point, North Carolina. In January 1945 he volunteered for aerial navigator School in Cherry Point where he trained as a navigator. He recalls that the war ended while he was at Cherry Point. In January 1946 he was transferred into a Marine air transport squadron located in Qingdao, China in the Shandong province about halfway between Beijing and Shanghai. He describes his mission as hauling equipment, including guns and money, within China. He recalls meeting White Russian refugees, as well as Chinese communists and nationalists in Shanghai. In August 1946 he returned to the United States and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dwayne K. Redman. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on 4 August 1928. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 1946 and was sent to Parris Island for basic training. He provides several anecdotes of his time at Parris Island. Prior to completing basic training, he was sent to Washington, DC and put up in a room at a hotel where the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, came to his room and told him that he needed a volunteer for special duty. Redman was particularly qualified due to his demonstrated physical endurance, night vision, some experience flying as a civilian and his military test results. He accepted the assignment and was transferred to Cherry Point, where he was assigned to a Marine Corps transport squadron and trained as a navigator and pilot in the R4D (USMC version of the C-47). Upon completing the training in April 1947, he was sent to Shanghai, China where was assigned to a civilian boss heading up a secret operation. He describes his duties as navigator in a modified R4D flying White Russian expatriates to various locations on the China/Russia border. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Warren C. Betcher. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, 22 June 1928, enlisted in the Marine Corps 22 June 1945 and completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After completing boot camp he describes shipping out to Guam after the war had ended. From there, he was shipped to Quindao, China and joined Easy Company, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Division. In the Spring of 1946 his company transferred to Peking for duty guarding various international embassies. He recalls various anecdotes of his time in Peking, including encounters with Chinese nationalists and communists, and being personally inspected by Chiang Kai-shek and his wife. He was involved with the repatriation of Japanese to their homeland. He relates that he returned to the United States in September 1947. In February 1948 he recalls being involved in a demonstration amphibious landing during which he suffered a hand injury that required five months hospitalization. After being discharged from the hospital he was transferred back to Parris Island where it was discovered that he had ruptured both kidneys in the amphibious landing at Camp Pendleton and he was discharged in September 1949.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edgar Fulwider. He was born in San Francisco, California in 1927 and joined the Merchant Marines in 1944 at the age of 17. He attended the Maritime Academy at Catalina Island, California. In February 1945 he shipped out as a Fireman/Water Tender on a T2 Tanker carrying six million gallons of bunker fuel (black oil) and one million gallons of aviation gasoline. The ship arrived off the Philippines as the islands were being liberated, then sailed to Iwo Jima for the last three weeks of that campaign and then went to Okinawa for the invasion. He describes the ship colliding with a destroyer while refueling during a typhoon. They returned to San Francisco for repairs. Upon arrival Fulwider was transferred to the Army Transportation Corps (ATC) and made two more round trips to the Philippines on troop carriers returning men to the US. At the end of the war he enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1945, attending basic training in San Diego. He was assigned to duty in China as an infantryman in the First Marine Division. He describes his duty as member of a machine …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clarence E. Shockey. Shockey was born in rural Texas and attended school in McKinney. Before finishing school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 or 1939. After being in the CCC< Shockey went to work for Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Corsicana, Texas making anchors for US Navy ships. He was also married with a daughter at the time and received an exemption from the draft on account of his family and the classified nature of the work he was doing. After his cousin and some close friends were killed at Normandy, he joined the Marine Corps. He went to San Diego for training and describes several incidents that occurred there. When he was assigned to the First Marine Division, he was initially sent to Pavuvu after teh First secured Peleliu. At Pavuvu, they trained and prepared for landing at Okinawa. On Okinawa, Shockey captured a cave full of civilians with help from the Mayor of Naha. He follows with more anecdotes about Okinawa. Eventually, Shockey was sent to China with the First Marine Division. His job there was to deliver mail and bread to the company. Toward …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Millard Simmons. Simmons joined the Navy in 1944. He completed amphibious training on Coronado Island in California. He traveled to Pearl Harbor around August of 1944. From Pearl Harbor he traveled aboard a Landing Craft, Infantry to Guam. He was assigned as a Boatswain’s Mate and 20mm gunner aboard LCT(6)-867, and served as a replacement during the Battle of Peleliu. Simmons had additional experiences on the island of Angaur. They transported wounded soldiers and the survivors of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) to a hospital ship. Simmons was out at sea when the war ended. Their LCT was loaded with C- and K-rations, which they provided to the civilians on Angaur. Simmons was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ludwig Matzat. Matzat joined the Army in 1944. In January of 1945 he joined the 128th Regiment, Company B, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Division, at New Guinea as a replacement. Matzat served as a rifleman. His outfit also participated in the Battle of Luzon, moving the Japanese back into the Caraballo Mountains. He shares details of his combat experiences, being the sole survivor on one mission, and receiving a shell fragment wound to his back. Matzat was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Smrt. Smrt joined the Army in late 1942 and was trained as a combat engineer and assigned to the 319th Combat Engineers, 94th Infantry Division. He arrived in France after the Normandy invasion and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was still in Europe when the war ended and participated in the occupation.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Austin. Austin was born in Texas and grew up on farms before joining the Texas National Guard. When his unit, the 144th Infantry Regiment, was federalized, he became a member of the 36th Infantry Division. He was training at Camp Bowie, Texas, when he received word Pearl Harbor had been attacked. His unit was detached and went to Fort Lewis, Washington, where it was spread out along the coast watching for a Japanese invasion. Austin eventually went to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He shipped overseas in September 1942. When he arrived in Hawaii, he was attached to the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. After more training in Australia, his unit moved to New Guinea and participated in the Hollandia invasion. After securing airfields, Austin’s unit was transported to Biak. Their next assignment took them to Leyte for the invasion. After the Leyte campaign, Austin went to Luzon and was attached to the 38th Infantry Division. In May, 1945, Austin returned to the US on leave and was discharged later in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Bak. Bak was born in Garfield, New Jersey on 14 March 1923. He joined the US Navy Reserve in 1942 and went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for ten months. He then attended quartermaster school for four months. Upon graduating, he was assigned to the USS Franks (DD-554). The ship was assigned to Division 94 along with the USS Haggard (DD-555), USS Hailey (DD-556) and USS Johnston (DD-557). After training in bombardment, torpedo and depth charge launching, the division went to Pearl Harbor. Bak was involved in the invasions of Tarawa and Kwajalein, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He saw the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) get hit by a Japanese torpedo and recalls escorting the USS Washington (BB-56), damaged in a collision with the USS Indiana (BB-58), back to Pearl Harbor. The Franks was often designated a plane guard ship, assigned to rescue downed pilots. Bak describes the procedure. During the invasion of Okinawa, the Franks collided with the USS New Jersey (BB-62). The Franks’ captain died of injuries suffered during the accident and the ship went to Bremerton, Washington for major repairs. Bak …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Crawford. Crawford joined the Navy in January of 1944. He completed Radar Operator School, and served aboard the USS Richard P. Leary (DD-664) beginning late February. He worked as a radarman and engineers’ yeoman. They traveled to Pearl Harbor and in July provided escort duty to Eniwetok and Saipan. In September they supported landings at Peleliu, and at Leyte in October. They launched torpedoes at the Japanese battleship Yamashiro during the 25 October Battle of Surigao Strait, and rescued survivors from the USS Albert W. Grant (DD-649). Crawford recalls a kamikaze attack to the ship. They supplied gunfire support for the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Upon arriving at Adak, Alaska in August they learned that Japan had surrendered. They returned to the US in September of 1945. Crawford was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doy Duncan. He begins by speaking about finishing high school in Arkansas, looking for work, joining the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), enrolling in junior college, joining the Navy and evetually taking Civilian Pilot Training before being called into the Navy. His battalion commander at Preflight School at Chapel Hill, North Carolina was Gerald R. Ford, the future president. He passed and evetually made it into dive bomber training in Glenview, Illinois where he practiced carrier landings on Lake Michigan. Before shipping out, he was switched to a fighter unit assigned to the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). Duncan speaks of attacking targets on Peleliu with napalm. Next, Duncan describes his actions at the Battle off Samar. He speaks of attacking the ships of the Japanese Fleet pursuing Taffy 3. His plane was damaged and he had to make a water landing. His plane sank too fast for him to retrieve his life raft and he saw sharks beginning to circle. A torpedo bomber flew over and tossed out a life raft for him. Duncan managed managed to paddle to Samar in a few days where he fell in with …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with I.S. Fellner. Fellner joined the Navy in January of 1942. He was trained as a dive bomber pilot and went to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal in 1943. Fellner describes an emergency landing after being hit by flak over Bougainville. He then returned to the US and joined VB-13, attached to the USS Franklin (CV-13). Fellner describes another close call after a collision during a training mission. He discusses flying a photo reconnaissance mission over Peleliu and taking part on missions in support of the landings at Leyte. Fellner participated in an attack on the Japanese fleet at Surigao Straight and describes dive bombing a Japanese ship. He details the process of arming a bomb. Fellner discusses the kamikaze attack that damaged the Franklin. He returned to the US for shore duty and left the service soon after the surrender.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Aubrey Felder. Felder joined the Navy in February of 1943. He completed training and served as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate aboard the USS Wolverine (IX-64), a training ship at Naval Station Great Lakes. Beginning January of 1944 Felder worked aboard the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). They participated in the battles of Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Luzon and the Battle off Samar in the Philippine Sea. Their ship was hit by a kamikaze. Felder returned to the US and was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Goldstein. He gives overviews of background on the battles of Pearl Harbor and Leyete Gulf.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John H. Hoagland. Hoagland finished college in June, 1941 and was working in a war industry plant making machine guns and airplane propellors before he joined the Navy. He trained as a radar man and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet in August, 1944. He served aboard the USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675), then the USS New Jersey (BB-62), where he worked in the combat information center as a radarman. He describes his participation in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and defends Admiral Halsey's actions at Cape Engano. Hoagland also served aboard the USS Brush (DD-745) and experienced a typhoon. Hoagland left the serveic in December, 1945 and returned to Harvard Business School. During his career, he taught in the business school at Michigan State University.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William McDowell. McDowell joined the Navy in October of 1942. He completed radar and sonar school, and worked in radar maintenance and later as Chief Radio Technician aboard the USS Bennion (DD-662) beginning December of 1943. They arrived at Pearl Harbor in March of 1944 escorting the USS Bataan (CVL-29) to the Pacific. They served as a fighter director and radar picket ship during numerous campaigns, including the Tinian, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations. They also participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait in October of 1944. Once they arrived to the Aleutian Islands, they received word that the Japanese surrendered. They returned to the US and McDowell was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Don Mc Nelly. McNelly was born in Brookville, Ohio on 11 November 1920. After graduating from high school he attended the General Motors Institute, studying to be an engineer. Employed in defense work, he received draft deferments until 1944. During June 1944 he joined the US Navy and received a commission, as he was a graduate engineer. He joined the USS Kyne (DE-744) at Ulithi as a deck and engineer officer. The ship’s mission was to escort convoys and perform anti-submarine duties. During December 1944 the ship was involved in Typhoon Cobra. He describes the terror of being in the typhoon, which sank three other American destroyers. Soon after the Japanese surrender, the Kyne was ordered to Tokyo Bay. McNelly went into Tokyo and saw plenty of destruction. Soon after the signing of the Peace Treaty, the Kyne returned to the United States where it was placed in the Mothball Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida. Mc Nelly was discharged in May 1946.