The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Philip Fox. Fox was drafted into the Army in 1943 where he was assigned to the 34th Evacuation Hospital. He describes the living conditions in the area outside of Manchester, England where he participated in establishing the 3rd Army, 34th Evacuation Hospital. This evacuation hospital group landed at Normandy and followed the Army through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He discusses German casualties and prisoners of war. He shares his impressions of Munich, Germany at the close of the war. He also shares anecdotes about playing poker aboard a hospital ship; encountering Allied tanks on a French road; General Patton; working in the ear and eye clinic; and learning about the birth of his son while in Europe. He was discharged in Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kelly Gibson. Gibson joined the Army Air Corps in September, 1941. He was trained as a radio repairman and serviced radios in airplanes at Turner Field, Georgia. He volunteered for overseas duty and was sent to England in 1943 and attached to the 61st Troop Carrier Group. He soon was the radio operator in a C-47 flight crew and participated in the Invasion of Normandy. As the war in Europe was winding down, Gibson was transferred to Natal, Brazil where he resumed repairing radios. When the war ended, Gibson was returned to the US where he elected to be discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Lyman. After completing one year at The Ohio State University, Lyman joined the Navy 1943. He trained at Great Lakes and was assigned to the USS Colorado (BB-45). He was assigned to the 40mm anti-aircraft guns aboard the Colorado and participated in the invasions of the Marshall Islands and the Mariana Islands. He describes the Colorado receiving fire from a Japanese shore battery at Tinian. Lyman then describes operations in the Philippines at Lingayen Gulf where the Colorado suffered from friendly fire. Lyman then speaks about the Okinawa invasion. At the end of the war, Lyman was aboard the Colorado when it was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremony where he spied the Missouri through binoculars as he was posted in his 40mm gunmount. Afterwards, Lyman describes having former POW on board and how they appeared after released from the Japanese. Lyman stayed on the Colorado through the fall while the ship transported Army soldiers home from the Pacific. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to Ohio State.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Rowe. Rowe was a gunnery officer aboard the USS Remey. His first combat experience was bombarding Vabelthaup in the Palau Group, then the ship assumed screening stations for landing troops on Angaur Island, before heading for Manus and the Admiralty Group where they met up with the 7th fleet to begin the Leyte Gulf assault. Rowe discusses making torpedo attacks on the Japanese in the Surigao Straits, setting smoke screens and picking up crews from downed planes. He ancedotes about watching a failed kamikaze attack on the Missouri, being able to see a Japanese pilot's grin with gold teeth as he passed close to Rowe's station, being in San Francisco for VJ Day, and a dog on his ship biting a Japanese pilot who came on board. He also talks about food on board ship and getting mail.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ellis D. Skidmore. Skidmore joined the Navy in April 1940 after receiving a letter from a friend in the Navy. After basic training, Skidomore went to radio school before being assigned to Patrol Squadron 44 (VP-44). In May, 1942, his unit was transferred to Pearl Harbor and by early June, Skidmore was at Midway Island. He was a PBY-5 crewman and served as a radio operator. Skidmore describes attacking two Japanese battleships during the Battle of Midway. After that, he returned to the US for flight training and earned his wings and a commission in June, 1943. Upon completion of flight training, Skdmore was stationed to the Aleutian Islands. Skidmore finished the war in the Aleutians and shares stories of being aboard the USS Rochester (CA-124) during the Korean War. He mentions he was a courier of secret documents from the Army, Navy and Air Force that got delivered to General MacArthur in Japan. When he retired from the Navy, Skidmore set up an insurance businesswith Rex Barbour (one of the claimants for shooting down Admiral Yamamoto).

Transcript of an oral interview with William Richard Pendleton. Growing up in Utah, his family knew that of Captain Mervyn Bennion, USN (captain of the USS West Virginia (BB-48) awarded the Medal of Honor during the attack on Pearl Harbor). Due to that acquaintance, Pendleton decided to join the Navy in November 1942. He was sent to Farragut, Idaho for basic training. He qualified as an aviation machinist's mate and was assigned to a PBY crew in VP-44. Their job consisted of picking up downed airment, dropping supplies and patrolling for submarines around Truk, Rabaul and Bougainville. Pendleton shares several anecdotes about serving aboard PBY aircraft and being part of the crew. One in particular was a story about making sure one crewmember never fell asleep in the plane on a mission again. He describes everything from rescue missions to beer runs. When the war ended, Pendleton was discharged only to enlist in the US Air Force in time to serve in Korea as a maintenance officer.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Davis. Davis joined the Navy in November, 1943 and trained at Farragut, Idaho. He was then assigned to USS Smalley (DD-565), which escorted troop ships to the Marshall Islands and patrolled in the Aleutian Islands. He recalls seeing kamikazes at Okinawa and rescuing survivors of another destroyer, USS William D. Porter (DD-579). After the war, Davis recalls being aboard the Smalley and dumping large amounts of Japanese weapons into Tokyo Bay. Davis was discharged in March, 1946.

Transcript of an oral interview with Lewis A. Hoelscher. He went into the Army in December, 1942 before finishing high schooland started basic training at Fort Sam Houston. Before completing basic, he was shipped to Colorado to continue training. He was attached to Company B, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. Then, Hoelscher went to San Diego for amphibious training before shipping to Kiska, Alaska. He relates experiences on Kiska before discussing more training and heading for Italy. Hoelscher then describes heavy fighting in the mountains in Italy. He earned a Silver Star in Itlay. His division was slated to participate in the invasion of Japan, but the war ended and Hoelscher was discharged in November, 1945.

Transcript of a simultaneous oral interview with Clarence and Delia Wood. Delia reveals she worked for North American Aviation in Inglewood, Claifornia building P-51 fighter planes. She met Clarence Wood at a USO show. Mr. Wood served on a submarine chaser (SC-1012) and an APA during the war.

Transcript of an oral interview with Norman Dorsey and his wife. Mr. Dorsey mentions going to boot camp in California, briefly going to the Aleutian Islands after the Japanese pulled out in fall of 1943, then entering the 10th Mountain Division and deploying to Italy, where he served until the end of the war. The Dorseys also mention German POWs and ancedotes about showers getting interupted to let Margaret Bourke-White send a shell into enemy territory from the artillery batteries right next to the shower stalls.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents on oral interview with Billy Jackson. Jackson joined the Navy in August, 1944 and was assigned aboard USS Fergus (AP-82). Jackson recalls hauling troops to various destinations in the Pacific and returning to the US with a load of former prisoners of war.

Transcript of an oral interview with William A. Herrington. In 1944, Herrington lied about his age and forged his mother's consenting signature to get into the Navy at age 16. He went to San Diego for boot training. Soon, he was training on Landing Craft, Vheicle / Personnel (LCVPs) at Coronado. His first assignment was aboard the USS Fergus (APA-82), which hauled troops to destinations throughout the Pacific. Herrington's job was to transport men and material from ship to shore in an LCVP. The Fergus made stops in the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands, the Philippines and Okinawa. Herrington describes loading the boats over the side of the transport and living conditions aboard the Fergus. He also relates several of his adventures while aboard and arriving in Japan after the end of the war to fetch some American POWs and bring them back to the US. After the war, Herrington participated in Operation Magic Carpet aboard the Fergus.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Redding. Redding was born in San Jose, California in 1927 and joined the Navy in 1944. Upon completion of boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, he went aboard the USS Fergus (APA-82). He tells of his first few days on the ship and his on-the-job training as a cook. Redding recalls during May 1945 the ship was bound for Okinawa with a contingent of marines. During a refueling procedure, extensive damage was done to the bow of the ship necessitating the troops be transferred to another ship. The Fergus then went to Guam for repairs. Once the ship was repaired, casualties from the battle of Okinawa were taken on board and the ship returned to the United States. Redding describes being aboard the ship as it rode out a typhoon while anchored at Okinawa.

Transcript of an oral interview with Trinidad J. Martinez. During the Great Depression, Martinez quit school in the 4th grade and went to work selling newspapers, shining shoes and driving a vegetable truck to raise money for the family. Martinez was at Clark Field when the Japanese attacked the Philippines. He and a few others surrendered to a Japanese squad on Bataan and were sent on the Bataan Death March. At Camp O'Donnell, Martinez worked on a burial detail before being moved to Cabanatuan, where he worked on the farm. Eventually, Martinez was shipped to Japan where he worked in an iron foundry. He also describes being liberated and travelling back home to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Byram. Byram joined the Navy in 1936 and was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He later went aboard USS Lexington (CV-2) in time for the Battle of the Coral Sea. Aboard the Lexington, Byram served as an aircraft engine mechanic the day she sank. After duty with a seaplane outfit, Byram transferred to USS Midway (CV-41) where he worked on corsairs. After the war, Bynum stayed in the Navy Reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael J. Bauman. Bauman was born 14 September 1919 in Star City, Indiana. Joining the Army Air Corps in 1940, he went to Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio. He was then sent to Langley Field, Virginia where he volunteered for the bombardier program. Bauman and seven others began the training with no written instructions and very little equipment. In January 1941 he began practice bombing missions in a Douglas B-18 bomber. By May, Bauman was training in B-26s. He discusses the various attributes of each type of plane. Remembering 7 December 1941 he tells of being ordered back to the air field where they immediately began mounting machine guns and bomb racks on all the bombers. On 8 December they flew the planes to Muroc, California where he was assigned to the 22nd Bomb Group (Medium), 33rd Squadron. He relates several flying escapades that occurred prior to boarding the USS U.S. Grant (AP-29) for Hawaii. In March 1942 they flew to Townsville, Australia. On 10 April he flew his first bombing mission over Rabaul. He comments on the lack of success of the mission. Bauman flew sixteen combat …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Boston. Boston was born 17 April 1924 in Philadelphia and joined the Marines 15 January 1942. After completing boot and advanced training, he boarded the USS George F. Elliott (AP-105) as a member of the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion to participate in the invasion of Guadalcanal. He describes boot training, advanced training and combat scenarios encountered during the invasion of Guadalcanal. He also details the Japanese night attack at the Tenaru River. He lists by name those of company G that were killed during the action. Upon contracting malaria, he was sent to the 4th General hospital in Melbourne, Australia followed by stay in the Oakland Naval Hospital and the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. In August 1945 he was sent to Guam where he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. In November 1945, he returned to the United States and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Orval W. Burgess. Burgess was born 3 October 1924 in Harrison Township, Indiana. He was drafted soon after graduating in 1943 and sent to Camp Croft, South Carolina for basic training. He contracted scarlet fever and was hospitalized. Upon finishing basic, he took various qualification tests at Fort Dix, New Jersey after which he was sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi where he joined the 69th Infantry Division and took basic training again. Upon completing basic again he was sent to New York where he boarded the SS Ile de France for England and arrived 26 August 1944. After spending two months in a replacement depot he was assigned to I Company, 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division as a Browning automatic rifle assistant. He participated in the Rhineland Campaign and comments on the constant rain and snow they encountered. He did not take his shoes off for fifteen days and developed a severe case of trench foot. On 28 November 1944 he was sent to the 159th General Hospital in Saint Die France where he stayed until January 1945. He was then sent to Convalescent Center E-27 where he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Bremyer. Bremyer applied for a commission in the Navy in early 1942 and went on active duty in May. His first duty assignment was in Florida conducting anti-submarine warfare. From there, he reported for duty at the Fleet Post Office in New Orleans. He eventually ended up working in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington composing regulations for secret message delivery. Then, Bremyer worked for the Secretary of the Navy. One unusual assignment Bremyer carried out was to deliver the US flag flown from Commodore Matthew Perry’s flagship he was aboard when he went to Japan in 1854 to the surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri (BB-63) in Tokyo Bay. After the war, Bremyer returned to law school.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willard Cole. Cole was drafted into the Army in April, 1943. Cole went to Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas and was assigned to the 125th Evacuation Hospital, Semimobile when it formed. He went overseas to England with the unit in November, 1944. Cole arrived in France in March 1945. By early April, they had established their hospital in Krefeld, Germany and began receiving casualties. When the war ended, they were around Munchen and remained there during part of the occupation. He also worked in hospitals in Passau and Augsburg before leaving for the US in 1946. Cole was discharged later in June.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Cooper. Cooper was working for the Indianapolis Fire Department when he was drafted into the Army in 1943. From there, he volunteered for the paratroopers and trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. He was assigned to the 517th Parachute Combat Team. Cooper describes much of his training, equipment and uniform. In May, 1944, his unit landed in Italy. He jumped with his unit into Southern France in August, 1944 and served as a scout. Cooper also mentions some about the Battle of the Bulge. He returned home and was discharged in October, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Doty. Doty was working as the head of safety in various munitions factories before he beat his deferment and volunteered for duty in the Marine Corps in 1944. Doty shares several anecdotes from training because the war ended before he went overseas. Doty was much older than everyone else around him and he was called Pop. He was discharged in August, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John W. Griffing. Griffing was born on 31 December 1915 on a farm near Hubbard, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1932, he was drafted in April 1941. He entered the 200th Coast Artillery and underwent basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. In August of 1941 he went to Fort Stotsenberg, in the Philippines. In December 1941 the Japanese invaded the Philippines and Griffing recalls surrendering. His group was put into trucks and taken to Camp O’Donnell. After four months he was sent to Cabanatuan. After three months, he volunteered for a work detail on an airfield at Lipa, Batangas until March 1944. He tells of being at Camp Murphy and Bilibid prison until October 1944 when he went aboard the Hell ship Haro Maru bound for Japan. After spending thirty-nine days on the ship they landed on Formosa on 9 November 1944. After two months he was sent to Moji, Japan and assigned to work in the zinc mines. On 20 August 1945 the prisoners were notified that the war was over and B-29s soon began dropping food and clothing to the prisoners. On 12 September …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas C. Griffin. Griffin was commissioned a lieutenant in the Coast Artillery through the Army ROTC program at the University of Alabama in 1939. Griffin served with the 61st Coast Artillery from July 1939 to July 1940, when he became an Aviation Cadet with the Army Air Corps. He was re-commissioned and awarded his Navigator Wings in June 1941. Griffin volunteered for the Doolittle Raid and was the navigator on the ninth B-25 to take off. After bombing their assigned targets in Tokyo, the crew bailed out over China when their aircraft ran out of fuel. Griffin remained in China and served with the 34th Bomb Squadron from April to August 1942, where he flew 1 additional combat mission. He next joined the 438th Bomb Squadron of the 319th Bomb Group, flying the B-26 Marauder, and left for England in September 1942. Griffin flew 19 combat missions in North Africa before being shot down and taken as a prisoner of war of Germany in July 1943. He was placed in Stalag Luft III. He was released in late April 1945, and left active duty the following February. Griffin remained …