Transcript of an oral interview with Frank Ficklin. Ficklin joined the National Guard (Regimental Headquarters Battery of the 131st Field Artillery) in 1938 when he was sixteen. They were mobilized in November 1940 in Wichita Falls, Texas and sent to Camp Bowie Brownwood, Texas for training with the 36th Division. They trained there for about a year and were then shipped overseas, picking up American 75s in San Francisco on the way. After landing in Brisbane, Australia, they were sent to Singasari, Java. They originally supported remnants of the 19th Heavy Bombardment Group that had pulled out from the Philippines but when the planes left, they reverted back to artillery and went into combat against the Japanese at Butansory, supporting an Australian infantry unit. On March 8, 1942 his unit was called together and told that the Dutch had capitulated and that they were now POWs. Sometime in May 1942 the Japanese took them into the Bicycle Camp where they met up with the 368 survivors of the USS Houston which was sunk on March 1, 1942. They spent about six or seven months at this camp. In October they were put aboard the Dinichi Maru which sailed for Singapore. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bryce Taylor. After finishing high school in 1942, Taylor joined the Marine Corps and had basic training at San Diego. After basic, Taylor was assigned to the base band in San Diego. He arrived at Pearl Harbor in February, 1944 and was part of the base band there for two years. Taylor recalls playing Taps in the evening several times on the USS Arizona (BB-39). His band also played regularly at the hospital at Aiea. After a while, he was recruited by Bob Crosby to tour parts of the Pacific and play concerts: Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima. He returned home and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with L.D. Cox. He discusses joining the Navy and serving aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). He was on board when the cruiser was attacked by a Japanese submarine and survived five days in the water before being rescued.

Interview with Gene Moody, a staff sergeant in charge of medical dispensary during the Korean War. He answers questions about his military service and his experiences abroad.