The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Abel Ortega. Ortega was drafted into the Army in March, 1941 and was in the Philippines by November. Ortega was with a tank battalion on Luzon and recalls the retreat to and subsequent surrender on Bataan. Ortega also recalls how his Christian faith served him, and others around him, during captivity. He describes his experiences on the Bataan Death March. Ortega remained in the Philippines for over two years before being shipped to Japan to perform more slave labor. After the war, Ortega was repatriated and describes his return home to his parents.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Abel Ortega. Ortega was drafted into the Army in March, 1941 and was in the Philippines by November. Ortega was with a tank battalion on Luzon and recalls the retreat to and subsequent surrender on Bataan. Ortega also recalls how his Christian faith served him, and others around him, during captivity. He describes his experiences on the Bataan Death March. Ortega remained in the Philippines for over two years before being shipped to Japan to perform more slave labor. After the war, Ortega was repatriated and describes his return home to his parents.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Nielsen from Medaryville, Indiana. He discusses undergoing Amry training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being assigned as B Company of the 69th Army Regiment at Fort Knox as a private. Afterwards he got lucky and was assigned to drive a truck from Louisiana to North Carolina, Mr. Nielsen describes this as the best job he ever had in the Army. After Pearl Harbor he is transferred to the 1st Armored Division and Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He was then transported from fort Knox to Ireland then to England for a short time before being shipped out to Oran in North Africa. On the way to Oran, the ship he was on was almost hit by a missile shot by a German U-boat, but it instead hit another ship that was nearby. By the time Mr. Nielsen reached Oran he was a segreant Tank Commander. He also relays a time he warned his Company Commander about German Tiger Tanks being in their area and being ignored only for them to show up a few days later resulting in one captain deserting and being captured by German soldiers. Mr. Nielsen …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Nielsen from Medaryville, Indiana. He discusses undergoing Amry training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being assigned as B Company of the 69th Army Regiment at Fort Knox as a private. Afterwards he got lucky and was assigned to drive a truck from Louisiana to North Carolina, Mr. Nielsen describes this as the best job he ever had in the Army. After Pearl Harbor he is transferred to the 1st Armored Division and Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He was then transported from fort Knox to Ireland then to England for a short time before being shipped out to Oran in North Africa. On the way to Oran, the ship he was on was almost hit by a missile shot by a German U-boat, but it instead hit another ship that was nearby. By the time Mr. Nielsen reached Oran he was a segreant Tank Commander. He also relays a time he warned his Company Commander about German Tiger Tanks being in their area and being ignored only for them to show up a few days later resulting in one captain deserting and being captured by German soldiers. Mr. Nielsen …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dwight Pendleberry. Pendleberry joined the Army with his brother prior to the outbreak of war with Japan. After training as an ordnance man in the artillery, Pendleberry's company was sent to the Philippines in September, 1941. Pendleberry describes the Japanese attack on the Philippines and the subsequent fall of Bataan. He escaped to Corregidor with a few other people only to be captured there one month later. After being taken to Manila, Pendleberry was sent to Cabanatuan. By that time, he had contracted malaria. From there, he was selected to be on a work detail loading and unloading Japanese ships in Manila. Pendleberry also describes executions, genral mistreatment and outright torture at the hands of the Japanese captors. Eventually, Pendleberry and many other POWs were shipped aboard the Noto Maru to Taiwan, then Japan. Pendleberry wound up at Omori prison camp in Tokyo Bay. He describes the low-level fire bombing mission over Tokyo, which took place one night in March, 1945. After that, Pendleberry was moved to northern Japan to work at a coal mine. After the war, Pendleberry was liberated and repatriated back to the US through …

Photograph of mannequins in an army Jeep display at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Photograph of a roadside entrance sign for the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Photograph of an entrance sign on the side of the road for the Fort Knox U.S. Army N.C.O. Club.

Postcard of the green 1939 Cadillac sedan used by General George Patton after World War II on display at the Patton Museum .

Postcard of mannequins in an army Jeep display at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Postcard of a camouflage tank at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Postcard of the exterior of the United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Postcard of the UH-1B helicopter exhibit at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Postcard of a pair of parked camouflage tanks at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Postcard of a line of parked camouflage tanks on display at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Postcard of a line of parked camouflage tanks on display at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Postcard from the Patton Museum of the exterior of the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Postcard of soldiers in a U.S. M-24 Light Tank, "Chaffee," with a painted star at the General George Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Photograph of the 119th Armored Engineer Battalion Memorial stone, taken at the 12th Armored Division Association Dedication at Armor Unit Memorial Park in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Text on the plaque says "This monument is dedicated to all that served in the 119th Armored Engineer Battalion and to the memory of those that gave their lives for their country. To all that became prisoners of war and wounded in action. World War Two, 1944 to 1945." Following this inscription is a list of men killed in action.

Photograph of the 12th Armored Division HQs General and Special Staffs memorial stone, taken at the 12th Armored Division Association Dedication at Armor Unit Memorial Park in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Text on the plaque says "MP Platoon & Band. CCA- BG Riley F. Ennis, CCB- Col. Charles V. Bromley, CCR- Col. Richard R. Gordon, Div Artv- Col. Charles R. Gildart, Div Trains- Col. John H Evans."

Photograph of the 12th Armored Division memorial stone, taken at the 12th Armored Division Association Dedication at Armor Unit Memorial Park in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Text on the stone's plaque says "12th Armored Division 'Hellcats' 15 September 1942 - 17 December 1945. Commanding Generals M/G C. Brewer, M/G D. T. Greene, M/G R. R. Allen, B/G W. A. Holbrook, Jr."

Photograph of the 134th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion memorial stone at the 12th Armored Division Association Dedication at Armor Unit Memorial Park in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Text on the plaque says "Organized July 1942. Meritorious service unit award with star. The International Harvester Battalion."

Photograph of 152nd Armored Signal Company memorial stone, taken at the 12th Armored Division Association Dedication at Armor Unit Memorial Park in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Text on the plaque says "'Resolute to Achieve.' Combat Officers: Lt. Col. Richard M. King, Division Signal Officer, Major William J. Cure, Asst. Division Signal Officer, Capt. John T. Hagood, Company Commander. Dedicated to all members of the company who served with pride, honor and devotion."

Photograph of the 17th Armored Infantry Battalion Memorial stone, taken at the 12th Armored Division Association Dedication at Armor Unit Memorial Park in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Text on the plaque says "Men of the 17th served their country well in the U.S. and Europe, 1942-1945. Let no one forget the sacrifices made for our freedom. Killed and wounded - 745. Missing and captured - 184."