The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard K. Bentley. Bentley finished high school in Oklahoma nad joined the Navy in October, 1942. After boot camp, Bentley served with a Marine communications unit in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea before being assigned aboard the USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard K. Bentley. Bentley finished high school in Oklahoma nad joined the Navy in October, 1942. After boot camp, Bentley served with a Marine communications unit in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea before being assigned aboard the USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hubert Douglas Crotts. Crotts joined the Marine Corps in July 1941. He was trained as a tanker, but realized he was claustrophobic. Crotts became a ground guide for the tanks and helped direct their fire from outside of the vehicle. He was sent to the Pacific as a part of the 2nd Marine Division. Crotts landed at Tarawa and tells of the difficulties that the tanks faced. He was awarded a Navy Cross by Admiral Nimitz. Crotts met Admiral Nimitz earlier on the island after the battle. He had a short conversation in which Nimitz asked several questions about the battle. Later, Crotts landed with his unit on Saipan where he was wounded while directing tanks. He was evacuated to a hospital and underwent several operations for his wound. Crotts left the service soon after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hubert Douglas Crotts. Crotts joined the Marine Corps in July 1941. He was trained as a tanker, but realized he was claustrophobic. Crotts became a ground guide for the tanks and helped direct their fire from outside of the vehicle. He was sent to the Pacific as a part of the 2nd Marine Division. Crotts landed at Tarawa and tells of the difficulties that the tanks faced. He was awarded a Navy Cross by Admiral Nimitz. Crotts met Admiral Nimitz earlier on the island after the battle. He had a short conversation in which Nimitz asked several questions about the battle. Later, Crotts landed with his unit on Saipan where he was wounded while directing tanks. He was evacuated to a hospital and underwent several operations for his wound. Crotts left the service soon after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Peters. Peters joined the Navy in February 1944 and was trained as a motor machinist mate. He was sent to USS LSM-96. Peters describes the machinery he worked on and his usual duties. He describes an incident when the enlisted men in the engine room repainted pipes to fool a new officer and the disciplinary action that followed. Peters mentions unloading equipment at Okinawa and seeing a merchant ship get hit by a torpedo. He discusses how his ship was used to haul ammunition and fight fires caused by kamikaze attacks. Peters describes being sent to China at the end of the war and being transferred to LC(FF)-789. He was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Peters. Peters joined the Navy in February 1944 and was trained as a motor machinist mate. He was sent to USS LSM-96. Peters describes the machinery he worked on and his usual duties. He describes an incident when the enlisted men in the engine room repainted pipes to fool a new officer and the disciplinary action that followed. Peters mentions unloading equipment at Okinawa and seeing a merchant ship get hit by a torpedo. He discusses how his ship was used to haul ammunition and fight fires caused by kamikaze attacks. Peters describes being sent to China at the end of the war and being transferred to LC(FF)-789. He was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Silber. Silber was born in 1925 and recalls life during the depression years. In June 1943, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Hood, Texas for basic training. While there, he was accepted into air cadet training. The program was cancelled before he got started and he was sent to the 13th Armored Division at Camp Bowie, Texas. While there, he applied for Officer Candidate School and was accepted. After being commissioned, he was sent to Tacloban, where he was assigned as a platoon leader in G Company, 2nd Battalion, 34th Infantry. He recalls landing on Mindoro and describes some of the action that followed where he was severely wounded. Following a hospital stay in the Philippines he was put aboard USS Hope (AH-7) and then spent time in several Army hospitals, including Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Silber. Silber was born in 1925 and recalls life during the depression years. In June 1943, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Hood, Texas for basic training. While there, he was accepted into air cadet training. The program was cancelled before he got started and he was sent to the 13th Armored Division at Camp Bowie, Texas. While there, he applied for Officer Candidate School and was accepted. After being commissioned, he was sent to Tacloban, where he was assigned as a platoon leader in G Company, 2nd Battalion, 34th Infantry. He recalls landing on Mindoro and describes some of the action that followed where he was severely wounded. Following a hospital stay in the Philippines he was put aboard USS Hope (AH-7) and then spent time in several Army hospitals, including Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center.

Transcript of an oral interview with Howard B. “Jeep” Stebelton. Born in 1922, he was drafted into the Army Air Force in January, 1943. He was trained in airplane mechanics and aerial engineering. He describes aerial gunnery training at Kingman Army Airfield, Arizona. In the summer of 1944, he was sent to England and assigned to the 91st Bombardment Group, 324th Bomb Squadron. As top turret gunner, he went on missions to bomb targets in Germany, including a railroad yard in Hamm and an engine factory in Frankfurt. He describes a mission to bomb a synthetic oil refinery in Merseburg on which the plane sustained major damage, but was able to return to the base. One mission involved aiding General Patton by bombing German pillboxes in Metz, France. He describes his typical day. He recounts an instance in which he manually cranked open the bomb bay doors. He flew eighteen of his thirty-five missions in a plane named Mih Ideal. He flew his last mission in March, 1945. He was discharged in September, 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with Howard B. “Jeep” Stebelton. Born in 1922, he was drafted into the Army Air Force in January, 1943. He was trained in airplane mechanics and aerial engineering. He describes aerial gunnery training at Kingman Army Airfield, Arizona. In the summer of 1944, he was sent to England and assigned to the 91st Bombardment Group, 324th Bomb Squadron. As top turret gunner, he went on missions to bomb targets in Germany, including a railroad yard in Hamm and an engine factory in Frankfurt. He describes a mission to bomb a synthetic oil refinery in Merseburg on which the plane sustained major damage, but was able to return to the base. One mission involved aiding General Patton by bombing German pillboxes in Metz, France. He describes his typical day. He recounts an instance in which he manually cranked open the bomb bay doors. He flew eighteen of his thirty-five missions in a plane named Mih Ideal. He flew his last mission in March, 1945. He was discharged in September, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Tacker. Tacker was born in Cornith, Mississippi on 6 November 1924. Enlisting in the US Navy in January 1943 he underwent boot camp at San Diego, California. He then attended quartermaster school. In August 1943 he was assigned to the USS Buchanan (DD-484). He recalls cruising off the coast of Bougainville when the ship was subjected to shelling by Japanese shore batteries resulting in casualties. He tells of going aboard the USS Hazelwood as the helmsman soon after it was hit severely damaged by kamikazes and describes the death and destruction he observed. Tacker recalls being in the typhoon during which the USS Spence, USS Monahan and USS Hull were sunk. After the war, he stayed in the Navy and underwent flight training earning his wings in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Tacker. Tacker was born in Cornith, Mississippi on 6 November 1924. Enlisting in the US Navy in January 1943 he underwent boot camp at San Diego, California. He then attended quartermaster school. In August 1943 he was assigned to the USS Buchanan (DD-484). He recalls cruising off the coast of Bougainville when the ship was subjected to shelling by Japanese shore batteries resulting in casualties. He tells of going aboard the USS Hazelwood as the helmsman soon after it was hit severely damaged by kamikazes and describes the death and destruction he observed. Tacker recalls being in the typhoon during which the USS Spence, USS Monahan and USS Hull were sunk. After the war, he stayed in the Navy and underwent flight training earning his wings in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Vickers. Vickers was born in 1923. He joined the Army in 1942, and served as a rifleman and a scout with the 36th Infantry Division. The Division landed in North Africa on 13 April 1943. They participated in operations in Italy, the south of France and Germany. Vickers was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Vickers. Vickers was born in 1923. He joined the Army in 1942, and served as a rifleman and a scout with the 36th Infantry Division. The Division landed in North Africa on 13 April 1943. They participated in operations in Italy, the south of France and Germany. Vickers was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James R. Williams. Williams was born in Des Moines, Iowa on 20 October 1923. In January 1943 he entered the Navy and reported to Naval Station Great Lakes. Following boot camp, Williams reported to the Naval Aviation Ordnance School at Millington, Tennessee. A physical problem prevented him from then going to learn aerial gunnery at Pensacola. Instead he was sent to the Navy Bomb Disposal School on the American University campus, Washington DC. After three months learning on Allied and Axis ordnance, his unit, Mine Explosive Investigation Unit 4, was sent to Hawaii. There they dismantled Japanese munitions and Williams, who had drafting skills, made drawings of them for dissemination to the fleet. They then were sent to Guam to find and dispose of unexploded ordnance and disarm a cache of Japanese ordnance captured on Eniwetok. While MEIW 4 was on Guam, the Japanese surrendered. The unit returned to Hawaii. Williams did drawings of a captured Japanese suicide torpedo, a Kaiten. Then he and five others flew to Okinawa to clear four ships that had sunk in a typhoon, blocking a harbor. While there, Williams’ discharge date approached. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James R. Williams. Williams was born in Des Moines, Iowa on 20 October 1923. In January 1943 he entered the Navy and reported to Naval Station Great Lakes. Following boot camp, Williams reported to the Naval Aviation Ordnance School at Millington, Tennessee. A physical problem prevented him from then going to learn aerial gunnery at Pensacola. Instead he was sent to the Navy Bomb Disposal School on the American University campus, Washington DC. After three months learning on Allied and Axis ordnance, his unit, Mine Explosive Investigation Unit 4, was sent to Hawaii. There they dismantled Japanese munitions and Williams, who had drafting skills, made drawings of them for dissemination to the fleet. They then were sent to Guam to find and dispose of unexploded ordnance and disarm a cache of Japanese ordnance captured on Eniwetok. While MEIW 4 was on Guam, the Japanese surrendered. The unit returned to Hawaii. Williams did drawings of a captured Japanese suicide torpedo, a Kaiten. Then he and five others flew to Okinawa to clear four ships that had sunk in a typhoon, blocking a harbor. While there, Williams’ discharge date approached. …