The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joedy Adams. The daughter of Naval aviator Joseph Cronin, 12-year-old Adams lived on Kaneohe Naval Air Station in 1941. On 7 December 1941, the drone of Japanese planes shook her family home. When her father left and reported to base, Adams and her mother fled to Honolulu. Their Japanese maid had gone missing earlier that morning; she was later found to be a spy. While Adams was en route to Honolulu, she saw a Japanese plane strafe and kill two men. Eventually, her car came under fire. Arriving safely in Honolulu, Adams had no communication with her father for 10 days, until he finally sent a driver to bring her to Pearl Harbor. As school was temporarily closed, due to the emergency situation, Adams worked in the servicemen’s commissary until she and her mother could fly back to the States. Adams’ father remained at his post and was aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) during the surrender. By the time he retired from service, he had attained the rank of rear admiral.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joedy Adams. The daughter of Naval aviator Joseph Cronin, 12-year-old Adams lived on Kaneohe Naval Air Station in 1941. On 7 December 1941, the drone of Japanese planes shook her family home. When her father left and reported to base, Adams and her mother fled to Honolulu. Their Japanese maid had gone missing earlier that morning; she was later found to be a spy. While Adams was en route to Honolulu, she saw a Japanese plane strafe and kill two men. Eventually, her car came under fire. Arriving safely in Honolulu, Adams had no communication with her father for 10 days, until he finally sent a driver to bring her to Pearl Harbor. As school was temporarily closed, due to the emergency situation, Adams worked in the servicemen’s commissary until she and her mother could fly back to the States. Adams’ father remained at his post and was aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) during the surrender. By the time he retired from service, he had attained the rank of rear admiral.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Amstutz. Amstutz joined the Army Reserve (Student Training Corps) while in college at the University of Tulsa. On May 8, 1943 he was inducted and went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for processing and then to Camp Maxie, Paris, Texas for three months basic training. The Army sent him back to school at the University of Oklahoma where he finished one semester. From there, he went to Camp Claiborne in Louisiana where they were trained to lay pipelines, maintain and repair engines, construct tanks, maintain pumps, etc. Amstutz's unit was put aboard a train, shipped to Oakland, California and put aboard a Liberty ship which sailed for Milne Bay, New Guinea; this was August/September 1944. He provides a nice description of the environment aboard ship for the 18 days it took to get to New Guinea. From there, they moved to Ora Bay and started unloading their equipment at Buna where major battles had already taken place. In Buna, they went inland, built a little dam on a river, laid suction pipe down into it, set up some pumps, and laid pipeline back to the docks; filling up …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Bailey. Bailey joined the Texas National Guard when he was 14 years old, lying about his age. In November 1939, his unit was mobilized and he left for the Philippines with the 36th Division. Bailey shipped overseas and his group was diverted to Australia after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They boarded a Dutch troop ship and headed for Java. On Java, outnumbered and out of ammunition, his unit surrendered to the Japanese and became known as the Lost Battalion. Spending two and a half years imprisoned in Burma, he was beaten repeatedly and forced to build a railway bridge made of steel and bamboo. Natives snuck intelligence to American officers, and in this fashion Bailey learned the war had finally ended. He and fellow POWs repaired the airfield so that they could be evacuated. Bailey returned home in December 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart for the injuries inflicted on him as a prisoner. After his discharge in 1946, he found that he was having trouble with his heart and so was granted 100-percent disability.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Bailey. Bailey joined the Texas National Guard when he was 14 years old, lying about his age. In November 1939, his unit was mobilized and he left for the Philippines with the 36th Division. Bailey shipped overseas and his group was diverted to Australia after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They boarded a Dutch troop ship and headed for Java. On Java, outnumbered and out of ammunition, his unit surrendered to the Japanese and became known as the Lost Battalion. Spending two and a half years imprisoned in Burma, he was beaten repeatedly and forced to build a railway bridge made of steel and bamboo. Natives snuck intelligence to American officers, and in this fashion Bailey learned the war had finally ended. He and fellow POWs repaired the airfield so that they could be evacuated. Bailey returned home in December 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart for the injuries inflicted on him as a prisoner. After his discharge in 1946, he found that he was having trouble with his heart and so was granted 100-percent disability.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Belt. Belt joined the Navy after earning a master's degree and went to midshipman' school. He earned a commission and reported aboard USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37)in May 1943. Belt was aboard when the Tuscaloosa participated in the invasion of France and was at Iwo Jima. He also recalls being off Okinawa. Belt went aboard HMS Duke of York and met Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser one day. He also attended the Japanese Language School and was there when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Belt. Belt joined the Navy after earning a master's degree and went to midshipman' school. He earned a commission and reported aboard USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37)in May 1943. Belt was aboard when the Tuscaloosa participated in the invasion of France and was at Iwo Jima. He also recalls being off Okinawa. Belt went aboard HMS Duke of York and met Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser one day. He also attended the Japanese Language School and was there when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wendell R. Benson. Benson joined the Navy in August of 1943. He was trained as an electrician and then attended submarine school in Groton, Connecticut. Benson then joined the crew of the USS Trutta (SS-421) for three war patrols. He details the advantages of the Tench-class submarines over their predecessors. Benson also tells an amusing story of how the crew celebrated the announcement of the Surrender with a swim call.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wendell R. Benson. Benson joined the Navy in August of 1943. He was trained as an electrician and then attended submarine school in Groton, Connecticut. Benson then joined the crew of the USS Trutta (SS-421) for three war patrols. He details the advantages of the Tench-class submarines over their predecessors. Benson also tells an amusing story of how the crew celebrated the announcement of the Surrender with a swim call.

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 interview with Robert Bland. Bland joined the Navy in April of 1944. He served as Signalman Third-Class aboard the SS Francis Preston Blair (1943). They traveled to Australia, New Zealand, India and Manila picking up and delivering cargo. Bland served aboard the ship until it got stranded on Saumarez Reef in the Coral Sea during a cyclone in 1945. Bland continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Bland. Bland joined the Navy in April of 1944. He served as Signalman Third-Class aboard the SS Francis Preston Blair (1943). They traveled to Australia, New Zealand, India and Manila picking up and delivering cargo. Bland served aboard the ship until it got stranded on Saumarez Reef in the Coral Sea during a cyclone in 1945. Bland continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Bond. Bond joined the Navy in early 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS Callaghan (DD-792), where he ran the handling room, sending ammunition up the hoist. He also was coxswain of a 26-foot gig that would be sent out from the main ship periodically. On night voyages he would communicate with the ship using a bell. He endured a perilous typhoon in the China Sea that lasted three days and caused the ship to roll 62 degrees. At Okinawa he traveled 40 miles in heavy fog to retrieve mail; when he returned, the ship was gone, and he had no choice but to wait for its return. He captured prisoners of war from a sunken Japanese patrol boat; upon returning to the Callaghan, Bond placed the prisoners in a mail bag and sent them across a line to USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Within an hour of the Callaghan’s anticipated departure for the United States, the ship was damaged irreparably by a kamikaze attack. Bond leapt overboard and was rescued by USS Prichett (DD-561). He suffered extensive injuries from the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Bond. Bond joined the Navy in early 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS Callaghan (DD-792), where he ran the handling room, sending ammunition up the hoist. He also was coxswain of a 26-foot gig that would be sent out from the main ship periodically. On night voyages he would communicate with the ship using a bell. He endured a perilous typhoon in the China Sea that lasted three days and caused the ship to roll 62 degrees. At Okinawa he traveled 40 miles in heavy fog to retrieve mail; when he returned, the ship was gone, and he had no choice but to wait for its return. He captured prisoners of war from a sunken Japanese patrol boat; upon returning to the Callaghan, Bond placed the prisoners in a mail bag and sent them across a line to USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Within an hour of the Callaghan’s anticipated departure for the United States, the ship was damaged irreparably by a kamikaze attack. Bond leapt overboard and was rescued by USS Prichett (DD-561). He suffered extensive injuries from the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernie Bowdre. Bowdre joined the Navy in mid-1943. He served as a Storekeeper aboard a liberty ship and traveled to Noumea, New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. He was then assigned to USS President Jackson (APA-18). In 1943, they participated in the Bougainville Campaign, transporting troops from island to island. They landed troops in the reinforcement landing at Lingayen Gulf and Iwo Jima. Bowdre recalls the ship being hit by enemy fire at Iwo. In June of 1945, they completed two round-trips to Manila before the cessation of hostilities. Bowdre returned to the US and received his discharge in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernie Bowdre. Bowdre joined the Navy in mid-1943. He served as a Storekeeper aboard a liberty ship and traveled to Noumea, New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. He was then assigned to USS President Jackson (APA-18). In 1943, they participated in the Bougainville Campaign, transporting troops from island to island. They landed troops in the reinforcement landing at Lingayen Gulf and Iwo Jima. Bowdre recalls the ship being hit by enemy fire at Iwo. In June of 1945, they completed two round-trips to Manila before the cessation of hostilities. Bowdre returned to the US and received his discharge in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with B B Browning. Browning joined the Navy in mid-1943. Beginning mid-1944, he served as Seaman First Class, supporting Marines aboard a troop ship. He recalls his experiences through the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot in June of 1944, and going ashore on Tinian with the Marines. He vividly describes his time on the island, serving on guard duty, communicating with Japanese civilians on the island, supervising work of the remaining Japanese soldiers and serving as yeoman to the captain. He remained on Tinian after the war ended, returning to the US in mid-1946 to receive his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with B B Browning. Browning joined the Navy in mid-1943. Beginning mid-1944, he served as Seaman First Class, supporting Marines aboard a troop ship. He recalls his experiences through the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot in June of 1944, and going ashore on Tinian with the Marines. He vividly describes his time on the island, serving on guard duty, communicating with Japanese civilians on the island, supervising work of the remaining Japanese soldiers and serving as yeoman to the captain. He remained on Tinian after the war ended, returning to the US in mid-1946 to receive his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Brunk. In November 1940, 17-year-old Brunk joined the Navy. Upon finishing hospital corps school, he was assigned to the USS Curtiss (AV-4), a seaplane tender at Pearl Harbor. While on liberty ashore on the morning of 7 December, he received orders to report to his station. As he passed Battleship Row, he gaped at the extensive damage to other ships and soon found the Curtiss listing. He climbed aboard and fulfilled his duty of collecting and identifying the deceased. Brunk later sailed with the Curtiss to New Caledonia to set up a seaplane base. At Espiritu Santo the Curtiss became a flagship, with Admiral McCain aboard. Brunk was later transferred to Los Alamitos Naval Air Station as the senior pharmacist’s mate for CASU-33. After making chief, he developed an ulcer and was put on limited duty until the end of the war. Returning to full duty in October 1945, Brunk spent some time aboard the USS Dorothea Dix (AP-67) before his discharge in June 1946, whereupon he went to work for the VA, retiring as a hospital director.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Brunk. In November 1940, 17-year-old Brunk joined the Navy. Upon finishing hospital corps school, he was assigned to the USS Curtiss (AV-4), a seaplane tender at Pearl Harbor. While on liberty ashore on the morning of 7 December, he received orders to report to his station. As he passed Battleship Row, he gaped at the extensive damage to other ships and soon found the Curtiss listing. He climbed aboard and fulfilled his duty of collecting and identifying the deceased. Brunk later sailed with the Curtiss to New Caledonia to set up a seaplane base. At Espiritu Santo the Curtiss became a flagship, with Admiral McCain aboard. Brunk was later transferred to Los Alamitos Naval Air Station as the senior pharmacist’s mate for CASU-33. After making chief, he developed an ulcer and was put on limited duty until the end of the war. Returning to full duty in October 1945, Brunk spent some time aboard the USS Dorothea Dix (AP-67) before his discharge in June 1946, whereupon he went to work for the VA, retiring as a hospital director.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Brunton. Brunton was born in Glouster, Ohio in 1924. Drafted at age 18, he went into the Navy and attended boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He was then selected for training in sonar. Upon completion of the sound school he received training in both surface and air search radar. He tells of going aboard the USS Callaghan (DD-792) and being seasick during four days of the shakedown cruise. He recalls the ship being involved in bombarding Okinawa in early 1945, where it fought off a kamikaze attack. Brunton also tells of a Japanese two-man submarine surfacing and being destroyed by the guns of the Callahan. During July 1945 the ship was on picket station off Okinawa when it was hit by a kamikaze and sunk. He was picked up by the USS Crescent City (APA-125) and eventually returned home on the USS Warren (APA-53). He was discharged 17 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Brunton. Brunton was born in Glouster, Ohio in 1924. Drafted at age 18, he went into the Navy and attended boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He was then selected for training in sonar. Upon completion of the sound school he received training in both surface and air search radar. He tells of going aboard the USS Callaghan (DD-792) and being seasick during four days of the shakedown cruise. He recalls the ship being involved in bombarding Okinawa in early 1945, where it fought off a kamikaze attack. Brunton also tells of a Japanese two-man submarine surfacing and being destroyed by the guns of the Callahan. During July 1945 the ship was on picket station off Okinawa when it was hit by a kamikaze and sunk. He was picked up by the USS Crescent City (APA-125) and eventually returned home on the USS Warren (APA-53). He was discharged 17 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Brush. Brush was assigned to serve as the Chief Engineer of the Philippine Manufacturing Company in Manila, before World War II. He and his wife traveled to Manila in May of 1941 and operated the factory until the end of December. He and his wife were taken prisoner into Santo Tomas Internment Camp in January of 1942. Brush shares details of the accommodations, building structure, atmosphere, food rations, starvation, illnesses, separated living conditions of men, women and children as well as their required daily work. They were later moved to Los Baños Internment Camp. In December of 1943 his wife, along with other women from Santo Tomas, were brought to Los Baños and allowed to live together as a family. Brush provides vivid details of their rescue in February of 1945.