The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.C. Kerr. Kerr was born in Dillard, Oklahoma in 1921. Joining the Navy in 1939, Kerr was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43) after attending boot camp in San Diego, California. He began on the job motor machinist training in the engine room while aboard. In 1941 he was transferred to the USS Washington (BB-56) as she began convoy duty in the Atlantic. In September 1942 the ship went to New Caledonia. Kerr tells of the ship being involved in a naval battle near Guadalcanal in November. In 1943, Kerr was transferred into the submarine service. Returning to San Francisco he traveled by troop train to New London, Connecticut to begin training. He describes the various aspects of the training including the use of the Momsen escape lung. After receiving additional training in submarine engineering school, he was sent to Milne Bay, New Guinea and went aboard the USS Dace (SS-247). He describes being on five war patrols which included transporting Australian commandos prior to an island invasion, laying mines, and attacks on Japanese ships. Kerr also recounts the rescue of the crew of the USS Dater (SS-227). …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Everett Reamer. Reamer was born in Elizabethtown, Ohio 20 January 1915. On 1 February 1941, he joined the Army. He arrived at Manila on 21 April 1941 aboard the USS Republic (AP-33). He went to Corregidor where he was assigned to the 60th Coast Artillery and began six weeks of basic training. While the attacks on Cavite Naval Base could be seen from Corregidor, Reamer was not involved in any action until 29 December 1941, at which time Corregidor was subjected to relentless shelling and bombing. Reamer comments on casualties due to physical and mental injury. Corregidor surrendered 7 May 1942 and Reamer and other prisoners of war went aboard a ship bound for Manila. They marched to Bilibid Prison, then on to Cabanatuan. He comments of the sub-human treatment given the POWs resulting in many deaths due to abuse, malaria, dysentery and starvation. During September, he was put aboard the Totori Maru bound for Osaka. He describes specific incidents of severe physical mistreatment. He was even tried by a panel of Japanese soldiers and was sentenced to one year of solitary confinement in Sakai Prison. He describes …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jose Soliz. Soliz was drafted into the Army in April, 1941. In early 1945, Soliz went to the Philippines for the liberation. He served as a machine gunner.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vic Niemeyer. Niemeyer was born in Houston, Texas on 28 September 1919. Graduating from the University of Texas in June 1941, he entered the Naval Reserve Officers Training School at Northwestern University in Chicago in September. Receiving a commission upon graduation in January 1942 he went to New London, Connecticut and reported aboard the USS R-18 (SS-95), a World War I submarine. Niemeyer recalls going to sea two days after arriving, trying to learn the functions of a submarine and getting seasick while doing so. In May they departed for Bermuda and he remembers the boat being attacked by an American plane that dropped a bomb near them. The near miss damaged the boat requiring numerous repairs. In February 1944, Niemeyer reported aboard the USS Seacat (SS-399) and was assigned as officer of the deck. He tells of the first war patrol during which they sunk a tanker and recalls being on three more patrols and describes the types of ships that were sunk.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Drastata. Drastata was born in El Campo, Texas on 1 August 1924 and entered the Army Air Forces in March 1943. After receiving initial training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri he was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he was assigned to the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403rd Troop Carrier Group. During July 1943 the unit went on board the USAT Maui bound for Australia. Drastata tells of the 28 day trip and describes the King Neptune ceremony when crossing the Equator. He describes the uncomfortable sleeping accommodations coupled with extensive rain and swarms of mosquitoes encountered at Port Moresby, New Guinea. He was assigned to communications assisting in duties that involved flag or light signals, land lines, switchboards and public address systems. The unit moved to various locations including Biak where he recounts an accident that claimed the life of a young officer. On 3 February 1945, the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron dropped paratroopers on the Los Banos prison camp to free the allied captives. Although Drastata was not personally involved in the operation he discusses various facets of this successful operation. He returned to the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Knouff. Knouff joined the Coast Guard in February of 1942. He served aboard a patrol boat in charge of depth charges. They patrolled the shipping lanes between the US and Cuba. He later served as a Leading Seaman aboard a yard oiler, and participated in the Battle of Leyte in October of 1944. They traveled to Luzon, Mindoro and Manila in the Philippines and remained in that area through early 1946. Knouff was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Gardner. Gardner joined the Navy in March of 1943. He served as Storekeeper First-Class. In December he deployed to New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), where all supply work was being conducted. Gardner worked in an oil and grease warehouse for the duration of the war. He shares details of his living and working conditions on the island. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.C. Kerr. Kerr was born in Dillard, Oklahoma in 1921. Joining the Navy in 1939, Kerr was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43) after attending boot camp in San Diego, California. He began on the job motor machinist training in the engine room while aboard. In 1941 he was transferred to the USS Washington (BB-56) as she began convoy duty in the Atlantic. In September 1942 the ship went to New Caledonia. Kerr tells of the ship being involved in a naval battle near Guadalcanal in November. In 1943, Kerr was transferred into the submarine service. Returning to San Francisco he traveled by troop train to New London, Connecticut to begin training. He describes the various aspects of the training including the use of the Momsen escape lung. After receiving additional training in submarine engineering school, he was sent to Milne Bay, New Guinea and went aboard the USS Dace (SS-247). He describes being on five war patrols which included transporting Australian commandos prior to an island invasion, laying mines, and attacks on Japanese ships. Kerr also recounts the rescue of the crew of the USS Dater (SS-227). …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Drastata. Drastata was born in El Campo, Texas on 1 August 1924 and entered the Army Air Forces in March 1943. After receiving initial training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri he was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he was assigned to the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403rd Troop Carrier Group. During July 1943 the unit went on board the USAT Maui bound for Australia. Drastata tells of the 28 day trip and describes the King Neptune ceremony when crossing the Equator. He describes the uncomfortable sleeping accommodations coupled with extensive rain and swarms of mosquitoes encountered at Port Moresby, New Guinea. He was assigned to communications assisting in duties that involved flag or light signals, land lines, switchboards and public address systems. The unit moved to various locations including Biak where he recounts an accident that claimed the life of a young officer. On 3 February 1945, the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron dropped paratroopers on the Los Banos prison camp to free the allied captives. Although Drastata was not personally involved in the operation he discusses various facets of this successful operation. He returned to the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Knouff. Knouff joined the Coast Guard in February of 1942. He served aboard a patrol boat in charge of depth charges. They patrolled the shipping lanes between the US and Cuba. He later served as a Leading Seaman aboard a yard oiler, and participated in the Battle of Leyte in October of 1944. They traveled to Luzon, Mindoro and Manila in the Philippines and remained in that area through early 1946. Knouff was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Gardner. Gardner joined the Navy in March of 1943. He served as Storekeeper First-Class. In December he deployed to New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), where all supply work was being conducted. Gardner worked in an oil and grease warehouse for the duration of the war. He shares details of his living and working conditions on the island. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Everett Reamer. Reamer was born in Elizabethtown, Ohio 20 January 1915. On 1 February 1941, he joined the Army. He arrived at Manila on 21 April 1941 aboard the USS Republic (AP-33). He went to Corregidor where he was assigned to the 60th Coast Artillery and began six weeks of basic training. While the attacks on Cavite Naval Base could be seen from Corregidor, Reamer was not involved in any action until 29 December 1941, at which time Corregidor was subjected to relentless shelling and bombing. Reamer comments on casualties due to physical and mental injury. Corregidor surrendered 7 May 1942 and Reamer and other prisoners of war went aboard a ship bound for Manila. They marched to Bilibid Prison, then on to Cabanatuan. He comments of the sub-human treatment given the POWs resulting in many deaths due to abuse, malaria, dysentery and starvation. During September, he was put aboard the Totori Maru bound for Osaka. He describes specific incidents of severe physical mistreatment. He was even tried by a panel of Japanese soldiers and was sentenced to one year of solitary confinement in Sakai Prison. He describes …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jose Soliz. Soliz was drafted into the Army in April, 1941. In early 1945, Soliz went to the Philippines for the liberation. He served as a machine gunner.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vic Niemeyer. Niemeyer was born in Houston, Texas on 28 September 1919. Graduating from the University of Texas in June 1941, he entered the Naval Reserve Officers Training School at Northwestern University in Chicago in September. Receiving a commission upon graduation in January 1942 he went to New London, Connecticut and reported aboard the USS R-18 (SS-95), a World War I submarine. Niemeyer recalls going to sea two days after arriving, trying to learn the functions of a submarine and getting seasick while doing so. In May they departed for Bermuda and he remembers the boat being attacked by an American plane that dropped a bomb near them. The near miss damaged the boat requiring numerous repairs. In February 1944, Niemeyer reported aboard the USS Seacat (SS-399) and was assigned as officer of the deck. He tells of the first war patrol during which they sunk a tanker and recalls being on three more patrols and describes the types of ships that were sunk.