The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Nicks. Nicks enlisted in the Army Air Forces in January of 1941. He received his wings in April of 1942. Nicks was in the 120th Observation Squadron in the 130th Field Artillery Squadron. He flew border patrol missions for a year between Mexico and the United States. He was assigned to Mountain Home Air Base, Idaho to serve as a B-25 instructor until the spring of 1944. He was then transferred in May of 1944 in McCook, Nebraska as a B-29 instructor. He was in the 1st Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, 313th Wing of the 20th Air Force at McCook, Nebraska. Their outfit was sent to Kwajalein, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Japan to name a few. Nicks flew a total of 35 missions. He provides great detail of their missions. He was discharged in January of 1946 with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Enrique Moncada. Moncada joined the Navy in October of 1944. He served aboard the USS Forrest (DMS-24) minesweeper beginning in December of 1944. He performed regular seaman duties and served as gunner on the 40mm gun. They traveled to Okinawa. They did patrol work, screening with small minesweepers and performed local escort missions. Their ship and crew suffered one kamikaze attack. He provides detail of their endeavors to save the ship. He was discharged in June of 1946, but reenlisted in the Navy in June of 1948 and worked up to Seaman 1st Class. In December of 1950 he served aboard the USS Gloucester (PF-22), a patrol frigate and minesweeper. They traveled to Japan, South Korea, Wonsan, Inchon and Kojo. He was then transferred to the USS Mount Baker (AE-4), an ammunition ship, in February of 1952 as a gunner’s mate. He was discharged in June of 1952.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Jenkins. Jenkins joined the Army in early 1942 and was mistakenly sent to Australia before he completed basic training. Once there, he was attached to the 35th Fighter Group as an armorer. Jenkins shares several anecdotes about his time in the service in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. Jenkins returned to the US and became an instructor before the war ended. He was discharged in January 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Officer. Officer joined the Navy in May of 1944. He completed radar school in Point Loma, California. In April of 1945 he went to the New Hebrides Islands, and served aboard a transport ship as a radar operator. He then traveled to Auckland, New Zealand where he went aboard the submarine chaser USS PC-588. His crew traveled around New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Tulagi and the Marshall Islands looking for submarines. He describes the weaponry aboard the PC-588, and his work on sonar duty. They never found a submarine. After the war was over he assisted with looking for downed men in the Pacific. He describes his initiation as a Shellback. He was discharged as Radar Man 3rd Class in May of 1946.

Recital performed at the UNT College of Music Voertman Hall.