The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Woods. Woods was born in Phillips County, Montana 9 February 1921. One of nine children, he describes how the Great Depression affected his family. After graduation from high school in 1938, he worked various jobs until joining the Navy 14 December 1940. After completing boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois, he entered hospital corpsman school at Norfolk, Virginia for twelve weeks. After working in the diet kitchen at the Annapolis Naval Hospital, Woods was sent to dental school. Upon graduation he became an assistant to a dental surgeon. In 1943 he was assigned to the USS Saunter (AM-295) and recalls several incidents involving attacks by kamikaze aircraft. Woods also recalls going aboard the stricken USS Franklin (CV-13) to assist with the wounded. He remembers seeing the 503rd parachuting on to Corregidor and tells how many were killed by ground fire while still in the air. He also recalls action that took place on Fort Drum and the measures taken to eliminate the enemy. While sweeping mines around Corregidor the Saunter hit a mine which blew off twenty feet of the keel, killing and injuring …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Darrell McFadden. McFadden joined the Merchant Marines in March of 1944. He was traveled to Normandy, France; Antwerp, Belgium; Hull, England and the West Indies. In their convoys they hauled bomb casings and other equipment and supplies. When traveling aboard various liberty and victory ships, he served in utility and as hot shell man on the four-inch gun. He was discharged in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Steele. Steele was working in a machine shop doing precision grinding when the war started. He was drafted in February 1943 and a woman took his place in the factory. His eyesight disqualified him from combat duty so he was trained as an x-ray technician because of some past expertise in photography. He was stationed in Florida at an airbase. In January 1946, Steele was discharged. Steele also describes the work in the service his wife did during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nels Farmer. He was born in Wortham, Texas 24 December 1924 and enlisted in the Navy in 1943. Completing boot camp at San Diego, California, he was sent to Farragut, Idaho as assistant gunnery instructor. After nine months he was assigned to the USS Willard A. Holbrook (AP-44) working in various capacities. After arriving at Hollandia, New Guniea he was assigned as a machine gunner to USS PT-146 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 12. He served on board for nine months and saw no action during that time. He returned to the United States and was discharged March 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Davidson. Davidson was drafted into the Army in September of 1941. He was assigned to the 252nd Coast Artillery. He describes basic training, including food and clothing, and the ship he went aboard on his first assignment to Trinidad, the SS Evangeline (II). From February 1942 to March of 1944 they were stationed on the island of Trinidad off the coast of Venezuela. In March of 1944 he was transferred to the 530th Field Artillery Battalion in the 5th Army. They arrived in Italy in March of 1945. He was in charge of the advance detail, where he supervised the layout of the gun position, including moving the guns, leveling and digging out the ground and sandbagging. He describes their maneuvers through Italy, getting shelled heavily in some places, and details some of the people and places he witnessed. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Steele. Steele was working in a machine shop doing precision grinding when the war started. He was drafted in February 1943 and a woman took his place in the factory. His eyesight disqualified him from combat duty so he was trained as an x-ray technician because of some past expertise in photography. He was stationed in Florida at an airbase. In January 1946, Steele was discharged. Steele also describes the work in the service his wife did during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Duran. Duran joined the Navy in 1927. After achieving warrant officer, Duran was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48) when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He was at the motor launch awaiting transport back to his ship when the Japanese attacked. When the dust cleared, Duran found himself in charge of the Japanese midget submarine Ha-19. Duran shares several anecdotes about his service during the war in the Pacific, including outfitting the USS Trout (SS-202) for a trip to Corregidor; ditching a PBY in the ocean; and being aboard the USS Marvin H. McIntyre at Okinawa. Duran retired from the Navy in 1957.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Darrell McFadden. McFadden joined the Merchant Marines in March of 1944. He was traveled to Normandy, France; Antwerp, Belgium; Hull, England and the West Indies. In their convoys they hauled bomb casings and other equipment and supplies. When traveling aboard various liberty and victory ships, he served in utility and as hot shell man on the four-inch gun. He was discharged in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Woods. Woods was born in Phillips County, Montana 9 February 1921. One of nine children, he describes how the Great Depression affected his family. After graduation from high school in 1938, he worked various jobs until joining the Navy 14 December 1940. After completing boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois, he entered hospital corpsman school at Norfolk, Virginia for twelve weeks. After working in the diet kitchen at the Annapolis Naval Hospital, Woods was sent to dental school. Upon graduation he became an assistant to a dental surgeon. In 1943 he was assigned to the USS Saunter (AM-295) and recalls several incidents involving attacks by kamikaze aircraft. Woods also recalls going aboard the stricken USS Franklin (CV-13) to assist with the wounded. He remembers seeing the 503rd parachuting on to Corregidor and tells how many were killed by ground fire while still in the air. He also recalls action that took place on Fort Drum and the measures taken to eliminate the enemy. While sweeping mines around Corregidor the Saunter hit a mine which blew off twenty feet of the keel, killing and injuring …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nels Farmer. He was born in Wortham, Texas 24 December 1924 and enlisted in the Navy in 1943. Completing boot camp at San Diego, California, he was sent to Farragut, Idaho as assistant gunnery instructor. After nine months he was assigned to the USS Willard A. Holbrook (AP-44) working in various capacities. After arriving at Hollandia, New Guniea he was assigned as a machine gunner to USS PT-146 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 12. He served on board for nine months and saw no action during that time. He returned to the United States and was discharged March 1945.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the laundry service, Graves getting music on the radio during their flight, expecting to start performing guard duty, and missing the chance to see Joe DiMaggio play baseball the day before.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with C. Douglas Dillon where he discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the Navy. He describes his career in the navy serving out of various ports across the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Nelson, where he discusses his childhood and what led him to joining the Navy. He describes his experiences in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two and the lasting impact it had on him.