The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barney Tarver. Tarver joined the Marine Corps in 1944. He was sent to the Pacific as a replacement. Tarver joined the 1st Marine Division on Pavuvu and took part in the invasion of Okinawa. He describes the conditions of the battlefield and the tactics used against dug-in Japanese defenders. Tarver describes being picked for stretcher duty and seeing men break due to the stress of battle. He traveled with the division to China for occupation duty and returned home for discharge.

Transcript of an oral interview with Gordon L. Schaefer. Born in 1924, he was drafted into the Army in 1943. He talks about basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He shares an anecdote about witnessing an encounter between a bus driver and an African American soldier. He was transported to England aboard the SS Argentina in June, 1944. Assigned to the 29th Infantry Division Company C, he landed in France in July. He served as a rifleman in addition to carrying a radio. He describes entering Saint-Lô, moving to the front lines, and fighting hedgerow to hedgerow. He recalls seeing Dinah Shore in a USO show. After the campaign through Normandy, he participated in the assault on Brest, France. He talks about Hill 103 and German tanks as well as fighting German soldiers barricaded in a train. He shares an anecdote about the train after the surrender of the German soldiers. He describes being transported through Paris to Holland in a boxcar. He talks about his three-day-pass in Brunssum, Holland. He describes fighting to reach a railroad track in Geilenkirchen, Germany. It was during this engagement, in November, 1944, that he was injured by shrapnel. After being treated in Maastricht, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Elvin Moore. Moore served as an Army Medic on Guam. He was drafted in 1943 and after training was sent to Guam to work at an Army hospital camp. His father knew Lyndon B. Johnson and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. One of his father's letters led to an invitation to visit Nimitz at CINCPAC headquarters. He remained on Guam until the end of the war. He was discharged January 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with Joseph M. "Joe" Base. Base begins by discussing growing up during the Depression. In 1942, after he finished high school, Base enlisted in the Navy. When he finished basic training, Base attended signalman school before being assigned to submarine school at New London, Connecticut. Upon completing school, Base was assigned to the USS Redfin (SS-272) at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Eventually, the Redfin made its way to the Panama Canal where it practiced firing torpedoes for a few days. Soon, they headed for Milne Bay, New Guinea and then to Darwin, Australia. From there, Base describes events that occurred during trhe Redfin's war patrols in the South China Seas and Celebes Sea: making contact with other US submarines; following Japanese tanker convoys; sinking Japanese destroyers; making torpedo attacks on convoys, being attacked with depth charges; enjoying some rest between patrols at Fremantle, Australia; rescuing survivors from the USS Flier (SS-250). Base served as a quartermaster aboard the Redfin, where he assisted the navigator in charting the ship's location, stood watches and steered the ship. After four or five war patrols, the Redfin returned to California for an overhaul where it received updated mine locating equipment. When …

Transcript of an oral interview with John P. "J.P." Boswell. When Boswell finished high school in 1942, he went to work in a machine shop to help pay for college. He went to Notre Dame, where he joined the US Marine Corps in June, 1943. Boswell describes riding the train from his home to Parris Island, the drill instructors there and the training regimen. When he finished boot camp, Boswell was assigned to Drill Instructor School. Before long, Boswell went to Sea School and reported shortly thereafter to the USS Bennington (CV-20) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He served as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the ship. Boswell shares many anecdotes about life aboard ship: going through the Panama Canal, liberty on Mog Mog, the harbor at Ulithi, etc. Eventually, Boswell was assigned to shore duty. He rode a breeches bouy to a destroyer and then was delivered to Guam. There, he was assigned to the unit of Marines that served as Admiral Nimitz's bodyguards. Boswell was with Admiral Nimitz aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) for the Japanese surrender.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Cranefield, Jr. Cranefield joined the US Navy in 1943, and after attending boot camp in Farragut, Idaho, was sent to corpsman school in San Diego, California. Upon completion of the corpsman training he underwent amphibious training. Then he boarded the USS Hansford (APA-106). He tells of joining the 1st Battalion, 27th Regiment of the 5th Marines at Hilo, Hawaii and of landing on Saipan. He describes the combat actions taking place during the four days following the landing. He recalls being involved in action on Iwo Jima, after which time he went back aboard the Hansford. He was aboard when it delivered the Army’s 27th Infantry Division to Okinawa. He describes the operating room aboard the USS Hansford. Following the battle for Okinawa the ship sailed to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands to undergo training for the invasion of Japan. Following the surrender of Japan the ship participated in Operation Magic Carpet until the program was terminated. Soon afterwards the ship went to Norfolk, Virginia, where it was decommissioned.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irwin Lejman. Lejman joined the Navy in 1942 and received basic training in Farragut. Upon completion, he was assigned to a pipe and copper shop at the destroyer base in San Diego. He was reassigned to the USS Hansford (APA-106) and worked in the engine room, repairing pipes and relaying phone communication about the ship’s speed and direction. At Iwo Jima, he was given an ad hoc battle station as loader of a 20-milliter gun. His first day shooting at planes, the ship killed 17 U.S. troops on land. The Hansford had tremendous carrying capacity for equipment and troops. The doctors aboard treated wounded from Iwo Jima, and the ship transported Japanese prisoners of war to Yokohama. Lejman was 200 yards away from the USS Missouri (BB-63) for the signing of the surrender. He toured Hiroshima after it was left in ruins. Lejman returned home and was discharged in 1946. He became a stationary engineer for skyscrapers in Chicago, and two of his sons followed suit.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Mosier. Mosier joined the Army in 1946, having been a high school student during the war, and was sent to Japan for occupation duty. Upon arrival, he was assigned to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East as a personal aide to the presiding justices. He was on friendly terms with all of them, and among the list of tasks he performed were repairing a family heirloom for Sir William Webb, playing bridge with Judge Bernard, picking out Christmas gifts for the Queen of Netherlands on behalf of Judge Röling, listening to General Zaryanov's jokes, and attending a special event at the Imperial Palace which no one outside the Imperial family had attended in over a century. After returning home from the tribunal one year later, Mosier visited Judge Higgins at the Massachusetts Superior Court and was invited to sit with him at the bench.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn E. Neff. After Neff finished high school, he entered the service in March, 1945. Neff discusses several anecdotes about his training days at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. While he was training, the war in Europe ended. Neff headed for the Pacific and contracted pneumonia aboard the troopship and spent most of his time on the voyage in sick bay. En route to the Philippines, the atomic bombs were dropped and the war ended. Neff's group went on to Leyte and he describes his impressions of camp life near Tacloban. While there, Neff recalls participating in some mopping-up operations, and pulling guard duty to a Japanese prison stockade. After several months in the Philippines, Neff was transferred up to Guam. At Guam, Neff encountered his high school algebra teacher and another classmate from back home. They toured the island together. Also on Guam, Neff put up a lot of communication wires in the coconut trees and laid cables underground. Neff left Guam and returned to the US for discharge in November, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lincoln Grahlfs. Grahlfs joined the Navy in October 1942 after working at Grumman. Upon completion of boot camp, quartermaster’s school, and visual communications training, he deployed to the Pacific aboard the USS Undaunted (ATA-199). He towed the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) from Kerama Retto to the States, traveling through a typhoon; after the storm cleared, the tow line parted nine times. After the war, his tug was busy helping ships that overestimated their capabilities in a hurry to get home. He was transferred to the USS ATR-40 for the Bikini atomic bomb testing, where he was 10 miles from the target during the detonations. His salvage unit was ordered to spend more than what was thought to be a safe amount of time aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), without safety equipment, operating pumps to keep it afloat. Grahlfs later based his dissertation on interviews with veterans who had been exposed to nuclear weapons testing; he found that although more than half reported illness due to radiation exposure, the military never recognized their claims. When Grahlfs returned to the States, he was treated for rare symptoms that fascinated …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tom English. English was born 17 October 1926 in Manhattan, New York. As a 17 year old in 1944, he enlisted in the Navy. After boot camp at the Naval Training Center at Sampson, New York, he went to Treasure Island where he reported aboard USS Hugh Hadley (DD-774) and sailed with a task force headed for Okinawa. Hadley escorted cargo ships during the battle and was eventually assigned picket duty. On 11 May 1945, Hadley shot down 23 Japanese aircraft, a record, but was also hit by bombs and kamikazes. English was in the ammo handling room for mount 51. One of the bomb hits knocked him unconscious, cutting his head and crushing one of his feet. He came to on deck as the ship was being abandoned. Despite the damage, Hadley stayed afloat and was towed to the West Coast, where she was scrapped. English went aboard an APA, then a hospital ship. He received treatment at Tinian, Pearl Harbor, Oakland, San Diego, and finally St. Albans in New York. After his foot healed, he was assigned briefly to USS Leyte (CV-32). He was discharged from the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Boffi. Boffi joined the Navy in September 1942 and received basic training in Newport. Boffi was assigned to the USS Bernadou (DD-153) as a machinist???s mate. He participated in the invasions of Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio. In June 1944 he was transferred to Norfolk to oversee the construction of the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774). He joined the ship???s company, working in the engine room. He was badly burned during the kamikaze attack off of Okinawa, when damage to the ship sent hot steam blasting toward him as he escaped the engine room. A corpsman rescued Boffi, administered morphine. Boffi awoke two days later aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) and was transferred to Tinian, where he received the Purple Heart. He spent the next four months recovering and was discharged in November 1945. Boffi worked for the American Society of Safety Engineers until he retired at the age of 84.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Martin Weibel. Weibel was drafted into the Navy in April of 1944. He served aboard the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) as a watertender, working with the boilers in the ship???s engine room. He provides some detail of his work and life on board the Hadley. In December of 1944 they traveled to Leyte and Saipan. The Hadley provided escort duty and served on picket duty. Weibel describes a severe attack by enemy aircraft in May of 1945. Though greatly damaged the crew managed to get the Hadley to Kerama Retto for repairs. Weibel describes their adventures through a typhoon. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Wright. Wright joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He completed training as a bombsight mechanic, and served aboard a B-29 with the 331st Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force. In 1944, Wright learned how to maintain the Norden bombsight. In April of 1945 he deployed to Guam. They completed missions over Japan, bombing enemy petroleum industries. He returned to the US in December of 1945. Their group was inactivated in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lamartine James. James enlisted in the Army in October of 1944. He went to Camp Wheeler in Georgia for infantry basic training. He went to Camp Stoneman in California where he was shipped out on the USS General John Pope (AP-110). They went to Manila, Philippines in March of 1945, and he describes his combat experiences there. James was assigned to the 161st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was in K Company in the 3rd Battalion. He provides detail on transporting Japanese prisoners. From there he went to the occupation in Koromo, Japan, and his job was to dismantle old Japanese Navy planes. Additionally, he transported Koreans from Japan back to Korea. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ignacio Lopez. Lopez was drafted into the Army in 1943 and made a company clerk at New Caldonia because he could type. His unit evetually joined the 24th Infantry Division in the Philippines. He also went to Japan after the war ended. He returned to the US and was discharged at Fort Sam Houston, whereupon he took a civilian job operating IBM machines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and interview Bill Smith. Smith went into the Army in February 1942. After basic training, Smith was shipped to Australia with the 440th Signal Construction Battalion and they built telephone lines. From there, he went to Port Moresby, still building communications infrastructure. When the invasion of the Philippines occurred, Smith went to Luzon and continued with the 440th. He also went to Okinawa with them. When the war ended, Smith went home and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Salvatore Coviello. Coviello joined the Navy in August, 1942 and went to basic training in Rhode Island. Then he went to Diesel engine school in Chicago. Afterwards, he was assigned to USS LST-454 and was aboard when it was commissioned and was assigned to the 7th Fleet in the Southwest Pacific. They made several combat landings at New Guinea. Coviello worked in the engine room. He was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War present an oral interview with Carmine Giuliano. Giuliano was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1922. He recalls his early life as a child of immigrant parents. He received his draft notice while attending Berkley College and entered the Navy Aviation Cadet Training Program in February 1943. He tells of flight training before being notified of the reduction of cadets. He was then sent to boot camp and then Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame. After being commissioned as an ensign, he attended radar school for assignment as an air traffic controller. He was assigned to USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) and recalls being on duty in the combat information center when the nearby USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was hit by a kamikaze. He recalls picking up Allied POWs in Nagasaki and transporting them to various ports. Giuliano also includes a story about meeting Admiral and Mrs. Nimitz.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Sullivan. Sullivan was born 11 November 1923. He joined the Navy in December of 1942. He served as an Electrician’s Mate aboard USS Wesson (DE-184). They traveled to Kwajalein and the Marianas. Sullivan speaks of supporting the Philippine Island operations, and the Okinawa invasion. He returned to the US in late 1945, and received his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Olen Gaither. Gaither joined the Navy in 1944. He served as First-Class Seaman aboard the USS Wesson (DE-184). They traveled to Pearl Harbor, Guam, Leyte and Okinawa. Gaither served on the 40mm anti-aircraft gun during battle, and was in charge of the galley during his 9-month service aboard the Wesson. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Morgan. Morgan joined the Army in January of 1942. He went to Fort Devens, Massachusetts for basic training. He served with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment as a medic. Morgan tells of the training he received in jump school. After additional training in North Africa, the unit dropped into Sicily. Morgan describes some of the difficulties they encountered. This was followed by a drop at Salerno, Italy. The unit was then sent to England to prepare for Operation Overlord. Morgan describes in detail the equipment carried and the procedures followed by a medic during a jump. The unit then participated in Operation Market Garden, and the horrendous conditions encountered during the Battle of the Bulge. Morgan returned to the US and received his discharge in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Spradling. Spradling graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity from Southern Methodist University in December of 1942. He was ordained in January of 1943 and in February, Spradling was commissioned as a Navy Chaplain. He was assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. Later, he worked at Manana Naval Barracks and Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station in Hawaii. He worked with the African-American community of Navy men, and with the stevedores to staff transports with chaplains and provide ecclesiastical supplies and equipment required for each voyage. From late February of 1945 through the end of the war, Spradling traveled aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3), working with the enlisted me, officers, admiral and captain, and produced a daily paper for the crew. He continued his service after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Nolan Donop. Donop joined the Army and eventually shipped out to Italy, where he volunteered to cook before being assigned to the 34th Infantry Divivsion and making his way to northern Italy to the Apennine Mountains. Donop recalls a few anecdotes from his combat experiences.