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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Phyllis Mullins. Mullins was born in Conneautville, Pennsylvania on 20 June 1921. She attended nursing school at the Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia and graduated in 1942. In 1943, she joined the United States Army Air Forces Nursing unit as a first lieutenant and was sent to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia for basic training. Upon completion, she was sent to Orlando Army Air Base in Florida. She got married in 1943 and obtained her discharge in conjunction with her husband’s discharge from the Army Air Forces.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Emmett Gumm. Gumm received an appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy and, upon graduating, elected to go into the US Navy in early 1944 as an ensign. He was assigned to USS Wallace L. Lind (DD-703) as an engineering officer. His destroyer was attached to Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet and screened the carriers. He also recalls picket duty off Okinawa and being present in Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremony. Gumm chose not to stay in the Navy after the war and was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gene Roush Jerabek. Ms. Jerabek was born 12 December 1917, graduated from high school in 1935 in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, and earned her Nursing Certificate at Jefferson Medical College Hospital in Philadelphia. She joined the US Army Nurse Corps in September 1941, serving in North Africa and Italy. She married Lieutenant George Jerabek on 1 June 1944 in Naples, Italy. She returned home in the spring of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clinton Henderson. Henderson joined the Army Air Force before graduating high school and received basic training in Wichita Falls, aerial gunnery training in Las Vegas, and combat crew training in Ardmore. Upon completion, he was assigned as a ball turret gunner for the 384th Bombardment Group, stationed in England. Toward the end of his 36-mission tour, his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire above Germany. His crew aborted the mission and landed safely at a British airfield. Henderson returned to the States and trained to become a B-29 gunnery instructor. The work was dangerous, as the planes flew at twice the speed bomber pilots were accustomed to. Henderson transferred to Randolph Field and finished his time in the service as a supply clerk. He was discharged in October 1945.

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 Cary Salter. Salter learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Training program before entering the Army Air Forces in June 1942 and entering flight training. He was commissioned in August, 1943 and went to England in September 1944 where he joined the 354th Fighter Group to fly P-51s. Salter describes missions he flew over France and Germany where he attacked various ground targets and engaged in aerial combat. Salter flew over 60 combat missions and, after the war, took a flight in a German fighter. Slater shares several anecdotes from his time overseas. He was discharged in November, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Benton Askins. Askins joined the Army in July 1942. He was trained in radio installation and repair and sent to Australia, then to New Gunea where he joined the 997th Signal Service Battalion at Hollandia. He stayed there until the war ended. He returned to the US and was discharged in January 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Alldridge. Alldridge joined the Navy in May of 1944. He completed amphibious landing craft training, and served as Coxswain aboard the USS Kenton (APA-122). Alldridge made landings in the Marshall Islands, the Philippines and during the Battle of Okinawa, transporting troops from ship to shore. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

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 Lawrence Huet. Huet joined the Navy in late 1942 and trained at Great Lakes. With training complete, he was assigned to USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in May 1943 and served as flight deck crewman. In 1944, after some leave, Huet was assigned to the USS Flint (CL-97). Huet was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Marshall Clapp. Clapp joined the Oklahoma National Guard at age 17. Called up in 1943, he participated in building Quonset huts throughout the Island of Attu. After returning to the US due to medical reasons, he joined the 120th Combat Engineers at Remagen, Germany and tells of the construction of Bailey Bridges used to cross the Rhine River. Upon returning to the US, he went into the Inactive Reserves. After a short period of time, he was reactivated and ultimately received a commission. He briefly tells of undergoing parachute training and being assigned to the 82nd Airborne. He concluded his Army career as a lieutenant colonel in the Medical Service Corps.

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 Charles William Wiley. Wiley joined the Navy in 1944. He completed basic training in Samson, New York, and worked in Naval Intelligence at an airfield in Anacostia, near Washington DC. He helped make propaganda and training films, and worked security on the base. In early 1945, he was assigned to USS LST-950 in the Pacific and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa. From September through early November, they performed occupation duty in Japan. In mid-1946, they assisted in relocating natives off of Bikini Island to other islands, for the United States nuclear testing. Wiley returned to the US in late 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Steffes. Steffes entered the Navy June 1946. He completed training in Great Lakes, Illinois. He moved on to Treasure Island, California for electronics school. In July 1947 he boarded the USS Newman K. Perry (DD-883). He served as an electronics technician aboard the destroyer. They arrived in Japan September 1947. They were with the Carrier Division 132. They were assigned to patrol escort, search and rescue, and hydrographic survey missions. They were on the coast of China from Tsingtao to Hong Kong. He was discharged March 1948. In December 1950 he was recalled for the Korean War and reported for duty in January 1951. He served aboard the USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108) working to get the radar and radios in working order. They trained pilots to land on the small flight deck, and as the pilots qualified they were sent on to Korea. He was discharged in April 1952. He owned and operated a gas station after his time in the service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis Sheahen. Sheahen joined the Naval Reserve in Chicago as an Apprentice Seaman in 1940. He transferred to the Baltimore Reserve Unit to complete Naval Academy prep school. Upon completion he entered the Academy in April of 1941 and graduated with an engineering degree with the Class of 1945. He provides some detail of his experiences in the Academy. Upon graduation he was commissioned as an ensign. From there he was sent to Jacksonville, Florida for aviation orientation. Upon course completion he was ordered to Little Creek, Virginia to assemble a crew in order to take command of the USS USS USS LSM-117. They were bound for Guam to deliver a load of dredging parts, then up to Saipan where they boarded a unit of Marines to deliver them to the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945. He provides detail of these missions. Their crew also took troops to Japan. He was ordered to decommission the ship in June of 1946. He was discharged around 1948.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dick Bulington. Bulington joined the Army in January 1946. He completed his training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He had weapons training. After basic training he was sent to Germany in April 1946. They landed in Le Havre, France and went by train to Germany. He served in the 508th Military Police Battalion in Munich. He was then transferred to the 1st Infantry Division. He served partially as an MP with the division and as a guard during the Nuremberg War Crime Trials in Germany. He was discharged April 1949. He provides some description of civilian life in Germany. He continued helping on his family’s farm when he returned home.

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.

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 …

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 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.