The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lawrence Barrett. Barrett joined the Marine Corps in December of 1943. He served as an aerial gunner, combat cameraman and ground and motion picture photographer. Barrett worked as a combat aircrewman with Marine Air Group 32 in the Pacific and the Philippines, completing 25 combat missions by 1945. After the war ended, he served with the occupation forces in Tsingtao, North China. He returned to the US and was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Campbell. Campbell joined the Navy in the fall of 1942. He completed Naval Supply Corps School. Beginning July of 1943, he served as Supply Officer aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVE-57). They launched strikes on Makin Island in November, and bombed airfields at Kwajalein. Throughout 1944 and early 1945 they traveled to the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, the Marianas and Iwo Jima providing aircraft in support of forces. He shares experiences of kamikaze airplanes and enduring a typhoon. Campbell was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Swaney. Swaney was born in Linton, North Dakota on 21 September 1920. He describes the hardships he faced during the Depression. After high school, he attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and graduated in 1942. Upon entering the US Navy in September 1942, he went to Columbia University to Midshipman’s School. He graduated as an ensign and reported to Solomon Island, Maryland for amphibious training. There, as captain of an LCT, he and his crew of ten made practice landings. During one of the training sessions, he injured his spine, which resulted in extensive hospitalization. After spending over a year in various hospitals, he reported to the USS Nevada (BB-36) as a division officer of a five-inch gun. Swaney recalls the ship being attacked by kamikazes off Iwo Jima. He describes actions the ship was involved in during the invasion of Okinawa and recalls the ship being hit by a kamikaze. He witnessed the burial at sea of eleven shipmates. Following the end of the war, Swaney participated in preparing the Nevada for Operation Crossroads in 1946. He decided to be discharged from the Navy in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clyde Harding. Born in 1919, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He describes his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He was attached to the British Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of the Lend-Lease Program. He trained RAF pilots to fly B-25 Mitchell bombers. He recounts his capture and escape from German soldiers while serving in Egypt. He also trained Russian pilots to fly Bell P-39 Airacobras in Russia. In 1943 he was assigned to the 9th Tactical Air Command, 9th Air Force in England. In spring 1944, he flew aerial photography missions over the Normandy coastline. Additionally, he flew celebrities, such as Spike Jones and Joe Louis, to entertain the troops. Prior to the war?s end, he was employed as a civil servant.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hack Langstaff. Langstaff joined the Naval Reserves around 1938, and went on active duty in June of 1941. After flight school, he was selected and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in June of 1942. Langtaff completed carrier training in October, flying a Grumman F3F and F4F. In 1943, he was assigned to the Russell Islands, completing missions over Rabaul and Bougainville. Beginning June of 1945, Langstaff was assigned aboard the USS Puget Sound (CVE-113), flying Corsairs. They traveled to Tokyo Bay, just as the Japanese surrendered. He was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Eberle. Born in 1921, he enlisted in the Navy in 1939. He was assigned to Torpedo Squadron VT-6 of the Enterprise Air Group. He describes events on the USS Enterprise (CV-6) while at sea during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He shares an anecdote about the remains of Admiral Kidd. He relates stories about the Battle of Midway; escorting to the USS Hornet (CV-8) in conjunction with the Doolittle Raid; the sinking of the USS Wasp (CV-7); the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and the loss of the USS Hornet; and experiencing a typhoon while on an aircraft carrier. He also shares stories about being an aircraft maintenance officer in San Diego, California. He retired from the Navy Reserve in 1976.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John H. Brand. Brand was born in Vienna, Austria in 1923. He was attending New York University at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He shares his memory of learning about the attack. He joined the Army in 1942 and became a U.S. citizen in 1943. He trained with tank destroyers at Camp Hood, Texas. Then he trained at Camp Howze, Texas and was assigned to Company E, 410th Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division. In late 1944 he was sent to Marseilles, France. He shares an anecdote about being arrested in Marseilles as well as hearing a broadcast by Axis Sally. He recounts his experiences of battle outside the town of St. Di?. He was wounded by shrapnel and developed trench foot. He discusses his experiences in both a field hospital and a general hospital. Because he was fluent in German, he finished his military career assigned to military government operations in Germany. He recounts the capture and arrest of an assistant to Ilsa Koch. He also shares an anecdote about the Hitler Youth. He was discharged in Berlin in December 1945. He took a position with …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Hausladen. Hausladen joined the Marine Corps in 1939 after two years of college. After boot camp came sea school, after which Hausladen went aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37). He was aboard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and recalls being in a 5-inch gun compartment when the ship rolled. He escaped and was rescued by a whaleboat. In April, 1942, he was sent to VMF-223 as an armory technician. He travelled with them to Guadalcanal, arriving in August, 1942. His unit returned to the US in October. He went to Bougainville briefly and was in the US training when the war ended. Hausladen was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Schlemmer. Schlemmer joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. In late 1942 he deployed to New Zealand and participated in the Battles of Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester. He returned to the US in md-1944 to complete Officer Candidates School. He served as an instructor, teaching about jungle warfare. He then joined the 3rd Division, 9th Marines in preparation to invade Japan. Schlemmer was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Russell. Russell joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division. They landed on Guadalcanal in late 1942 and completed reconnaissance patrol missions. In September of 1943 they went to New Guinea, where they were staging to invade New Britain in the Battle of Cape Gloucester. Russell was wounded during this battle and transferred to an Army hospital in Brisbane, Australia. No longer fit for combat, Russell was shipped back to the US in September 1944, and he was discharged around July of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alexander Vraciu. Vraciu learned to fly airplanes in college and went into the Navy to be a fighter pilot. He trained at Corpus Christi, Texas. He speaks of being assigned to a fighter squadron (VF-6) and heading overseas. Vraciu details aerial combat and dogfights with the Japanese over Wake Island, Tarawa and Kwajalein. He also speaks of flying missions as Edward ""Butch"" O'Hare's wingman. He mentions he was operating off the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9). Vraciu discusses his role in the Battle of the Philippine Seas, also known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot, and becoming a fighter ace. He continues by discussing further missions in the Philippines campaign.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Grealish. Grealish joined the Navy in April of 1942. He completed Midshipman School. He served aboard the USS Waters (APD-8), transporting troops to the Solomon Islands, New Georgia, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and rescuing survivors from the USS Helena (CL-50). He was later assigned as Commanding Officer of USS Cronin (DE-704). Grealish was discharged in 1946, though continued active duty through 1953 and service in the Reserves through his retirement in 1979, having acquired the rank of rear admiral.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Reedle. Reedle joined the Navy in January 1942. He served as a boatswain’s mate on the USS McKean (APD-5). Reedle describes how his ship landed Marine Raiders throughout the Solomon Islands. He also discusses being critically hit by an aerial torpedo and being the last man off before it sank. Reedle then joined the crew of the USS Preston (DD-795) and became a captain of one of the five-inch guns. He describes providing gunnery support at Okinawa and screening carrier task groups. Reedle also discusses kamikaze attacks and going through a typhoon. He left the service in November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Livingston. Livingston joined the Navy in April of 1943. He served aboard the USS Rathburne (DD-113), a training ship for the West Coast Sound School in San Diego. Livingston helped train prospective Commanding and Executive Officers in anti-submarine warfare using sonar as a guide. In May of 1944 they were converted to a to a high-speed transport, and reclassified as (APD-25). They traveled to Hawaii to complete amphibious training with Underwater Demolition Team 10. They participated in the invasions of Peleliu, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. They returned to the US and Livingston was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Meehan. Meehan was born in Lambertville, New Jersey. He attended midshipman’s school at Northwestern in Chicago completing the course in December 1940. He was commissioned by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Meehan received orders to report to the USS Goldsborough (AVD-5), a seaplane tender, as the communications officer. He recounts various missions to Mexico and Iceland and describes a trip to Greenland during which the ship encountered a storm that resulted in the loss of a crewmember. He was sent to Panama in early 1942 as part of a force to protect the Canal Zone. In June 1942 the ship went to Honduras to patrol for German submarines. He witnessed two PBY patrol aircraft capturing two large boats that provided support to German submarines. In July 1943, Meehan was made captain of the Goldsborough. He recalls being part of a hunter-killer group and describes an encounter with a German submarine. In March 1944 the ship was converted to a high speed transport and designated APD-32. Moving to the Pacific, the Goldsborough participated in the invasion of Saipan. The ship also delivered an Under Water Demolition Team (UDT) to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dwight Mayo. Mayo joined the Marine Corps in October of 1942. Beginning in late 1944, he served as an F4U Corsair fighter pilot, stationed aboard USS Bennington (CV-20) in the Pacific. He took part in strikes against the Japanese home islands, and in raids in support of the Okinawa campaign. Mayo completed 100 missions. He continued his service after the war ended, retiring in 1962 with the rank of major.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Curtis G. Clark. Born in 1918, he joined the Navy in 1937. He served on the USS Talbot throughout the war, beginning as a Radioman third class and working his way up to the rank of Warrant Officer. He provides information about the Battle of Dutch Harbor in Alaska. He discusses the conversion of four-stack destroyer ships (DD), such as the USS Talbot, into high-speed transport ships (Auxiliary Personnel Destroyer or APD) on Mare Island, California. As part of the conversion, the torpedo tubes were replaced with Welin davits and landing craft. He discusses the sinking of the USS McKean (PAD-5) near Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. He talks about landing reconnaissance forces in preparation for the Battle of the Green Islands. He also discusses transporting Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) as well as the teams? method of operation. He describes the collision with the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) on the way to Saipan as well as the trip to San Francisco for repairs. After the repairs, the ship transported other UDT units to the Philippines. He was on the USS Talbot when it returned to the United States for …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter B. Neitsch: He was inducted at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas and received basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and later at the Army Engineer Vancouver Barracks. He speaks of working with the 340th Army Engineers Construction Battalion to construct the ALCAN (Alaska-Canadian) Highway as well as rebuilding an airport in Darwin, Australia, and repairing roads and bridges in Luzon in the Phillipines where he saw Japanese soldiers coming in to surrender at the end of the war. He also told of the death from seasickness of a fellow soldier while in transit on the US Motorship Pennant and becoming a shellback when their ship crossed the equator.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James D. Rothermel. Rothermel was born in Burton, Texas 20 February 1918. Enlisting in the Navy in 1942, he had boot camp at Norfolk, Virginia. After spending a short time at Providence, Rhode Island, he was sent to Treasure Island, California and assigned to the 14th Naval Construction Battalion. During September 1942 he went aboard the M.S. Sommelsdijk, a converted Dutch freighter, and tells of the trip to Noumea, New Caledonia. From there the unit was sent to Guadalcanal, which had not yet been secured. The unit constructed two new airstrips on the island and Rothermel describes the other work completed. He tells of the nightly visits by a Japanese bomber, which would indiscriminately drop bombs every night, primarily for harassment. The bomber was called “Washing Machine Charlie” by all the troops on the island. He recounts the devastating affect that malaria, dengue fever and other jungle diseases had on the members of the 14th Battalion. The unit returned to Camp Parker, California, during November 1943. He recalls that during October 1944 the unit was sent to Saipan where they spent several months before being sent to Okinawa …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lanson B. Ditto. Ditto grew up in Kentucky. He went to college at Washington and Lee University and then joined the Navy in 1940. After training, Ditto chose to join the Asiatic Fleet. He went to Shanghai, China where he was assigned to the USS Langley (CV-1). The ship went to the Philippines. They were at Manila when the Japanese destroyed all B-17's at the airfield on December 8, 1941. The Langley left Manila Bay that night and headed south. On that trip, Ditto mentions that his ship fired at the planet Venus. They went to Balikpapan, refueled, and spent Christmas at Surabaya. Next, they went to Darwin, Australia, then Perth, Australia. Then, they went to Java. Before they arrived at the port, they were hit by Japanese airplanes dropping bombs. Ditto abandons ship and swims to the USS Edsall. They steam to the Christmas Island. He transferred to the Pecos. The Pecos was then bombed by the Japanese. Next the 220 survivors out of 666 men were picked up by the Whipple. He was injured and went back to the United States on the Mount Vernon. They …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chris Walker. He discusses working as a carpenter in the Marines at Camp Pendleton and on Tinian and Saipan and being on Okinawa and in Nagasaki after Japan surrendered. He also ancedotes on Generals and his Colonel, rations, friendly fire and describes some of the memoriabilia he kept.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jose King. King, of Korean descent, grew up under Japanese occupation in Songsong Village, Rota. Relations with the Japanese were mostly peaceful. He attended a strict but effective Japanese school. When Japanese supplies began to dwindle, soldiers stole food from villagers and threatened to kill them if they withheld it. The natives narrowly escaped mass execution and instead were put to work farming sweet potatoes. King’s family foraged in the mountains and jungles, hunting birds with a slingshot. His brother was recruited by the Japanese to hunt birds and was killed in an air raid. His uncle was wrongly accused of being a spy and sentenced to death. King and his family sought refuge in a cave during bombardments and were strafed while searching for food. Upon being discovered by American Marines, King feared that the food they provided might be poisoned. Although the military initially intended to send his family to Korea, they successfully pleaded to stay with their community. King’s family later moved to Saipan and then Tinian, embarking in prosperous trade with Allied occupation forces. He started a family of his own, and many of …

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the items they have mailed each other, Joe's expectation that his squadron will move soon, and his trying and failing to contact Walter.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing how much he hated to see her leave, passing his physical exam, writing a letter to Pat, and expecting to go on a nine mile hike the next day. A portion of text has been removed from the letter.