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.

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.

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 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.

Transcript of an oral interview with James Avery. Mr Avery was a junior at the University of Illinois when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He signed up with the Army Air Corps since they would let him finish his degree before they would take him. However, the Army Air Corps was not able to honor its commitment since they needed pilots badly. In March 1943, they called him up and sent him to Lackland Air Base for the preflight program. From there, Avery went to Fort Stockton where he learned to fly in a Fairchild PT-19 and then to Goodfellow Field in San Angelo to learn to fly a BT-13. After two months of basic training, he went to Reese Air Base in Lubbock to train in the AT-17 and got his wings there in January 1944. Avery wanted to fly the B-26 and he got his wish; reporting first to Del Rio and then to Barksdale Field where he got his crew assigned. There were six of them in the crew. After about three months at Barksdale, they went to Savannah, Georgia to pick up a brand new airplane. However, they had to wait six weeks for their ship; Martin …

Transcript of an oral interview with James Avery. Mr Avery was a junior at the University of Illinois when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He signed up with the Army Air Corps since they would let him finish his degree before they would take him. However, the Army Air Corps was not able to honor its commitment since they needed pilots badly. In March 1943, they called him up and sent him to Lackland Air Base for the preflight program. From there, Avery went to Fort Stockton where he learned to fly in a Fairchild PT-19 and then to Goodfellow Field in San Angelo to learn to fly a BT-13. After two months of basic training, he went to Reese Air Base in Lubbock to train in the AT-17 and got his wings there in January 1944. Avery wanted to fly the B-26 and he got his wish; reporting first to Del Rio and then to Barksdale Field where he got his crew assigned. There were six of them in the crew. After about three months at Barksdale, they went to Savannah, Georgia to pick up a brand new airplane. However, they had to wait six weeks for their ship; Martin …

Letter sent from Mrs. R. J. Barnick to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message from her parents (father is Roane Gustin Bergman) and stating that this was the first message she had received from them since they were interned. Envelope addressed to Mrs. W. L. McKie, Sacramento, California from Mrs. R. J. Barnick, Max, North Dakota.

Transcript of an oral interview with George Allen Barrett. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in January 1922, he enlisted in the Navy in January 1940. He completed Recruit Training in San Diego and was transferred to the Hospital Corps School at the Naval Hospital San Diego in April 1940. Upon graduation in July 1940, he was assigned to the Naval Hospital, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In July 1941 he was transferred to the USS McDonough (DD 351) where he recalls that on the morning of December 7, 1941, the McDonough was in Pearl Harbor undergoing repairs. He remembers the crew reassembling the propulsion machinery and the ship getting underway to out of the harbor. He recalls that McDonough remained homeported out of Pearl Harbor and conducted various patrols into the South Pacific theater. He recounts that in February 1942 McDonough collided with the USS Colorado (BB-45) in heavy seas. Later in 1942 he was assigned to the Oakland Naval Hospital, where he recalls his duties and his subsequent marriage. He states that he requested reassignment and was transferred to a Combat Utility Battalion in San Bruno, California for training in anticipation of the upcoming invasion of a Pacific island (unnamed). He states …

Transcript of an oral interview with George Allen Barrett. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in January 1922, he enlisted in the Navy in January 1940. He completed Recruit Training in San Diego and was transferred to the Hospital Corps School at the Naval Hospital San Diego in April 1940. Upon graduation in July 1940, he was assigned to the Naval Hospital, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In July 1941 he was transferred to the USS McDonough (DD 351) where he recalls that on the morning of December 7, 1941, the McDonough was in Pearl Harbor undergoing repairs. He remembers the crew reassembling the propulsion machinery and the ship getting underway to out of the harbor. He recalls that McDonough remained homeported out of Pearl Harbor and conducted various patrols into the South Pacific theater. He recounts that in February 1942 McDonough collided with the USS Colorado (BB-45) in heavy seas. Later in 1942 he was assigned to the Oakland Naval Hospital, where he recalls his duties and his subsequent marriage. He states that he requested reassignment and was transferred to a Combat Utility Battalion in San Bruno, California for training in anticipation of the upcoming invasion of a Pacific island (unnamed). He states …

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 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.

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 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 James H. Bash. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 28, 1924. He enlisted in the Navy on January 19, 1943. Enrolled in the V-12 Program at the University of Virginia but did not complete the curriculum. Subsequently sent to Storekeeper Class A School in Sampson, New York and graduated as Storekeeper 3rd Class. In October 1944 volunteered and assigned to Naval Group China. He recalls the transit from Norfolk on the USS General W. A. Mann (AP-112) in a convoy through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and on to Bombay, India. He recalls the living conditions on the transport, passing through two fierce storms and an incident in the Suez Canal. Next he took a troop train from Bombay to Calcutta. He describes the conditions on the train. After six weeks awaiting transportation, he flew from Calcutta to Kunming, China. He describes the flight in a DC-3 over the Himalaya Mountains (The Hump). In Kunming he was assigned to the Naval Air Freight Office. He describes the squalid conditions of the local populace. He was responsible for transporting cargo from the air terminal to the Freight Office. One day he was notified …

Transcript of an oral interview with James H. Bash. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 28, 1924. He enlisted in the Navy on January 19, 1943. Enrolled in the V-12 Program at the University of Virginia but did not complete the curriculum. Subsequently sent to Storekeeper Class A School in Sampson, New York and graduated as Storekeeper 3rd Class. In October 1944 volunteered and assigned to Naval Group China. He recalls the transit from Norfolk on the USS General W. A. Mann (AP-112) in a convoy through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and on to Bombay, India. He recalls the living conditions on the transport, passing through two fierce storms and an incident in the Suez Canal. Next he took a troop train from Bombay to Calcutta. He describes the conditions on the train. After six weeks awaiting transportation, he flew from Calcutta to Kunming, China. He describes the flight in a DC-3 over the Himalaya Mountains (The Hump). In Kunming he was assigned to the Naval Air Freight Office. He describes the squalid conditions of the local populace. He was responsible for transporting cargo from the air terminal to the Freight Office. One day he was notified …

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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.