Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates news from Fort Sam Houston about having passed his physical examination required for service in the military. He also contemplates entering Robert Werntz's Preparatory Academy in Annapolis prior to arriving at the Naval Academy. Also included is a copy of the examining Army physician's report.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates news from Fort Sam Houston about having passed his physical examination required for service in the military. He also contemplates entering Robert Werntz's Preparatory Academy in Annapolis prior to arriving at the Naval Academy. Also included is a copy of the examining Army physician's report.

Postcard sent from Mary Shirley to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message. Postcard is postmarked Yorktown Heights, New York.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including making cotton clothes to wear to work, seeing a movie with Mr. Figart, and receiving a letter from Bob with photos take on them in Tonopah.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing expecting to get a pass to go into Honolulu the next day, mailing her his watch, and getting to know the men in his squadron.

Photograph of Chester W. Nimitz standing at a wooden podium with a standing microphone beside it, giving speech at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. He is wearing a dark Naval Uniform with stripes on the sleeves, ribbon bars pinned above his pocket and a dark die. There is some type of palm or fern plant behind Chester Nimitz.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Erick Miller. Miller began learning to fly in 1939. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1940, and was sent to Cranfield, England. He piloted the Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft, and shares his experiences through the Battle of Britain. In November of 1940 through early 1941 Miller was posted to a Canadian squadron of Beaufighter airplanes assigned to night fighting in Britain. Their duty was to ward off German bombers as they came over the North Sea. He recalls how thankful he was when the Americans joined in the war effort in Europe. Miller completed additional missions through Le Havre, France, Gibraltar and Africa. He was also assigned to military intelligence work. He remained a pilot through the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Erick Miller. Miller began learning to fly in 1939. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1940, and was sent to Cranfield, England. He piloted the Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft, and shares his experiences through the Battle of Britain. In November of 1940 through early 1941 Miller was posted to a Canadian squadron of Beaufighter airplanes assigned to night fighting in Britain. Their duty was to ward off German bombers as they came over the North Sea. He recalls how thankful he was when the Americans joined in the war effort in Europe. Miller completed additional missions through Le Havre, France, Gibraltar and Africa. He was also assigned to military intelligence work. He remained a pilot through the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with J L Cunningham. Cunningham joined the Marine Corps in late 1942. He served in combat infantry with the 4th Marine Division, and participated in amphibious assaults in the battles of Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Cunningham was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with J L Cunningham. Cunningham joined the Marine Corps in late 1942. He served in combat infantry with the 4th Marine Division, and participated in amphibious assaults in the battles of Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Cunningham was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Spradlin. Spradlin joined the Navy in 1943. He completed gunnery school. Beginning January of 1944, he served aboard the USS Porterfield (DD-682) as a watertender, tending to the fire in the boilers. They escorted convoys from the US to Pearl Harbor, the Marshall Islands, Tinian, Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In early 1945 their ship was hit by a kamikaze, and they traveled back to the US. Spradlin was assigned to USS White Marsh (LSD-8). After the war ended, Spradlin served in the Navy an additional 14 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Spradlin. Spradlin joined the Navy in 1943. He completed gunnery school. Beginning January of 1944, he served aboard the USS Porterfield (DD-682) as a watertender, tending to the fire in the boilers. They escorted convoys from the US to Pearl Harbor, the Marshall Islands, Tinian, Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In early 1945 their ship was hit by a kamikaze, and they traveled back to the US. Spradlin was assigned to USS White Marsh (LSD-8). After the war ended, Spradlin served in the Navy an additional 14 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Jackson. Jackson joined the Navy in 1942. He served as Machinist’s Mate Second Class in the engine room aboard the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). While aboard the ship, Jackson recalls bombarding and covering landings on 34 islands in the Pacific, including the Solomon Islands, the Philippines, Saipan, Australia, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He shares his experiences going through a typhoon. In March of 1943 they participated in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Jackson. Jackson joined the Navy in 1942. He served as Machinist’s Mate Second Class in the engine room aboard the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). While aboard the ship, Jackson recalls bombarding and covering landings on 34 islands in the Pacific, including the Solomon Islands, the Philippines, Saipan, Australia, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He shares his experiences going through a typhoon. In March of 1943 they participated in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe Jeanes. Jeanes joined the Navy in 1942 at 15 years old. He completed basic training at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, and was assigned to a PBY Squadron. They patrolled the Gulf of Mexico. In 1944, Jeanes was shipped to New Guinea and Hollandia. He worked for a Seabee outfit for a short period of time. He served aboard USS Ward (DD-139) until it sank in October of 1944, and then transferred to Manila until the end of the war. Jeanes returned home and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe Jeanes. Jeanes joined the Navy in 1942 at 15 years old. He completed basic training at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, and was assigned to a PBY Squadron. They patrolled the Gulf of Mexico. In 1944, Jeanes was shipped to New Guinea and Hollandia. He worked for a Seabee outfit for a short period of time. He served aboard USS Ward (DD-139) until it sank in October of 1944, and then transferred to Manila until the end of the war. Jeanes returned home and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Herzog. Herzog joined the Army in April of 1943. He trained in the Signal Corps to work as a lineman. In October of 1943 he traveled to England. He provides details of his travels and accommodations overseas, aboard the troop ship Alexandria. In October Herzog was assigned to an Army Air Forces B-26 unit and prepared for the Normandy landings scheduled for June of 1944. They traveled to a chateau in Northern France, where he worked with the Red Cross as a baker. He shares his experiences at the base in France, watching the B-26s, hearing the machine guns and witnessing bombings by the Germans. He completed infantry training in England, though Germany surrendered before he went to the front lines. Herzog served as a POW guard after the war ended. He remained a Private throughout his service and was discharged 1 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Herzog. Herzog joined the Army in April of 1943. He trained in the Signal Corps to work as a lineman. In October of 1943 he traveled to England. He provides details of his travels and accommodations overseas, aboard the troop ship Alexandria. In October Herzog was assigned to an Army Air Forces B-26 unit and prepared for the Normandy landings scheduled for June of 1944. They traveled to a chateau in Northern France, where he worked with the Red Cross as a baker. He shares his experiences at the base in France, watching the B-26s, hearing the machine guns and witnessing bombings by the Germans. He completed infantry training in England, though Germany surrendered before he went to the front lines. Herzog served as a POW guard after the war ended. He remained a Private throughout his service and was discharged 1 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Major. Major volunteered for the Navy just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Upon completion of diesel school, he became a PT boat motor mechanic. After getting injured in a boating accident, he spent nine months recovering and was then assigned to PT-309 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 22. Following stops in North Africa and France in early 1943, he experienced a close encounter with Italian ships at Sardinia before arriving at his base on Corsica. Using radar, the PT boat conducted night patrols along the coast of Italy, torpedoing and sinking five supply barges. His unit captured an Italian MAS boat attempting to smuggle out German officers from Elba, and they also transported French commandos to Southern France. After being stationed in Golfe-Juan, Major returned to the States and was later sent to the Philippines. He finished the war at Okinawa, surviving a typhoon and heartily celebrating V-J Day. Major was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Major. Major volunteered for the Navy just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Upon completion of diesel school, he became a PT boat motor mechanic. After getting injured in a boating accident, he spent nine months recovering and was then assigned to PT-309 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 22. Following stops in North Africa and France in early 1943, he experienced a close encounter with Italian ships at Sardinia before arriving at his base on Corsica. Using radar, the PT boat conducted night patrols along the coast of Italy, torpedoing and sinking five supply barges. His unit captured an Italian MAS boat attempting to smuggle out German officers from Elba, and they also transported French commandos to Southern France. After being stationed in Golfe-Juan, Major returned to the States and was later sent to the Philippines. He finished the war at Okinawa, surviving a typhoon and heartily celebrating V-J Day. Major was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Cates. Cates was born in San Antonio, Texas on 19 January 1927 and joined the Navy in 1944. Upon enlisting he was sent to San Diego for boot camp. Upon completion of the training he was sent to Astoria, Washington where he reported aboard the USS Clinton (APA-144). His experiences aboard the Clinton included evacuating the wounded from Guam, picking up a large group of Japanese prisoners on Okinawa for delivery to Pearl Harbor and traveling to Haiphong, French Indochina to pick up Chinese National Revolutionary Army troops to be delivered to the Manchurian border. Cates received his discharge after serving twenty-two months in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Cates. Cates was born in San Antonio, Texas on 19 January 1927 and joined the Navy in 1944. Upon enlisting he was sent to San Diego for boot camp. Upon completion of the training he was sent to Astoria, Washington where he reported aboard the USS Clinton (APA-144). His experiences aboard the Clinton included evacuating the wounded from Guam, picking up a large group of Japanese prisoners on Okinawa for delivery to Pearl Harbor and traveling to Haiphong, French Indochina to pick up Chinese National Revolutionary Army troops to be delivered to the Manchurian border. Cates received his discharge after serving twenty-two months in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Priddy. Priddy joined the Army Air Corps around 1938. He completed Officer Candidate School in mid-1942. He deployed to England, and served as chief of Materials Section, Air Transport Service. Priddy was able to commandeer sufficient resources within the European Theater to assist Patton’s 3rd Army in their drive into Germany in late 1944. For his contribution, General Charles de Gaulle awarded Priddy the French War Cross with Silver Star. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Priddy. Priddy joined the Army Air Corps around 1938. He completed Officer Candidate School in mid-1942. He deployed to England, and served as chief of Materials Section, Air Transport Service. Priddy was able to commandeer sufficient resources within the European Theater to assist Patton’s 3rd Army in their drive into Germany in late 1944. For his contribution, General Charles de Gaulle awarded Priddy the French War Cross with Silver Star. He was discharged in 1946.