Interview with Jessie Clark regarding her experiences during World War II. She discusses having to adjust to a lifestyle of rationing for food products and shoes as well as blackouts and scrap metal drives. Her husband worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and was often absent while she stayed home to raise their children in Houston. She discusses the scarcity of toys during Christmas and hosiery.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Sidney Key. Key joined the Marine Corps in July of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School and LVT School. Key was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. In May of 1943, he deployed and participated in in the assaults on Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. He operated the landing vehicles and provided combat support in operations ashore. Key was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Bicknell. Bicknell was drafted by the Army in December of 1942. He served with the 5th Armored Division and was sent to Europe where he drove an ammunition truck for the tanks. He provides details of his training and describes the light tanks they used. In February of 1944 they traveled to England and were attached to Patton’s 3rd Army. They landed on Utah Beach in July of 1944, and traveled through France and the southern part of Belgium, where he participated in the liberation of Luxemburg. Bicknell provides details of his experiences, including running from his ammunition truck when it was struck by a shell and enduring numerous attacks and casualties of fellow servicemen. Bicknell served 3 years with the 5th Armored Division. Bicknell was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald K Cradit. Cradit joined the Navy in November of 1939. He served as Boatswain’s Mate aboard the USS McCook (DD-496), participating in the Normandy invasions. Cradit later served aboard the USS Rogers (DD-876), where he witnessed the signing of the Peace Treaty in Tokyo Harbor. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wayne Landes. Landes was drafted into the Army in June, 1944. He was hurried overseas during the Battle of the Bulge and joined the 333rd Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division in Belgium. Then, they proceeded to attack into Germany. Landes returned home after the war with several German souvenirs.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with L Z Gentry. Gentry joined the Navy right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was attached to the 18th Construction Battalion assigned as a photographer. He traveled to Guadalcanal in December, 1942. After some time, Gentry trained as an aerial photographer. He eventually shot photos for invasion and assaults on New Guinea, Truk, and Okinawa. He also shot images at Tarawa and Iwo Jima. When the war ended, Gentry returned to the US and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jessie Clark. She begins by discussing life adjustments to the rationing of food products and shoes. She then speaks of black outs and scrap metal drives. Her husband worked for the Souther Pacific Railroad and was absent a lot while she stayed home and raised the children in Houston. She discusses the scarcity of toys during Christmas and hosiery.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ben Howden. Howden joined the Navy in 1942. He received preliminary flight training Wisconsin and Iowa and further training in Corpus Christi, Melbourne, and Vero Beach. Upon completion, he was assigned to VF(N)-106 and then transferred to a squadron aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22). He performed combat air patrols and anti-submarine patrols for three months in the Philippines. Howden traveled through a typhoon during his return to the States and was discharged when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald K Cradit. Cradit joined the Navy in November of 1939. He served as Boatswain’s Mate aboard the USS McCook (DD-496), participating in the Normandy invasions. Cradit later served aboard the USS Rogers (DD-876), where he witnessed the signing of the Peace Treaty in Tokyo Harbor. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Travis Budlong. Budlong was born in Gainesville, Texas on 9 September 1922. After high school he entered Gainesville Junior College and earned an associate’s degree in one and a half years. Since his dad would not let him join the Royal Canadian Air Force Budlong took advantage of the CPT (civilian pilot training) program during his time at college and entered the Army Air Corps on 9 May 1942. After 1000 hours of instructing and 120 hours flying a B-24, Budlong was assigned to the 330th Bomb Group training in Cuba in B-29s. Budlong eventually made his way to Guam, via Hawaii and Kwajalein. Budlong flew 23 missions out of North Field with more than one harrowing landing on Iwo Jima with less than four engines. Budlong’s was among the last B-29s to drop bombs on Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with L Z Gentry. Gentry joined the Navy right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was attached to the 18th Construction Battalion assigned as a photographer. He traveled to Guadalcanal in December, 1942. After some time, Gentry trained as an aerial photographer. He eventually shot photos for invasion and assaults on New Guinea, Truk, and Okinawa. He also shot images at Tarawa and Iwo Jima. When the war ended, Gentry returned to the US and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jessie Clark. She begins by discussing life adjustments to the rationing of food products and shoes. She then speaks of black outs and scrap metal drives. Her husband worked for the Souther Pacific Railroad and was absent a lot while she stayed home and raised the children in Houston. She discusses the scarcity of toys during Christmas and hosiery.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wayne Landes. Landes was drafted into the Army in June, 1944. He was hurried overseas during the Battle of the Bulge and joined the 333rd Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division in Belgium. Then, they proceeded to attack into Germany. Landes returned home after the war with several German souvenirs.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Bicknell. Bicknell was drafted by the Army in December of 1942. He served with the 5th Armored Division and was sent to Europe where he drove an ammunition truck for the tanks. He provides details of his training and describes the light tanks they used. In February of 1944 they traveled to England and were attached to Patton’s 3rd Army. They landed on Utah Beach in July of 1944, and traveled through France and the southern part of Belgium, where he participated in the liberation of Luxemburg. Bicknell provides details of his experiences, including running from his ammunition truck when it was struck by a shell and enduring numerous attacks and casualties of fellow servicemen. Bicknell served 3 years with the 5th Armored Division. Bicknell was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ben Howden. Howden joined the Navy in 1942. He received preliminary flight training Wisconsin and Iowa and further training in Corpus Christi, Melbourne, and Vero Beach. Upon completion, he was assigned to VF(N)-106 and then transferred to a squadron aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22). He performed combat air patrols and anti-submarine patrols for three months in the Philippines. Howden traveled through a typhoon during his return to the States and was discharged when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Sidney Key. Key joined the Marine Corps in July of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School and LVT School. Key was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. In May of 1943, he deployed and participated in in the assaults on Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. He operated the landing vehicles and provided combat support in operations ashore. Key was discharged in late 1945.