The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Crandall. Crandall joined the Navy at age 17. After basic training at Great Lakes, he was trained on running ship’s boilers. Crandall was then assigned to USS Warrick (AKA-89) as a third class watertender. While running the boilers, he would occasionally clean the insides, which required holding his breath for up to three minutes. Crandall was in battle zones in the Philippines for a year and suffered hearing damage from a kamikaze attack on a nearby destroyer. While ashore, he traded with the natives to acquire fresh coconuts. At Iwo Jima, Crandall sat atop the smokestack and watched the flag being raised on Mount Suribachi. After the war, Crandall participated in disarmament of the Japanese by dumping their arms and ammunition into the ocean. While in Japan, he was surprised by the hospitality of the Japanese, having been invited into their homes. Crandall returned to the States after occupation duty and returned home to finish high school.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Loy Smith. Smith joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He then attended gunnery school and further training in electrical and hydraulic systems. Upon completion, he was assigned to an attack cargo auxiliary ship as a gunner’s mate. Smith recounts that his ship would pick up supplies on New Guinea and Guam and deliver them to invasions. At Lingayen Gulf, there were so many kamikazes and so many ships that it was impossible to know who was responsible for shooting a plane down. At Iwo Jima, the ship was anchored close to shore for five weeks, sending equipment in LCVPs and LSMs that were often lost in the soft sand and large swells. The ship was loaded for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. They brought supplies instead to the occupation forces. Smith felt the younger Japanese civilians appeared frightened of Americans, probably due to propaganda, whereas the older generation was friendly and eager to ask about their relatives in the States. The ship sailed on to Okinawa, which had been devastated by a typhoon. So desperate for supplies were the …

Lecture given Saturday, September 15, 2012, 7:00 PM at Abilene Christian University

Lecture given Sunday, September 15, 2013, 8:30 PM at Abilene Christian University: "Using both musical and movie, this conversation explores the theological treasures of Les Misérables. Perfect late night fare for theology and Les Mis nerds, and for anyone with a heart for "the miserable ones." Can you hear the people sing?"

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Monroe. Monroe joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1942, as an Aviation Cadet. He received his wings and commission in the summer of 1943. He was then stationed in Carlsbad, New Mexico flying bombardiers in a T-11 trainer. Monroe completed 1,000 hours of flying cadets over a period of nine months. He was then assigned as the Assistant Director of Flying, which is where he served for the remainder of the war. In late 1945 Monroe was sent to Warner Robins, Georgia working as a Personnel Control Officer. In early 1946 he was then sent to Europe, serving with a full reconnaissance squadron, and continued his service into the late 1950s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Schaffer. Schaffer went into the Marine Corps at 17 in August, 1942 and trained at San Diego. When basic training ended, Schaffer trained with the Raiders and was assigned to the 4th Marine Raider Battalion. He went overseas to the New Hebrides, then Guadalcanal for more training prior to participating in the campaign for the Solomon Islands at New Georgia. After some combat experience, Schaffer was sent back to the US and attend university. When he finished school, he went for officer training at Parris Island after the war ended. He also attended flight school and earned his wings. He was assigned to Marine Fighter Squadron 122 (VMF-122) for a cruise in the Mediterranean. He also flew in Korea before resigning in 1953. Schaffer interacted with James Roosevelt during and after World War II.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Storick. Storick joined the Navy after high school in June 1943 and trained at Great Lakes. His forst assignmnet took him aboard USS Taluga (AO-62). He shares several anecdotes from his time aboard, where he served as a rangefinder. Storick also shares his experiences ashore in Japan and Korea after the war. He was discharged in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Barbier. Barbier joined the Navy in June 1941. He went to boot camp in San Diego, California. Upon graduating, he was assigned as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Louisville (CA-26) at Pearl Harbor. The Louisville was involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf at Surigao Strait and then at Lingayen Gulf. He survived damage caused by a number of kamikaze attacks, one of which claimed the life of Admiral Theodore Chandler. Barbier notes that Admiral William McCarty took over the Louisville. After the war ended, Barbier served in the military occupation of Japan, and remained in the Reserves for 10 years.