Letter to the press about the USS Anzio (CVE-57) and the experiences of her crew in the Pacific Theater from her commission in August, 1943 to the end of the war in September, 1945.

Photographic copy of Japan's surrender document signed by the Japanese Emperor and General as well as representatives from the United States, China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands and France.

Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz signing the Japanese instrument of surrender. Admiral Nimitz sits at a long dark table with the large document in front of him, only his side profile can be seen. He is wearing a light-colored, uniform and hat with the Navy's emblem on it. Three men stand behind Admiral Nimitz watching as he signs the surrender document. There are also twenty men watching on from the background. Photograph is autographed by Nimitz: "C. W. Nimitz U.S. Representative". 22 officers are labeled in the caption. Handwritten in lower middle: "23. ' [indicates General] Stillwell/24 Gen Krueger." Photograph caption in lower right: "THE JAPANESE SURRENDER U.S.S. MISSOURI TOKYO BAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 1945".

Color photograph of Japanese surrender ceremony on board the U.S.S. Missouri. General Umezu leans over the table with his back to the camera as he signs the surrender document for Japan. A large crowd of uniformed men stand at attention in front of him.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Braden from Dallas, Texas. He discusses his time in the Airforce during WW2. Mr. Braden start with his time training to be a navigator before his first mission in Tokyo, Japan. David Braen describes dropping messages over Japanese cities urging Japanese people to plead for their leaders to surrender and to evacuate before the U.S. burns the cities to the ground. After the Japanese government surrendered and the war was over, Mr. Braden was flown home and kissed the ground as soon as he landed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Braden from Dallas, Texas. He discusses his time in the Airforce during WW2. Mr. Braden start with his time training to be a navigator before his first mission in Tokyo, Japan. David Braen describes dropping messages over Japanese cities urging Japanese people to plead for their leaders to surrender and to evacuate before the U.S. burns the cities to the ground. After the Japanese government surrendered and the war was over, Mr. Braden was flown home and kissed the ground as soon as he landed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Jowdy. Jowdy enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age of 15, with his parents’ consent. His first assignment was pulling bodies out of sunken ships in Pearl Harbor. At Guadalcanal, his ship was torpedoed. Due to the presence of enemy subs, he could not be rescued initially and spent two weeks floating in a raft. Then he joined a rescue effort to aid the USS Wasp (CV-7), only to be torpedoed again, spending another four days in the water. Jowdy was then assigned to the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25), patrolling the Bering Sea and participating in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands as a second loader on a 40-millimeter. After witnessing the Marianas Turkey Shoot and also seeing MacArthur film his famous return, Jowdy participated in the bombardment of Iwo Jima, amidst kamikazes and suicide boats. After the war, he survived a typhoon and served occupation duty in Japan, later transporting troops as part of the demobilization effort before being discharged in January 1946.

Transcript of an oral interview with Al Heigel. When Heigel finished high school in June, 1944, he joined the Navy at Little Rock, Arkansas and went for boot training at San Diego. He was assigned as a radar operator and reported aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) at Pearl Harbor. Heigel describes the light carrier and its construction and features. He also speaks of the time the Independence was hit by a torpedo off Tarawa in 1943. Heigel then describes events off Okinawa: watching the USS Franklin (CV-13) being bombed off Okinawa; locating and shooting down kamikazes; describing battle stations; aircraft water landings; being in a typhoon, etc. After the war ended, the Independence served as a troop transport taking GIs back home to the US. He describes bunks in the hangar deck and arriving in Portland, Oregon. As the Independence was being prepared for the Bikini Atoll atomic tests, Heigel got off becuase he had the requisite amount of points allowing him to be discharged. He then entered the lumber business, married and raised family.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Jowdy. Jowdy enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age of 15, with his parents’ consent. His first assignment was pulling bodies out of sunken ships in Pearl Harbor. At Guadalcanal, his ship was torpedoed. Due to the presence of enemy subs, he could not be rescued initially and spent two weeks floating in a raft. Then he joined a rescue effort to aid the USS Wasp (CV-7), only to be torpedoed again, spending another four days in the water. Jowdy was then assigned to the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25), patrolling the Bering Sea and participating in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands as a second loader on a 40-millimeter. After witnessing the Marianas Turkey Shoot and also seeing MacArthur film his famous return, Jowdy participated in the bombardment of Iwo Jima, amidst kamikazes and suicide boats. After the war, he survived a typhoon and served occupation duty in Japan, later transporting troops as part of the demobilization effort before being discharged in January 1946.

Transcript of an oral interview with Al Heigel. When Heigel finished high school in June, 1944, he joined the Navy at Little Rock, Arkansas and went for boot training at San Diego. He was assigned as a radar operator and reported aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) at Pearl Harbor. Heigel describes the light carrier and its construction and features. He also speaks of the time the Independence was hit by a torpedo off Tarawa in 1943. Heigel then describes events off Okinawa: watching the USS Franklin (CV-13) being bombed off Okinawa; locating and shooting down kamikazes; describing battle stations; aircraft water landings; being in a typhoon, etc. After the war ended, the Independence served as a troop transport taking GIs back home to the US. He describes bunks in the hangar deck and arriving in Portland, Oregon. As the Independence was being prepared for the Bikini Atoll atomic tests, Heigel got off becuase he had the requisite amount of points allowing him to be discharged. He then entered the lumber business, married and raised family.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis R. Ferry. Ferry grew up in Nebraska and taught for a year before joining the Navy in 1942. He had enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program prior to enlisting. He trained on the N3N, the SNJ, the OS2U, the BT, the SBC3 and other types of aircraft. He was assigned to be a dive-bomber, flying the SB2C Helldiver. Ferry was initially assigned to VB-14 and left aboard the USS Wasp to the coast of Venezuela where he continued training. He was reassigned to VB-82 and left on the USS Bennington (CV-20) for Pearl Harbor. The ship joined Task Force 58.1 for Japan. He flew his first combat mission over Tokyo. He was involved with burning the beaches on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He then was involved in the attack on the Japanese ship Yamato. His air group was the lead group in on the first strike, and Ferry himself dropped rockets and bombs that may have been hits. His wife Genevieve Ferry briefly discusses what her experiences were on the homefront.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R. Bruce Porter. After a few years of college at the University of Southern California, Porter joined the Marines as an aviation cadet. After training on the F4F, Porter was assigned to Squadron 111 and shipped out on the USS Garfield to American Samoa. Porter mentions training with and talking with Joe Foss when his squadron passed through Apia. Porter then went to Turtle Bay, New Caledonia. He next flew F4F's in Guadalcanal in 1943. Their squadron then switched to the Corsair plane. Porter then started moving ""up the slot"" toward Japan gradually moving north with his squadron. Later, Porter returned to the states to train on F6F's and joined a night fighter squadron. He was assigned as a squadron commander in Okinawa. He discusses blowing up a plane with a ""baka"" bomb on it. Porter's record is an ace, with five official kills and one probable. Porter witnessed the surrender party preparing for the official surrender. He stayed in Japan for four months after the occupation.

Typewritten correspondence from an unknown sailor describing events in Nagasaki Harbor and city on September 11, 16, and 20th 1945. The document provides a first-hand account of damage from the atomic bomb from the sailor's viewpoint in Nagasaki harbor as well as naval operations during the period described and the affect on civilians in the area.

Letter from Bill Mertz to the Hatchette family describing life in Tokyo and Yokohama following Japanese surrender in World War II. An addendum to the letter updates the Hatchettes on Johnnie Hines' promotion to Captain and Comdr. Kirkpatrick's leave from the service and wishes Mrs. Hatchette and the family well.

Hal Lamar's copy of a document entitled "Surrender Ceremony, 2 September 1945." The document lists a Schedule of Arrivals, Procedure for Assembling, and lists the names of Officers, Allied Representatives, and Japanese Representatives expected to attend. Several diagrams lay out the personnel arrangements on the USS Missouri.

Interview with William Tucker, a business executive from Boston, regarding his experiences working for Caltex Petroleum Corporation, their refinery construction and expansion during World War II and after the war, the oil industry, and Caltex in India, Australia, Germany, Japan, Korea, and South Africa.

Letter from M. Gotoh to H. Kempner Cotton Company informing about Hiroshi Matsuda's travel plans and requesting to guide him.

Letter from Jim Baird to Arthur M. Alpert informing about sending a camera by Mr. Matsuda and requesting for remittance after receipt of the camera.

Letter from Tom P. Davis to Harris Kempner apologizing for his unavailability during latter's visit and assuring to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Harris Weston.

Letter from Harris Leon Kempner to Harris F. Weston informing about attaching a copy of the letter from Tom Davis.

Letter from James T. Baird to Harris Kempner requesting Mr. and Mrs. Harris Weston to call him upon arrival to Tokyo.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story of Lieutenant Governor who invoked broad state powers to deal with problems caused by tropical storm Delia.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story of mission commander of Skylab became the world champion of space flight.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story of the leader of the Japanese expedition that plans to hunt the Loch Ness Monster who has claimed Scottish feelings by promising not to shoot the legendary creature.