The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Cobleigh. Cobleigh joined the Civilian Conservation Corps of Colorado in 1938, and later joined the Vermont Coast Guard, then the Navy. By October of 1942 he was serving on Tulagi Island during the Guadalcanal Campaign. He worked on island patrol and as a cook aboard the USS PT-111. PT-111 intercepted Japanese forces, completing 11 patrols, including missions around Bougainville. In January of 1943 Cobleigh was transferred to the USS Cossatot (AO-77) and traveled across the Atlantic, through the Mediterranean and around the Arabian Peninsula, supplying fuel and dry stores to ships. From late 1943 through 1944 he served aboard the USS Acontius (AGP-12) and traveled to Hallaniyat Island. In late 1944 he transferred back to PT boats until the end of the war. Cobleigh was discharge din January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Cobleigh. Cobleigh joined the Civilian Conservation Corps of Colorado in 1938, and later joined the Vermont Coast Guard, then the Navy. By October of 1942 he was serving on Tulagi Island during the Guadalcanal Campaign. He worked on island patrol and as a cook aboard the USS PT-111. PT-111 intercepted Japanese forces, completing 11 patrols, including missions around Bougainville. In January of 1943 Cobleigh was transferred to the USS Cossatot (AO-77) and traveled across the Atlantic, through the Mediterranean and around the Arabian Peninsula, supplying fuel and dry stores to ships. From late 1943 through 1944 he served aboard the USS Acontius (AGP-12) and traveled to Hallaniyat Island. In late 1944 he transferred back to PT boats until the end of the war. Cobleigh was discharge din January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Philip Mounger. Mounger joined the Marine Corps in September 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He was a field bugler before being reassigned to radio school. He received further training, specializing in a complex voice radio that was difficult to tune. Because it was used in tanks, he then went through tank school at Jacques Farm, where he befriended Navajo code talkers. Soon after, easy-to-use radios were installed in tanks, so Mounger was sent to the 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, as an FM radio operator. The radio he carried weighed about 35 pounds and required Mounger to wear his field pack in the front, which ended up saving him from a direct shell explosion on Iwo Jima. The two men accompanying him were killed by the blast, while Mounger was wounded by shrapnel to his heart. He was declared dead at the station hospital but managed to survive until being transported to a hospital ship. Once at the Navy hospital on Guam, a doctor improvised a device to remove fluid from Mounger’s lungs, a procedure that would be repeated several times, even after he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Philip Mounger. Mounger joined the Marine Corps in September 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He was a field bugler before being reassigned to radio school. He received further training, specializing in a complex voice radio that was difficult to tune. Because it was used in tanks, he then went through tank school at Jacques Farm, where he befriended Navajo code talkers. Soon after, easy-to-use radios were installed in tanks, so Mounger was sent to the 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, as an FM radio operator. The radio he carried weighed about 35 pounds and required Mounger to wear his field pack in the front, which ended up saving him from a direct shell explosion on Iwo Jima. The two men accompanying him were killed by the blast, while Mounger was wounded by shrapnel to his heart. He was declared dead at the station hospital but managed to survive until being transported to a hospital ship. Once at the Navy hospital on Guam, a doctor improvised a device to remove fluid from Mounger’s lungs, a procedure that would be repeated several times, even after he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Kling. Kling joined the Army Air Forces and received basic training in St. Louis. He was trained as a B-17 pilot before being transferred to the Northern Mariana Islands as a B-29 pilot. He did not engage in battle during his service, and he retired with 35 years combined active and reserve duty. Kling notes that while many of the troops were against serving beside African American soldiers, he felt camaraderie with everyone who fought for America.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Kling. Kling joined the Army Air Forces and received basic training in St. Louis. He was trained as a B-17 pilot before being transferred to the Northern Mariana Islands as a B-29 pilot. He did not engage in battle during his service, and he retired with 35 years combined active and reserve duty. Kling notes that while many of the troops were against serving beside African American soldiers, he felt camaraderie with everyone who fought for America.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lin Williams. Williams joined the Army in November 1942 after spending a year in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He received basic training at Fort Meade and joined the 4th Cavalry. He was sent to California for desert training but sailed to England in February 1943. He landed on an island off the coast of Utah Beach before dawn on D-Day. There was no German opposition, but 19 men were killed and 55 injured by land mines. Williams was at Oppenheim on V-E Day and began preparing for deployment to the Pacific. When the war ended, Williams instead returned home and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lin Williams. Williams joined the Army in November 1942 after spending a year in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He received basic training at Fort Meade and joined the 4th Cavalry. He was sent to California for desert training but sailed to England in February 1943. He landed on an island off the coast of Utah Beach before dawn on D-Day. There was no German opposition, but 19 men were killed and 55 injured by land mines. Williams was at Oppenheim on V-E Day and began preparing for deployment to the Pacific. When the war ended, Williams instead returned home and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Hunter. Hunter completed Civilian Pilot Training in college, acquired his pilot???s license and enlisted in the Army Air Forces in September of 1942. Hunter graduated from pilot training in July of 1943 and was commissioned. He joined the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group flying a P-38. He provides some details of his trainings and the various planes he flew, including the P-38. In October of 1943 they traveled to North Africa, Italy and France, escorting bombers and going on strafing missions. They completed 35 combat missions. He later joined up with a service squadron, hauling freight, testing aircraft after repairs and transporting passengers. He was discharged in June of 1945. He received the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Hunter. Hunter completed Civilian Pilot Training in college, acquired his pilot???s license and enlisted in the Army Air Forces in September of 1942. Hunter graduated from pilot training in July of 1943 and was commissioned. He joined the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group flying a P-38. He provides some details of his trainings and the various planes he flew, including the P-38. In October of 1943 they traveled to North Africa, Italy and France, escorting bombers and going on strafing missions. They completed 35 combat missions. He later joined up with a service squadron, hauling freight, testing aircraft after repairs and transporting passengers. He was discharged in June of 1945. He received the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Art Goetz. Goetz joined the Marine Corps in 1945 and received basic training at Parris Island followed by engineer training at Camp Lejeune. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion, stationed in China, where he performed maintenance work at the American Legation in Peking. He arrived in January 1946 to a welcoming population who lined the streets waving American flags. While there he visited the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Whispering Wall at the Temple of Heaven. The exchange rate was so favorable to Americans that his acquaintance bought a Ming Dynasty urn for a few dollars, and Goetz purchased two cloisonné blouses for 25 cents each. In April 1947 Goetz was transferred to Guam with the 1st Marine Brigade. In 1948 he returned to China, this time stationed at Tsingtao. As the Chinese Civil War intensified, the engineers were the last to evacuate, loading their heavy equipment onto ships as shots were being fired all around the city. Goetz returned to the States in May 1949 and went on to serve in the Korean War. His last duty was as a special …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Art Goetz. Goetz joined the Marine Corps in 1945 and received basic training at Parris Island followed by engineer training at Camp Lejeune. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion, stationed in China, where he performed maintenance work at the American Legation in Peking. He arrived in January 1946 to a welcoming population who lined the streets waving American flags. While there he visited the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Whispering Wall at the Temple of Heaven. The exchange rate was so favorable to Americans that his acquaintance bought a Ming Dynasty urn for a few dollars, and Goetz purchased two cloisonné blouses for 25 cents each. In April 1947 Goetz was transferred to Guam with the 1st Marine Brigade. In 1948 he returned to China, this time stationed at Tsingtao. As the Chinese Civil War intensified, the engineers were the last to evacuate, loading their heavy equipment onto ships as shots were being fired all around the city. Goetz returned to the States in May 1949 and went on to serve in the Korean War. His last duty was as a special …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Tizzard. Tizzard was born in Rochester, New York on 30 June 1916. He enlisted in the Army in 1940 and completed several courses of training, including Officer Candidate School after which he received his commission. He was sent to Honolulu as a member of the 184th Regiment, 7th Army Division which was training for the invasion of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. His duties included company officer in charge of automatic weapons. By the time his regiment reached Kwajalein, most of the fighting was over and his company received orders to Truk on 5 January 1945. While enroute to Truk the ship was redirected to Okinawa where they arrived on Easter Sunday, 1945. He recalls that his unit was involved in combat at Shuri Castle and Yonaharu. He describes being in Okinawa on V-J Day in September 1945, after which, his unit was sent to Seoul, Korea to accept the surrender of Japanese forces in Korea. While in Korea, he resigned from the Army, volunteered for the Internantional Red Cross, and was sent to Qingdao, China for five years, assisting in the relocation of White Russians. Following his time …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Tizzard. Tizzard was born in Rochester, New York on 30 June 1916. He enlisted in the Army in 1940 and completed several courses of training, including Officer Candidate School after which he received his commission. He was sent to Honolulu as a member of the 184th Regiment, 7th Army Division which was training for the invasion of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. His duties included company officer in charge of automatic weapons. By the time his regiment reached Kwajalein, most of the fighting was over and his company received orders to Truk on 5 January 1945. While enroute to Truk the ship was redirected to Okinawa where they arrived on Easter Sunday, 1945. He recalls that his unit was involved in combat at Shuri Castle and Yonaharu. He describes being in Okinawa on V-J Day in September 1945, after which, his unit was sent to Seoul, Korea to accept the surrender of Japanese forces in Korea. While in Korea, he resigned from the Army, volunteered for the Internantional Red Cross, and was sent to Qingdao, China for five years, assisting in the relocation of White Russians. Following his time …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clarence E. Shockey. Shockey was born in rural Texas and attended school in McKinney. Before finishing school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 or 1939. After being in the CCC< Shockey went to work for Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Corsicana, Texas making anchors for US Navy ships. He was also married with a daughter at the time and received an exemption from the draft on account of his family and the classified nature of the work he was doing. After his cousin and some close friends were killed at Normandy, he joined the Marine Corps. He went to San Diego for training and describes several incidents that occurred there. When he was assigned to the First Marine Division, he was initially sent to Pavuvu after teh First secured Peleliu. At Pavuvu, they trained and prepared for landing at Okinawa. On Okinawa, Shockey captured a cave full of civilians with help from the Mayor of Naha. He follows with more anecdotes about Okinawa. Eventually, Shockey was sent to China with the First Marine Division. His job there was to deliver mail and bread to the company. Toward …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clarence E. Shockey. Shockey was born in rural Texas and attended school in McKinney. Before finishing school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 or 1939. After being in the CCC< Shockey went to work for Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Corsicana, Texas making anchors for US Navy ships. He was also married with a daughter at the time and received an exemption from the draft on account of his family and the classified nature of the work he was doing. After his cousin and some close friends were killed at Normandy, he joined the Marine Corps. He went to San Diego for training and describes several incidents that occurred there. When he was assigned to the First Marine Division, he was initially sent to Pavuvu after teh First secured Peleliu. At Pavuvu, they trained and prepared for landing at Okinawa. On Okinawa, Shockey captured a cave full of civilians with help from the Mayor of Naha. He follows with more anecdotes about Okinawa. Eventually, Shockey was sent to China with the First Marine Division. His job there was to deliver mail and bread to the company. Toward …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Don L. Holmes. He joined the Marine Corps in 1943. In December 1944, he was sent to the Pacific Theater and assigned to an artillery regiment, E Battery of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He describes the landing on Iwo Jima on the third day of the invasion and supporting the 21st Marines, an infantry regiment. Following the surrender of Japan, he was sent to Tientsin, China with Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. He discusses his duty patrolling the Japanese compound as well as serving in a detachment tasked with transporting Japanese and Koreans to be repatriated to their respective countries. He also discusses the Chinese people and the conflict between the Nationalists and the Communists. He shares his memories of R & R in Peking, China. He was discharged in 1946. He also shares the story of his high school friend, Jack Wallace, a marine who was killed during the Eniwetok Invasion.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Don L. Holmes. He joined the Marine Corps in 1943. In December 1944, he was sent to the Pacific Theater and assigned to an artillery regiment, E Battery of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He describes the landing on Iwo Jima on the third day of the invasion and supporting the 21st Marines, an infantry regiment. Following the surrender of Japan, he was sent to Tientsin, China with Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. He discusses his duty patrolling the Japanese compound as well as serving in a detachment tasked with transporting Japanese and Koreans to be repatriated to their respective countries. He also discusses the Chinese people and the conflict between the Nationalists and the Communists. He shares his memories of R & R in Peking, China. He was discharged in 1946. He also shares the story of his high school friend, Jack Wallace, a marine who was killed during the Eniwetok Invasion.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dwayne K. Redman. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on 4 August 1928. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 1946 and was sent to Parris Island for basic training. He provides several anecdotes of his time at Parris Island. Prior to completing basic training, he was sent to Washington, DC and put up in a room at a hotel where the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, came to his room and told him that he needed a volunteer for special duty. Redman was particularly qualified due to his demonstrated physical endurance, night vision, some experience flying as a civilian and his military test results. He accepted the assignment and was transferred to Cherry Point, where he was assigned to a Marine Corps transport squadron and trained as a navigator and pilot in the R4D (USMC version of the C-47). Upon completing the training in April 1947, he was sent to Shanghai, China where was assigned to a civilian boss heading up a secret operation. He describes his duties as navigator in a modified R4D flying White Russian expatriates to various locations on the China/Russia border. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dwayne K. Redman. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on 4 August 1928. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 1946 and was sent to Parris Island for basic training. He provides several anecdotes of his time at Parris Island. Prior to completing basic training, he was sent to Washington, DC and put up in a room at a hotel where the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, came to his room and told him that he needed a volunteer for special duty. Redman was particularly qualified due to his demonstrated physical endurance, night vision, some experience flying as a civilian and his military test results. He accepted the assignment and was transferred to Cherry Point, where he was assigned to a Marine Corps transport squadron and trained as a navigator and pilot in the R4D (USMC version of the C-47). Upon completing the training in April 1947, he was sent to Shanghai, China where was assigned to a civilian boss heading up a secret operation. He describes his duties as navigator in a modified R4D flying White Russian expatriates to various locations on the China/Russia border. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle Soper. Soper was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on 6 March 1928. After graduating from high school in 1945, he joined the Marine Corps. After completion of training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he boarded the USS Starlight (AP-175) bound for China. Upon arriving at Tangkou, China, he joined the 1st Marine Division, 5th Marines. There, the unit guarded coal stations and oil facilities as well as their ammunition depot. He tells of the efforts of Chinese communist forces to take over or destroy bridges used by the Chinese Nationalist forces and the measures taken by the Marines to protect these locations. In addition to the guard details, the Marines also rounded up Japanese troops to be sent back to Japan. Soper comments that the Japanese looked upon the Marines as protectors. The Japanese feared that if afforded the opportunity, the Chinese civilians would have killed them because of past atrocities by Japanese troops. Soper returned to the United States in December 1946 and was discharged shortly thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle Soper. Soper was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on 6 March 1928. After graduating from high school in 1945, he joined the Marine Corps. After completion of training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he boarded the USS Starlight (AP-175) bound for China. Upon arriving at Tangkou, China, he joined the 1st Marine Division, 5th Marines. There, the unit guarded coal stations and oil facilities as well as their ammunition depot. He tells of the efforts of Chinese communist forces to take over or destroy bridges used by the Chinese Nationalist forces and the measures taken by the Marines to protect these locations. In addition to the guard details, the Marines also rounded up Japanese troops to be sent back to Japan. Soper comments that the Japanese looked upon the Marines as protectors. The Japanese feared that if afforded the opportunity, the Chinese civilians would have killed them because of past atrocities by Japanese troops. Soper returned to the United States in December 1946 and was discharged shortly thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edgar Fulwider. He was born in San Francisco, California in 1927 and joined the Merchant Marines in 1944 at the age of 17. He attended the Maritime Academy at Catalina Island, California. In February 1945 he shipped out as a Fireman/Water Tender on a T2 Tanker carrying six million gallons of bunker fuel (black oil) and one million gallons of aviation gasoline. The ship arrived off the Philippines as the islands were being liberated, then sailed to Iwo Jima for the last three weeks of that campaign and then went to Okinawa for the invasion. He describes the ship colliding with a destroyer while refueling during a typhoon. They returned to San Francisco for repairs. Upon arrival Fulwider was transferred to the Army Transportation Corps (ATC) and made two more round trips to the Philippines on troop carriers returning men to the US. At the end of the war he enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1945, attending basic training in San Diego. He was assigned to duty in China as an infantryman in the First Marine Division. He describes his duty as member of a machine …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edgar Fulwider. He was born in San Francisco, California in 1927 and joined the Merchant Marines in 1944 at the age of 17. He attended the Maritime Academy at Catalina Island, California. In February 1945 he shipped out as a Fireman/Water Tender on a T2 Tanker carrying six million gallons of bunker fuel (black oil) and one million gallons of aviation gasoline. The ship arrived off the Philippines as the islands were being liberated, then sailed to Iwo Jima for the last three weeks of that campaign and then went to Okinawa for the invasion. He describes the ship colliding with a destroyer while refueling during a typhoon. They returned to San Francisco for repairs. Upon arrival Fulwider was transferred to the Army Transportation Corps (ATC) and made two more round trips to the Philippines on troop carriers returning men to the US. At the end of the war he enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1945, attending basic training in San Diego. He was assigned to duty in China as an infantryman in the First Marine Division. He describes his duty as member of a machine …