The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Neece. Neece was drafted into the Army in July, 1943 and had basic training in New Orleans. After basic training, Neece went to Illinois for radio school, then to Florida for radar school. He was then sent to the Pacific and joined the 864th Bomb Squadron as a radar operator. He flew out of Saipan and Okinawa prior to the war's end. When it was over, he spent a little while in Japan before going bakc to the US and being discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Neece. Neece was drafted into the Army in July, 1943 and had basic training in New Orleans. After basic training, Neece went to Illinois for radio school, then to Florida for radar school. He was then sent to the Pacific and joined the 864th Bomb Squadron as a radar operator. He flew out of Saipan and Okinawa prior to the war's end. When it was over, he spent a little while in Japan before going bakc to the US and being discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Gaffney. Gaffney was born in San Antonio in 1923. He joined the Unites States Coast Guard in 1942. After completing training at Manhattan Beach, New York, he was assigned to USCGC North Star (WPG-59) which proceeded to station off Narsarsuaq, Greenland. He recalls leaving with a detachment of soldiers on a mission to capture and destroy a German weather station located on the coast of Greenland. He also recalls being ice bound for thirty days and the circumstances that allowed for the release of the ship from the ice. He remembers searching for survivors of USCGC Escanaba (WPG-77). Gaffney also tells of his experiences aboard an 83-foot patrol boat during Operation OVERLORD. He concludes the interview with his experiences following his discharge in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Gaffney. Gaffney was born in San Antonio in 1923. He joined the Unites States Coast Guard in 1942. After completing training at Manhattan Beach, New York, he was assigned to USCGC North Star (WPG-59) which proceeded to station off Narsarsuaq, Greenland. He recalls leaving with a detachment of soldiers on a mission to capture and destroy a German weather station located on the coast of Greenland. He also recalls being ice bound for thirty days and the circumstances that allowed for the release of the ship from the ice. He remembers searching for survivors of USCGC Escanaba (WPG-77). Gaffney also tells of his experiences aboard an 83-foot patrol boat during Operation OVERLORD. He concludes the interview with his experiences following his discharge in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Walker. Walker was working as a mail carrier when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted in the Navy, and despite attending aviation mechanic school he was selected to be an aerial gunner. Walker was assigned to an SBD crew aboard USS Essex (CV-9), flying his first mission over Wake Island and his last over Truk. After 10 months in combat, he transferred to Florida for further training. Walker later put in to become a pilot himself and was taking courses at William Jewell College in anticipation of flight school when the war ended. Walker was discharged thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Walker. Walker was working as a mail carrier when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted in the Navy, and despite attending aviation mechanic school he was selected to be an aerial gunner. Walker was assigned to an SBD crew aboard USS Essex (CV-9), flying his first mission over Wake Island and his last over Truk. After 10 months in combat, he transferred to Florida for further training. Walker later put in to become a pilot himself and was taking courses at William Jewell College in anticipation of flight school when the war ended. Walker was discharged thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Walker. After completing his second year of college, Walker was mobilized as a member of the North Dakota Army National Guard in February 1941 and became second lieutenant of a machinegun platoon with the 164th Infantry Regiment. He felt that his training left much to be desired, due to alcoholism among his superiors. The night before they deployed to Guadalcanal, the majority of the officers in his battalion reported to hospitals. Cowardice, entitlement, and substance abuse ran rampant in the upper ranks around Walker. Whenever he tried to speak out against it, he was discredited for having humble roots in the National Guard. At Koli Point, he was given the dangerous task of closing the gap, which he accomplished. He endured countless brushes with death and developed a macabre sense of humor to cope with stress. He was promoted to company commander and deployed to Leyte, where in Valencia he lost 17 men. The responsibility of having to send condolence letters home to their families rested heavily on Walker, though he also saved the life of one wounded man. Walker was then promoted to executive officer of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Walker. After completing his second year of college, Walker was mobilized as a member of the North Dakota Army National Guard in February 1941 and became second lieutenant of a machinegun platoon with the 164th Infantry Regiment. He felt that his training left much to be desired, due to alcoholism among his superiors. The night before they deployed to Guadalcanal, the majority of the officers in his battalion reported to hospitals. Cowardice, entitlement, and substance abuse ran rampant in the upper ranks around Walker. Whenever he tried to speak out against it, he was discredited for having humble roots in the National Guard. At Koli Point, he was given the dangerous task of closing the gap, which he accomplished. He endured countless brushes with death and developed a macabre sense of humor to cope with stress. He was promoted to company commander and deployed to Leyte, where in Valencia he lost 17 men. The responsibility of having to send condolence letters home to their families rested heavily on Walker, though he also saved the life of one wounded man. Walker was then promoted to executive officer of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester Spaw. Spaw began working for the post office in Austin after graduating high school. He visited Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson at his downtown office to discuss an inclination to enlist. Johnson replied that he had similar plans, so Spaw joined the Navy in 1942. He received basic training in Virginia and was then stationed at Camp Parks as a postal clerk. He shipped out with the 14th Seabees and made a brief stopover in Saipan, where he saw Japanese soldiers being buried in a common grave. He arrived on Okinawa in 1945 as the battle was winding down. A kamikaze attack during one of his daily trips to retrieve mail led Spaw to seek cover in the nearest foxhole. He was turned away, as there was no room for him. As he ran to other foxholes, he was turned away again and again. By the time the plane hit its target ship, Spaw was still without cover. But he was prepared later, when a typhoon hit, having securely tied down his tent. Spaw was discharged in November 1945 and resumed his career as a letter carrier in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester Spaw. Spaw began working for the post office in Austin after graduating high school. He visited Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson at his downtown office to discuss an inclination to enlist. Johnson replied that he had similar plans, so Spaw joined the Navy in 1942. He received basic training in Virginia and was then stationed at Camp Parks as a postal clerk. He shipped out with the 14th Seabees and made a brief stopover in Saipan, where he saw Japanese soldiers being buried in a common grave. He arrived on Okinawa in 1945 as the battle was winding down. A kamikaze attack during one of his daily trips to retrieve mail led Spaw to seek cover in the nearest foxhole. He was turned away, as there was no room for him. As he ran to other foxholes, he was turned away again and again. By the time the plane hit its target ship, Spaw was still without cover. But he was prepared later, when a typhoon hit, having securely tied down his tent. Spaw was discharged in November 1945 and resumed his career as a letter carrier in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Emil Matula. Matula left the Dust Bowl in 1937 with nothing more than a seventh-grade education and enlisted in the Army. By 1940, he was a machine gunner with the 35th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks. On 7 December 1941 he was awakened by the shaking of his bunk and a sounding alarm. With his sergeants missing and unable to unlock the weapons locker, Matula took an axe to the door. By March 1942, Matula was the youngest buck sergeant in his company. After amphibious training, he landed at Guadalcanal, reinforcing the 43rd Infantry Division at Henderson Field. In the Battle of Mount Austen, he marched deep behind enemy lines, cut off from supplies for 10 days. Afterward, at Bougainville, he survived hourly air raids; his tent was bombed just after he vacated it. He earned a Bronze Star at Vella Lavella and went on to train replacements in New Caledonia. He then went to Luzon, spending 145 days in the mountainous jungles around Lingayen Gulf. In a barrio, despite easily overcoming a banzai charge, he was faced with a force of 32 tanks. After the barrio was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Emil Matula. Matula left the Dust Bowl in 1937 with nothing more than a seventh-grade education and enlisted in the Army. By 1940, he was a machine gunner with the 35th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks. On 7 December 1941 he was awakened by the shaking of his bunk and a sounding alarm. With his sergeants missing and unable to unlock the weapons locker, Matula took an axe to the door. By March 1942, Matula was the youngest buck sergeant in his company. After amphibious training, he landed at Guadalcanal, reinforcing the 43rd Infantry Division at Henderson Field. In the Battle of Mount Austen, he marched deep behind enemy lines, cut off from supplies for 10 days. Afterward, at Bougainville, he survived hourly air raids; his tent was bombed just after he vacated it. He earned a Bronze Star at Vella Lavella and went on to train replacements in New Caledonia. He then went to Luzon, spending 145 days in the mountainous jungles around Lingayen Gulf. In a barrio, despite easily overcoming a banzai charge, he was faced with a force of 32 tanks. After the barrio was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hank Hise. Hise attended the University of Texas and began flight school in 1941. He joined the Marine Corps when the war began, flying SMJs at El Toro. He was assigned to VMSB-232 in Hawaii, where he piloted TBMs and TBFs. When he first arrived at Guadalcanal, landings were hazardous on the short and narrow gravel strip flanked by palm trees. His squadron was bombed daily, and he was the only surviving pilot, though he suffered a broken pelvis. Treatment aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) was agonizing; he spent a month suspended from his bunk by a sling, unable to move his legs. When he recovered, he was promoted to captain, making strikes over Rabaul. Hise returned to the States as a squadron commander after a bout of malaria. He was sent back to the Pacific and flew missions against Japan off the USS Cape Gloucester (CVE-109). After the war ended he saw a Japanese airfield covered with brand new planes, their propellers removed as required by the surrender. He flew over Nagasaki, where everything was flattened, save for a stadium that had been turned on its side. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hank Hise. Hise attended the University of Texas and began flight school in 1941. He joined the Marine Corps when the war began, flying SMJs at El Toro. He was assigned to VMSB-232 in Hawaii, where he piloted TBMs and TBFs. When he first arrived at Guadalcanal, landings were hazardous on the short and narrow gravel strip flanked by palm trees. His squadron was bombed daily, and he was the only surviving pilot, though he suffered a broken pelvis. Treatment aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) was agonizing; he spent a month suspended from his bunk by a sling, unable to move his legs. When he recovered, he was promoted to captain, making strikes over Rabaul. Hise returned to the States as a squadron commander after a bout of malaria. He was sent back to the Pacific and flew missions against Japan off the USS Cape Gloucester (CVE-109). After the war ended he saw a Japanese airfield covered with brand new planes, their propellers removed as required by the surrender. He flew over Nagasaki, where everything was flattened, save for a stadium that had been turned on its side. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Brushwein. Brushwein graduated from North Dakota State University ion 1939 and accepted his commission in the Army through the ROTC. When he was with the Third Infantry Division, he was a battalion adjutant working for Lieutenant Colonel Dwight Eisenhower. In 1940, he went to Hawaii and joined the 25th Infantry Division. He describes his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor. After more training in Hawaii, he embarked for Guadalcanal in January 1943. Brushwein provides many details of the activities of the 25th ID on Guadalcanal. Brushwein even drank beer at the officer’s club on Tulagi with John F. Kennedy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Brushwein. Brushwein graduated from North Dakota State University ion 1939 and accepted his commission in the Army through the ROTC. When he was with the Third Infantry Division, he was a battalion adjutant working for Lieutenant Colonel Dwight Eisenhower. In 1940, he went to Hawaii and joined the 25th Infantry Division. He describes his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor. After more training in Hawaii, he embarked for Guadalcanal in January 1943. Brushwein provides many details of the activities of the 25th ID on Guadalcanal. Brushwein even drank beer at the officer’s club on Tulagi with John F. Kennedy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Neal Gillingham. Gillingham joined the Navy after high school. He attended boot camp and medical corps school in Farragut, and was sent to Hawaii for jungle training before deploying to Saipan as a medic for a naval construction battalion. Although the island had been taken, he still had to worry about snipers and Japanese attacks at night. During Okinawa, he was assigned to a ship in the harbor which was struck by a kamikaze just after he and his Seabee unit went ashore. On the island, Gillingham set up a field hospital in a tent and was stationed there until the war ended. He received a promotion and was recognized as the top medic in his unit. On V-J Day, parties and pranks were enjoyed by all. Gillingham returned home and was discharged. Over time, he was able to let go of feelings of resentment toward the Japanese that he had developed during the war; he came to realize that they, too, were following orders. Gillingham joined the Army Reserves in 1949 and was called into active duty for the Korean War. Fortunately, he was stationed in Europe …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Neal Gillingham. Gillingham joined the Navy after high school. He attended boot camp and medical corps school in Farragut, and was sent to Hawaii for jungle training before deploying to Saipan as a medic for a naval construction battalion. Although the island had been taken, he still had to worry about snipers and Japanese attacks at night. During Okinawa, he was assigned to a ship in the harbor which was struck by a kamikaze just after he and his Seabee unit went ashore. On the island, Gillingham set up a field hospital in a tent and was stationed there until the war ended. He received a promotion and was recognized as the top medic in his unit. On V-J Day, parties and pranks were enjoyed by all. Gillingham returned home and was discharged. Over time, he was able to let go of feelings of resentment toward the Japanese that he had developed during the war; he came to realize that they, too, were following orders. Gillingham joined the Army Reserves in 1949 and was called into active duty for the Korean War. Fortunately, he was stationed in Europe …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norma Cook. Cook was born in England in 1932. During the war, she and her family lived in a village outside of Liverpool. Because they were located near an antiaircraft battery, they endured a period of constant bombardment. During air raids they hid in their living room under a steel frame provided to civilians for protection. On the mornings following bombardments, the streets were lined with children whose homes had been destroyed. Her family took in as many as they could, but rationing made difficult every aspect of their lives. They wanted for food, clothing, and coal. The Cook family was still living under rations at the time they left England, in 1952, and immigrated to Canada.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norma Cook. Cook was born in England in 1932. During the war, she and her family lived in a village outside of Liverpool. Because they were located near an antiaircraft battery, they endured a period of constant bombardment. During air raids they hid in their living room under a steel frame provided to civilians for protection. On the mornings following bombardments, the streets were lined with children whose homes had been destroyed. Her family took in as many as they could, but rationing made difficult every aspect of their lives. They wanted for food, clothing, and coal. The Cook family was still living under rations at the time they left England, in 1952, and immigrated to Canada.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Otis M Scott. Scott joined the Army in October of 1944. He served as a Browning Automatic Rifle gunner with the 23rd Infantry Division. In early 1945, Scott deployed to the Pacific, participating in the Cebu offensive against the Japanese during the Philippines Campaign. After the war ended, he served in the occupation of Japan. Scott returned to the US and was discharged in September of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Otis M Scott. Scott joined the Army in October of 1944. He served as a Browning Automatic Rifle gunner with the 23rd Infantry Division. In early 1945, Scott deployed to the Pacific, participating in the Cebu offensive against the Japanese during the Philippines Campaign. After the war ended, he served in the occupation of Japan. Scott returned to the US and was discharged in September of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Graff. After graduating from Harvard with an Economics degree in June 1941, Graff entered the Navy's V-7 Program. The Program was on board the Prairie State, a converted Spanish-American warship whose supersturcture had been removed and replaced with a barn; moored to the shore of the Hudson River at about 135th Street. After finishing the 90-day crash course, Graff opted for destroyers and was assigned to Communications School in Connecticut. After graduating from there, he was sent to the USS Atlanta, a light cruiser being built in Kearny, New Jersey. Capt Jenkins (CO of the Atlanta) made Graff the ship's Signal Officer. Atlanta was the first of a new class of ships; an anti-aircraft ship and the first ship designed to shoot down planes (eight turrets of twin five-inch 38 caliber guns). After launching, the Atlanta was towed to the Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York in early December, eighty percent finished. After commissioning, outfitting, test runs, sea trials, etc the Atlanta got underway with orders to go to Pearl Harbor. The Atlanta was assigned to the Third Fleet and was involved in the battle of Midway. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Graff. After graduating from Harvard with an Economics degree in June 1941, Graff entered the Navy's V-7 Program. The Program was on board the Prairie State, a converted Spanish-American warship whose supersturcture had been removed and replaced with a barn; moored to the shore of the Hudson River at about 135th Street. After finishing the 90-day crash course, Graff opted for destroyers and was assigned to Communications School in Connecticut. After graduating from there, he was sent to the USS Atlanta, a light cruiser being built in Kearny, New Jersey. Capt Jenkins (CO of the Atlanta) made Graff the ship's Signal Officer. Atlanta was the first of a new class of ships; an anti-aircraft ship and the first ship designed to shoot down planes (eight turrets of twin five-inch 38 caliber guns). After launching, the Atlanta was towed to the Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York in early December, eighty percent finished. After commissioning, outfitting, test runs, sea trials, etc the Atlanta got underway with orders to go to Pearl Harbor. The Atlanta was assigned to the Third Fleet and was involved in the battle of Midway. …