The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Pickard. Pickard was in high school when the war started and recalls a few anecdotes from childhood before joining the Navy in mid-1944. Once in the Navy, Pickard was assigned to the Amphibious Force. He served as a signalman aboard USS Bergen (APA-150). On his first voyage, they delivered ammunition to Ulithi. Pickard also went to Okinawa and describes typhoons. After the war ended, his ship carried parts of the First Marine Division to China. Upon returning to the US, Pickard received his discharge in mid-1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Pickard. Pickard was in high school when the war started and recalls a few anecdotes from childhood before joining the Navy in mid-1944. Once in the Navy, Pickard was assigned to the Amphibious Force. He served as a signalman aboard USS Bergen (APA-150). On his first voyage, they delivered ammunition to Ulithi. Pickard also went to Okinawa and describes typhoons. After the war ended, his ship carried parts of the First Marine Division to China. Upon returning to the US, Pickard received his discharge in mid-1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jean Adams. Adams was born in Washington, DC. Her father served in the military as well as her two brothers. She attended an all-girls school in Washington and graduated from a women’s college in Philadelphia. In 1940 she joined her brother in the Philippines but was evacuated in 1941. She joined the second class of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WACs) in 1942. She was assigned to the Office of Inspector General and tells of several investigations in which she was involved. She resigned from WACs soon after getting married in 1943.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jean Adams. Adams was born in Washington, DC. Her father served in the military as well as her two brothers. She attended an all-girls school in Washington and graduated from a women’s college in Philadelphia. In 1940 she joined her brother in the Philippines but was evacuated in 1941. She joined the second class of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WACs) in 1942. She was assigned to the Office of Inspector General and tells of several investigations in which she was involved. She resigned from WACs soon after getting married in 1943.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a joint interview with Liz Irvine and Yvonne Charles. Both were teenagers when they were interned as civilians in Santo Tomas University by the Japanese in 1942. They discuss the various activities they participated in. They tell of some of the acts of kindness as well as brutality that occurred by their captors. They also tell of the violent demise of the Japanese camp commandant Abiko, following the surrender of the camp on 3 February 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a joint interview with Liz Irvine and Yvonne Charles. Both were teenagers when they were interned as civilians in Santo Tomas University by the Japanese in 1942. They discuss the various activities they participated in. They tell of some of the acts of kindness as well as brutality that occurred by their captors. They also tell of the violent demise of the Japanese camp commandant Abiko, following the surrender of the camp on 3 February 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Horace Johnson. Johnson joined the Navy in February 1942 and received basic training in Norfolk. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Seabees and sent to Port Hueneme. From there he set sail for the Pacific, where he constructed airstrips and aviation refueling stations in Suva, Funafuti, and Samoa. He returned to the States on 8 June 1944, and his battalion was decommissioned. Johnson did a second tour, stationed at an advanced base construction depot on Manus. He volunteered for the invasion of Luzon aboard the USS Zeilin (APA-3). On 12 January, a suicide plane killed several men aboard ship, and they were buried at sea. Johnson returned home and was discharged in November 1945. He stayed in the construction industry and traveled all over the world building roads.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Horace Johnson. Johnson joined the Navy in February 1942 and received basic training in Norfolk. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Seabees and sent to Port Hueneme. From there he set sail for the Pacific, where he constructed airstrips and aviation refueling stations in Suva, Funafuti, and Samoa. He returned to the States on 8 June 1944, and his battalion was decommissioned. Johnson did a second tour, stationed at an advanced base construction depot on Manus. He volunteered for the invasion of Luzon aboard the USS Zeilin (APA-3). On 12 January, a suicide plane killed several men aboard ship, and they were buried at sea. Johnson returned home and was discharged in November 1945. He stayed in the construction industry and traveled all over the world building roads.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arnhold Schwichtenberg. Schwichtenberg joined the Navy in September 1940 and was assigned to the USS Trever (DMS-16). During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he went out on a whale boat and rounded up officers and a substitute captain to help the Trever get underway. He watched torpedoes hit the USS Utah (BB-31) and the USS California (BB-44). He saw a bomb hit the USS Curtiss (AV-4) and saw a bomb intended for the Trever splash into the water beside him. A week later, the Trever left to escort a Norwegian freighter. When they arrived to meet the freighter, it had been torpedoed, and so the Trever picked up the survivors. Schwichtenberg was transferred back to the States to attend diesel school. He was promoted to chief machinist’s mate and prepared the USS Brennan (DE-13) and USS Steele (DE-8) for commissioning. He went to sea with the Steele and was aboard the USS Rockingham (APA-229) during atomic bomb tests. Schwichtenberg returned home and was discharged in August 1946. He worked for the Navy as a civilian employee, leading a crew that commissioned 20 destroyers.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arnhold Schwichtenberg. Schwichtenberg joined the Navy in September 1940 and was assigned to the USS Trever (DMS-16). During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he went out on a whale boat and rounded up officers and a substitute captain to help the Trever get underway. He watched torpedoes hit the USS Utah (BB-31) and the USS California (BB-44). He saw a bomb hit the USS Curtiss (AV-4) and saw a bomb intended for the Trever splash into the water beside him. A week later, the Trever left to escort a Norwegian freighter. When they arrived to meet the freighter, it had been torpedoed, and so the Trever picked up the survivors. Schwichtenberg was transferred back to the States to attend diesel school. He was promoted to chief machinist’s mate and prepared the USS Brennan (DE-13) and USS Steele (DE-8) for commissioning. He went to sea with the Steele and was aboard the USS Rockingham (APA-229) during atomic bomb tests. Schwichtenberg returned home and was discharged in August 1946. He worked for the Navy as a civilian employee, leading a crew that commissioned 20 destroyers.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Smith. Smith joined the Navy in October 1940 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was sent to Pearl Harbor, where he worked as a baker. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was aboard the USS California (BB-44), hoisting ammunition from the third deck to the antiaircraft guns topside. The California was torpedoed, damaging fuel lines and covering Smith in oil. Stunned by the explosion, he was urged to jump ship by Marines, whom he credits with saving his life. He swam to safety and was later transferred to Kaneohe. Six months later he was reassigned to the submarine base at Pearl Harbor, and six months later to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. As a baker, he had a fair amount of free time, and so he enrolled at the high school in Honolulu. There he met his first wife, whom he married in 1943. Smith was on his way to the States with orders to attend chief petty officer school when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Smith. Smith joined the Navy in October 1940 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was sent to Pearl Harbor, where he worked as a baker. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was aboard the USS California (BB-44), hoisting ammunition from the third deck to the antiaircraft guns topside. The California was torpedoed, damaging fuel lines and covering Smith in oil. Stunned by the explosion, he was urged to jump ship by Marines, whom he credits with saving his life. He swam to safety and was later transferred to Kaneohe. Six months later he was reassigned to the submarine base at Pearl Harbor, and six months later to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. As a baker, he had a fair amount of free time, and so he enrolled at the high school in Honolulu. There he met his first wife, whom he married in 1943. Smith was on his way to the States with orders to attend chief petty officer school when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dorinda Nicholson. Nicholson was a first-grader living on Pearl City Peninsula at the time of the attack. Japanese planes grazed the trees in her backyard as they began their bombardment, and Nicholson’s father rushed her family to the sugarcane fields perched above the harbor. From that day onward, the island was under martial law and strict rationing. Nicholson saw many locals leave and thousands of soldiers arrive. When the war finally ended, it seemed the soldiers left nothing behind but camouflage netting and cans of SPAM. This surplus source of protein after such a prolonged period of scarcity quickly became a favorite among the islanders. Nicholson has written four books about children’s experiences during World War II and is published by National Geographic.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dorinda Nicholson. Nicholson was a first-grader living on Pearl City Peninsula at the time of the attack. Japanese planes grazed the trees in her backyard as they began their bombardment, and Nicholson’s father rushed her family to the sugarcane fields perched above the harbor. From that day onward, the island was under martial law and strict rationing. Nicholson saw many locals leave and thousands of soldiers arrive. When the war finally ended, it seemed the soldiers left nothing behind but camouflage netting and cans of SPAM. This surplus source of protein after such a prolonged period of scarcity quickly became a favorite among the islanders. Nicholson has written four books about children’s experiences during World War II and is published by National Geographic.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Edwards. Edwards joined the Navy in August 1942 and received basic training in Illinois. He received amphibious training in Virginia. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 8th Amphibious Force and sent to Italy, where he was coxswain of landing craft at the invasions of Sicily and Salerno. While the landing was unopposed at Sicily, Edwards’s experience at Salerno was much more frightening than what he remembers of Normandy and Okinawa. Edwards was under heavy fire while bringing troops ashore in the first wave of the invasion. He remained there for two weeks, shuttling troops and equipment back and forth. He recalls seeing the bodies of ambushed American soldiers lain across the beach as far as the eye could see. Edwards returned home and was discharged in 1945 as a boatswain’s mate, second class.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Edwards. Edwards joined the Navy in August 1942 and received basic training in Illinois. He received amphibious training in Virginia. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 8th Amphibious Force and sent to Italy, where he was coxswain of landing craft at the invasions of Sicily and Salerno. While the landing was unopposed at Sicily, Edwards’s experience at Salerno was much more frightening than what he remembers of Normandy and Okinawa. Edwards was under heavy fire while bringing troops ashore in the first wave of the invasion. He remained there for two weeks, shuttling troops and equipment back and forth. He recalls seeing the bodies of ambushed American soldiers lain across the beach as far as the eye could see. Edwards returned home and was discharged in 1945 as a boatswain’s mate, second class.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Admiral George Gus Kinnear. Kinnear joined the Navy in 1945 as Seaman 2nd Class. He was selected for pilot training in June of 1945 and served as a Naval Aviator beginning September of 1948, completing his first tour at sea flying the F4U-4 and F4U-5 Corsair in Fighter Squadron 73 (VF-173). He graduated from the Naval War College in 1961. He was assigned to a series of squadrons, serving as pilot, Operations Officer and Executive Officer. He flew combat missions during the Korean War and over 100 in the Vietnam War. He was assigned as commander of NAS Miramar at San Diego in July of 1971. Kinnear returned to combat as commander of Carrier Group One in 1974-1975, serving in the Tonkin Gulf. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in April of 1978 and commanded Naval Air Forces, Atlantic Fleet through July of 1981. He was then promoted to Admiral and took over the responsibilities of the US Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee in July of 1981, retiring in September of 1982 as admiral.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Austin. Austin joined the Navy and was commissioned as an ensign before being assigned to the USS Pope (DD-225 in the Philippines. He was there when the war started. Austin was aboard the Pope when she was attacked and sunk. He was rescued by a Japanese destroyer and made a prisoner of war. He was held on Java and then Makassar. He was around when Richard Antrim intervened during a beating of a POW (Antrim was awarded the Medal of Honor). He shares several other POW anecdotes about their treatment, their daily lives, etc. in the camps. He also shares the experience of being liberated.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Austin. Austin joined the Navy and was commissioned as an ensign before being assigned to the USS Pope (DD-225 in the Philippines. He was there when the war started. Austin was aboard the Pope when she was attacked and sunk. He was rescued by a Japanese destroyer and made a prisoner of war. He was held on Java and then Makassar. He was around when Richard Antrim intervened during a beating of a POW (Antrim was awarded the Medal of Honor). He shares several other POW anecdotes about their treatment, their daily lives, etc. in the camps. He also shares the experience of being liberated.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dr. Janus Poppe. Poppe was born in the Netherlands in 1916. As a teenager, he worked as a mechanic for a ship building company. After high school, he attended a Dutch Marine academy for two years. In the mid-1930s, he served as a Deck Officer aboard a ship that traveled around the world twice. He later worked for a shipping company in the Dutch East Indies. In May of 1940, he was traveling in the middle of the Pacific when word arrived from his parents in Holland that the Germans had invaded. Poppe was then trained as a navigator and bombardier. He was serving as a navigator and bombardier aboard PBYs when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Poppe shares several recollections of his encounters with the Japanese during the war, and patrolling around Indonesia. He additionally oversaw 200 Dutch Marines, assigned to patrol and defend Parafield, South Australia. Around 1943, he completed military flight school at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dr. Janus Poppe. Poppe was born in the Netherlands in 1916. As a teenager, he worked as a mechanic for a ship building company. After high school, he attended a Dutch Marine academy for two years. In the mid-1930s, he served as a Deck Officer aboard a ship that traveled around the world twice. He later worked for a shipping company in the Dutch East Indies. In May of 1940, he was traveling in the middle of the Pacific when word arrived from his parents in Holland that the Germans had invaded. Poppe was then trained as a navigator and bombardier. He was serving as a navigator and bombardier aboard PBYs when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Poppe shares several recollections of his encounters with the Japanese during the war, and patrolling around Indonesia. He additionally oversaw 200 Dutch Marines, assigned to patrol and defend Parafield, South Australia. Around 1943, he completed military flight school at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Lajzer. Lajzer volunteered for service in the Army. Lajzer was assigned to a tank unit and trained at Fort Knox and in Louisiana before shipping out to the Philippines in late 1941. He was present at Clark Field when the Japanese attacked. He describes his retreat to Bataan and his activities there until he was surrendered. He also speaks of the six days he marched on the Bataan Death March out of Bataan. Once he was in a prisoner of war camp, he was assigned to a logging detail. He also contracted malaria and relates stories about smuggling items past the Japanese guards and into prison camps. Lajzer describes being aboard a hellship and being trransported to Formosa (Taiwan), where he spent the remainder of the war until he was liberated. Upon returning to the US, he was sent ot a hospital for a while before re-enlisting. He retired in 1966.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Lajzer. Lajzer volunteered for service in the Army. Lajzer was assigned to a tank unit and trained at Fort Knox and in Louisiana before shipping out to the Philippines in late 1941. He was present at Clark Field when the Japanese attacked. He describes his retreat to Bataan and his activities there until he was surrendered. He also speaks of the six days he marched on the Bataan Death March out of Bataan. Once he was in a prisoner of war camp, he was assigned to a logging detail. He also contracted malaria and relates stories about smuggling items past the Japanese guards and into prison camps. Lajzer describes being aboard a hellship and being trransported to Formosa (Taiwan), where he spent the remainder of the war until he was liberated. Upon returning to the US, he was sent ot a hospital for a while before re-enlisting. He retired in 1966.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Harrison. Born in 1922, he joined the Marine Corps in December 1941. He describes his battle experiences on Guadalcanal as well as the supply shortages and Japanese naval shelling. He contracted malaria there. He also talks about the Japanese night attacks on Guadalcanal and Tulagi. He describes landing on Tarawa. Assigned to man a machine gun on top of an amphibious tractor in the first wave of the invasion, he was injured and stranded in his disabled tractor. After making his way to a Higgins boat, he and others were picked up by a destroyer and returned to their original ship. He describes his experiences in battle on Saipan as well as witnessing the suicides of civilians. He also mentions the invasion of Tinian. After thirty months in the Pacific Theater, he was transferred to the recreation department at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. He shares anecdotes about enlisting in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; eating coconuts on Tulagi; his summary court martial after a furlough in New Zealand; and teaching himself to be a sailing instructor at Camp Lejeune. He was discharged in December …