The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Woodruff. Woodruff joined the Navy in January 1943 and received basic training at Great Lakes. He was then trained on small amphibious landing craft at Little Creek. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS LST-218 as coxswain of an LCVP and was sent to Tarawa. Once the island was secured, he carried a load of construction equipment and personnel to shore, returning with a few casualties, as there was a doctor on the LST. Their next assignment was to bring Marines and amphibious tanks from Pearl Harbor to the Marshall and Mariana Islands. At Saipan, heavy surf capsized many tanks in the initial assault wave. Woodruff evacuated casualties to the LST, which by that time carried half a dozen doctors and two dozen corpsmen. Woodruff was later transferred to Italy, where he joined 27 LCVP crews supporting the 10th Mountain Division. He did not see combat in Europe and was discharged when the war ended. He did not see combat in Europe and was discharged when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Woodruff. Woodruff joined the Navy in January 1943 and received basic training at Great Lakes. He was then trained on small amphibious landing craft at Little Creek. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS LST-218 as coxswain of an LCVP and was sent to Tarawa. Once the island was secured, he carried a load of construction equipment and personnel to shore, returning with a few casualties, as there was a doctor on the LST. Their next assignment was to bring Marines and amphibious tanks from Pearl Harbor to the Marshall and Mariana Islands. At Saipan, heavy surf capsized many tanks in the initial assault wave. Woodruff evacuated casualties to the LST, which by that time carried half a dozen doctors and two dozen corpsmen. Woodruff was later transferred to Italy, where he joined 27 LCVP crews supporting the 10th Mountain Division. He did not see combat in Europe and was discharged when the war ended. He did not see combat in Europe and was discharged when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Briscoe. Briscoe joined the Navy and received basic training at Great Lakes. Upon completion, he was assigned as a motor machinist to an auxiliary minesweeper sent to the shores of France. A diver would first walk the bottom of the harbor, cutting loose all the mines, which were then towed out to sea and detonated with machine gun fire. The ship once had the dangerous task of drawing enemy fire to help locate a nearby German howitzer; they spent 45 minutes dodging mortars while pretending to sweep mines. The ship was later sent to Okinawa to bring soldiers to China; they encountered a great typhoon along the way. They also carried a small box to the northern part of Japan, its contents precious but unknown. Briscoe then returned home and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Briscoe. Briscoe joined the Navy and received basic training at Great Lakes. Upon completion, he was assigned as a motor machinist to an auxiliary minesweeper sent to the shores of France. A diver would first walk the bottom of the harbor, cutting loose all the mines, which were then towed out to sea and detonated with machine gun fire. The ship once had the dangerous task of drawing enemy fire to help locate a nearby German howitzer; they spent 45 minutes dodging mortars while pretending to sweep mines. The ship was later sent to Okinawa to bring soldiers to China; they encountered a great typhoon along the way. They also carried a small box to the northern part of Japan, its contents precious but unknown. Briscoe then returned home and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Heimsoth. Heimsoth joined the Navy in January of 1943. He participated in a choir group at the Great Lakes Naval Station. He completed amphibious training, and served as a Quartermaster aboard an USS LST-218. Heimsoth participated in the Gilbert Islands Campaign, the Marshall Islands operation, and the capture and occupation of Saipan. After the war, he served with the occupation forces in Japan. He returned to the US in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Heimsoth. Heimsoth joined the Navy in January of 1943. He participated in a choir group at the Great Lakes Naval Station. He completed amphibious training, and served as a Quartermaster aboard an USS LST-218. Heimsoth participated in the Gilbert Islands Campaign, the Marshall Islands operation, and the capture and occupation of Saipan. After the war, he served with the occupation forces in Japan. He returned to the US in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vincent Corbett. Corbett graduated from college in May 1941 and spent a year teaching high school before joining the Navy College Training Program at Columbia University. After amphibious training, he was assigned to USS LST-218 as a gunnery officer. He and his gunner’s mate prepared their ship for deployment by assembling and testing the three-inch gun while hiding behind a rampart. Transporting Seabees to Tarawa, the crew had to step over hundreds of bodies while unloading cargo. In the Marshalls, they delivered Army personnel and equipment. Corbett recounts humorous attempts of trying to converse with Russian servicewomen on Kwajalein. After surviving a typhoon and then a friendly fire incident, Corbett was sent back to the States to instruct cadets on the essentials of naval service, making him wildly unpopular. When the war ended a few months later, Corbett was soon discharged. He later authored The Marvelous Maverick, a book about USS LST-325, which ended up in Greece after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Scott. Scott was born in Iowa and was attending Creighton university when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted in the Navy V-12 Program and was commissioned in March, 1944. His first assignment was as assistant supply officer aboard USS LST-283. Scott was aboard during the invasion of Saipan. At one point, Scott was in a typhoon. At the end of the war, USS LST-283 picked up Japanese troops from Chichi Jima and delivered them back to Japan. Scott transferred to USS LST-700.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Scott. Scott was born in Iowa and was attending Creighton university when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted in the Navy V-12 Program and was commissioned in March, 1944. His first assignment was as assistant supply officer aboard USS LST-283. Scott was aboard during the invasion of Saipan. At one point, Scott was in a typhoon. At the end of the war, USS LST-283 picked up Japanese troops from Chichi Jima and delivered them back to Japan. Scott transferred to USS LST-700.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Gray. Gray enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to boot camp in San Diego. After boot camp, he went to a little boat basin just out of Camp Pendleton by Oceanside, California where they formed the first amphib battalion, the Fourth Amphibian Tractor Battalion. His company was involved in the filming of 'Guadalcanal Diary' while they were in Oceanside. They broke the Fourth Battalion up and formed several more battalions; Gray ended up in the Tenth Amphibian Tractor Battalion. They left the States right after Christmas 1943 and went straight to Roi-Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. During this operation, Gray's platoon took a platoon of Marines on down about 35-40 miles, checking all the islands there for Japanese. He noted that the natives were real friendly. After Roi-Namur, they went to Maui, Hawaii where they were trained, reorganized and received new supplies. From there, they went to Saipan and he made four landings on June 15th. After Saipan, he was involved in the landings on Tinian. After Tinian, they went back to Maui where they received new tractors, supplies, reinforcements and additional training as well as …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Gray. Gray enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to boot camp in San Diego. After boot camp, he went to a little boat basin just out of Camp Pendleton by Oceanside, California where they formed the first amphib battalion, the Fourth Amphibian Tractor Battalion. His company was involved in the filming of 'Guadalcanal Diary' while they were in Oceanside. They broke the Fourth Battalion up and formed several more battalions; Gray ended up in the Tenth Amphibian Tractor Battalion. They left the States right after Christmas 1943 and went straight to Roi-Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. During this operation, Gray's platoon took a platoon of Marines on down about 35-40 miles, checking all the islands there for Japanese. He noted that the natives were real friendly. After Roi-Namur, they went to Maui, Hawaii where they were trained, reorganized and received new supplies. From there, they went to Saipan and he made four landings on June 15th. After Saipan, he was involved in the landings on Tinian. After Tinian, they went back to Maui where they received new tractors, supplies, reinforcements and additional training as well as …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ken Jernstedt. Upon completion of flight training at Pensacola, Jernstedt joined the third squadron of the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. In this interview, Jernstedt describes the social complexities of the group, such as Pappy Boyington's unruly behavior as an experienced Marine who was unsatisfied with his rank with the AVG. He also recounts accidental encounters with generals and royalty that visited the group unannounced. For example, they once offered a lift to Madame Chiang Kai-shek due to her good looks but ignored the Generalissimo, not recognizing him. Towards the end of the war, a pilot came to work with Jernstedt's unit, claiming to have flown with the first squadron. When an FBI background check confirmed everyone's suspicions that he had not, the imposter was sent home. Jernstedt laments that AVG history has been distorted by fraudulent claims of membership. He commends Bruce Holloway, who spent time with the AVG but was not a group member, for recognizing and honoring the distinction.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ken Jernstedt. Upon completion of flight training at Pensacola, Jernstedt joined the third squadron of the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. In this interview, Jernstedt describes the social complexities of the group, such as Pappy Boyington's unruly behavior as an experienced Marine who was unsatisfied with his rank with the AVG. He also recounts accidental encounters with generals and royalty that visited the group unannounced. For example, they once offered a lift to Madame Chiang Kai-shek due to her good looks but ignored the Generalissimo, not recognizing him. Towards the end of the war, a pilot came to work with Jernstedt's unit, claiming to have flown with the first squadron. When an FBI background check confirmed everyone's suspicions that he had not, the imposter was sent home. Jernstedt laments that AVG history has been distorted by fraudulent claims of membership. He commends Bruce Holloway, who spent time with the AVG but was not a group member, for recognizing and honoring the distinction.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including Dan Jr. returning home, Corrine Philly throwing a party, and busyness at work.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz mentions Otto, his younger brother, has an illness. He also mentions starting school again as well as his proficiency with his gun. He is also anticipating the arrival from Washington of his aunt. The letter is on St. Charles Hotel (Kerrville, Texas) stationery.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz mentions Otto, his younger brother, has an illness. He also mentions starting school again as well as his proficiency with his gun. He is also anticipating the arrival from Washington of his aunt.