The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Charles. Charles was born in Picher, Oklahoma in 1919. Placed in a foster home at sixteen years of age he was encouraged to complete high school and attended college. On 6 June 1940 he joined the US Marine Corps and went to San Diego for boot camp. After boot training he was selected for Marine Corps Field Intelligence Training. When he completed this training he was ordered to proceed to Shanghai. Prior to arrival, his orders changed and he was assigned aboard the USS Houston (CA-30). He describes being in the battles of Makassar Straits, the Java Sea and Sunda Straits. When the Houston sank, Charles became a prisoner of war. He tells a vivid tale of torture, abuse and malnutrition during a trip on a hell ship to Changi Prison Camp. There, he experienced dreadful conditions, diseases, starvation and death. Prisoners worked as slave laborers on the Burma—Siam Railroad. He was with a group of prisoners moved to Camp Kanchanaburi, near Bangkok, Thailand. He recalls continued mistreatment and starvation and describes atrocities he observed including the beheading of Australian prisoners of war. After the surrender of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Otis M. Cox. Cox was born in Harlan, Kentucky on 10 May 1923. Soon after graduating from high school in 1941, he joined the US Army Air Corps. Upon completion of basic training at Shreveport, Louisiana he was sent to Ft. Logan, Colorado to attend a technical training school. He recalls various air bases to which he was assigned and of the various jobs he performed. During the course of his time in the service, he learned radio operator procedures through on the job training. After undergoing crew training, he was sent to India where he joined the 1st Troop Carrier Squadron. He flew 44 round trip flights over the Himalaya Mountains. He returned to the United States during November 1945 and was discharged the following month.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Virgil Heidbrink. Heidbrink was a Master Sergeant in the Army. He was drafted in March 1944. He began basic training in Camp Barkeley, Texas then transferred to Brigham City, Utah for joint training at Bushnell Army Hospital where he was assigned to clerk duty in the hospital headquarters. In November 1944 he boarded the USS General John Pope (AP-110), destination Bombay, India. From there they went to Ledo, Assam and he was assigned to a Basha, an Indian hut. With his Army issued typewriter he served as a clerk, typing and drafting letters for the colonel until about April 1945. He headed to Kunming, China with Convoy Number Fifty. He and two others made up the medical section of that convoy. Arriving in Kunming he was on detached service at an already established hospital there called the 95th Station Hospital, finally taking over the 96th Station Hospital. He served in the admitting section of the hospital. He moved on to Shanghai and served there until May 1946. He was discharged in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas June 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Moore. Moore graduated from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene in January 1940. He was hired by the FBI after graduation and worked in Washington. In the fall of 1944 he joined the OSS and was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy although he didn't go to OCS. OSS training occurred on Catalina Island, CA. In Kunming, China he worked with Chang Kai Shek (Nationalist troops) developing informants and demolition experts. He was supposed to go in with General Li Wen Li to the Wei Shin interment camp but didn't until after the war was over. He was in Kunming when the war ended. Discharged in June 1946 at Shanghai. Worked for the CIA after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ken Marks. Marks joined the Army Air Forces in December 1941 and was sent to Aircraft Mechanics School at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. From there he trained at a Flight Engineer and Gunnery School in Harlingen, Texas, graduating in June 1942. From there he went to Boise, Idaho where he was Assistant Flight Engineer on a B-17. He trained on B-24s in Fort Worth, Texas. He left Christmas morning 1942 on his first flight overseas in a B-24, heading to the 7th Bomb Group in Pandaveswar, India. They were assigned to the 9th Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Group. He flew missions bombing Japanese targets in Burma. After the sixth mission they were transferred over to the 492nd, a newly formed squadron. He was there for less than two years and completed 59 combat missions, 479 combat hours. He flew missions over Burma, China, Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Bangkok. He discusses one of his toughest missions over Rangoon encountering Japanese Zeroes. Upon completing 59 missions he was sent to Tezpur, completing 16 round trips flying gasoline over the Hump to Kunming to the 14th …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Phillips. Phillips joined the Army and after training was sent to Burma where he joined Merrill's Marauders. He was also assigned to the 613th Field Artillery Battalion. Phillips relates several experiences dealing with the mules in the jungles while attached to this artillery unit. When the war ended, Phillips was in Kunming, China. He stayed on in China and helped with the negotiations between the communists and nationalist Chinese with General Marshall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edgar Wolf. World joined the Army Air Forces in January, 1942 and trained at Biloxi, Mississippi before heading for Lockheed in California to learn about P-38s. He went to Officer Candidate School and earned a commission before being assigned to the Air Transport Command in New York. With the ATC, Wolf learned loadmaster techniques and air traffic control procedures before heading for Chabua, India. At his base he was responsible for transient aircraft. He also served at Agra and at Karachi. Wolf was in India for 27 months and returned home in September, 1945 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Leach. Leach joined the Navy in August, 1942 and after training attended diesel engine school in Missouri. After amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia, Leach headed for Kentucky to join the crew of USS LST-78 in May 1943. In November, USS LST-78 was in on the invasion of Makin. Later, he made the landing at Kwajalein in early 1944. They spent a lot of time running supplies to Guam. In February, 1945, Leach returned to the US. When the war ended, Leach was in Farragut, Idaho having his teeth fixed.

Transcript of an oral interview with Bill Armentrout. He begins by describing making a living in south Texas during the Great Depression. He was married and had three children by 1941 and was finally drafted into the Navy in 1944 at 33 years old. When he finished boot camp in San Diego, he wa sassigend to the Amphibious Force and trained at Camp Bradford, Virginia. When Armentrout reached Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to LCT 1221 (Landing Craft, Tank). Armentrout describes always being seasick on his little LCI. He then speaks about landing at Okinawa in late April, 1945. Armentrout describes the role of his LCI - ferrying trucks full of supplies from merchant ships to the beaches. When the war ended, Armentrout was eligible for discharge and opted to go home. His LCI was ruined during a typhoon on Okinawa, so he rode home on a Navy freighter, arriving in Seattle in late October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Ladd. Mr Ladd was sworn into the Navy July 12, 1938. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Maryland (BB-46) which was stationed in Long Beach and San Pedro, California at the time. The Maryland moved to Pearl Harbor in the late summer of 1941. Ladd was a gunner's mate on one of the 5-inch broadside guns. On December 7, 1941, the guns were secured and the ammunition was locked up. It took them about ten minutes to get to where they could start shooting back at the Japanese planes. Ladd tells the story of shooting down two or three American planes early in the morning of December 8th that were trying to land. He also talks about getting men out of the ships that had been sunk in the harbor including the Oklahoma that had capsized next to them. Just before Christmas 1941, the Maryland was patched up enough to sail for Bremerton, Washington for repairs. Afterwards, she went back to Pearl Harbor. Ladd was transferred off in late October 1943 and went to gunnery school in Washington, DC for three months. After school, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Ladd. Mr Ladd was sworn into the Navy July 12, 1938. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Maryland (BB-46) which was stationed in Long Beach and San Pedro, California at the time. The Maryland moved to Pearl Harbor in the late summer of 1941. Ladd was a gunner's mate on one of the 5-inch broadside guns. On December 7, 1941, the guns were secured and the ammunition was locked up. It took them about ten minutes to get to where they could start shooting back at the Japanese planes. Ladd tells the story of shooting down two or three American planes early in the morning of December 8th that were trying to land. He also talks about getting men out of the ships that had been sunk in the harbor including the Oklahoma that had capsized next to them. Just before Christmas 1941, the Maryland was patched up enough to sail for Bremerton, Washington for repairs. Afterwards, she went back to Pearl Harbor. Ladd was transferred off in late October 1943 and went to gunnery school in Washington, DC for three months. After school, …

Transcript of an oral interview with Bill Armentrout. He begins by describing making a living in south Texas during the Great Depression. He was married and had three children by 1941 and was finally drafted into the Navy in 1944 at 33 years old. When he finished boot camp in San Diego, he wa sassigend to the Amphibious Force and trained at Camp Bradford, Virginia. When Armentrout reached Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to LCT 1221 (Landing Craft, Tank). Armentrout describes always being seasick on his little LCI. He then speaks about landing at Okinawa in late April, 1945. Armentrout describes the role of his LCI - ferrying trucks full of supplies from merchant ships to the beaches. When the war ended, Armentrout was eligible for discharge and opted to go home. His LCI was ruined during a typhoon on Okinawa, so he rode home on a Navy freighter, arriving in Seattle in late October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Leach. Leach joined the Navy in August, 1942 and after training attended diesel engine school in Missouri. After amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia, Leach headed for Kentucky to join the crew of USS LST-78 in May 1943. In November, USS LST-78 was in on the invasion of Makin. Later, he made the landing at Kwajalein in early 1944. They spent a lot of time running supplies to Guam. In February, 1945, Leach returned to the US. When the war ended, Leach was in Farragut, Idaho having his teeth fixed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Charles. Charles was born in Picher, Oklahoma in 1919. Placed in a foster home at sixteen years of age he was encouraged to complete high school and attended college. On 6 June 1940 he joined the US Marine Corps and went to San Diego for boot camp. After boot training he was selected for Marine Corps Field Intelligence Training. When he completed this training he was ordered to proceed to Shanghai. Prior to arrival, his orders changed and he was assigned aboard the USS Houston (CA-30). He describes being in the battles of Makassar Straits, the Java Sea and Sunda Straits. When the Houston sank, Charles became a prisoner of war. He tells a vivid tale of torture, abuse and malnutrition during a trip on a hell ship to Changi Prison Camp. There, he experienced dreadful conditions, diseases, starvation and death. Prisoners worked as slave laborers on the Burma—Siam Railroad. He was with a group of prisoners moved to Camp Kanchanaburi, near Bangkok, Thailand. He recalls continued mistreatment and starvation and describes atrocities he observed including the beheading of Australian prisoners of war. After the surrender of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Otis M. Cox. Cox was born in Harlan, Kentucky on 10 May 1923. Soon after graduating from high school in 1941, he joined the US Army Air Corps. Upon completion of basic training at Shreveport, Louisiana he was sent to Ft. Logan, Colorado to attend a technical training school. He recalls various air bases to which he was assigned and of the various jobs he performed. During the course of his time in the service, he learned radio operator procedures through on the job training. After undergoing crew training, he was sent to India where he joined the 1st Troop Carrier Squadron. He flew 44 round trip flights over the Himalaya Mountains. He returned to the United States during November 1945 and was discharged the following month.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Virgil Heidbrink. Heidbrink was a Master Sergeant in the Army. He was drafted in March 1944. He began basic training in Camp Barkeley, Texas then transferred to Brigham City, Utah for joint training at Bushnell Army Hospital where he was assigned to clerk duty in the hospital headquarters. In November 1944 he boarded the USS General John Pope (AP-110), destination Bombay, India. From there they went to Ledo, Assam and he was assigned to a Basha, an Indian hut. With his Army issued typewriter he served as a clerk, typing and drafting letters for the colonel until about April 1945. He headed to Kunming, China with Convoy Number Fifty. He and two others made up the medical section of that convoy. Arriving in Kunming he was on detached service at an already established hospital there called the 95th Station Hospital, finally taking over the 96th Station Hospital. He served in the admitting section of the hospital. He moved on to Shanghai and served there until May 1946. He was discharged in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas June 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Moore. Moore graduated from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene in January 1940. He was hired by the FBI after graduation and worked in Washington. In the fall of 1944 he joined the OSS and was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy although he didn't go to OCS. OSS training occurred on Catalina Island, CA. In Kunming, China he worked with Chang Kai Shek (Nationalist troops) developing informants and demolition experts. He was supposed to go in with General Li Wen Li to the Wei Shin interment camp but didn't until after the war was over. He was in Kunming when the war ended. Discharged in June 1946 at Shanghai. Worked for the CIA after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ken Marks. Marks joined the Army Air Forces in December 1941 and was sent to Aircraft Mechanics School at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. From there he trained at a Flight Engineer and Gunnery School in Harlingen, Texas, graduating in June 1942. From there he went to Boise, Idaho where he was Assistant Flight Engineer on a B-17. He trained on B-24s in Fort Worth, Texas. He left Christmas morning 1942 on his first flight overseas in a B-24, heading to the 7th Bomb Group in Pandaveswar, India. They were assigned to the 9th Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Group. He flew missions bombing Japanese targets in Burma. After the sixth mission they were transferred over to the 492nd, a newly formed squadron. He was there for less than two years and completed 59 combat missions, 479 combat hours. He flew missions over Burma, China, Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Bangkok. He discusses one of his toughest missions over Rangoon encountering Japanese Zeroes. Upon completing 59 missions he was sent to Tezpur, completing 16 round trips flying gasoline over the Hump to Kunming to the 14th …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Phillips. Phillips joined the Army and after training was sent to Burma where he joined Merrill's Marauders. He was also assigned to the 613th Field Artillery Battalion. Phillips relates several experiences dealing with the mules in the jungles while attached to this artillery unit. When the war ended, Phillips was in Kunming, China. He stayed on in China and helped with the negotiations between the communists and nationalist Chinese with General Marshall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edgar Wolf. World joined the Army Air Forces in January, 1942 and trained at Biloxi, Mississippi before heading for Lockheed in California to learn about P-38s. He went to Officer Candidate School and earned a commission before being assigned to the Air Transport Command in New York. With the ATC, Wolf learned loadmaster techniques and air traffic control procedures before heading for Chabua, India. At his base he was responsible for transient aircraft. He also served at Agra and at Karachi. Wolf was in India for 27 months and returned home in September, 1945 and received his discharge.