The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Peter Terpstra. Terpstra joined the Navy in February of 1944. He served in the Pacific aboard the USS Ara (AK-136). They traveled to Pearl Harbor with Seabees and Marines on board. They stopped at a staging area at Eniwetok where they collected all the ships heading out to invade Guam. Terpstra provides detail of the ship and equipment and weapons aboard. They went to Guam and he provides detail of some of the battle. He discusses life in the Navy in general and working up to 3rd Class Petty Officer. He manned the captain’s gig as helmsman. They made stops at Kwajalein, Leyte, Auckland, New Zealand, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian Island delivering troops and supplies.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wendell C. Tombaugh. Tombaugh joined the Navy in November of 1944. He was trained in radar and provides some detail of his training experiences. He served aboard the USS Perkins (DD-877). His rank was Seaman First Class, and he shares stories of life aboard the destroyer. He was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eve Tice. Tice was born 7 August 1923 in Calumet, Michigan. Graduating from high school in 1942, she went to work as a timekeeper at a Chevrolet Motor Company plant in Detroit, Michigan. She describes her duties. She met her future husband, who joined the Navy, and they were married when he came home on leave following boot camp. Her husband was assigned to the USS Franklin (CV13) at Newport, Rhode Island. She tells of seeing her husband when he came home on leave after the Franklin went to Bremerton, Washington for repairs November 1944. She and her husband took the train to Bremerton where they rented one room in a private home. She stayed there until the Franklin departed. She comments on censoring and V-mail letters. On 19 March 1945 she was notified that the USS Franklin had been damaged, her husband was a survivor and that the ship would be returning to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for repairs. The ship arrived April 1945 and Mr. and Mrs. Tice remained in the area until he was discharged November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eve Tice. Tice was born 7 August 1923 in Calumet, Michigan. Graduating from high school in 1942, she went to work as a timekeeper at a Chevrolet Motor Company plant in Detroit, Michigan. She describes her duties. She met her future husband, who joined the Navy, and they were married when he came home on leave following boot camp. Her husband was assigned to the USS Franklin (CV13) at Newport, Rhode Island. She tells of seeing her husband when he came home on leave after the Franklin went to Bremerton, Washington for repairs November 1944. She and her husband took the train to Bremerton where they rented one room in a private home. She stayed there until the Franklin departed. She comments on censoring and V-mail letters. On 19 March 1945 she was notified that the USS Franklin had been damaged, her husband was a survivor and that the ship would be returning to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for repairs. The ship arrived April 1945 and Mr. and Mrs. Tice remained in the area until he was discharged November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arlie Asmussen. Asmussen joined the Navy in 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served aboard the USS Owl (AM-2) beginning in February of 1942. His job aboard was to cook and serve as a deck ape, scrubbing the decks and bulkheads, and tying up the boats. In March they traveled to Bermuda and remained for 2 years. They provided target practice for submarines and went out on distress calls, rescuing a torpedoed cargo ship from Argentina. He describes their experiences in Bermuda. They later traveled to England, where they carried breakwaters to Normandy in preparation for D-Day. In June of 1944 Asmussen and the crew participated in D-Day, aiding in the flow of men and equipment to the front. In September he returned to the states on a troop ship carrying 150 German prisoners of war. In the summer of 1945 he served aboard the USS Comstock (LSD-19), where he served as a cook. They traveled to Okinawa and he was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Tice. Tice was born in Detroit 3 January 1924. After joining the Navy in 1943 he went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot training. Upon completion of training he entered gunnery school in preparation for Armed Guard duty. After training, Tice served as instructor at the Armed Guard school for four months. He then volunteered for aircraft carrier duty and was assigned to a gunnery crew aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). He went aboard late in December 1943. Tice recalls meeting a childhood friend, Bob Harrison, an armament specialist who was also on board. Soon after arriving at Pearl Harbor the Franklin sailed to the Marianas. He recalls the ship being involved in many operations including the Bonin Islands, Peleliu, Guam, Luzon and Iwo Jima. It was also involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where a Japanese aircraft crashed on the deck. He went into an ammunition magazine to wet down the area with water. He received a citation from Admiral Halsey for this action. He also describes burials at sea. The ship returned to Bremerton for repairs. On 19 March 1945 a …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Tice. Tice was born in Detroit 3 January 1924. After joining the Navy in 1943 he went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot training. Upon completion of training he entered gunnery school in preparation for Armed Guard duty. After training, Tice served as instructor at the Armed Guard school for four months. He then volunteered for aircraft carrier duty and was assigned to a gunnery crew aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). He went aboard late in December 1943. Tice recalls meeting a childhood friend, Bob Harrison, an armament specialist who was also on board. Soon after arriving at Pearl Harbor the Franklin sailed to the Marianas. He recalls the ship being involved in many operations including the Bonin Islands, Peleliu, Guam, Luzon and Iwo Jima. It was also involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where a Japanese aircraft crashed on the deck. He went into an ammunition magazine to wet down the area with water. He received a citation from Admiral Halsey for this action. He also describes burials at sea. The ship returned to Bremerton for repairs. On 19 March 1945 a …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gilbert Clark. Clark joined the Navy in February 1941 and trained at Great Lakes. After optical training, he joined the USS Helena (CL-50) at San Diego and served aboard as a rangefinder. Clark was aboard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He also describes some action he was involved in later around the Solomon Islands and describes when the Helena was sunk at Kula Gulf. Clark made it to an island and was rescued off it. He then was assigned to the USS Franklin (CV-13) when it was commissioned. He was aboard the Franklin when she was hit by a kamikaze. Clark was evacuated and assigned to shore duty in San Diego. He was discharged after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gilbert Clark. Clark joined the Navy in February 1941 and trained at Great Lakes. After optical training, he joined the USS Helena (CL-50) at San Diego and served aboard as a rangefinder. Clark was aboard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He also describes some action he was involved in later around the Solomon Islands and describes when the Helena was sunk at Kula Gulf. Clark made it to an island and was rescued off it. He then was assigned to the USS Franklin (CV-13) when it was commissioned. He was aboard the Franklin when she was hit by a kamikaze. Clark was evacuated and assigned to shore duty in San Diego. He was discharged after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Lokey. Lokey joined the Aviation Cadet program in November 1943 and transferred to gunnery school in Laredo. Upon completion, he was sent to the Aleutian Islands as a top turret gunner with a B-24 crew. In 1944, while on his 11th combat mission, his plane was shot down by the Japanese Navy. His pilot made a landing in Russia where they were picked up and interrogated by the Russians. They were then taken to a prisoner-of-war camp in Siberia, where they remained for three months, surviving with very little to eat. Lokey weighed 200 pounds when he was shot down and only 125 when he returned to the States. From Siberia he was transferred to a fort in Baku. When the war ended, an American officer arrived from Moscow to escort the POWs back to the States. Lokey was later stationed at Reese Air Force Base as an instructor pilot of B-25s. He became a nuclear weapons instructor and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Lokey. Lokey joined the Aviation Cadet program in November 1943 and transferred to gunnery school in Laredo. Upon completion, he was sent to the Aleutian Islands as a top turret gunner with a B-24 crew. In 1944, while on his 11th combat mission, his plane was shot down by the Japanese Navy. His pilot made a landing in Russia where they were picked up and interrogated by the Russians. They were then taken to a prisoner-of-war camp in Siberia, where they remained for three months, surviving with very little to eat. Lokey weighed 200 pounds when he was shot down and only 125 when he returned to the States. From Siberia he was transferred to a fort in Baku. When the war ended, an American officer arrived from Moscow to escort the POWs back to the States. Lokey was later stationed at Reese Air Force Base as an instructor pilot of B-25s. He became a nuclear weapons instructor and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hichael Nedeff. Nedeff was born in 1925 in West Virginia. In 1943 he entered the Navy. After basic training, Nedeff shipped overseas and was assigned to USS LST-610 at Hawaii. Nedeff recalls transporting Army personnel to Angaur, going ashore and seeing an Army field hospital. He also was present unloading materiel at Leyte during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. At Lingayen Gulf, USS LST-610 was damaged by a Japanese suicide boat and returned to Hawaii. After the war, Nedeff spent some time in Japan. He recalls some of his interactions with Japanese civilians on a commuter train. Nedeff was discharged in April, 1946. He also relates his experience in getting the USS LST-325 back to the United States from Greece in 2000-2001 and delivering it to Evansville, Indiana where it is now a museum ship. Nedeff ends with a chronology of the ship’s activities and destinations while he was aboard USS LST-610 during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hichael Nedeff. Nedeff was born in 1925 in West Virginia. In 1943 he entered the Navy. After basic training, Nedeff shipped overseas and was assigned to USS LST-610 at Hawaii. Nedeff recalls transporting Army personnel to Angaur, going ashore and seeing an Army field hospital. He also was present unloading materiel at Leyte during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. At Lingayen Gulf, USS LST-610 was damaged by a Japanese suicide boat and returned to Hawaii. After the war, Nedeff spent some time in Japan. He recalls some of his interactions with Japanese civilians on a commuter train. Nedeff was discharged in April, 1946. He also relates his experience in getting the USS LST-325 back to the United States from Greece in 2000-2001 and delivering it to Evansville, Indiana where it is now a museum ship. Nedeff ends with a chronology of the ship’s activities and destinations while he was aboard USS LST-610 during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Homer Faseler. Faseler joined the Army Air Forces in 1944 after he finished high school. Once out of basic training, Faseler went to aerial gunnery school. Then, he was assigned as a tailgunner aboard a B-17 and headed for Europe assigned to the 390th Bomb Group. He flew 10 combat missions and was discharged in February, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Homer Faseler. Faseler joined the Army Air Forces in 1944 after he finished high school. Once out of basic training, Faseler went to aerial gunnery school. Then, he was assigned as a tailgunner aboard a B-17 and headed for Europe assigned to the 390th Bomb Group. He flew 10 combat missions and was discharged in February, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hannibal Tadlock. Tadlock joined the Navy in 1940. He worked as an oil king aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36). Tadlock was aboard the Nevada while docked at Pearl Harbor during the attack on 7 December 1941. He was then stationed on the USS Lexington (CV-2) in the fire room during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942. He was then assigned to similar work aboard the USS Core (CVE-13) beginning December of 1943. They travelled across the Atlantic to England and Scotland, in search of German U-boats. They protected cargo and liberty ships and encountered German sailors from a bombed U-boat. In April of 1945 he was transferred to the USS Boxer (CV-21), working as a machinist’s mate. Tadlock was honorably discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hannibal Tadlock. Tadlock joined the Navy in 1940. He worked as an oil king aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36). Tadlock was aboard the Nevada while docked at Pearl Harbor during the attack on 7 December 1941. He was then stationed on the USS Lexington (CV-2) in the fire room during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942. He was then assigned to similar work aboard the USS Core (CVE-13) beginning December of 1943. They travelled across the Atlantic to England and Scotland, in search of German U-boats. They protected cargo and liberty ships and encountered German sailors from a bombed U-boat. In April of 1945 he was transferred to the USS Boxer (CV-21), working as a machinist’s mate. Tadlock was honorably discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Belt. Belt joined the Navy after earning a master's degree and went to midshipman' school. He earned a commission and reported aboard USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37)in May 1943. Belt was aboard when the Tuscaloosa participated in the invasion of France and was at Iwo Jima. He also recalls being off Okinawa. Belt went aboard HMS Duke of York and met Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser one day. He also attended the Japanese Language School and was there when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Belt. Belt joined the Navy after earning a master's degree and went to midshipman' school. He earned a commission and reported aboard USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37)in May 1943. Belt was aboard when the Tuscaloosa participated in the invasion of France and was at Iwo Jima. He also recalls being off Okinawa. Belt went aboard HMS Duke of York and met Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser one day. He also attended the Japanese Language School and was there when the war ended.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Copeland. Copeland joined the Navy in June, 1943. In September, Copeland was assigned to USS Haskell (APA-117) as a radio operator. Copeland made the invasion of Luzon in January, 1945 and provided shore to ship radio communication. He did the same at Okinawa. He remained with the Haskell throughout the war and upon returning to the US, was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Copeland. Copeland joined the Navy in June, 1943. In September, Copeland was assigned to USS Haskell (APA-117) as a radio operator. Copeland made the invasion of Luzon in January, 1945 and provided shore to ship radio communication. He did the same at Okinawa. He remained with the Haskell throughout the war and upon returning to the US, was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Lepinski. Lepinski joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed pilot training and graduated in April of 1944. He continued training in a B-26, and traveled to Birmingham, Britain to serve with a replacement crew. They completed several bombing missions. In the summer of 1945 Lepinski was assigned to a B-26 stationed under the Eiffel Tower in Paris during an exposition, demonstrating how they won the war for France. He was discharged in January of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Lepinski. Lepinski joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed pilot training and graduated in April of 1944. He continued training in a B-26, and traveled to Birmingham, Britain to serve with a replacement crew. They completed several bombing missions. In the summer of 1945 Lepinski was assigned to a B-26 stationed under the Eiffel Tower in Paris during an exposition, demonstrating how they won the war for France. He was discharged in January of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Braddock. Braddock was born 1 February 1919 in Big Spring, Texas. Joining the Navy during May 1942, he took boot training in San Diego. He was assigned to range finding school and describes the training he received. Upon graduation he was assigned to the USS Saufley (DD-465), which went to Guadalcanal in December, 1942. He describes the bombardment of the island. In May 1943 he was sent to several schools for additional training. Braddock was assigned to the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January 1944 and he describes various battles in which he participated. He recalls the ship being subjected to attack and damaged by kamikaze aircraft on 9 October 1944 and 30 October 1944 which resulted in many casualties. He tells of being evacuated to the USS Santa Fe (CL-60). The Franklin returned to Bremerton, Washington for repairs and he was sent to school again. While in school he was notified that the ship was hit by several bombs with over 700 killed.