The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Warren Bateman. Bateman joined the Navy in October of 1942. He went to Great Lakes, Illinois for boot camp. From there he went to Miami, Florida as Third Class Storekeeper. He was then assigned to the USS PC-1126 that was being built in Bay City, Michigan. In 1943 his crew escorted a convoy from Miami to Panama, then to San Diego where he was transferred to the USS Roberts (DE-749). In January 1944 he went to midshipman’s school at Northwestern in Chicago and received his commission as ensign in May 1944. From January through December 1945 Bateman served on Fleet Admiral Nimitz’s CINCPAC staff detachment on Guam. He was one of three ensigns serving as Nimitz’s censors. He served as Chief Censor and Education Officer. He had personal contact with Admiral Nimitz and provides detail of his interactions with him. He later became a Intelligence Officer serving 20 years in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Warren Bateman. Bateman joined the Navy in October of 1942. He went to Great Lakes, Illinois for boot camp. From there he went to Miami, Florida as Third Class Storekeeper. He was then assigned to the USS PC-1126 that was being built in Bay City, Michigan. In 1943 his crew escorted a convoy from Miami to Panama, then to San Diego where he was transferred to the USS Roberts (DE-749). In January 1944 he went to midshipman’s school at Northwestern in Chicago and received his commission as ensign in May 1944. From January through December 1945 Bateman served on Fleet Admiral Nimitz’s CINCPAC staff detachment on Guam. He was one of three ensigns serving as Nimitz’s censors. He served as Chief Censor and Education Officer. He had personal contact with Admiral Nimitz and provides detail of his interactions with him. He later became a Intelligence Officer serving 20 years in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Beard. He was born in 1924. In 1943, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. Upon completing basic training, he underwent pilot training and became a B-24 pilot. After spending time in Panama, he was sent to New Guinea where he underwent jungle training. He then went to Clark Field, Philippine Islands. There he flew missions over Japan and he tells of seeing smoke residue from the atomic bomb blast. Beard returned to the US after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Beard. He was born in 1924. In 1943, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. Upon completing basic training, he underwent pilot training and became a B-24 pilot. After spending time in Panama, he was sent to New Guinea where he underwent jungle training. He then went to Clark Field, Philippine Islands. There he flew missions over Japan and he tells of seeing smoke residue from the atomic bomb blast. Beard returned to the US after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Betty Blalock. Blalock joined the Navy in 1945 and received basic training in Yonkers. She was assigned to the hospital corps and sent to the amputee ward at Quantico. Once a day, an airplane would arrive with amputees whom Blalock would visit and encourage. She remembers them as having good morale. After the war, she was discharged and married a tech sergeant, Hugh Blalock, who went on to serve in the Air Force for 30 years. She and her husband spent 10 years with Air America in Laos, Saigon, and Bangkok. While there she opened three kindergartens, taking a 12-hour train, a bicycle ride, and a boat taxi twice each week to teach classes. Blalock says that she’s led an interesting life and has gone around the world about five times.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Betty Blalock. Blalock joined the Navy in 1945 and received basic training in Yonkers. She was assigned to the hospital corps and sent to the amputee ward at Quantico. Once a day, an airplane would arrive with amputees whom Blalock would visit and encourage. She remembers them as having good morale. After the war, she was discharged and married a tech sergeant, Hugh Blalock, who went on to serve in the Air Force for 30 years. She and her husband spent 10 years with Air America in Laos, Saigon, and Bangkok. While there she opened three kindergartens, taking a 12-hour train, a bicycle ride, and a boat taxi twice each week to teach classes. Blalock says that she’s led an interesting life and has gone around the world about five times.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Melvin Brandenburg. Brandenburg joined the US Army in September 1942. He was assigned to the 78th Infantry Division, 310th Infantry Regiment. He provides details of his extensive infantry training. They arrived in England in late October 1944, then crossed to Le Havre, France in late November 1944. They participated in the Battle of the Bulge, where Brandenburg was wounded on 16 December. He provides details of their actions during this battle. They relieved the 82nd Airborne Division during occupation duty in Berlin. Brandenburg returned to the US and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Melvin Brandenburg. Brandenburg joined the US Army in September 1942. He was assigned to the 78th Infantry Division, 310th Infantry Regiment. He provides details of his extensive infantry training. They arrived in England in late October 1944, then crossed to Le Havre, France in late November 1944. They participated in the Battle of the Bulge, where Brandenburg was wounded on 16 December. He provides details of their actions during this battle. They relieved the 82nd Airborne Division during occupation duty in Berlin. Brandenburg returned to the US and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Carseth. He discusses an early interest in aviation and earned his pilot's license through the Civilian Pilot Training program. He spent a year as an instructor before joining the Air Transport Command. Through 1944 he delivered aircraft to Australia before being assigned to Myitkyina, Burma. He speaks of living conditions at Myitkyina and flying materials over the Himalaya Mountains (the Hump) from Burma to Kunming, China. Carseth has anectdotes about meeting General Claire Chennault, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and a squadron mate who kept a baboon.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Carseth. He discusses an early interest in aviation and earned his pilot's license through the Civilian Pilot Training program. He spent a year as an instructor before joining the Air Transport Command. Through 1944 he delivered aircraft to Australia before being assigned to Myitkyina, Burma. He speaks of living conditions at Myitkyina and flying materials over the Himalaya Mountains (the Hump) from Burma to Kunming, China. Carseth has anectdotes about meeting General Claire Chennault, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and a squadron mate who kept a baboon.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a celebration being held for James Logan in honor of his receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor, supper with Nell and Baker, and Baby and John buying a new car.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Greffe. Greffe was born 20 June 1919 in Taylorville, Illinois. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1940 and was assigned to the 132nd Infantry Division. After training, he was shipped to Fiji before going to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides for jungle fighting training. He got jungle rot and malaria and was placed in the 25th Evacuation Hospital for treatment. He recovered in time to go to Bougainville in 1943 and fight the Japanese Imperial Marine. He also participated in the landings on Luzon and fought to recapture Clark Field. He also describes the personal effects of losing men of his platoon and the combat conditions during the liberation of Manila. Greffe liberated prisoners of war from Bilibid Prison and recalls the condition of these people. He was awarded 3 Bronze Stars during WWII. He returned to the US aboard the USS Hope (AH-7) and was discharged from the service in June 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Greffe. Greffe was born 20 June 1919 in Taylorville, Illinois. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1940 and was assigned to the 132nd Infantry Division. After training, he was shipped to Fiji before going to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides for jungle fighting training. He got jungle rot and malaria and was placed in the 25th Evacuation Hospital for treatment. He recovered in time to go to Bougainville in 1943 and fight the Japanese Imperial Marine. He also participated in the landings on Luzon and fought to recapture Clark Field. He also describes the personal effects of losing men of his platoon and the combat conditions during the liberation of Manila. Greffe liberated prisoners of war from Bilibid Prison and recalls the condition of these people. He was awarded 3 Bronze Stars during WWII. He returned to the US aboard the USS Hope (AH-7) and was discharged from the service in June 1945.

Handwritten letter from Betrice Kirkland to Charles Stasny thanking him for the letter he sent her following Theodore Kirkland's, her brother, death in the war and reminisces on memories she had with him. She encloses a copy of the chaplain's letter and mentions that her brother, Theus Kirkland, will be returning to service soon either to the Islands or pilots' training in California.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Reid Misenheimer. Misenheimer was born in Augusta, Arkansas 8 May 1922 and attended North Georgia College for two years before entering the Army in 1945. He took basic training at Smyrna Army Airfield, Tennessee, and was placed into a guard squadron after completing training. He recalls being transferred into the Army Specialized Training Program and being sent to the Citadel where he received training in basic engineering. The program was terminated and he was transferred into the infantry and sent to Fort Bragg, Kentucky for infantry basic. At the end of infantry training, he was transferred into the artillery and once again took basic training. Upon completion, he was sent to a 155mm Long Tom artillery unit at Brownsville, Texas and was assigned as a mechanic in the headquarters battalion. In January 1945 he went aboard a troop transport bound for La Havre, France. He relates various experiences in France. He returned to the United States in 1946 and received his discharge at Fort Bragg.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Reid Misenheimer. Misenheimer was born in Augusta, Arkansas 8 May 1922 and attended North Georgia College for two years before entering the Army in 1945. He took basic training at Smyrna Army Airfield, Tennessee, and was placed into a guard squadron after completing training. He recalls being transferred into the Army Specialized Training Program and being sent to the Citadel where he received training in basic engineering. The program was terminated and he was transferred into the infantry and sent to Fort Bragg, Kentucky for infantry basic. At the end of infantry training, he was transferred into the artillery and once again took basic training. Upon completion, he was sent to a 155mm Long Tom artillery unit at Brownsville, Texas and was assigned as a mechanic in the headquarters battalion. In January 1945 he went aboard a troop transport bound for La Havre, France. He relates various experiences in France. He returned to the United States in 1946 and received his discharge at Fort Bragg.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lester Thompson. In later 1942, Thompson joined the Army Air Forces and was assigned to the 2256th Quartermaster Truck Company, 45th Air Depot Group. He was sent to England in 1943 and recalls a few encounters with German prisoners of war. He also shares several anecdotes about his life in the service in Europe. He landed at Normandy two days after the invasion. Initially, Thompson hauled in truck the makings of a field mess hall. Once it was destroyed, Thompson then began hauling gasoline, ammunition, aviation parts, POWs, etc. When the war ended, Thompson returned to the US before the end of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lester Thompson. In later 1942, Thompson joined the Army Air Forces and was assigned to the 2256th Quartermaster Truck Company, 45th Air Depot Group. He was sent to England in 1943 and recalls a few encounters with German prisoners of war. He also shares several anecdotes about his life in the service in Europe. He landed at Normandy two days after the invasion. Initially, Thompson hauled in truck the makings of a field mess hall. Once it was destroyed, Thompson then began hauling gasoline, ammunition, aviation parts, POWs, etc. When the war ended, Thompson returned to the US before the end of 1945.