Photograph of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Admiral Halsey talking aboard the U.S.S. Curtiss. They both are wearing light-colored long-sleeved uniforms with two pockets on the front, four stars pinned to either side of the collar, a belt, and trousers. Admiral Halsey has his hands on his hips. Behind the two men is a dark unidentified object attached to the ship and two ships on the water.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a quiet evening at home, busyness at work, and chores she has to get done before leaving for Gonzales.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions the upcoming target practice competition. He also mentions the possibility of returning to China in case of trouble there. At the end, Nimitz asks for Kerrville's newspaper, the Mountain Sun, to be delivered to him.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his crew making improvements to their tent, the mail service, and expecting to see a good movie in the evening.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Abbott. Abbott was born in 1924. He dropped out of college to join the US Army in 1942. While undergoing basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, Abbott witnessed practiced segregation and consequently became involved in civil rights issues. He recalls that he did not finish basic training, and was sent to Newport News, Virginia where he was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division. He tells of being involved in action in North Africa, and Italy. Abbott returned to the US after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Abbott. Abbott was born in 1924. He dropped out of college to join the US Army in 1942. While undergoing basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, Abbott witnessed practiced segregation and consequently became involved in civil rights issues. He recalls that he did not finish basic training, and was sent to Newport News, Virginia where he was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division. He tells of being involved in action in North Africa, and Italy. Abbott returned to the US after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Stackpole. Stackpole joined the Navy Reserves before the start of World War II and was in the Hospital Corps. He went on active duty to Great Lakes and they put him to work in the recruit receiving line. After some additional work at the hospital there, he was sent to Alameda and put aboard the SS Matsonia which sailed for Espiritu Santo. From there they went on a coastal tramp steamer to Noumea, New Caledonia where they set up a fleet hospital, MOB 7, Mobile Hospital. It later became Fleet Hospital 107. Stackpole describes in good detail what they went through in setting-up the hospital, the excellent doctors they had, and the great leadership of their commanding officer, Captain Espaugh. They were receiving causalities from the Guadalcanal campaign. The hospital ships would stand-off Noumea, the patients unloaded onto barges, and then taken to either the Navy or Army hospitals on Noumea. Stackpole also describes in good detail the kind of work they did with the patients. Next, they started bringing in the casualties from Bougainville. He also talks about patients from the USS Gambier Bay which was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Stackpole. Stackpole joined the Navy Reserves before the start of World War II and was in the Hospital Corps. He went on active duty to Great Lakes and they put him to work in the recruit receiving line. After some additional work at the hospital there, he was sent to Alameda and put aboard the SS Matsonia which sailed for Espiritu Santo. From there they went on a coastal tramp steamer to Noumea, New Caledonia where they set up a fleet hospital, MOB 7, Mobile Hospital. It later became Fleet Hospital 107. Stackpole describes in good detail what they went through in setting-up the hospital, the excellent doctors they had, and the great leadership of their commanding officer, Captain Espaugh. They were receiving causalities from the Guadalcanal campaign. The hospital ships would stand-off Noumea, the patients unloaded onto barges, and then taken to either the Navy or Army hospitals on Noumea. Stackpole also describes in good detail the kind of work they did with the patients. Next, they started bringing in the casualties from Bougainville. He also talks about patients from the USS Gambier Bay which was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Rust. Rust joined the Army Air Forces on his eighteenth birthday. He was trained as an aerial gunner and then was sent to flight school to become a pilot. Rust was sent to the 23rd Fighter Group in China and flew P-40s. He flew bomber escort and ground support missions. Rust describes the differences between P-40s and P-51s. He rotated back to the US after completing 100 missions. Rust became a member of the reserves after the war and volunteered for duty in the Korean War. He describes being shot-down on his 43rd mission and nearly drowning in a river. Rust remained on active duty for several more years and eventually became a jet pilot.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Rust. Rust joined the Army Air Forces on his eighteenth birthday. He was trained as an aerial gunner and then was sent to flight school to become a pilot. Rust was sent to the 23rd Fighter Group in China and flew P-40s. He flew bomber escort and ground support missions. Rust describes the differences between P-40s and P-51s. He rotated back to the US after completing 100 missions. Rust became a member of the reserves after the war and volunteered for duty in the Korean War. He describes being shot-down on his 43rd mission and nearly drowning in a river. Rust remained on active duty for several more years and eventually became a jet pilot.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle M. Falvey. Falvey was born 14 March 1923 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Quitting school in 1938, he worked various jobs until joining the Navy in December 1942. Upon completing boot camp at Newport, Rhode Island, he attended gunnery school. From there, he volunteered for submarine school at New London, Connecticut. He describes the training, including being aboard an S-boat, an O-boat and an E-boat. Upon graduating he was assigned to the USS Flasher (SS-249) in time for its first war patrol from Pearl Harbor in January 1944. He was injured during a surface battle with a Japanese ship and was sent to the Mare Island Naval Hospital where he spent six weeks after surgery. Falvey returned to Australia and he describes experience with Aborigines during his rail travel to Fremantle. Upon his arrival in March 1945, he was assigned to the crew of the USS-Besugo (SS-321). He recalls various actions in which the Besugo was involved including the sinking of the German submarine, U-183. They picked up one German survivor, who joined a Japanese prisoner they had picked up from a tanker they had sunk. Falvey discusses the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle M. Falvey. Falvey was born 14 March 1923 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Quitting school in 1938, he worked various jobs until joining the Navy in December 1942. Upon completing boot camp at Newport, Rhode Island, he attended gunnery school. From there, he volunteered for submarine school at New London, Connecticut. He describes the training, including being aboard an S-boat, an O-boat and an E-boat. Upon graduating he was assigned to the USS Flasher (SS-249) in time for its first war patrol from Pearl Harbor in January 1944. He was injured during a surface battle with a Japanese ship and was sent to the Mare Island Naval Hospital where he spent six weeks after surgery. Falvey returned to Australia and he describes experience with Aborigines during his rail travel to Fremantle. Upon his arrival in March 1945, he was assigned to the crew of the USS-Besugo (SS-321). He recalls various actions in which the Besugo was involved including the sinking of the German submarine, U-183. They picked up one German survivor, who joined a Japanese prisoner they had picked up from a tanker they had sunk. Falvey discusses the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Greg Layman. Layman worked in a shipyard in Vancouver, Washington on escort carriers until he turned 18. After his birthday he joined the Navy and served in the Seabees with CBMU 521 spending 20 months on Tulagi improving infrastructure. Three weeks after the Japanese surrender, his unit was sent to Okinawa to build a permanent naval base. Three months later he was sent to the United States and discharged on 24 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Greg Layman. Layman worked in a shipyard in Vancouver, Washington on escort carriers until he turned 18. After his birthday he joined the Navy and served in the Seabees with CBMU 521 spending 20 months on Tulagi improving infrastructure. Three weeks after the Japanese surrender, his unit was sent to Okinawa to build a permanent naval base. Three months later he was sent to the United States and discharged on 24 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Boyd. Boyd was drafted into the Army Air Forces in December, 1942 and took basic training at Wichita Falls. From there, he went to aerial gunnery school at Harlingen. He was then assigned as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 and began training with a crew. Once he got to England, he was assigned to the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group in England. He flew on 30 combat missions starting in March, 1944. Boyd shares several anecdotes from his combat missions. He returned to the US in August 1944 and became an instructor. Boyd was discharged in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Boyd. Boyd was drafted into the Army Air Forces in December, 1942 and took basic training at Wichita Falls. From there, he went to aerial gunnery school at Harlingen. He was then assigned as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 and began training with a crew. Once he got to England, he was assigned to the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group in England. He flew on 30 combat missions starting in March, 1944. Boyd shares several anecdotes from his combat missions. He returned to the US in August 1944 and became an instructor. Boyd was discharged in October.

Transcript of an oral interview with Jill Pitts Knappenberger. She discusses growing up during the Depression, going to college before the war, then volunteering for the Red Cross in 1942, but delaying to stay home with her terminally ill sister before joining in 1943. She first worked in England before going to France. She was able to meet her twin brother, who was also in France just before he died in the Battle of the Bulge. She describes what it was like in the camps at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge and driving the Red Cross Clubmobile away from the front lines, seeing the Ordruff [Ohrdruf] and the Buchenwald concentration camps and the salt mines at Merkers where the Germans stored a lot of looted money and artwork. She ancedotes about flying in B-17s, getting to drive a Sherman tank and how she felt during her first air raid in London and being in the Battle of the Bulge.

Transcript of an oral interview with Jill Pitts Knappenberger. She discusses growing up during the Depression, going to college before the war, then volunteering for the Red Cross in 1942, but delaying to stay home with her terminally ill sister before joining in 1943. She first worked in England before going to France. She was able to meet her twin brother, who was also in France just before he died in the Battle of the Bulge. She describes what it was like in the camps at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge and driving the Red Cross Clubmobile away from the front lines, seeing the Ordruff [Ohrdruf] and the Buchenwald concentration camps and the salt mines at Merkers where the Germans stored a lot of looted money and artwork. She ancedotes about flying in B-17s, getting to drive a Sherman tank and how she felt during her first air raid in London and being in the Battle of the Bulge.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions the upcoming target practice competition. He also mentions the possibility of returning to China in case of trouble there. At the end, Nimitz asks for Kerrville's newspaper, the Mountain Sun, to be delivered to him.