Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including her awaiting his return, playing bridge at Corrine's house, and Lois bringing her six packages of Lucky Strike cigarettes.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing a night out drinking with other soldiers, eating dinner at the service club, the weather, a group of boys gambling away their pay, and his appreciation of the beautiful countryside.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Holden. Holden joined the Navy on 30 December 1943. He served as a coxswain aboard USS Olmsted (APA-188). They transported troops and supplies in support of amphibious operations, traveling to New Guinea, Leyte and Okinawa. Additionally, they participated in the first occupational landings in Japan. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Holden. Holden joined the Navy on 30 December 1943. He served as a coxswain aboard USS Olmsted (APA-188). They transported troops and supplies in support of amphibious operations, traveling to New Guinea, Leyte and Okinawa. Additionally, they participated in the first occupational landings in Japan. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barry Atkins. In 1928, Atkins was appointed to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1932 and was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43). He was aboard at Long Beach, California during the 1933 earthquake. After that, he was transferred to the USS New Mexico (BB-40). his next assignment took him aboard the USS Mahan (DD-364). In 1941, Atkins was assigned to the USS Parrott (DD-218) in Manila Bay. He was aboard the Parrott during the Battle of Balikpapan in January 1942. When Atkins returned to the US in August, 1942, he was assigned as commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 8 and sent to New Caledonia that November. His squadron became operational in New Guinea in December. He recalls setting up the PT base at the Morobe River and several patrols and encounters with Japanese shipping. In late 1943, Atkins returned to the US and asked for a destroyer. In October 1944, Atkins was given command of the USS Melvin (DD-680) at Manus Island. From there, the Melvin escorted the Leyte landing forces to the Philippines, then took up station guarding the Surigao Strait. He made a torpedo …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barry Atkins. In 1928, Atkins was appointed to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1932 and was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43). He was aboard at Long Beach, California during the 1933 earthquake. After that, he was transferred to the USS New Mexico (BB-40). his next assignment took him aboard the USS Mahan (DD-364). In 1941, Atkins was assigned to the USS Parrott (DD-218) in Manila Bay. He was aboard the Parrott during the Battle of Balikpapan in January 1942. When Atkins returned to the US in August, 1942, he was assigned as commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 8 and sent to New Caledonia that November. His squadron became operational in New Guinea in December. He recalls setting up the PT base at the Morobe River and several patrols and encounters with Japanese shipping. In late 1943, Atkins returned to the US and asked for a destroyer. In October 1944, Atkins was given command of the USS Melvin (DD-680) at Manus Island. From there, the Melvin escorted the Leyte landing forces to the Philippines, then took up station guarding the Surigao Strait. He made a torpedo …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Billie Campbell. Campbell was born on 10 June 1926 in Oklahoma. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman aboard USS Calvert (APA-32) and USS Montour (APA-101). He tells of crossing the equator and undergoing the King Neptune ritual. He recalls arriving at Manus Island and observing the aftermath of the USS Mount Hood (AE-11) explosion. He describes ships being hit by Japanese planes and observing the American flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. He also tells of seeing American dead being buried in trenches near the beaches on Iwo Jima.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Billie Campbell. Campbell was born on 10 June 1926 in Oklahoma. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman aboard USS Calvert (APA-32) and USS Montour (APA-101). He tells of crossing the equator and undergoing the King Neptune ritual. He recalls arriving at Manus Island and observing the aftermath of the USS Mount Hood (AE-11) explosion. He describes ships being hit by Japanese planes and observing the American flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. He also tells of seeing American dead being buried in trenches near the beaches on Iwo Jima.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gordon Kruse. Kruse joined the Navy in March 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He attended aviation machinist mate’s school in Jacksonville. Upon completion, he was assigned to a patrol bomber training station in Florida, where he was line captain for SBC and PV aircraft. He then attended hydraulics school in Chicago and was sent to Lockheed in California to learn PV hydraulics. Kruse was stationed at Guam until the end of the war, where he helped the Seabees dig trenches until TBMs arrived for servicing. While on Guam he explored caves and discovered Japanese holdouts. Kruse returned home and was discharged in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gordon Kruse. Kruse joined the Navy in March 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He attended aviation machinist mate’s school in Jacksonville. Upon completion, he was assigned to a patrol bomber training station in Florida, where he was line captain for SBC and PV aircraft. He then attended hydraulics school in Chicago and was sent to Lockheed in California to learn PV hydraulics. Kruse was stationed at Guam until the end of the war, where he helped the Seabees dig trenches until TBMs arrived for servicing. While on Guam he explored caves and discovered Japanese holdouts. Kruse returned home and was discharged in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marcel Bisson. Bisson joined the Marine Corps in 1944 and after training was assigned as a replacement to the 5th Marine Division just prior to invading Iwo Jima. On the twelfth day, Bisson was wounded and evacuated. After some stays in hospitals, he was medically discharged in July 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marcel Bisson. Bisson joined the Marine Corps in 1944 and after training was assigned as a replacement to the 5th Marine Division just prior to invading Iwo Jima. On the twelfth day, Bisson was wounded and evacuated. After some stays in hospitals, he was medically discharged in July 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Monte Guidry. He enlisted in the Navy after high school and went to boot camp in San Diego. He qualified for radio school and was sent to Texas A&M. From there, he was assigned to the attack cargo ship, the USS Libra (AKA-12). He continues with anecdotes about being aboard ship: seasickness, radio room work, practical jokes, etc. He participated in the Luzon landing and had a brief leave in Manila in 1944. Then he went on to Iwo Jima and tells more personal stories. His ship was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender and he had leave later in Hokkaido where he mingled with some local Japanese. He then relates a few more anecdotes about being aboard ship before concluding.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Monte Guidry. He enlisted in the Navy after high school and went to boot camp in San Diego. He qualified for radio school and was sent to Texas A&M. From there, he was assigned to the attack cargo ship, the USS Libra (AKA-12). He continues with anecdotes about being aboard ship: seasickness, radio room work, practical jokes, etc. He participated in the Luzon landing and had a brief leave in Manila in 1944. Then he went on to Iwo Jima and tells more personal stories. His ship was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender and he had leave later in Hokkaido where he mingled with some local Japanese. He then relates a few more anecdotes about being aboard ship before concluding.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Burke. Burke was born in Kendall, Kentucky 26 March 1917. After graduating from Monroe High School in Rochester, New York in 1935 he attended Union College, Schenectady, New York majoring in electrical engineering. He graduated in 1939. On 1 December 1941 he entered the US Navy at New London, Connecticut. He entered Submarine Officer’s School at New London with three months training on the submarine USS O-6. Upon graduation he was assigned to the USS Flasher (SS-249) as the communications officer. Burke describes four of the six combat patrols the Flasher made while he was aboard and mentions the shipping tonnage sunk by the boat. He also tells an interesting story involving two Chinese seamen who were picked up after the Flasher sank their sampan. After returning to San Francisco for an overhaul, the submarine made a seventh and uneventful patrol from which they were recalled, as Japan had surrendered. The submarine was taken to the New Orleans Navy Depot and Burke was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Burke. Burke was born in Kendall, Kentucky 26 March 1917. After graduating from Monroe High School in Rochester, New York in 1935 he attended Union College, Schenectady, New York majoring in electrical engineering. He graduated in 1939. On 1 December 1941 he entered the US Navy at New London, Connecticut. He entered Submarine Officer’s School at New London with three months training on the submarine USS O-6. Upon graduation he was assigned to the USS Flasher (SS-249) as the communications officer. Burke describes four of the six combat patrols the Flasher made while he was aboard and mentions the shipping tonnage sunk by the boat. He also tells an interesting story involving two Chinese seamen who were picked up after the Flasher sank their sampan. After returning to San Francisco for an overhaul, the submarine made a seventh and uneventful patrol from which they were recalled, as Japan had surrendered. The submarine was taken to the New Orleans Navy Depot and Burke was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Jeter. Jeter was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He found boot camp to be tough, and some men committed suicide there. Jeter attended fire-control school in Bainbridge and then boarded USS New York (BB-34) as a fire controlman, working with highly classified computers and gyroscopes. Because his commanding officer was a childhood friend, Jeter turned down promotions to avoid misperceptions of favoritism. He instead served as the telephone man and orderly for the captain. In combat, Jeter served as the main battery director, witnessing the bloody aftermath of friendly fire from his battle station at Iwo Jima. After a kamikaze attacked the ship at Okinawa, Jeter saved the rising sun emblem from its wing as a souvenir. Upon returning to the States, Jeter guarded German prisoners at Norfolk. After his discharge, he earned a degree in physics on the GI Bill, later befriending several Japanese colleagues through his work.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Jeter. Jeter was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He found boot camp to be tough, and some men committed suicide there. Jeter attended fire-control school in Bainbridge and then boarded USS New York (BB-34) as a fire controlman, working with highly classified computers and gyroscopes. Because his commanding officer was a childhood friend, Jeter turned down promotions to avoid misperceptions of favoritism. He instead served as the telephone man and orderly for the captain. In combat, Jeter served as the main battery director, witnessing the bloody aftermath of friendly fire from his battle station at Iwo Jima. After a kamikaze attacked the ship at Okinawa, Jeter saved the rising sun emblem from its wing as a souvenir. Upon returning to the States, Jeter guarded German prisoners at Norfolk. After his discharge, he earned a degree in physics on the GI Bill, later befriending several Japanese colleagues through his work.