The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Belvin. Belvin joined the Navy in June, 1941 and trained at San Diego. After training and before the war started, he went to machinist school and then was assigned to the USS Dobbin (AD-3). He spent some time in Australia and recalls a submarine attack in Sydney Harbor. After his brother was lost at sea during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Belvin was sent back to the US for reassignment after some home leave. Belvin was discharged in July 1946 and enrolled in the University of Texas where he earned an engineering degree.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Belvin. Belvin joined the Navy in June, 1941 and trained at San Diego. After training and before the war started, he went to machinist school and then was assigned to the USS Dobbin (AD-3). He spent some time in Australia and recalls a submarine attack in Sydney Harbor. After his brother was lost at sea during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Belvin was sent back to the US for reassignment after some home leave. Belvin was discharged in July 1946 and enrolled in the University of Texas where he earned an engineering degree.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Laughery. Laughery joined the Navy in June of 1943. He served as Seaman 2nd Class aboard the USS Harrison (DD-573), assisting the 20mm gunner and working in the fireroom as a Water Tender 1st Class. They survived 11 encounters with Japanese defenses at Bougainville, Tarawa, New Guinea, Kwajalein, Guam, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Laughery was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Laughery. Laughery joined the Navy in June of 1943. He served as Seaman 2nd Class aboard the USS Harrison (DD-573), assisting the 20mm gunner and working in the fireroom as a Water Tender 1st Class. They survived 11 encounters with Japanese defenses at Bougainville, Tarawa, New Guinea, Kwajalein, Guam, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Laughery was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Greer. Greer was born 8 March 1924 in Gary, West Virginia. In 1942 he enrolled in the ROTC at West Virginia State College. In May 1943 his class was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for sixteen weeks of artillery basic training. In August the group was sent by troop train to Camp Beale, California where they joined the newly formed, all-black 777th Field Artillery Battalion where they trained with the 4.5 millimeter howitzer. During August 1944 the unit sailed for Liverpool, England. Upon arrival they went to Normandy where they joined the 9th Army as part of III Corps. In November 1944 the battalion was involved in the Hurtgen Forest Campaign. After the surrender of Germany, the battalion was on board a ship going to the Pacific when Japan surrendered. The ship was diverted back to the United States. After Greer was discharged in December 1945, he returned to college and upon graduating, received a commission in the Field Artillery. He concludes the interview by telling of his various assignments, which included combat situations during the Korea and Vietnam wars. In 1976, Greer retired as a major …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Greer. Greer was born 8 March 1924 in Gary, West Virginia. In 1942 he enrolled in the ROTC at West Virginia State College. In May 1943 his class was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for sixteen weeks of artillery basic training. In August the group was sent by troop train to Camp Beale, California where they joined the newly formed, all-black 777th Field Artillery Battalion where they trained with the 4.5 millimeter howitzer. During August 1944 the unit sailed for Liverpool, England. Upon arrival they went to Normandy where they joined the 9th Army as part of III Corps. In November 1944 the battalion was involved in the Hurtgen Forest Campaign. After the surrender of Germany, the battalion was on board a ship going to the Pacific when Japan surrendered. The ship was diverted back to the United States. After Greer was discharged in December 1945, he returned to college and upon graduating, received a commission in the Field Artillery. He concludes the interview by telling of his various assignments, which included combat situations during the Korea and Vietnam wars. In 1976, Greer retired as a major …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Plaster. Plaster joined the US Navy in 1943, completed boot camp and Landing Craft School. He then went to New Caledonia, where he served aboard USS John Penn (APA-23). He describes the ship and its mission. While participating in the invasion of Guadalcanal, the ship was sunk by a Japanese torpedo. Plaster was then assigned to USS President Hayes (APA-20) as a member of a landing craft crew and participated in the landing on Bougainville. He also recalls being subjected to nightly bombing for 21 consecutive nights. While there, he contracted malaria. In 1945, Plaster was assigned to a minesweeper in the Philippines. He explains the method used in mine sweeping including the use of the paravane. He also tells of his ship being in typhoons. Soon after the Japanese surrender, Plaster was assigned to a destroyer that participated in a goodwill tour that visited a number of countries before returning to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Plaster. Plaster joined the US Navy in 1943, completed boot camp and Landing Craft School. He then went to New Caledonia, where he served aboard USS John Penn (APA-23). He describes the ship and its mission. While participating in the invasion of Guadalcanal, the ship was sunk by a Japanese torpedo. Plaster was then assigned to USS President Hayes (APA-20) as a member of a landing craft crew and participated in the landing on Bougainville. He also recalls being subjected to nightly bombing for 21 consecutive nights. While there, he contracted malaria. In 1945, Plaster was assigned to a minesweeper in the Philippines. He explains the method used in mine sweeping including the use of the paravane. He also tells of his ship being in typhoons. Soon after the Japanese surrender, Plaster was assigned to a destroyer that participated in a goodwill tour that visited a number of countries before returning to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Ferguson. Ferguson joined the Navy in 1942 under the V-7 Program. After graduating, he received basic training in San Diego. He was then sent to Radar Operator School in Norfolk. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Cooper (DD-695). He received further training at Radar Materiel School in Pearl Harbor and was transferred to the USS Massey (DD-778). At the invasion of Okinawa, Ferguson tracked bogeys as far as 200 miles away. Although he could not see the action from his position in the radar shack, he felt the ship shudder as it fired at kamikazes. After the war, the Massey carried troops and mail to the occupation forces in Japan. Ferguson remembers the ship rolling 56 degrees during a typhoon there. He returned home and was discharged in January 1946; Ferguson found work teaching business administration to veterans.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Ferguson. Ferguson joined the Navy in 1942 under the V-7 Program. After graduating, he received basic training in San Diego. He was then sent to Radar Operator School in Norfolk. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Cooper (DD-695). He received further training at Radar Materiel School in Pearl Harbor and was transferred to the USS Massey (DD-778). At the invasion of Okinawa, Ferguson tracked bogeys as far as 200 miles away. Although he could not see the action from his position in the radar shack, he felt the ship shudder as it fired at kamikazes. After the war, the Massey carried troops and mail to the occupation forces in Japan. Ferguson remembers the ship rolling 56 degrees during a typhoon there. He returned home and was discharged in January 1946; Ferguson found work teaching business administration to veterans.

Transcript of an oral interview with Nila Jackson Alderson. Born in 1925, Alderson describes life before and during the war in rural Texas as well as in the town of Burnet, Texas . Her husband, Joe Alderson, served in the military in Europe. They both discuss the mail service during the war. The interview includes information about her parents and siblings.

Transcript of an oral interview with Nila Jackson Alderson. Born in 1925, Alderson describes life before and during the war in rural Texas as well as in the town of Burnet, Texas . Her husband, Joe Alderson, served in the military in Europe. They both discuss the mail service during the war. The interview includes information about her parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert W Miller. Miller joined the Navy and completed Midshipmen’s School. Beginning early 1943, he served aboard USS Saufley (DD-465), on escort and antisubmarine duties in the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and New Hebrides area. Through January of 1944, they performed escort duties for the reinforcement of Bougainville. Miller was later assigned to COMDESPAC staff with the North Pacific Fleet in Alaska, and later assigned to teach fighter direction at the Hollywood Beach Hotel through the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert W Miller. Miller joined the Navy and completed Midshipmen’s School. Beginning early 1943, he served aboard USS Saufley (DD-465), on escort and antisubmarine duties in the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and New Hebrides area. Through January of 1944, they performed escort duties for the reinforcement of Bougainville. Miller was later assigned to COMDESPAC staff with the North Pacific Fleet in Alaska, and later assigned to teach fighter direction at the Hollywood Beach Hotel through the end of the war.