The National Museum of the Pacific Ware presents an oral interview with Charles Butterworth. Butterworth was born in Anderson, South Carolina. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Notre Dame. In May 1939, he quit college and joined the Army Air Corps. After attending flight engineering and gunnery schools, he was assigned as flight engineer on a B-17 piloted by Emmett “Rosie” O’Donnell. He arrived at Manila, Philippine Islands on 28 August 1941 where he was assigned to the 19th Airbase Squadron stationed at Nichols Field. Starting on 9 December 1941, Nichols Field was bombed daily by the Japanese throughout the rest of the month. Butterworth traveled to Mindanao where he and his companions were picked up by a Japanese patrol craft. He and others became prisoners of war and were taken by boat to Japan where he worked in a steel mill. He tells of the filth, starvation and physical abuse to which the prisoners were subjected. After Japan surrendered, Butterworth and other freed prisoners were taken to a hospital ship for a journey home.

The National Museum of the Pacific Ware presents an oral interview with Charles Butterworth. Butterworth was born in Anderson, South Carolina. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Notre Dame. In May 1939, he quit college and joined the Army Air Corps. After attending flight engineering and gunnery schools, he was assigned as flight engineer on a B-17 piloted by Emmett “Rosie” O’Donnell. He arrived at Manila, Philippine Islands on 28 August 1941 where he was assigned to the 19th Airbase Squadron stationed at Nichols Field. Starting on 9 December 1941, Nichols Field was bombed daily by the Japanese throughout the rest of the month. Butterworth traveled to Mindanao where he and his companions were picked up by a Japanese patrol craft. He and others became prisoners of war and were taken by boat to Japan where he worked in a steel mill. He tells of the filth, starvation and physical abuse to which the prisoners were subjected. After Japan surrendered, Butterworth and other freed prisoners were taken to a hospital ship for a journey home.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Shogren. Shogren joined the Navy in April 1943 and received basic training at Camp Waldron. He received gunnery training at Camp Peterson. He finished his training in advanced gunnery and electric hydraulics in San Diego and became a gunner’s mate on the USS Capricornus (AKA-57). An accomplished gunner, he was assigned to a battle station on the port side near the bridge to protect the navigator, captain, and gunnery officer. He brought supplies and troops to campaigns in the Philippines and engaged in antiaircraft fire in the Battle of Lingayen Gulf. At Espiritu Santos, he bumped into Admiral Nimitz, who didn’t seem to mind that Shogren had been using his private swimming beach. At Okinawa, the Capricornus was uniquely positioned within the convoy so as to not be a target of kamikaze planes. When the war ended, Shogren recalls that cheering broke out across his unit. Shogren was sent to Guam to guard Japanese war criminals awaiting trial. He returned home, and after discharge he enlisted in the Army. A year later he transferred to the Air Force and retired as a fighter pilot and major 14 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Shogren. Shogren joined the Navy in April 1943 and received basic training at Camp Waldron. He received gunnery training at Camp Peterson. He finished his training in advanced gunnery and electric hydraulics in San Diego and became a gunner’s mate on the USS Capricornus (AKA-57). An accomplished gunner, he was assigned to a battle station on the port side near the bridge to protect the navigator, captain, and gunnery officer. He brought supplies and troops to campaigns in the Philippines and engaged in antiaircraft fire in the Battle of Lingayen Gulf. At Espiritu Santos, he bumped into Admiral Nimitz, who didn’t seem to mind that Shogren had been using his private swimming beach. At Okinawa, the Capricornus was uniquely positioned within the convoy so as to not be a target of kamikaze planes. When the war ended, Shogren recalls that cheering broke out across his unit. Shogren was sent to Guam to guard Japanese war criminals awaiting trial. He returned home, and after discharge he enlisted in the Army. A year later he transferred to the Air Force and retired as a fighter pilot and major 14 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eddie Good. Good participated in the Army Specialized Training Program. In 1945, he joined the United States Army Air Forces, where he served as a clerk helping to discharge returning combat veterans. He also spent time working in a hospital while being monitored for a lung condition before he was discharged soon after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eddie Good. Good participated in the Army Specialized Training Program. In 1945, he joined the United States Army Air Forces, where he served as a clerk helping to discharge returning combat veterans. He also spent time working in a hospital while being monitored for a lung condition before he was discharged soon after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Land. Land was a native of Fredericksburg, Texas and served in the Navy from July of 1938 through September of 1945. He shares the story of how he and his wife met, his work as a salesman, and his volunteer work at St. David’s hospital in Austin. He also speaks about his children and grandchildren. The interviewer comments about the documents Land provided him, which he says he’s included with this interview, sharing Land’s recollections as a Pearl Harbor survivor and service through World War II. The document included was an oral history Land conducted with another organization regarding his military history.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Land. Land was a native of Fredericksburg, Texas and served in the Navy from July of 1938 through September of 1945. He shares the story of how he and his wife met, his work as a salesman, and his volunteer work at St. David’s hospital in Austin. He also speaks about his children and grandchildren. The interviewer comments about the documents Land provided him, which he says he’s included with this interview, sharing Land’s recollections as a Pearl Harbor survivor and service through World War II. The document included was an oral history Land conducted with another organization regarding his military history.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lucy Overmeyer. Overmyer was born in Culver, Indiana on 21 June 1920 and after graduating from high school in 1938 she went to work for a defense contractor, Bendix Aircraft. She enlisted into the Marine Corps on 12 May 1943, completed basic training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and enrolled in Quartermaster School at Quantico, Virginia. She describes some of her experiences while at Quantico, where she spent the remainder of her time in the service. She was discharged from the Marine Corps on 26 September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lucy Overmeyer. Overmyer was born in Culver, Indiana on 21 June 1920 and after graduating from high school in 1938 she went to work for a defense contractor, Bendix Aircraft. She enlisted into the Marine Corps on 12 May 1943, completed basic training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and enrolled in Quartermaster School at Quantico, Virginia. She describes some of her experiences while at Quantico, where she spent the remainder of her time in the service. She was discharged from the Marine Corps on 26 September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert LeClerq. LeClerq’s brother, John, served in the Navy in World War II and also died serving his country. Robert was eight years younger than John and recalls his brother’s time serving in the war. John was commissioned in Chicago around 1941. In April of 1944 he was assigned to the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). He and his family attended the commissioning of the ship in Houston, Texas. He was an Ensign and served aboard the ship as an Assistant Gunnery Officer. Their ship was sent to Pearl Harbor to escort supply ships and later participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October of 1944. After being hit by three 14-inch shells from an enemy ship, the Samuel B. Roberts sank, claiming the lives of 90 sailors including John LeClerq. John’s parents were sent a letter by an officer from the Roberts describing in detail the fateful battle. Robert provides some additional details of his brother’s life and service in the military and the books written about the Roberts years after the event.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert LeClerq. LeClerq’s brother, John, served in the Navy in World War II and also died serving his country. Robert was eight years younger than John and recalls his brother’s time serving in the war. John was commissioned in Chicago around 1941. In April of 1944 he was assigned to the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). He and his family attended the commissioning of the ship in Houston, Texas. He was an Ensign and served aboard the ship as an Assistant Gunnery Officer. Their ship was sent to Pearl Harbor to escort supply ships and later participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October of 1944. After being hit by three 14-inch shells from an enemy ship, the Samuel B. Roberts sank, claiming the lives of 90 sailors including John LeClerq. John’s parents were sent a letter by an officer from the Roberts describing in detail the fateful battle. Robert provides some additional details of his brother’s life and service in the military and the books written about the Roberts years after the event.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Utah Hamilton. Hamilton joined the Navy in December, 1941 and trained in Virginia. Afterwards, he was assigned to the USS Southampton (AKA-66). Hamilton was aboard during the invasion of Iwo Jima and recalls seeing the flags raised and watching the beach get cleared of debris. At Okinawa, he participated in the decoy landing. When the war ended, Hamilton shipped a lot of occupation troops to Japan. He returned to the US in November. He decided to extend his service for two more years and eventually served aboard an icebreaker before retiring from the Navy in 1961.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Utah Hamilton. Hamilton joined the Navy in December, 1941 and trained in Virginia. Afterwards, he was assigned to the USS Southampton (AKA-66). Hamilton was aboard during the invasion of Iwo Jima and recalls seeing the flags raised and watching the beach get cleared of debris. At Okinawa, he participated in the decoy landing. When the war ended, Hamilton shipped a lot of occupation troops to Japan. He returned to the US in November. He decided to extend his service for two more years and eventually served aboard an icebreaker before retiring from the Navy in 1961.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William E. Cooper. Cooper was born in Alameda, California 8 May 1925. Upon completing high school in 1943, he joined the Army and went to Oregon for training with the 13th Combat Engineers. He recalls being sent overseas aboard the USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43) and arriving at New Caledonia. He took part in the invasion of Leyte and witnessed a kamikaze plane crash into one of the troop ships. Upon landing he was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division and put in charge of a group of men assigned as stevedores. He then went to Ormoc and was assigned to Company A, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division as an infantryman. After participating on several combat patrols he was hospitalized with dengue fever. Upon being released from the hospital he was assigned to Company L, 32nd Infantry Regiment, and was in the first wave to land on Okinawa. As a combat engineer, his job was to blow up Japanese caves and fortifications. He comments that a childhood friend, Harold Gonsalves, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of his actions on Okinawa. Cooper …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William E. Cooper. Cooper was born in Alameda, California 8 May 1925. Upon completing high school in 1943, he joined the Army and went to Oregon for training with the 13th Combat Engineers. He recalls being sent overseas aboard the USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43) and arriving at New Caledonia. He took part in the invasion of Leyte and witnessed a kamikaze plane crash into one of the troop ships. Upon landing he was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division and put in charge of a group of men assigned as stevedores. He then went to Ormoc and was assigned to Company A, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division as an infantryman. After participating on several combat patrols he was hospitalized with dengue fever. Upon being released from the hospital he was assigned to Company L, 32nd Infantry Regiment, and was in the first wave to land on Okinawa. As a combat engineer, his job was to blow up Japanese caves and fortifications. He comments that a childhood friend, Harold Gonsalves, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of his actions on Okinawa. Cooper …