The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tommy Shaffer. Shaffer was born in Florence, Texas 31 August 1926. He received his draft notice in 1944 and joined the United States Navy. After attending boot camp at San Diego, California he went aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26) in February 1945 as second loader on a 40mm gun. He describes the attack at Okinawa by Japanese aircraft and tells of one plane dropping a bomb on the ship just before crashing into the flight deck and the actions of the damage control unit. The ship passed through the Panama Canal on its way to Newport News, Virginia for repairs. She arrived in June 1945. He tells of his transfer to the moth ball fleet and he describes his duties in this job prior to his discharge.

Transcript of an oral interview with Daniel Samuelson. Samuelson joined the Army Air Force in 1943 after one semester at Louisiana State University. After he turned 18 in early 1944, he was called to active duty. After basic training, Samuelson went to aerial gunnery school at Kingman, Arizona. Upon completion there, he was assigned to a B-17 crew. His crew was selected to go to Cuba on a goodwill mission. After that, his crew flew to England, where he was assigned to the 95th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force. Samuelson describes some of the air raids he took part in over targets in Frankfurt, Germany. He completed 35 missions in April and was shipped home on a Liberty ship. When the war ended in the Pacific, Samuelson was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Pittman. Pittman grew up in Texas and joined the Navy in 1941. Once he finished training, he was assigned to a Merchant Marine vessel as a 3.5 inch gun operator. His first assignment was shipping planes and aviation fuel to Australia with a stop at Hawaii. Pittman also tells a story of delivering crude oil to Britain after dropping the airplanes off at Australia. He also discusses his routine, the food and the life aboard the merchant vessel. Pittman mentions spending time in China shortly after the war ended and going back to the US aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). While on board, he found a cousin who was headed for home, too.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Tubig. Tubig was born in the Philippines in 1918 and joined the Philippine Scouts in 1941. After the surrender of the American forces on Bataan, he participated in the Bataan Death March. He describes the march to Capas, where they were interned at Camp O’Donnell. Tubig escaped with another prisoner and returned to his home. He did not participate in guerilla activities after his escape. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1946 and was discharged in 1948.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Justo Dumlao. Dumlao was born in the Philippines in 1914. By the time the war broke out, he had already trained as a radio operator in the Philippine Scouts. He was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg when the Japanese invaded. Dumlao retreated to Bataan alongside American troops and ultimately surrendered. He made the brutal trek to Camp O’Donnell while suffering from malaria, dysentery, and beriberi. Upon release, his family nursed him back to health. He then rejoined the guerillas and was instrumental in the Raid at Cabanatuan. After the war, Dumlao enlisted in the United States Army and gained citizenship. At his 100th birthday celebration, he was presented with the Bronze Star for his participation in the Great Raid.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gordon Wilkinson. Wilkinson was drafted into the Army in January 1945. He completed basic training in Camp Wheeler, Georgia. He provides details of his experiences in training. He served in the Luzon, Philippines campaign. They first landed in Eniwetok and picked up a convoy then headed into the Philippines. He was a part of the fifth replacement and later the 43rd Infantry Division and Headquarters Company. They were set up in Cabanatuan. Then they traveled to Japan in September 1945. The 43rd Infantry Division was deactivated and Wilkinson joined the 1st Cavalry Division in Osaka, and he was assigned to the 302nd Recon. He provides detail of his time in Osaka. He left Japan in December 1945 and was shipped to Fort Stevens, Oregon where he re-enlisted. He attended Counter Intelligence School in Baltimore, Maryland. He was then stationed in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was in the service 29 years, and retired as Chief Warrant Officer Four.

Transcript of an oral interview with David Van Fleet. Mr Van Fleet graduated from high school in 1941, went to A&M on a football scholarship, staying there until midterm when the war broke out and he joined the Marine Corps. After boot camp in San Diego, he joined the 4th Marine Raiders Battalion, D Company. After additional training with the Raiders, his outfit went overseas in February 1943, ending up in Espiritu Santo. They went to Guadalcanal in June, stayed there for a month, and then landed on Vangunu Island, New Georgia. Van Fleet provides a very good description of landing on the island and the fighting there under deplorable conditions. Then they crossed over to Gatukai island because the natives said there were Japanese there too. The outfit then went back to Guadalcanal for a few days before heading back to New Georgia (Bairoko Harbor). Van Fleet states this was the only battle he knows of that we lost. Included as an appendix to this oral history are a few pages from a history of that battle by Major General Peatross. He understood that this was about the end for the Raiders so he asked to be transferred to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Hatch. Hatch was born in Boston in 1921. Following graduation from high school in 1939, he joined the Marine Corps. He volunteered for an English instructor billet at the Marine Corps Institute in Washington, DC. After six months he left for an editorial position at Leatherneck Magazine. Soon thereafter, he took a position at the Office of Information in the Office of Naval Operations, where he assisted in putting out press releases. In September 1941 he was accepted to the March of Time School of Pictorial Journalism operated by a major newsreel company in New York City. He recalls photographing President Roosevelt from the Capitol Gallery on 8 September 1941 as he asked Congress for a declaration of war. In 1942 Hatch was sent to Quantico, Virginia to join the newly-formed Marine Corps Photographic Section. From there, he joined the Second Marine Division in New Zealand. He was one of only two movie photographers assigned to the Second Division, and he describes being at Tarawa. Hatch describes the events that took place over the next three days, many of which were featured in his film With the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dick Keresey. Keresey was born in Delawana, New Jersey in 1913 and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1941. He joined the V7 Midshipman Program while at Columbia and completed training in January 1942, followed by motor torpedo boat training in Melville, Rhode Island, from which he graduated in March 1942. He served as captain of PT-105 in the Solomon Islands and recalls meeting John F. Kennedy, when Kennedy, as captain of PT-109, pulled Keresey’s boat off a reef. Keresey describes his participation in a major battle involving 15 PT boats in the Western Solomons on 6 March 1943, which became known as the Battle of Blackett Strait. Following that battle, he recalls learning that Kennedy’s boat, PT-109, had been cut in half by a Japanese destroyer. Finally, he describes another action in the Russell Islands on 22 August 1943 where he was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Five along with nine other boats. He recalls PT-108 was destroyed by Japanese shore batteries during the battle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue with Gerald Martel. Martel was born in Massachusetts and joined the Army in the spring of 1941. He was assigned to the 182nd Infantry Regiment as a machine gunner and headed for Australia. His unit comprised the Americal Division when it was formed. Martel went to Guadalcanal and Leyte. He eventually was pulled from the ranks and put into special services where he performed for GI audiences. Sometimes, he opened before other celebrities performed (Irving Berlin, Bob Hope, and Jack Benny).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Gowen. Gowen joined the Merchant Marine in 1934. He trained aboard the USS Annapolis (PG-10) for two years. He graduated from the training program in 1937 as an engineer, then worked aboard a ship delivering oil as third assistant engineer. From 1940 to 1942 he continued working in his same role on the USS Santee (CVE-29). From there he went to Bath, Maine to work as an assistant engineering officer aboard USS Chevalier (DD-451). He went into the Battle of Vella Lavella in 1943 on the Chevalier and provides details of their travels from Maine to the Solomon Islands. He describes the events of the Chevalier being sunk during this battle. In 1944 Gowen went on to be an engineering officer of another destroyer and participated in the Marianas Campaign. In 1951 Gowen was selected to command the USS Ingersoll (DD-652) in the Mediterranean. In 1958 he attended the Naval War College and was made commanding officer of the USS Aludra (AF-55). He then took command, as a captain, of the Navy’s portion of testing atomic weapons in the Pacific area and provides details of this experience. He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gerald Miller. Miller provides some background of his family history. He joined the Navy in 1936 and graduated from the Naval Academy in December of 1941. By January 1942 he was in the Pacific aboard the USS Richmond (CL-9), escorting troopships from Panama, through Bora-Bora and to Tongatabu. In December 1942 they were sent to the Aleutian Islands, participating in shore bombardments of Attu and Kiska. He discusses the weapons aboard the Richmond and some of its general characteristics. They also participated in the action off Komandorski Islands in March of 1943. He also traveled throughout the Atlantic and went to Europe. In early 1944 he participated in shore bombardments of Paramushir, Russia. From April 1944 to 1945 Miller completed flight school and discusses some of his training experiences. He continued on in the Navy, participating in the Korean War, flying an F9F2 and an F9F5, and provides detail of this experience. He is a former commander of the Navy’s Second and Sixth Fleets. Additionally, he was a Vice Admiral and his last assignment was Deputy Director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff. He retired from the Navy …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Tubig. Tubig was born in the Philippines in 1918 and joined the Philippine Scouts in 1941. After the surrender of the American forces on Bataan, he participated in the Bataan Death March. He describes the march to Capas, where they were interned at Camp O’Donnell. Tubig escaped with another prisoner and returned to his home. He did not participate in guerilla activities after his escape. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1946 and was discharged in 1948.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Justo Dumlao. Dumlao was born in the Philippines in 1914. By the time the war broke out, he had already trained as a radio operator in the Philippine Scouts. He was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg when the Japanese invaded. Dumlao retreated to Bataan alongside American troops and ultimately surrendered. He made the brutal trek to Camp O’Donnell while suffering from malaria, dysentery, and beriberi. Upon release, his family nursed him back to health. He then rejoined the guerillas and was instrumental in the Raid at Cabanatuan. After the war, Dumlao enlisted in the United States Army and gained citizenship. At his 100th birthday celebration, he was presented with the Bronze Star for his participation in the Great Raid.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Pittman. Pittman grew up in Texas and joined the Navy in 1941. Once he finished training, he was assigned to a Merchant Marine vessel as a 3.5 inch gun operator. His first assignment was shipping planes and aviation fuel to Australia with a stop at Hawaii. Pittman also tells a story of delivering crude oil to Britain after dropping the airplanes off at Australia. He also discusses his routine, the food and the life aboard the merchant vessel. Pittman mentions spending time in China shortly after the war ended and going back to the US aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). While on board, he found a cousin who was headed for home, too.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gordon Wilkinson. Wilkinson was drafted into the Army in January 1945. He completed basic training in Camp Wheeler, Georgia. He provides details of his experiences in training. He served in the Luzon, Philippines campaign. They first landed in Eniwetok and picked up a convoy then headed into the Philippines. He was a part of the fifth replacement and later the 43rd Infantry Division and Headquarters Company. They were set up in Cabanatuan. Then they traveled to Japan in September 1945. The 43rd Infantry Division was deactivated and Wilkinson joined the 1st Cavalry Division in Osaka, and he was assigned to the 302nd Recon. He provides detail of his time in Osaka. He left Japan in December 1945 and was shipped to Fort Stevens, Oregon where he re-enlisted. He attended Counter Intelligence School in Baltimore, Maryland. He was then stationed in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was in the service 29 years, and retired as Chief Warrant Officer Four.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lyle Specht. Specht signed up for the Marine Corps in the Spring of 1941, while attending Oregon State College. He graduated from the candidate’s class. He was sent to a recruit depot in San Diego on an 81mm mortar platoon in a weapons company. In the Fall of 1942 he joined the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. They traveled to New Zealand and he provide some detail of their travels there and of the New Zealanders. From there they traveled to Guadalcanal, relieving the 8th Marines. Specht vividly describes his experiences securing this island. They traveled to Hawaii, where they reorganized the battalion and did away with the weapons company and assigned the machine gun platoons to the various infantry companies. He traveled to Okinawa with four Army divisions and 3 Marine divisions and describes his experiences through the Battle of Okinawa and being on Sugarloaf Hill.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marion E Carl. Carl joined the Marine Corps in 1938. He served as a flight instructor for a fighter squadron in Quantico, Virginia. In September 1941 he joined Marine fighter squadron VMF-221 in San Diego, flying Brewster Buffalos. In November they went to Hawaii. On 8 December 1941 they went to Midway. In June of 1942 he flew a Wildcat in the Battle of Midway and provides details of this experience. From there he was evacuated back to Hawaii in mid-June and transferred to squadron VMF-223. In August of 1942 they went to Guadalcanal. He describes getting shot down by a zero and other experiences on the island. In early 1943 he was assigned as squadron commander over VMF-223 in Laguna Beach, California. They traveled to the Solomon Islands and Emira Island. From 1945-1948 Carl received orders to go to Patuxent Naval Air Station in Maryland, working in the flight test unit, testing new fighters and attack aircraft. He provides detail of this job and the aircraft he tested. He left the Corps in 1973, retiring as Major general. Carl was the Marine Corps’ first fighter ace in World …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C M Hudspeth. When the war started, Hudspeth was in law school at the University of Texas. In early 1942, he applied for and was given a commission as ensign in the Navy without receiving any training. His first assignment was in a coding room at the Eight Naval District Headquarters in New Orleans. In early 1943, Hudspeth was transferred to Noumea to the South Pacific Area command as a communications officer. In early 1945, he transferred to San Diego. Hudspeth shares several anecdotes about the nature of his code work during the war and describes how coding machines worked. Hudspeth also shares a story about his involvement in the mission to shoot down Admiral Yamamoto. He was discharge in late 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with David Van Fleet. Mr Van Fleet graduated from high school in 1941, went to A&M on a football scholarship, staying there until midterm when the war broke out and he joined the Marine Corps. After boot camp in San Diego, he joined the 4th Marine Raiders Battalion, D Company. After additional training with the Raiders, his outfit went overseas in February 1943, ending up in Espiritu Santo. They went to Guadalcanal in June, stayed there for a month, and then landed on Vangunu Island, New Georgia. Van Fleet provides a very good description of landing on the island and the fighting there under deplorable conditions. Then they crossed over to Gatukai island because the natives said there were Japanese there too. The outfit then went back to Guadalcanal for a few days before heading back to New Georgia (Bairoko Harbor). Van Fleet states this was the only battle he knows of that we lost. Included as an appendix to this oral history are a few pages from a history of that battle by Major General Peatross. He understood that this was about the end for the Raiders so he asked to be transferred to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Hatch. Hatch was born in Boston in 1921. Following graduation from high school in 1939, he joined the Marine Corps. He volunteered for an English instructor billet at the Marine Corps Institute in Washington, DC. After six months he left for an editorial position at Leatherneck Magazine. Soon thereafter, he took a position at the Office of Information in the Office of Naval Operations, where he assisted in putting out press releases. In September 1941 he was accepted to the March of Time School of Pictorial Journalism operated by a major newsreel company in New York City. He recalls photographing President Roosevelt from the Capitol Gallery on 8 September 1941 as he asked Congress for a declaration of war. In 1942 Hatch was sent to Quantico, Virginia to join the newly-formed Marine Corps Photographic Section. From there, he joined the Second Marine Division in New Zealand. He was one of only two movie photographers assigned to the Second Division, and he describes being at Tarawa. Hatch describes the events that took place over the next three days, many of which were featured in his film With the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dick Keresey. Keresey was born in Delawana, New Jersey in 1913 and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1941. He joined the V7 Midshipman Program while at Columbia and completed training in January 1942, followed by motor torpedo boat training in Melville, Rhode Island, from which he graduated in March 1942. He served as captain of PT-105 in the Solomon Islands and recalls meeting John F. Kennedy, when Kennedy, as captain of PT-109, pulled Keresey’s boat off a reef. Keresey describes his participation in a major battle involving 15 PT boats in the Western Solomons on 6 March 1943, which became known as the Battle of Blackett Strait. Following that battle, he recalls learning that Kennedy’s boat, PT-109, had been cut in half by a Japanese destroyer. Finally, he describes another action in the Russell Islands on 22 August 1943 where he was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Five along with nine other boats. He recalls PT-108 was destroyed by Japanese shore batteries during the battle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue with Gerald Martel. Martel was born in Massachusetts and joined the Army in the spring of 1941. He was assigned to the 182nd Infantry Regiment as a machine gunner and headed for Australia. His unit comprised the Americal Division when it was formed. Martel went to Guadalcanal and Leyte. He eventually was pulled from the ranks and put into special services where he performed for GI audiences. Sometimes, he opened before other celebrities performed (Irving Berlin, Bob Hope, and Jack Benny).

Transcript of an oral interview with Daniel Samuelson. Samuelson joined the Army Air Force in 1943 after one semester at Louisiana State University. After he turned 18 in early 1944, he was called to active duty. After basic training, Samuelson went to aerial gunnery school at Kingman, Arizona. Upon completion there, he was assigned to a B-17 crew. His crew was selected to go to Cuba on a goodwill mission. After that, his crew flew to England, where he was assigned to the 95th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force. Samuelson describes some of the air raids he took part in over targets in Frankfurt, Germany. He completed 35 missions in April and was shipped home on a Liberty ship. When the war ended in the Pacific, Samuelson was discharged.