The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Stanton. Stanton joined the Navy in 1943 after his brother Joe disappeared on the Yangtze River as part of the South China Sea Patrol. Stanton received basic training at Camp Farragut. Upon completion, he went to gunnery school in Newport, Rhode Island, and was assigned as a gunner’s mate to USS Rapidan (AO-18), where he spent two years in the Atlantic, stopping at Murmansk, Oran, Casablanca, and the Caribbean. He returned to California via the Panama Canal. While on liberty, he visited his mother, who supported troops on the home front by giving over 450 servicemen a place to stay. Stanton was stationed at the Aleutian Islands for a time and recalls the perils of hundred-mile-an-hour winds (williwaw) and giant ocean swells. While loading a ship, he broke his ankle and was sent to the hospital at Bremerton. After recovery, he was assigned as a coxswain aboard the oceangoing rescue tug USS ATR-61. While aboard, he transported divers to Manila Bay to recover plunder from sunken Japanese ships and classified equipment like ciphering machines from American ships. He gives a first-hand account of the poverty and devastation …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C Everette Smith. Smith joined the Navy in September of 1943. He completed Hospital Corpsman School. He was assigned as a corpsman aboard LST 291. In March of 1944 they traveled to England. They participated in the Normandy landings off Omaha Beach in June of 1944. They made 26 trips to France, treating many casualties with basic First Aid in their small hospital aboard ship. Smith provides vivid details of his experiences aboard as a corpsman. Beginning in March of 1945, through the end of the war, he was assigned to the Subic Bay Naval Hospital. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard L Hamil. Hamil joined the Navy in 1942 and received basic training in Newport. He studied diesel engines in Virginia, although it was strictly book-learning as there were no engines available to practice on. Upon completion, he was assigned to the engine room of USS LST-447, his battle station at a 40-millimeter gun, as a loader. His ship carried supplies and Marines throughout the Pacific, often coming under attack. They were struck by a kamikaze at Okinawa, which caused an explosion and killed half a dozen of their crew. When Hamil abandoned ship, kamikazes nearly hit the ship that rescued him. Hamil was sent home on 6 April 1945 and discharged in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Christian W. de Marcken. De Marcken was born 24 January 1928 in Uccle, Brussels, Belgium. His father, Gustave immigrated to the United States, became a citizen and served in the US Army during World War I. Later he worked for the Hammond Organ Company, which sent him to Brussels. In 1939 the US embassy advised he and his family return to the United States. He did not leave Belgium, which was soon occupied by Nazi Germany forces. The de Marckens were American citizens and under the protection of the American embassy. This changed in December 1941 when Germany declared war against the United States. While the children were allowed to attend a private school and the family was permitted to rent a large home, a German guard was placed in the home. De Marcken recalls harboring a young Jewish boy in the home for a year and periodically hiding downed Allied flyers until arrangements could be made for their escape. He describes periodic night visits by the German Secret Service in which they thoroughly searched the home. He tells of the arrest and placement of his father into …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Jerome. Jerome joined the Navy in August of 1944. He was assigned to the engineering division, operating evaporators and other engine room machinery. He served aboard the USS Benevolence (AH-13). In July of 1945 they departed for the Pacific, providing hospital services, preventive medicine and casualty evacuation. They were with the Allied fleet in Tokyo Bay during the surrender of Japan. They processed liberated Allied prisoners of war through November 1945 and returned to the U.S. in December. Jerome was discharged upon returning to the U.S.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ken Earman. Earman joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed bombardier training, and provides some details of his experiences. As a first lieutenant, he served as an instructor teaching cadets at Big Spring Army Air Field in Texas. He was assigned to the 7th Air Force, 11th Bomb Group, 431st Squadron. In 1944 he flew over 40 combat missions in the Pacific Theater. He shares details of his missions and his experiences on Tawara, Kwajalein, Eniwetok and other Pacific islands. He later taught Chinese cadets at Big Spring in late 1944 into 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Bunfill. Bunfill went into the Army in September, 1944 and trained at Camp Fannin, Texas. He landed on Leyte in late March where he was assigned to the 108th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. While in the Philippines, Bunfill served on Leyte, Mindanao and Panay during operations to clear Japanese resistance. When the war ended, he travelled with his unit to Korea for occupation duty. When the division was sent home in January, 1946, Bunfill did not have enough points so he stayed in Korea. Bunfill returned to the US in September, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Peter Hammersen. Hammersen joined the California Army National Guard in September of 1939. He joined, as a charter member, Company A of the 115th Medical Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. He worked as a surgical technician in various hospitals, including the 48th Station Hospital at Vila, Efate, Henderson Field at Guadalcanal and finally the 37th Portable Surgical Hospital in New Guinea. Hammersen shares a number of anecdotal stories, and he was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Truman Gill. Gill grew up in Texas and joined the Marine Corps in April, 1942 at San Antonio. Gill trained in San Diego and attended Sea School there prior to arriving at Pearl harbor to board the USS Mississippi (BB-41). Gill served as an antiaircraft gunner aboard ship and mentions going on patrols in the Coral Sea and around the Aleutians. Gill also mentions witnessing the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) sinking after a torpedo attack off Tarawa. He also describes attending a burial at sea. The Mississippi sopported the Army invasion of Makin. Gill was eventually transferred off the Mississippi and sent to New Caldonia, where he describes a deer hunt. Gill was training with the Fourth Defense Battalion on Tinian when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arlos L. Awalt. He was born in Brady, Texas, drafted into the Army, and inducted at Ft. Sam Houston, in San Antonio. After basic training at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas, he took a troop train to New York Harbor and boarded the Louis S. Pasteur to Southhampton, England where he was assigned to the 106th Infantry Division, 424 Regiment, in the 81mm mortars in H Company, a heavy weapons company. They went right into the Battle of the Bulge where he suffered frost bite and pneumonia. Later assignments included the following: the occupation army in charge of prisoner of war camps interviewing POWs and displaced persons, serving at General Eisenhower's headquarters building in a little red schoolhouse in Rheims, France (where peace was later signed), in the Grand Hotel in Bad Nauheim, Germany where General Patton was officed, and in Renea Lanay, France. He served 22 months in the Army, 19 overseas - returning as a corporal. He received the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and two medals from the Belgian government.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ken Earman. Earman joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed bombardier training, and provides some details of his experiences. As a first lieutenant, he served as an instructor teaching cadets at Big Spring Army Air Field in Texas. He was assigned to the 7th Air Force, 11th Bomb Group, 431st Squadron. In 1944 he flew over 40 combat missions in the Pacific Theater. He shares details of his missions and his experiences on Tawara, Kwajalein, Eniwetok and other Pacific islands. He later taught Chinese cadets at Big Spring in late 1944 into 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Bunfill. Bunfill went into the Army in September, 1944 and trained at Camp Fannin, Texas. He landed on Leyte in late March where he was assigned to the 108th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. While in the Philippines, Bunfill served on Leyte, Mindanao and Panay during operations to clear Japanese resistance. When the war ended, he travelled with his unit to Korea for occupation duty. When the division was sent home in January, 1946, Bunfill did not have enough points so he stayed in Korea. Bunfill returned to the US in September, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ivan Troutman. Troutman joined the Merchant Marines in 1942. He traveled aboard an oil tanker to Venezuela to get a load of oil for Standard Oil. He remained in the States throughout the war. He was sent to Seattle on a cable laying ship. He assisted in splicing telephone cables.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Truman Gill. Gill grew up in Texas and joined the Marine Corps in April, 1942 at San Antonio. Gill trained in San Diego and attended Sea School there prior to arriving at Pearl harbor to board the USS Mississippi (BB-41). Gill served as an antiaircraft gunner aboard ship and mentions going on patrols in the Coral Sea and around the Aleutians. Gill also mentions witnessing the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) sinking after a torpedo attack off Tarawa. He also describes attending a burial at sea. The Mississippi sopported the Army invasion of Makin. Gill was eventually transferred off the Mississippi and sent to New Caldonia, where he describes a deer hunt. Gill was training with the Fourth Defense Battalion on Tinian when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Peter Hammersen. Hammersen joined the California Army National Guard in September of 1939. He joined, as a charter member, Company A of the 115th Medical Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. He worked as a surgical technician in various hospitals, including the 48th Station Hospital at Vila, Efate, Henderson Field at Guadalcanal and finally the 37th Portable Surgical Hospital in New Guinea. Hammersen shares a number of anecdotal stories, and he was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Christian W. de Marcken. De Marcken was born 24 January 1928 in Uccle, Brussels, Belgium. His father, Gustave immigrated to the United States, became a citizen and served in the US Army during World War I. Later he worked for the Hammond Organ Company, which sent him to Brussels. In 1939 the US embassy advised he and his family return to the United States. He did not leave Belgium, which was soon occupied by Nazi Germany forces. The de Marckens were American citizens and under the protection of the American embassy. This changed in December 1941 when Germany declared war against the United States. While the children were allowed to attend a private school and the family was permitted to rent a large home, a German guard was placed in the home. De Marcken recalls harboring a young Jewish boy in the home for a year and periodically hiding downed Allied flyers until arrangements could be made for their escape. He describes periodic night visits by the German Secret Service in which they thoroughly searched the home. He tells of the arrest and placement of his father into …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Jerome. Jerome joined the Navy in August of 1944. He was assigned to the engineering division, operating evaporators and other engine room machinery. He served aboard the USS Benevolence (AH-13). In July of 1945 they departed for the Pacific, providing hospital services, preventive medicine and casualty evacuation. They were with the Allied fleet in Tokyo Bay during the surrender of Japan. They processed liberated Allied prisoners of war through November 1945 and returned to the U.S. in December. Jerome was discharged upon returning to the U.S.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C Everette Smith. Smith joined the Navy in September of 1943. He completed Hospital Corpsman School. He was assigned as a corpsman aboard LST 291. In March of 1944 they traveled to England. They participated in the Normandy landings off Omaha Beach in June of 1944. They made 26 trips to France, treating many casualties with basic First Aid in their small hospital aboard ship. Smith provides vivid details of his experiences aboard as a corpsman. Beginning in March of 1945, through the end of the war, he was assigned to the Subic Bay Naval Hospital. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard L Hamil. Hamil joined the Navy in 1942 and received basic training in Newport. He studied diesel engines in Virginia, although it was strictly book-learning as there were no engines available to practice on. Upon completion, he was assigned to the engine room of USS LST-447, his battle station at a 40-millimeter gun, as a loader. His ship carried supplies and Marines throughout the Pacific, often coming under attack. They were struck by a kamikaze at Okinawa, which caused an explosion and killed half a dozen of their crew. When Hamil abandoned ship, kamikazes nearly hit the ship that rescued him. Hamil was sent home on 6 April 1945 and discharged in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arlos L. Awalt. He was born in Brady, Texas, drafted into the Army, and inducted at Ft. Sam Houston, in San Antonio. After basic training at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas, he took a troop train to New York Harbor and boarded the Louis S. Pasteur to Southhampton, England where he was assigned to the 106th Infantry Division, 424 Regiment, in the 81mm mortars in H Company, a heavy weapons company. They went right into the Battle of the Bulge where he suffered frost bite and pneumonia. Later assignments included the following: the occupation army in charge of prisoner of war camps interviewing POWs and displaced persons, serving at General Eisenhower's headquarters building in a little red schoolhouse in Rheims, France (where peace was later signed), in the Grand Hotel in Bad Nauheim, Germany where General Patton was officed, and in Renea Lanay, France. He served 22 months in the Army, 19 overseas - returning as a corporal. He received the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and two medals from the Belgian government.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Stanton. Stanton joined the Navy in 1943 after his brother Joe disappeared on the Yangtze River as part of the South China Sea Patrol. Stanton received basic training at Camp Farragut. Upon completion, he went to gunnery school in Newport, Rhode Island, and was assigned as a gunner’s mate to USS Rapidan (AO-18), where he spent two years in the Atlantic, stopping at Murmansk, Oran, Casablanca, and the Caribbean. He returned to California via the Panama Canal. While on liberty, he visited his mother, who supported troops on the home front by giving over 450 servicemen a place to stay. Stanton was stationed at the Aleutian Islands for a time and recalls the perils of hundred-mile-an-hour winds (williwaw) and giant ocean swells. While loading a ship, he broke his ankle and was sent to the hospital at Bremerton. After recovery, he was assigned as a coxswain aboard the oceangoing rescue tug USS ATR-61. While aboard, he transported divers to Manila Bay to recover plunder from sunken Japanese ships and classified equipment like ciphering machines from American ships. He gives a first-hand account of the poverty and devastation …

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his flight across the Pacific to Hawaii, the beautiful scenery, and his plan to mail her his watch, which needs to be fixed. A portion of text has been removed from the letter.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including plans to paint the house, Jessamon coming home, Lyt Callahan marrying Mrs. Oaks, and receiving letters from their friends in Tonopah.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions his class standing after all exams. He also comments on assisting his new roommate in his academic performance. Nimitz lists several of the midshipmen that will not be allowed to go home on leave on account of poor standing or excessive demerits. He also outlines his summer cruise schedule aboard the USS Chesapeake, the USS Indiana (BB-1) and the USS Hartford. Nimitz describes the rigors of his recent exams.