The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Balch. Balch joined the Navy in August of 1943. He completed Radio School in February of 1944. In June he traveled to Melanie Bay, New Guinea. He speaks on shellback initiation crossing the equator. He was assigned to the USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2), where he served as a radioman. In August of 1945, after the war ended, Balch worked at a communication center on Manus, in the Admiralty Islands. He worked in the China occupation group beginning October of 1945. Balch returned to the US and was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Mullen. Mullen joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He served as a nose gunner aboard a B-17 with the 2nd Bomb Group, 429th Bomb Squadron, 15th Air Force. He deployed to Italy in June of 1944, and completed 35 missions, including one over marshalling yards in Salzburg, Austria. Mullen received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert B. Norman. Norman grew up in North Carolina and finished two years at NC State in Raleigh before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940. Shortly after the war started, Norman qualified for cadet flying school and earned his wings in December, 1942. He shares his experiences while in flight training. Norman had an advantage as he had learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Program while at NC State. Upon graduating, Norman was made an instructo and sent to Marfa, Texas. in 1944, Norman was reassigned to the Air Transport Command and flew C-46 cargo planes and spare parts to India. Norman spent the remainder of the war flying 4-engine C-109 airplanes loaded with fuel for the fighter group in China over the Himalaya Mountains. When the war ended, Norman was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Surles. Surles was born in 1924 in Louisiana. In December, 1942 he joined the Navy. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After basic training, Surles was trained in fire control and naval gunnery in Washington, DC. Upon completing that, he reported aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January, 1944. Surles describes being aboard the Franklin when it was attacked in March, 1945 off the coast of Kyushu. Surles stayed with the ship all the way back to the US. He was discharged shortly before the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Crawford. Crawford joined the Navy in January of 1944. He completed Radar Operator School, and served aboard the USS Richard P. Leary (DD-664) beginning late February. He worked as a radarman and engineers’ yeoman. They traveled to Pearl Harbor and in July provided escort duty to Eniwetok and Saipan. In September they supported landings at Peleliu, and at Leyte in October. They launched torpedoes at the Japanese battleship Yamashiro during the 25 October Battle of Surigao Strait, and rescued survivors from the USS Albert W. Grant (DD-649). Crawford recalls a kamikaze attack to the ship. They supplied gunfire support for the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Upon arriving at Adak, Alaska in August they learned that Japan had surrendered. They returned to the US in September of 1945. Crawford was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William McDowell. McDowell joined the Navy in October of 1942. He completed radar and sonar school, and worked in radar maintenance and later as Chief Radio Technician aboard the USS Bennion (DD-662) beginning December of 1943. They arrived at Pearl Harbor in March of 1944 escorting the USS Bataan (CVL-29) to the Pacific. They served as a fighter director and radar picket ship during numerous campaigns, including the Tinian, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations. They also participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait in October of 1944. Once they arrived to the Aleutian Islands, they received word that the Japanese surrendered. They returned to the US and McDowell was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Morgan. Morgan joined the Navy in January of 1944. Beginning June, he served aboard the USS Holt (DE-706) as a Seaman 2nd Class, and worked as a quartermaster. They provided anti-submarine patrol, protection for operations in Leyte Gulf and escort services to Hollandia, New Guinea. They steamed with a convoy toward Mindoro for the establishment of a motor torpedo boat base on the island, and the Holt provided gunfire support during the invasion. In March of 1945 they transported troops to Port Legazpi and provided gunfire support during the landings. From May through December, they were assigned to weather patrol in the eastern South China Sea, sending reports to help guide movements of the fleets operating in the Pacific. Morgan returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Saunders. Born in 1924, he joined the Navy in 1943. After attending gunnery and electric hydraulic schools, he was assigned to the USS Miami (CL-89). After the shakedown cruise to the Caribbean Sea and Greenland, the ship was sent to join Cruiser Division Fourteen in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii via the Panama Canal. He served as a gunners mate and mount captain. He describes firing star shells during the Mariana Islands Campaign. He also describes experiencing a typhoon near Ulithi which damaged the bow of the ship. He talks about pursuing the Japanese battleship Yamato and sinking a Japanese ship in the San Bernardino Strait. He recounts the story of a kamikaze attack. He describes bombarding Saipan as well as the shore of Iwo Jima. He also participated in the bombardment of the Ryuku Islands and Okinawa. He talks about experiencing the tsunami that resulted from the atomic blast at Hiroshima. He describes conditions in Tokyo after the surrender of Japan. He shares anecdotes about Admiral Halsey; contracting jungle rot; and meeting a Japanese Lieutenant in Truk who was born and educated in the United States. He also …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Milton West. West joined the Navy in January of 1942. He served in communications with several Carrier Divisions, the last of which was Carrier Division 23. West served aboard the USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). He served as a lieutenant and was involved in a number of battles, most notably the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He received a Bronze Star for consistent and gallant conduct in the Leyte and Lingayen operations, the Battle off Samar and for action off Luzon.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bruce VanDerWeele. VanDerWeele was drafted into the Army in 1941. He was assigned to the Headquarters Battery, 3rd Coast Artillery. He graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Washington, Maryland as a second lieutenant. He was then sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi and taught classes in an Army Administration School. In 1943 VanDerWeele was sent to Hawaii and continued serving as a teacher at an Administration School. Upon his discharge, he went into the reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Morgan. Morgan joined the Navy in January of 1944. Beginning June, he served aboard the USS Holt (DE-706) as a Seaman 2nd Class, and worked as a quartermaster. They provided anti-submarine patrol, protection for operations in Leyte Gulf and escort services to Hollandia, New Guinea. They steamed with a convoy toward Mindoro for the establishment of a motor torpedo boat base on the island, and the Holt provided gunfire support during the invasion. In March of 1945 they transported troops to Port Legazpi and provided gunfire support during the landings. From May through December, they were assigned to weather patrol in the eastern South China Sea, sending reports to help guide movements of the fleets operating in the Pacific. Morgan returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Saunders. Born in 1924, he joined the Navy in 1943. After attending gunnery and electric hydraulic schools, he was assigned to the USS Miami (CL-89). After the shakedown cruise to the Caribbean Sea and Greenland, the ship was sent to join Cruiser Division Fourteen in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii via the Panama Canal. He served as a gunners mate and mount captain. He describes firing star shells during the Mariana Islands Campaign. He also describes experiencing a typhoon near Ulithi which damaged the bow of the ship. He talks about pursuing the Japanese battleship Yamato and sinking a Japanese ship in the San Bernardino Strait. He recounts the story of a kamikaze attack. He describes bombarding Saipan as well as the shore of Iwo Jima. He also participated in the bombardment of the Ryuku Islands and Okinawa. He talks about experiencing the tsunami that resulted from the atomic blast at Hiroshima. He describes conditions in Tokyo after the surrender of Japan. He shares anecdotes about Admiral Halsey; contracting jungle rot; and meeting a Japanese Lieutenant in Truk who was born and educated in the United States. He also …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Milton West. West joined the Navy in January of 1942. He served in communications with several Carrier Divisions, the last of which was Carrier Division 23. West served aboard the USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). He served as a lieutenant and was involved in a number of battles, most notably the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He received a Bronze Star for consistent and gallant conduct in the Leyte and Lingayen operations, the Battle off Samar and for action off Luzon.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Balch. Balch joined the Navy in August of 1943. He completed Radio School in February of 1944. In June he traveled to Melanie Bay, New Guinea. He speaks on shellback initiation crossing the equator. He was assigned to the USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2), where he served as a radioman. In August of 1945, after the war ended, Balch worked at a communication center on Manus, in the Admiralty Islands. He worked in the China occupation group beginning October of 1945. Balch returned to the US and was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Crawford. Crawford joined the Navy in January of 1944. He completed Radar Operator School, and served aboard the USS Richard P. Leary (DD-664) beginning late February. He worked as a radarman and engineers’ yeoman. They traveled to Pearl Harbor and in July provided escort duty to Eniwetok and Saipan. In September they supported landings at Peleliu, and at Leyte in October. They launched torpedoes at the Japanese battleship Yamashiro during the 25 October Battle of Surigao Strait, and rescued survivors from the USS Albert W. Grant (DD-649). Crawford recalls a kamikaze attack to the ship. They supplied gunfire support for the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Upon arriving at Adak, Alaska in August they learned that Japan had surrendered. They returned to the US in September of 1945. Crawford was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William McDowell. McDowell joined the Navy in October of 1942. He completed radar and sonar school, and worked in radar maintenance and later as Chief Radio Technician aboard the USS Bennion (DD-662) beginning December of 1943. They arrived at Pearl Harbor in March of 1944 escorting the USS Bataan (CVL-29) to the Pacific. They served as a fighter director and radar picket ship during numerous campaigns, including the Tinian, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations. They also participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait in October of 1944. Once they arrived to the Aleutian Islands, they received word that the Japanese surrendered. They returned to the US and McDowell was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert B. Norman. Norman grew up in North Carolina and finished two years at NC State in Raleigh before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940. Shortly after the war started, Norman qualified for cadet flying school and earned his wings in December, 1942. He shares his experiences while in flight training. Norman had an advantage as he had learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Program while at NC State. Upon graduating, Norman was made an instructo and sent to Marfa, Texas. in 1944, Norman was reassigned to the Air Transport Command and flew C-46 cargo planes and spare parts to India. Norman spent the remainder of the war flying 4-engine C-109 airplanes loaded with fuel for the fighter group in China over the Himalaya Mountains. When the war ended, Norman was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Surles. Surles was born in 1924 in Louisiana. In December, 1942 he joined the Navy. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After basic training, Surles was trained in fire control and naval gunnery in Washington, DC. Upon completing that, he reported aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January, 1944. Surles describes being aboard the Franklin when it was attacked in March, 1945 off the coast of Kyushu. Surles stayed with the ship all the way back to the US. He was discharged shortly before the end of the war.