The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Manix. Manix went into the Marine Corps in September 1943. After boot camp at Camp Pendleton, he wanted to be a radioman but became a telephone man which he trained for in Pine Valley, California. After this training, Manix was sent to Camp Pendleton where the 5th Marine Division was forming; he was assigned to the 28th Marines, 2nd Battalion, Headquarters Company. In late 1944, the Division was moved to Camp Tarawa on the big island of Hawaii. They sailed for Iwo Jima and Manix went ashore in the fifth wave, landing on Green Beach. He states that the sand on Iwo Jima was very similar to the sands they had been on in Hawaii. Manix followed Fox Company as they assaulted Mount Suribachi. He was behind them and had the first telephone up there. Fox Company raised the first flag. Manix provides a good description of combat on the island including Hill 362 and was on the island until March 28th when they walked back to the south end of the island. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service on the island. Manix tells …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Manix. Manix went into the Marine Corps in September 1943. After boot camp at Camp Pendleton, he wanted to be a radioman but became a telephone man which he trained for in Pine Valley, California. After this training, Manix was sent to Camp Pendleton where the 5th Marine Division was forming; he was assigned to the 28th Marines, 2nd Battalion, Headquarters Company. In late 1944, the Division was moved to Camp Tarawa on the big island of Hawaii. They sailed for Iwo Jima and Manix went ashore in the fifth wave, landing on Green Beach. He states that the sand on Iwo Jima was very similar to the sands they had been on in Hawaii. Manix followed Fox Company as they assaulted Mount Suribachi. He was behind them and had the first telephone up there. Fox Company raised the first flag. Manix provides a good description of combat on the island including Hill 362 and was on the island until March 28th when they walked back to the south end of the island. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service on the island. Manix tells …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hilton Lockhart. Lockhart joined the Army in February of 1941. He was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division. They traveled to England in early 1944 and participated in the Normandy landings. They moved into Bastogne, Belgium, participating in the Battle of the Bulge in December. Lockhart shares some stories of General Patton. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hilton Lockhart. Lockhart joined the Army in February of 1941. He was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division. They traveled to England in early 1944 and participated in the Normandy landings. They moved into Bastogne, Belgium, participating in the Battle of the Bulge in December. Lockhart shares some stories of General Patton. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Ladd. Mr Ladd was sworn into the Navy July 12, 1938. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Maryland (BB-46) which was stationed in Long Beach and San Pedro, California at the time. The Maryland moved to Pearl Harbor in the late summer of 1941. Ladd was a gunner's mate on one of the 5-inch broadside guns. On December 7, 1941, the guns were secured and the ammunition was locked up. It took them about ten minutes to get to where they could start shooting back at the Japanese planes. Ladd tells the story of shooting down two or three American planes early in the morning of December 8th that were trying to land. He also talks about getting men out of the ships that had been sunk in the harbor including the Oklahoma that had capsized next to them. Just before Christmas 1941, the Maryland was patched up enough to sail for Bremerton, Washington for repairs. Afterwards, she went back to Pearl Harbor. Ladd was transferred off in late October 1943 and went to gunnery school in Washington, DC for three months. After school, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Ladd. Mr Ladd was sworn into the Navy July 12, 1938. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Maryland (BB-46) which was stationed in Long Beach and San Pedro, California at the time. The Maryland moved to Pearl Harbor in the late summer of 1941. Ladd was a gunner's mate on one of the 5-inch broadside guns. On December 7, 1941, the guns were secured and the ammunition was locked up. It took them about ten minutes to get to where they could start shooting back at the Japanese planes. Ladd tells the story of shooting down two or three American planes early in the morning of December 8th that were trying to land. He also talks about getting men out of the ships that had been sunk in the harbor including the Oklahoma that had capsized next to them. Just before Christmas 1941, the Maryland was patched up enough to sail for Bremerton, Washington for repairs. Afterwards, she went back to Pearl Harbor. Ladd was transferred off in late October 1943 and went to gunnery school in Washington, DC for three months. After school, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Johnnie Singleton. Singleton entered the Navy at 16 in June 1941 and trained at Corpus Christi. Singleton is African American and served as a mess attendant in a segregated Navy. He went aboard the USS Maryland (BB-46) at Pearl Harbor in September 1941. On December 7, 1941, Singleton was in the officers' galley when the Japanese struck. He went to his battle station in an ammunition handling room below deck. Next, Singleton describes the invasion of Tarawa and seeing bodies floating in the water. After Tarawa, the Maryland went to the Marshall Islands, Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Then, they went to Truk and Saipan. The Maryland got hit in the bow one night by a torpedo while they were in the harbor at Saipan. The battle of Leyte Gulf was next for the Maryland and she was one of the battleships at Surigao Strait. A kamikaze crashed into her later during the battle and she had to go to Bremerton for repairs. After repairs, the Maryland rejoined the fleet and sailed for Okinawa. The Maryland took another kamikaze hit off Okinawa with Singleton was trapped below deck at his …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Johnnie Singleton. Singleton entered the Navy at 16 in June 1941 and trained at Corpus Christi. Singleton is African American and served as a mess attendant in a segregated Navy. He went aboard the USS Maryland (BB-46) at Pearl Harbor in September 1941. On December 7, 1941, Singleton was in the officers' galley when the Japanese struck. He went to his battle station in an ammunition handling room below deck. Next, Singleton describes the invasion of Tarawa and seeing bodies floating in the water. After Tarawa, the Maryland went to the Marshall Islands, Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Then, they went to Truk and Saipan. The Maryland got hit in the bow one night by a torpedo while they were in the harbor at Saipan. The battle of Leyte Gulf was next for the Maryland and she was one of the battleships at Surigao Strait. A kamikaze crashed into her later during the battle and she had to go to Bremerton for repairs. After repairs, the Maryland rejoined the fleet and sailed for Okinawa. The Maryland took another kamikaze hit off Okinawa with Singleton was trapped below deck at his …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cleatis Roach. Roach joined the Army Air Forces in April, 1943 and had basic training at Sheppard Field, near Wichita Falls, Texas. After basic, he went to Texas Tech in Lubbock for preflight training. When he learned it would take a lot of time to learn to fly and then be assigned to a combat unit, Roach quit flight school and went to aerial gunnery school. After training, he was assigned to a B-17 crew and went overseas in December 1944. Once he reached England, his crew was assigned to the 452nd Bomb Group, 729th Bomb Squadron at Deopham Green, near Attleborough. He flew 17 or 18 combat missions over Germany before the war ended. He returned from Europe to train in B-29s when the Japanese surrendered. Roach was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cleatis Roach. Roach joined the Army Air Forces in April, 1943 and had basic training at Sheppard Field, near Wichita Falls, Texas. After basic, he went to Texas Tech in Lubbock for preflight training. When he learned it would take a lot of time to learn to fly and then be assigned to a combat unit, Roach quit flight school and went to aerial gunnery school. After training, he was assigned to a B-17 crew and went overseas in December 1944. Once he reached England, his crew was assigned to the 452nd Bomb Group, 729th Bomb Squadron at Deopham Green, near Attleborough. He flew 17 or 18 combat missions over Germany before the war ended. He returned from Europe to train in B-29s when the Japanese surrendered. Roach was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hearol Veteto. Veteto joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps until he was called to active duty in early 1943. He then joined the Army Air Forces and trained as an aerial gunner in Kingman, Arizona. He also trained as a bombardier and was commissioned. Veteto went overseas in December 1944 to England. On a mission over Berlin in February, Veteto’s plane was shot down and he bailed out. On the ground, he met another crewman and they walked out, eventually reaching Poland and contacting the Russians. The Russians took them to Odessa where they boarded a ship and were repatriated in Italy. Upon returning to the US, the war ended and Veteto took his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hearol Veteto. Veteto joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps until he was called to active duty in early 1943. He then joined the Army Air Forces and trained as an aerial gunner in Kingman, Arizona. He also trained as a bombardier and was commissioned. Veteto went overseas in December 1944 to England. On a mission over Berlin in February, Veteto’s plane was shot down and he bailed out. On the ground, he met another crewman and they walked out, eventually reaching Poland and contacting the Russians. The Russians took them to Odessa where they boarded a ship and were repatriated in Italy. Upon returning to the US, the war ended and Veteto took his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Melvin Perez. Perez joined the Navy in August, 1943. From basic training, he went to radio school in Colorado. After radio school, Perez was assigned to a Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO) unit. Navy personnel were pulled from JASCO units while Perez was in Hawaii. Instead, he was assigned to USS Montrose (APA-212) and rode it to Leyte in time for the invasion. There, Perez helped establish shore to ship voice communications. Later, he boarded USS Goodhue (APA-107) and travelled to Ie Shima, where he again set up voice communication from shore to ship. When the war ended, Perez was on Luzon practicing landings for the invasion of Japan. The Goodhue delivered the Americal Division to Japan and returned with a load of former POWs. Perez received his discharge in April, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Melvin Perez. Perez joined the Navy in August, 1943. From basic training, he went to radio school in Colorado. After radio school, Perez was assigned to a Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO) unit. Navy personnel were pulled from JASCO units while Perez was in Hawaii. Instead, he was assigned to USS Montrose (APA-212) and rode it to Leyte in time for the invasion. There, Perez helped establish shore to ship voice communications. Later, he boarded USS Goodhue (APA-107) and travelled to Ie Shima, where he again set up voice communication from shore to ship. When the war ended, Perez was on Luzon practicing landings for the invasion of Japan. The Goodhue delivered the Americal Division to Japan and returned with a load of former POWs. Perez received his discharge in April, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman DeReese. DeReese joined the Army in January 1942. He was assigned to the 18th Field Artillery and served in the headquarters battalion in communications. He went with his unit to England in early 1943 for further training prior to the Normandy invasion. He landed at Normandy in early July. DeReese's unit was unattached to any larger unit. Instead, his artillery brigade was attached temporarily to several different units throughout the campaign in Western Europe. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. When the war ended, DeReese was shipped home and was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman DeReese. DeReese joined the Army in January 1942. He was assigned to the 18th Field Artillery and served in the headquarters battalion in communications. He went with his unit to England in early 1943 for further training prior to the Normandy invasion. He landed at Normandy in early July. DeReese's unit was unattached to any larger unit. Instead, his artillery brigade was attached temporarily to several different units throughout the campaign in Western Europe. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. When the war ended, DeReese was shipped home and was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dr Buckner Fanning. After graduating from high school, Fanning enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to boot camp at Paris Island. He states that the Marine Corps changed his life. Fanning went to Camp Lejune for basic training and was slated to go to Quantico to be commissioned. However, he didn't want to go there (neither did his buddies) so the Marine Corps sent them to Camp Pendleton where they were assigned to the 6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. They went to Guam which had been partially secured. They had training (for the invasion of Japan) on Saipan and were held in reserve for Okinawa. They heard about the atomic bomb while training on Saipan. As soon as the peace treaty was signed, they were waiting outside the harbor at Nagasaki. Fanning describes landing in Nagasaki, the conditions there, what they did, and finding a little Methodist church that he started attending even though he couldn't understand a thing they said. While he was in Nagasaki, he was selected to represent the 2nd Marine Division at the firing competition in Hawaii. Later, they were moved them to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dr Buckner Fanning. After graduating from high school, Fanning enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to boot camp at Paris Island. He states that the Marine Corps changed his life. Fanning went to Camp Lejune for basic training and was slated to go to Quantico to be commissioned. However, he didn't want to go there (neither did his buddies) so the Marine Corps sent them to Camp Pendleton where they were assigned to the 6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. They went to Guam which had been partially secured. They had training (for the invasion of Japan) on Saipan and were held in reserve for Okinawa. They heard about the atomic bomb while training on Saipan. As soon as the peace treaty was signed, they were waiting outside the harbor at Nagasaki. Fanning describes landing in Nagasaki, the conditions there, what they did, and finding a little Methodist church that he started attending even though he couldn't understand a thing they said. While he was in Nagasaki, he was selected to represent the 2nd Marine Division at the firing competition in Hawaii. Later, they were moved them to …

The National Museum of the Pacific war presents an oral interview with Howard Towry. Towry was born in Graham, Texas 17 December 1926. He quit school in 1943 and began driving a truck. Joining the US Marine Corps in January 1944, he went to San Diego for eight weeks of boot camp. After completing boot training, he was sent to Camp Pendleton where he joined the 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division for a short time. Towry was then sent to a tank destroyer unit at Camp Elliott. He learned to use various weapons and explosives. During November 1944 he boarded the USS Marathon (APA-200) bound for Pavuvu where he joined the 1st Marine Division, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Regiment as a tank driver. During March 1945 the regiment went to Okinawa where he was assigned to Headquarters Company of the 1st Regiment as tank liaison. Towry recalls being subjected to artillery fire that wounded him and killed two men with him. He describes the typhoon that hit Okinawa in October 1945. After the surrender of Japan the 1st Marines were sent to Tientsin, China to disarm Japanese troops and maintain order. Towry returned to the United States and was discharged …

The National Museum of the Pacific war presents an oral interview with Howard Towry. Towry was born in Graham, Texas 17 December 1926. He quit school in 1943 and began driving a truck. Joining the US Marine Corps in January 1944, he went to San Diego for eight weeks of boot camp. After completing boot training, he was sent to Camp Pendleton where he joined the 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division for a short time. Towry was then sent to a tank destroyer unit at Camp Elliott. He learned to use various weapons and explosives. During November 1944 he boarded the USS Marathon (APA-200) bound for Pavuvu where he joined the 1st Marine Division, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Regiment as a tank driver. During March 1945 the regiment went to Okinawa where he was assigned to Headquarters Company of the 1st Regiment as tank liaison. Towry recalls being subjected to artillery fire that wounded him and killed two men with him. He describes the typhoon that hit Okinawa in October 1945. After the surrender of Japan the 1st Marines were sent to Tientsin, China to disarm Japanese troops and maintain order. Towry returned to the United States and was discharged …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph H. Fulcher. Fulcher enlisted in the Army in 1941, trained in Tucson, Arizona and was attending a technical school in Tulsa, Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When Fulcher was assigned to a unit he shipped out to England in October, 1942 to RAF Bassingbourn, north of London. Fulcher served as an aircraft mechanic and worked on B-17s and other aircraft repairing propellors. He shares several anecdotes related to his service and the type of work he did in the squadron. Between V-E and V-J days, Fulcher arrived back in the US. Before he could be shipped to the Pacific, the war ended and he was discharged. Six months later, he re-enlisted and was sent to Alaska as part of the 46th Recon Squadron in Fairbanks. He continued in the service and was assigned to temporary duty on Okinawa during the Korean War. Fulcher stayed in the service for his career and retired in 1963.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph H. Fulcher. Fulcher enlisted in the Army in 1941, trained in Tucson, Arizona and was attending a technical school in Tulsa, Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When Fulcher was assigned to a unit he shipped out to England in October, 1942 to RAF Bassingbourn, north of London. Fulcher served as an aircraft mechanic and worked on B-17s and other aircraft repairing propellors. He shares several anecdotes related to his service and the type of work he did in the squadron. Between V-E and V-J days, Fulcher arrived back in the US. Before he could be shipped to the Pacific, the war ended and he was discharged. Six months later, he re-enlisted and was sent to Alaska as part of the 46th Recon Squadron in Fairbanks. He continued in the service and was assigned to temporary duty on Okinawa during the Korean War. Fulcher stayed in the service for his career and retired in 1963.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Stackpole. Stackpole joined the Navy Reserves before the start of World War II and was in the Hospital Corps. He went on active duty to Great Lakes and they put him to work in the recruit receiving line. After some additional work at the hospital there, he was sent to Alameda and put aboard the SS Matsonia which sailed for Espiritu Santo. From there they went on a coastal tramp steamer to Noumea, New Caledonia where they set up a fleet hospital, MOB 7, Mobile Hospital. It later became Fleet Hospital 107. Stackpole describes in good detail what they went through in setting-up the hospital, the excellent doctors they had, and the great leadership of their commanding officer, Captain Espaugh. They were receiving causalities from the Guadalcanal campaign. The hospital ships would stand-off Noumea, the patients unloaded onto barges, and then taken to either the Navy or Army hospitals on Noumea. Stackpole also describes in good detail the kind of work they did with the patients. Next, they started bringing in the casualties from Bougainville. He also talks about patients from the USS Gambier Bay which was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Stackpole. Stackpole joined the Navy Reserves before the start of World War II and was in the Hospital Corps. He went on active duty to Great Lakes and they put him to work in the recruit receiving line. After some additional work at the hospital there, he was sent to Alameda and put aboard the SS Matsonia which sailed for Espiritu Santo. From there they went on a coastal tramp steamer to Noumea, New Caledonia where they set up a fleet hospital, MOB 7, Mobile Hospital. It later became Fleet Hospital 107. Stackpole describes in good detail what they went through in setting-up the hospital, the excellent doctors they had, and the great leadership of their commanding officer, Captain Espaugh. They were receiving causalities from the Guadalcanal campaign. The hospital ships would stand-off Noumea, the patients unloaded onto barges, and then taken to either the Navy or Army hospitals on Noumea. Stackpole also describes in good detail the kind of work they did with the patients. Next, they started bringing in the casualties from Bougainville. He also talks about patients from the USS Gambier Bay which was …