The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William A. Lockey. Lockey was born on 16 June 1920 in Weches, Texas and joined the Navy on 19 July 1941. He was aboard the USS New Orleans (CA-32) at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 when a Japanese aircraft fired on the ship, just missing his head but wounding him slightly. The New Orleans was moored about 300 yards from the USS Arizona (BB-39) and he watched that ship sink. The New Orleans crew hoisted the ammunition, aimed and fired the 5-inch anti-aircraft guns manually. He was manning one gun mount and remembers the ship shot down several Japanese aircraft. He heard the ship’s Chaplain, Howell Forgy, encouraging crew members to praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition. The New Orleans joined the Yorktown (CV-5) and the Lexington (CV-2) task forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Brodie watched the Lexington sink. He next recalls events in the Solomon Islands during the Battle of Tassafaronga in late November 1942, when the New Orleans’ bow was blown off by a Japanese torpedo. Following temporary repairs in Australia, the ship returned to the States by sailing stern first …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dan Hixenbaugh. Hixenbaugh joined the Navy V-7 program on 7 December 1941. After officer training he went to torpedo school. Hixenbaugh then joined the crew of USS Lamson (DD-367) in early 1943. He met John F. Kennedy on the troopship taking them both to the South Pacific. Hixenbaugh also talks about how he knew Kennedy’s executive officer, Lenny Thom, from earlier in life. He details a kamikaze attack in Ormac Bay that damaged his ship and caused many casualties. Hixenbaugh was awarded the Bronze Star for helping to save the Lamson. He describes returning to the States to have the entire bridge replaced. Hixenbaugh returned to the Pacific on board the Lamson and tells of saving downed aircrewman and going through a major typhoon. He stayed on board for a short period after the surrender when he visited Nagasaki and became the Navigation Officer. Hixenbaugh details the process of ship navigation. He left the service after he had earned enough points after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Stebelton. Stebelton joined the Navy in 1943 as an aviation cadet. He then volunteered to transfer to the Armed Guard. Stebelton became a 20mm gunner on the SS Isaac Delgado and traveled to Mindoro with a load of 500-pound bombs. He discusses life on board ship and working with the Merchant Marine. Stebelton left the Navy in 1946, but joined the Air Force in 1947 to become a pilot. He discusses career as a jet pilot in detail. Stebelton retired from the Air Force as a captain after 21 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Reestman. Reestman was drafted into the Army in August 1942 and trained at Fort Bliss before joining the 531st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. After training, he headed overseas to England in February 1944. On 15 June, his unit landed at Omaha Beach. He provides details about his experiences at the Battle of St. Lo. Reestman describes action at the Battle of the Bulge and then recalls moving into Germany before the war ended. When it was over, Reestman found himself on occupation duty. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Fletcher. Fletcher was born in Spur, Texas 21 September 1925. Joining the Navy in 1942 he went to California for boot training. Selected to be a hospital apprentice he was sent to Pensacola, Florida. While there he volunteered for duty with the Fleet Marine Force. He was sent to Camp Elliott, California and after receiving combat training he was placed into the 34th Replacement Battalion and ultimately assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion. After training on Guadalcanal, the division participated in the invasion of Guam in July 1944. As he had been transferred to the headquarters company, Fletcher did not participate in the landing. He shares the guilt of a survivor for many corpsmen were killed or wounded. He recalls a personal encounter he had with Admiral Halsey and the penalty he was given for his inability to cite his rifle’s serial number. He recounts landing on Iwo Jima and vividly describes various types of wounds that were treated and the effect the volcanic ash had on open wounds. Following the Japanese surrender, he went to Japan and was assigned to Operation Magic …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Santiago Diaz. Born in Chinampas, Jalisco, Mexico in 1915, he enlisted in the Army in 1943. He discusses his military training which included medical training as well as training for tropical regions. He was assigned to the 446th Malaria Survey Detachment and stationed on Guadalcanal. It was there that he was sworn in as an American citizen. He mentions Tokyo Rose. He also mentions the conditions aboard the ship, USS General W.M. Black (AP-135), to New Caledonia and the shellback ceremony that occurred upon crossing the Equator. He was discharged near Tyler, Texas in 1946. The interview ends with an unidentified person reading an article written about the life and military service of Diaz.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Greer. Greer was in pre-med school at the University of Texas when he was drafted. He was still in training as a radar operator in a B-29 crew in Nebraska when the atomic bombs were dropped. Greer stayed in the reserves and then went back on active duty and worked in Strategic Air Command. He retired in 1969. He mentions dealing with Japanese balloon bombs during 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Santiago Diaz. Born in Chinampas, Jalisco, Mexico in 1915, he enlisted in the Army in 1943. He discusses his military training which included medical training as well as training for tropical regions. He was assigned to the 446th Malaria Survey Detachment and stationed on Guadalcanal. It was there that he was sworn in as an American citizen. He mentions Tokyo Rose. He also mentions the conditions aboard the ship, USS General W.M. Black (AP-135), to New Caledonia and the shellback ceremony that occurred upon crossing the Equator. He was discharged near Tyler, Texas in 1946. The interview ends with an unidentified person reading an article written about the life and military service of Diaz.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C A Wilkinson. Wilkinson joined the Naval Reserve in July of 1941. He served as a Storekeeper 3rd Class aboard the USS Tangier (AV-8) beginning September of 1941. He describes in detail life aboard the Tangier, the men he worked alongside, their trip to Pearl Harbor and events leading up to the attack on December 7. He describes some of the events that took place on the Tangier when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Wilkinson details some of Captain Clifton Sprague’s actions that day, as well as the USS Utah (BB-31) capsizing. He also provides details on their activities aboard the Tangier to prepare for their journey to Wake Island.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dan Hixenbaugh. Hixenbaugh joined the Navy V-7 program on 7 December 1941. After officer training he went to torpedo school. Hixenbaugh then joined the crew of USS Lamson (DD-367) in early 1943. He met John F. Kennedy on the troopship taking them both to the South Pacific. Hixenbaugh also talks about how he knew Kennedy’s executive officer, Lenny Thom, from earlier in life. He details a kamikaze attack in Ormac Bay that damaged his ship and caused many casualties. Hixenbaugh was awarded the Bronze Star for helping to save the Lamson. He describes returning to the States to have the entire bridge replaced. Hixenbaugh returned to the Pacific on board the Lamson and tells of saving downed aircrewman and going through a major typhoon. He stayed on board for a short period after the surrender when he visited Nagasaki and became the Navigation Officer. Hixenbaugh details the process of ship navigation. He left the service after he had earned enough points after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Stebelton. Stebelton joined the Navy in 1943 as an aviation cadet. He then volunteered to transfer to the Armed Guard. Stebelton became a 20mm gunner on the SS Isaac Delgado and traveled to Mindoro with a load of 500-pound bombs. He discusses life on board ship and working with the Merchant Marine. Stebelton left the Navy in 1946, but joined the Air Force in 1947 to become a pilot. He discusses career as a jet pilot in detail. Stebelton retired from the Air Force as a captain after 21 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Fletcher. Fletcher was born in Spur, Texas 21 September 1925. Joining the Navy in 1942 he went to California for boot training. Selected to be a hospital apprentice he was sent to Pensacola, Florida. While there he volunteered for duty with the Fleet Marine Force. He was sent to Camp Elliott, California and after receiving combat training he was placed into the 34th Replacement Battalion and ultimately assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion. After training on Guadalcanal, the division participated in the invasion of Guam in July 1944. As he had been transferred to the headquarters company, Fletcher did not participate in the landing. He shares the guilt of a survivor for many corpsmen were killed or wounded. He recalls a personal encounter he had with Admiral Halsey and the penalty he was given for his inability to cite his rifle’s serial number. He recounts landing on Iwo Jima and vividly describes various types of wounds that were treated and the effect the volcanic ash had on open wounds. Following the Japanese surrender, he went to Japan and was assigned to Operation Magic …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Reestman. Reestman was drafted into the Army in August 1942 and trained at Fort Bliss before joining the 531st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. After training, he headed overseas to England in February 1944. On 15 June, his unit landed at Omaha Beach. He provides details about his experiences at the Battle of St. Lo. Reestman describes action at the Battle of the Bulge and then recalls moving into Germany before the war ended. When it was over, Reestman found himself on occupation duty. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William A. Lockey. Lockey was born on 16 June 1920 in Weches, Texas and joined the Navy on 19 July 1941. He was aboard the USS New Orleans (CA-32) at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 when a Japanese aircraft fired on the ship, just missing his head but wounding him slightly. The New Orleans was moored about 300 yards from the USS Arizona (BB-39) and he watched that ship sink. The New Orleans crew hoisted the ammunition, aimed and fired the 5-inch anti-aircraft guns manually. He was manning one gun mount and remembers the ship shot down several Japanese aircraft. He heard the ship’s Chaplain, Howell Forgy, encouraging crew members to praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition. The New Orleans joined the Yorktown (CV-5) and the Lexington (CV-2) task forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Brodie watched the Lexington sink. He next recalls events in the Solomon Islands during the Battle of Tassafaronga in late November 1942, when the New Orleans’ bow was blown off by a Japanese torpedo. Following temporary repairs in Australia, the ship returned to the States by sailing stern first …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Greer. Greer was in pre-med school at the University of Texas when he was drafted. He was still in training as a radar operator in a B-29 crew in Nebraska when the atomic bombs were dropped. Greer stayed in the reserves and then went back on active duty and worked in Strategic Air Command. He retired in 1969. He mentions dealing with Japanese balloon bombs during 1945.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the mail service, completing his third mission, advice for Dan following his relationship with Bea ending, supporting Elaine living with Catherine, and being glad that Catherine likes the jewelry he sent her.

Letter from Ada to her son-in-law Joe discussing news about Catherine, or "Cathy," Ada's daughter and Joe's wife. Cathy spent the night with her mother, and Mr. Davis and Dan Jr. showed her around. Cathy is worried about Joe, and Ada is hoping that he will be able to return home soon.

Souvenir card from Charles Stasny to his parents with a handwritten message discussing Amphibious Group Three's occupation of Northern Japan. The card has a map of Amphibious Group 3's path through Northern Japan beginning in Aomori and travelling to Otaru. Envelope from Charles Stasny to his parents with text celebrating Amphibious Group Three and the USS Appalachian's (AGC-1) occupation of Northern Japan.