The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Thompson. One of seven boys, he was born in Dewar, Oklahoma 29 November 1921. Six of the boys served in the military during World War II, with two of them being killed in combat. Thompson describes his family life during the depression telling a touching story of his mother. After graduating from high school in 1938, he attended college for 2 years before going to California to work in a Northrup Aircraft plant. In 1942, he returned home and joined the Army. After completing basic training, he entered Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery in March 1943. After attending Ranger School, he went overseas. He tells of his experiences in North Africa and Italy where he was assigned to the 132nd Field Artillery as a forward observer. During August 1944, he went to Southern France, where he was captured by the Germans. He recalls the various POW camps he was moved to including one in Hammelburg, Germany. While there, a US tank column, under the leadership of General George Patton liberated the inmates. Thompson recalls being captured again and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Francis J. Sitar. Sitar joined the Navy in early 1941. He completed training in Newport, Rhode Island. In mid-1941, he served aboard USS Mizar (AF-12), and traveled with Task Force 16 to Reykjavík, Iceland. For the next year the Mizar operated in the western Atlantic from a number of East Coast ports supplying bases and ships from Iceland to the Virgin Islands. In July of 1942 they transported a parachute battalion to New Zealand, then traveled to Australian ports to support Army forces engaged in the New Guinea campaign. Around 1943, Sitar transferred to USS Gold Star (AK-12) and served as Second Class Boatswain Mate and later as Chief Warrant Officer, and traveled to Perth and New Guinea. He later served as second in command aboard a tugboat. He received an honorable discharge around January of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Steffes. Steffes entered the Navy June 1946. He completed training in Great Lakes, Illinois. He moved on to Treasure Island, California for electronics school. In July 1947 he boarded the USS Newman K. Perry (DD-883). He served as an electronics technician aboard the destroyer. They arrived in Japan September 1947. They were with the Carrier Division 132. They were assigned to patrol escort, search and rescue, and hydrographic survey missions. They were on the coast of China from Tsingtao to Hong Kong. He was discharged March 1948. In December 1950 he was recalled for the Korean War and reported for duty in January 1951. He served aboard the USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108) working to get the radar and radios in working order. They trained pilots to land on the small flight deck, and as the pilots qualified they were sent on to Korea. He was discharged in April 1952. He owned and operated a gas station after his time in the service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Swaney. Swaney was born in Linton, North Dakota on 21 September 1920. He describes the hardships he faced during the Depression. After high school, he attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and graduated in 1942. Upon entering the US Navy in September 1942, he went to Columbia University to Midshipman’s School. He graduated as an ensign and reported to Solomon Island, Maryland for amphibious training. There, as captain of an LCT, he and his crew of ten made practice landings. During one of the training sessions, he injured his spine, which resulted in extensive hospitalization. After spending over a year in various hospitals, he reported to the USS Nevada (BB-36) as a division officer of a five-inch gun. Swaney recalls the ship being attacked by kamikazes off Iwo Jima. He describes actions the ship was involved in during the invasion of Okinawa and recalls the ship being hit by a kamikaze. He witnessed the burial at sea of eleven shipmates. Following the end of the war, Swaney participated in preparing the Nevada for Operation Crossroads in 1946. He decided to be discharged from the Navy in …

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.

A retelling of the Pear Story as told by Grace Sankhil of Phaidaam Pantha. Grace was living in Delhi at the time of this recording.

Sumshot Khular and Daniel Tholung discuss preparations for traveling to the United States. The story is told in an effort to produce modals in natural speech. Daniel Tholung asks questions to continue the elicitation.

Daniel Tholung shares a list of minimal pairs contrasting the sounds [tl] and [thl] at Sumshot Khular' s house in Thamlakhuren village 2018.

Daniel Tholung and Sumshot Khular discuss modal usage in Lamkang at the residence of Sumshot Khular in Thamlakhuren village in Chandel district, Manipur, India.

Rex Khullar of Phaidam discusses with Grace Sankhil (who lives in Delhi) and Mary of Phaidam about her visit to Delhi. They also discuss the current situation of the Lamkang language and how Lamkang society is now, what needs to be done to encourage progress of the community.