The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Ellis. Ellis was born on 8 March 1918 in Big Spring, Texas and enlisted in the Army in 1936. He went to Officer Candidate School, where he was trained in intelligence. His first duty station was in Hawaii, where he was assigned to the Navy’s Central Pacific Command by mistake. Next he was sent to Okinawa as a platoon leader in the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On Okinawa, Ellis was wounded and evacuated to a hospital ship and ultimately a field hospital in Saipan. His wounds left him unfit to return to combat and to be returned to the US due to the shell fragments embedded in his chest. Ellis walked away from the hospital and managed to get on a flight back to Okinawa and returned to his unit. The war ended shortly after he was given command of the regiment’s Intelligence and Reconnaissance (IR) platoon. The regiment then embarked on ships to Korea. During the transit, he was summoned to the flag bridge on the ship and assigned an intelligence gathering mission by Major General Archibald Arnold, 7th Infantry Division’s Commanding Officer. Ellis …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Philip Cochran. Cochran joined the Army Air Corps in 1936 as an aviation cadet. He flew fighters off the British aircraft carrier HMS Archer (D78) against targets in North Africa. Later in the war, he was transferred to Burma to help plan the air portion of the invasion with the First Air Commando Task Force. He was back in Europe making similar plans when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.L. Summers. While attending college, Summers entered the Army in November, 1940 when his unit, the headquarters battery in the 131st Field Artillery, was mobilized. Prior to that, Summers had been in the National Guard. En route to the Philippines, Summers' unit was redirected to Australia after the Japanese attack. From there, they went to Java. In March, 1942, Summers became a prisoner of war and wound up at Bicycle Camp in Batavia (Jakarta today). Summers describes life as a POW at Bicycle Camp. He was shipped out to the POW camp at Changi, Singapore in September, 1942 aboard the Dai Nichi Maru. In January a train trip and another hell ship ride occurred to Burma. Once there, Japanese trucks took Summers and the other POWs to 18 Kilo Camp where they were to build the railroad to Thailand. From there, he went to the 40 Kilo Camp in March, the 80 Kilo Camp in June, and the 100 Kilo Camp in late August. Throughout this time, Summers suffered from tropical ulcers on his legs, malaria, wet beriberi, dysentery and dengue fever. When the railroad was completed, Summers …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles E. Loeschorn. In 1942, Loeschorn volunteered for the Marine Corps before he finished high school. He discusses training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Upon completion of training, Loeschorn was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, First Marine Division and shipped to New Zealand. In August, he was part of the initial landing force at Guadalcanal and recalls completing the construction of what became Henderson Field. He also recalls going on patrols and skirmishing with the Japanese. He mentions he became ill with malaria. He recalls the mud and wetness at Cape Gloucester and resting and recuperating at Pavuvu prior to going to Peleliu. Toward the end of his time fighting on Guadalcanal, Loeschorn had been moved to the Headquarters company. In HQ company, he served as a telephone linesman. he continued as that during the battle at Peleliu. he describes coming ashore on Peleliu. He recalls meeting Chesty Puller on Peleliu. At the end of September, 1944, Loeschorn was sent back to the US and was at Camp Lejeune when the war ended.

Transcript of an oral interview with Ellsworth Handy. Born in 1914, he entered the Army in August, 1940. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Headquarters, 29th Quartermaster Regiment. In early 1942 he was sent to the Pacific Theater. He describes being transported from San Francisco, California to Australia aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth. He was responsible for running convoys of trucks in remote areas of the country. As Plans and Recreation Officer in Brisbane, he arranged entertainment in a local theater for soldiers on leave. He was sent to Milne Bay, New Guinea and the Philippines where he was responsible for trucking activities. He describes witnessing General MacArthur’s return to the Philippines. He shares an anecdote about a narrow escape during an air raid. He talks about not being rotated back to the U.S. as part of the normal two-year rotation. He left active duty in 1945. He served in the Reserves until 1981. The interview also contains information about his family during the Depression.

Transcript of an oral interview with Ralph H. Ketcham. Born in 1923, he joined the Marine Corps in September, 1942. He describes boot camp in San Diego, California. He was assigned to the 3rd Division, 19th Marine Regiment, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion. He describes conditions aboard the MS Bloemfontein en route to New Zealand. He was transported on the USS President Polk (AP-103) to Guadalcanal where he constructed roads and unloaded ammunition. He talks about the fire at the Hell’s Point Ammunition Dump. He describes landing as part of the first wave in the battle for Guam. He shares stories about the time he spent on both Guadalcanal and Guam. He also describes landing and fighting on Iwo Jima. He discusses the use of spider holes and antiaircraft guns by the Japanese. He also describes the weather, terrain, and living conditions on Guam and Iwo Jima. He was hospitalized due to the shock of explosions from 155mm shells. After his hospitalization, he was discharged in July, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Maurice Thoresen. Thoresen joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938. He joined the Coast Guard around late 1939, working shore duty. In the summer of 1941 Thoresen went aboard the USCGC Taney (WHEC-37), serving in the ship’s radio shack. In July they traveled to Honolulu, where they were stationed when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred in December. After 7 December and into 1942, the Taney conducted many depth charge attacks on suspected submarines. Thoresen was later transferred to the island of Samoa, setting up LORAN stations, long range navigation equipment. He returned to the US and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clyde Dahlin. Dahlin was drafted into the Army in 1943. He was sent to the Pacific and joined the 25th Infantry Division as a replacement rifleman. Dahlin discusses the combat conditions that he faced in Northern Luzon. He tells of an incident where he helped evacuate a wounded soldier and hiding in fox holes from enemy fire. Dahlin was removed from the frontlines toward the end of the war because he was only 18. He became an MP and tells of interactions that he witnessed between Filipinos and Japanese POWs. Dahlin then tells of his experiences during the year that he served in occupied Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Sayles. Sayles joined the Navy in March 1944 and received basic training at Camp Farragut. Upon completion, he was shipped to Midway and assigned to the USS Pompon (SS-267), nicknamed “The Peaceful P” because it never found any targets. Sayles enjoyed rest camp on Guam. As punishment for using the officers’ pool, he patrolled Truk for four of the hottest weeks of summer, with no air conditioning and while short on rations. When the war ended, he was immediately shipped home. On the way, he stopped for liberty in Panama City. Once stateside, he joined the Air Force and was commissioned at Loyola University as a junior in the ROTC. Sayles took a compassionate discharge in 1951 to care for his wife after the birth of their third child.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hubert Richter. Richter joined the Army in February of 1943. He served with the 6th Infantry Division. Richter worked in the meteorology section as a forward observer for the artillery, identifying targets with the front-line infantry. He participated in the New Guinea and Luzon campaigns.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with J C Brownwell. Brownwell joined the Navy in January of 1943. He served aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43) beginning in the spring of 1943, and he provides description of the ship and life on board. He worked as an Electrician’s Mate. Some of the places they traveled include Tarawa, Kwajalein, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Peleliu and Saipan. He provides information on their firing engagements at Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Peleliu. He provides some detail of going ashore at Saipan and what he witnessed. He talks about their interaction with destroyers, and a kamikaze plane that hit their ship. He also discusses witnessing the flag raising at Mount Suribachi.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Mehling. Mehling joined the Army Air Forces in December, 1942 and trained in Miami Beach before going to radio communication school. Mehling was assigned to the 440th Troop Carrier Squadron and trained with airborne units in North Carolina in 1943. He served as a radio operator aboard C-47s. He went overseas in March 1944. He made the trip over Normandy on D-Day and made several flights in the following day delivering troops and supplies. He also made the drop over Belgium during Operation MARKET GARDEN. On one mission late I n1944, he had to bail out of his disabled aircraft and was captured by the Germans and spent time at Stalag 7A. After being liberated, he was discharged in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Jennings. Jennings joined the Navy in September 1942 as an aviation cadet. In March 1944, he earned his wings and a commission in the Marine Corps. He volunteered for a night fighter unit so he could go overseas. He first went to Peleliu before going to Okinawa and joining VMF(N)-542 in July. Jennings went home in March, 1946 and was recalled for the Korean War. He was stationed in Japan briefly before returning to the US to train pilots.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Colin Furr. Furr was born in Hunt, Texas in 1925. He tells of living conditions and schooling during his early years. Upon graduating from high school in 1942, he joined the Army and received basic training at Camp Kohler, California. He trained as a truck driver and was sent to Hollandia and assigned to the 52nd Signal Battalion, Company C. He was later assigned as a truck driver working with a unit constructing rhombic radio stations. He also had duty with the 93rd Infantry Division. He also recalls performing guard duty Army General Headquarters on Hollandia and personally checking the IDs of General McArthur and Admiral Nimitz. He remembers being stationed on Mindanao and Palawan and he describes being infected with malaria and yellow jaundice.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Sidney Lanier. Lanier recalls growing up and working during the Depression. He entered the Navy in March, 1943 and trained in San Diego. With training complete, Lanier reported to PC-1230 at New Orleans. They travelled to New Caledonia and stayed on station there for about a year before heading to Peleliu. At Peleliu, Lanier was assigned to the USS ATR-33 but travelled considerably before reaching his new ship in New Caledonia. He was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Houston Lowe. Lowe finished high school and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in Texas and California before joing the Army Air Corps. He had basic training in the Philippines prior to the Japanese invasion. Lowe was captured on Corregidor and made a prisoner of war. He soon went to Cabanatuan. Lowe recalls several instances of his POW experience in the Philippines. He rode a hell ship to Japan, the Noto Maru, and was close to Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped. When the war ended, Lowe returned to San Francisco.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Martin Gonzales. Gonzales worked in an aircraft engine plant until he was drafted into the Army in 1943. He joined the 1st Cavalry Division in Australia and took part in the landings at the Admiralty Islands. Gonzales describes becoming a BAR man after the gunner was critically wounded. His unit was then sent to the Philippines and fought on Leyte and Luzon. Gonzales describes the living conditions and details fighting in Manila. He was in Tokyo Bay when the surrender ceremony took place and participated in the occupation for about a month. Gonzales returned to the US and was discharged soon afterwards. He joined a monastery a few years later and discusses his faith in detail.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William James McConnaughy. McConnaughy was born 8 February 1920, and joined the Army Air Corps around 1940. He was working on guard duty at Randolph Field in Texas when the war started. By late 1942, he was serving as Supply Sergeant with the 817th Bombardier Training Squadron at Big Spring Army Air Field in West Texas. In 1945, after the war ended, McConnaughy was transferred to Portland, Oregon, and then served as a Room Orderly on a B-29 base at Okinawa. In late 1945, early 1946, he returned to the US and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Heyer. Heyer joined the Navy in March 1945. He went to Great Lakes in Chicago for boot camp. He provides detail of his boot camp experience. From there he went to the U.S. Navy Receiving Station in Seattle where he received and dispatched Army personnel. He then served aboard the USS Clamour (AM-160) beginning October 1945. They were working to put the ship out of commission. His work aboard the ship was clerical, office work, and bringing the crews’ personnel records up-to-date and other duties to de-commission the ship. He was discharged in July 1946. He later re-enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve program December 1946, and was recalled to active duty in January 1947. He was assigned as a station keeper at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Millington, Tennessee. He worked in a school for veterans assisting with automotive repair, clerical work and helping veterans organize their service activities. He was released from active duty in August 1948, and released from the Naval Reserve in July 1950.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dorothy Martens. Martens graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1944. She entered the Army Nurse Corps in December. She completed basic training at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. From there she moved to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for orientation, where she taught the other nurses about the workings of a B-29. She was in the 309th General Hospital Unit. In May of 1945 their unit traveled to Washington State and boarded the USAT Matsonia heading to Tinian and the Marianas. They were assigned to set up a general hospital to receive patients from battlefields in the Pacific. She provides some detail of the types of wounds she helped with and her living conditions on Tinian. She left Tinian in October of 1945 and went to Fukuoka, Japan. Her unit set up a hospital there to help U.S. enlisted men, and she provides details of the city and her surroundings. She left Japan and was separated from the service in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Louis Janosek. Janosek joined the Army Air Forces in March of 1943. He completed training in radio navigation and served as an Air Transport Command C-46 Flight Officer. They traveled to Liberia, West Africa, Ascension Island and China, Tunisia, Egypt, Bagdad, transporting supplies, food and equipment. He shares his experience flying over the Hump, the Himalaya Mountains. He received his discharge in 1946. In 1947, he renewed his service with the Air Force, retiring in 1964.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Wolfort. Wolfort was drafted into the Army in January of 1941. He completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky in July of 1942. He was then sent to Camp Funston, Kansas to start the 9th Armored Division. He was a light tank instructor at Camp Funston, then went back to Fort Knox, and provides detail of the equipment he used in training. From there he was sent to the West Coast and shipped out as a replacement officer. He served overseas as a company commander at Headquarters, Southern Islands Area Command under General Robert L. Eichelberger, and provides some detail of that experience. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John E Montgomery. Montgomery joined the Army in February 1943. He studied navigation and mathematics at Clarion State Teachers College, Pennsylvania, then graduated from flying school in Douglas, Georgia in May of 1944. He transferred to Sarasota, Florida in September and completed P-51 gunnery school. In early 1945, Montgomery was deployed to Hawaii to join the 20th Air Force. Beginning in April, he traveled to Iwo Jima, Guam, Tokyo and Saipan, completing 10 bombing missions over Japan and Chichi-Jima. He describes living on Iwo Jima and Saipan. He remained in Saipan from December through April of 1946, then returned home and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stuart MacDonald. MacDonald joined the Marine Corps and was called to active duty right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After basic training, he was assigned to the headquarters battery in the 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He went to Guadalcanal with the First MARDIV and served in the fire direction center before catching malaria. After recovering, MacDonald was assigned to the Third MARDIV as a forward observer at Bougainville and later at Guam. MacDonald was rotated back to the US in January, 1945. He was discharged in February, 1946.