The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Scott West. West joined the Navy in 1935. He was assigned to the USS Lexington (CV-2) for four years. In September of 1942 he served aboard the USS Copahee (CVE-12). He describes the planes aboard and the process of getting all the aviation equipment aboard the carrier. They traveled to New Caledonia to deliver planes, as well as to Munda, in the Solomon Islands. He completed catapult and arresting gear school at the Naval Air Station in Philadelphia, and then served as an instructor. Later, he took crews out to supervise new installations and repair battle damage.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Gojean. Grojean was born in Charleston, Missouri in 1923. From an early age he wanted to attend the United States Naval Academy. He was accepted after attending the Virginia Military Institute for a year. He discusses the differences between the teaching methods at VMI and the Naval Academy. He recalls the summer cruises aboard the USS Arkansas (BB-33) in 1943 and the USS New York (BB-34) in 1944. After graduation, he was on his way to San Francisco when the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. From Pearl Harbor, he was ordered to Uilithi. The ship to which he had been assigned had already departed for New York. In December 1945, Grojean was ordered aboard the USS Stevenson (DD-645), scheduled for decommissioning in South Carolina. He then reported aboard the USS Wiltsie (DD-716), which sailed for San Diego via the Panama Canal. He then attended a six month electronic school and upon graduating he flew to Japan. In 1947 he attended sonar school for four weeks and rejoined the ship at Bremerton. In early 1948 he had an accident, which put him in the Great Lakes Naval …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Feller. Former Major League baseball player Feller heard of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as he was traveling to Chicago to sign his 1942 contract with the Cleveland Indians. Upon arriving in Chicago he made a personal call to his friend Gene Tunney. Tunney flew to Chicago and was present when Feller was sworn into the Navy on 9 December 1941. He underwent boot training at Norfolk, Virginia. He was then assigned to the USS Alabama (BB-60) as a gun captain and participated in convoy duty in the Atlantic. In August 1943, the Alabama returned to Norfolk for supplies, and then sailed to the New Hebrides. Feller stayed in good physical shape by throwing the baseball while on board and participating in inter-service games on various islands. He participated in the Marianas Turkey Shoot as well as the invasions of Guam and other islands. Returning to the United States in 1944 he was named the baseball coach of the Great Lakes Naval Station baseball team. He was discharged in 1945and signed as a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Mitchell. Mitchell, a native Choctaw Indian, joined the Marine Corps in 1943. After completing training in artillery as well as radio and telephone communication, he joined the 5th Marine Division, 13th Artillery Regiment. His primary function was to call in coordinates for a 105mm gun. At Iwo Jima, Mitchell landed under enemy fire which included attack. He developed battle fatigue and was relieved from the front lines, working instead at the fire direction switchboard. He then transferred to an MP company in the 2nd Marine Division, serving occupation duty at Kyushu. There he coaxed villagers out of the ruins of Nagasaki as part of a westernization program. After his discharge in 1946, Mitchell initially struggled with PTSD before finding his way as a fisherman in Alaska.

Transcript of an oral interview with Marvin Russell. Russell, who graduated with a petroleum engineering degree from the University of Houston, describes his role in the testing of fuel used in the Pacific and in North Africa during the war. He discusses the homefront, including the politics of war, rationing, the Japanese American internment, the use of the atomic bomb, and the reaction to the end of the war. There is also a brief comparison of World War II and the Iraq War. After the war, Russell was employed in the automotive industry. Additionally, Russell identifies his parents and siblings and mentions his brothers’ role as civilians involved in troop transport.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Mercer. Mercer joined the Navy in October of 1943. He was assigned to the gunnery division aboard the USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95). They transported Marine pilots and their planes to Hawaii. Mercer’s job aboard was ensuring that the 40mm and 20mm guns were in good working order. He describes the guns and how he operated them. They participated in the invasion of Leyte Gulf and Luzon, and he talks about their carrier having several near misses with kamikaze planes. He provides some detail of the flight deck and the catapult to launch the planes. He describes briefly his initiation in becoming a shellback. In February of 1945 they were 20 miles from Iwo Jima and Mercer describes in detail their experiences after getting hit by a kamikaze plane and the carrier sinking. After that he was stationed in California for 15 months and was discharged in the summer of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred C. Hinds. Hinds joined the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was trained as a corpsman and was sent to the 23rd Naval Construction Battalion in Hawaii. Hinds was transferred to the USS Cache (AO-67) where he eventually became the ship’s mail clerk and also stood bridge watches. He describes the refueling process and mentions when a carrier had to make an emergency separation. Hinds also discusses witnessing the flag raisings on Iwo Jima and an attack on a nearby tanker at Ulithi by a Japanese mini-sub. His ship was also a part of the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay. He also witnessed a destroyer sink during a typhoon. Hinds was discharged soon after the surrender of Japan.

Transcript of an oral interview with Arelius Hall and his daughter Margaret. He discusses joining the Navy and becoming a Quartermaster on PT-246, being stationed in the Pacific and doing patrols around Bougainville and seeing other damaged PT boats coming into harbour.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lawrence Warren. Warren joined the Navy in 1942. He was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) as a member of the 2nd Deck Division. Warren was a member of the gun crew of a quad-40mm anti-aircraft gun. He details 40mm operations, assignments, and gun watches. Warren describes anti-aircraft operations and being hit by Japanese bombs and a kamikaze. He also discusses some of the tasks performed as a small boat coxswain. Warren left the Navy in November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clifton E. Woolridge. Woolridge was worlking for his father in a printing press in Boston before he volunteered for service in the Army. He relates several anecdotes from his training days. He wound up in an engineering outfit attached to the 83rd Infantry Division. He discusses shoring up the levee in Wabash, Indiana in the spring of 1943 and saving the town. Woolridge digresses and speaks about his activities with the reunion group before delving back into stories from his training days. His unit went to England in April, 1944. He went to France inJune one week after D-day and his primary job was to drive the captain of his comapnay around in the jeep. Woolridge also relates some experiences he had during the Battle of the Bulge. Woolridge was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Van Klaveren. Despite being colorblind, Van Klaveren joined the Navy in 1944 by cheating on his eye exam. After receiving basic training in San Diego, he trained as an LCVP coxswain and deployed to the Pacific aboard the USS Lenawee (APA-195). He developed a rapport with the storekeeper, who gave him real eggs and fresh bread. Van Klaveren showed the storekeeper a picture of his beautiful sister perched atop a 1936 Ford. At Iwo Jima, a few of the men in Van Klaveren's party were killed immediately. Fearing for his life, he initially defied his commander's orders and attempted to steer his LCVP away from the beach, ducking enemy fire and steering blindly. He eventually landed his party and returned for another load of Marines amidst kamikaze attacks. Okinawa was an easier landing for Van Klaveren, leaving the Marines to contend with the jagged coral. After VJ Day, he was terrified of the throngs of Japanese gathered at1 Tokyo Bay, but they turned out to be friendly. Van Klaveren returned home soon after, and his sister married the storekeeper.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Scofield. Scofield joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and received training in South Carolina and North Carolina. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Fifth Marines and sent to Guadalcanal for further training. He was wounded on Okinawa just two or three days after joining a combat outfit. Scofield was shot in the abdomen and the wrist. He was evacuated by medics, who declared that he was dying. He was air-evacuated to a hospital after he assured the flight crew that his wounds were not mortal. Scofield returned home and spent a year recovering.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alex Grosse. Grosse finished high school and joined the Navy in 1942 and served as an ordnanceman loading munitions on planes in New Jersey and Virginia. Grosse shares several anecdotes about his experiences. He worked in a Carrier Air Service Unit (CASU) but never mentioned any number designation.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Daron Reedy. Reedy joined the 36th Infantry Division with the Texas National Guard when they mobilized in November of 1940. He served as an assistant supply sergeant. In 1943, he joined the Army Air Forces, completed flight training and worked as a P-39 and P-40 fighter pilot with the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Observation Group. Reedy deployed to the Pacific Theater in New Guinea, flew 158 strafing missions, survived 4 plane crashes, jungle fever and malaria. He flew combat missions against Japanese installations and airfields, while supporting ground forces on New Guinea and Biak. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Calvin Beem. Beem volunteered for the Navy in September, 1943 and trained at Farragut, Idaho. After training, Beem was assigned to USS LST-454 as a motor machinist. He was aboard in time for the invasion of Cape Gloucester and for several other invasions along New Guinea. He also recalls landings in the Philippines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Dunnam. Dunnam was drafted into the Army in July, 1944 and had basic training at Camp Wolters. Upon being sent overseas, Dunnam joined the 126th Infantry Regiment on Leyte. He traveled with them to Luzon in January just after the invasion got started. In May, he was wounded by rifle fire. He returned to his unit and recalls several hundred Japanese soldiers surrendering just after the war ended. He spent some time in Japan before returning to the US and being discharged in August, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Butler. Butler joined the Army in June 1943 and, after basic training, went into the Specialized Training Program at Texas A&M until the program was scrapped and he was assigned to 103rd Infantry Division. He went to France in October, 1944. He was wounded in action on 10 December and evacuated to a hospital. Butler eventually returned to the US and went to hospitals there. Upon recovery, he reported for duty with the War Manpower Commission at Camp Carson. He was discharged in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Claude Cummins. Cummins joined the Army Air Corps around 1940. He completed Aircraft and Mechanics School in Wichita Falls, Texas. In early 1942, he worked as a crew chief with the Douglas Aircraft Company in Washington State, pre-flighting B-17 aircraft for air crew. Cummins was assigned to Dum Dum, India, through the end of the war. While there, he set up an overhaul facility for C47s. He continued in the Army Air Forces after the war ended, completing 30 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Elkington. Elkington joined the Navy in April of 1942. He trained in fire control and radar in San Diego. He was assigned to the USS Chicago (CA-29). His job aboard was fire control. Their ship was in the Pacific, at New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. The Chicago sank in 1943 and Elkington gives detail of this event. He also served aboard the USS Helena (CL-50) and traveled to the Solomon Islands. His job aboard was lookout and operating a searchlight. He describes his experiences aboard this ship, and the events of its sinking. Three of the five battles he was in include the Battle of Kula Gulf, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Surigao Strait. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clyde Covey. Covey joined the Navy in October of 1945. He served as a Fireman aboard the patrol craft escort, the PCE-870, in Hawaii, completing patrols around Pearl Harbor, and in between the equator and the Aleutians. They had about nine different posts, where they would send up weather balloons with transmitters, radioing weather information back to Pearl Harbor. Covey later completed motor machinist school, and was assigned to PCE-852 at the Underwater Sound Laboratories in New London, Connecticut, developing underwater communication. He received his discharge in December of 1948.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Francis Kellems. Kellems joined the Navy in September 1943. After boot camp, he was assigned to USS Hubbard (DE-211). He served as a baker aboard the ship and recalls antisubmarine partols in the Atlantic.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Most. Most joined the Marine Corps in late 1944 and went to basic training at Parris Island. After further training in North Carolina, he shipped overseas to Guam where he joined replacements fro the 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division. He joined them in time for their move from Okinawa to China after he war ended. While in CHina on occupation duty, Most was made a clerk typist. he remained in that postition until he was discharged in November 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Pickard. Pickard was in high school when the war started and recalls a few anecdotes from childhood before joining the Navy in mid-1944. Once in the Navy, Pickard was assigned to the Amphibious Force. He served as a signalman aboard USS Bergen (APA-150). On his first voyage, they delivered ammunition to Ulithi. Pickard also went to Okinawa and describes typhoons. After the war ended, his ship carried parts of the First Marine Division to China. Upon returning to the US, Pickard received his discharge in mid-1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Scott. Scott joined the Marine Corps in October 1943 and trained at San Diego. In February 1944, he shipped to Hawaii and the 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Tarawa. He was on a 75mm pack howitzer at Saipan and recalls details about the invasion. Scott share several anecdotes from his experiences on Saipan. He was at Okinawa, but his unit remained in reserve without going ashore. He also recalls details about the occupation of Japan, where he remained until the end of the year. Scott returned to the US and was discharged in January 1946.