The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lee Soucy. Soucy joined the Navy in December of 1937. He completed Hospital Corps School, and served as Pharmacist’s Mate aboard the USS Utah (BB-31). He was on board when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. After the attack and sinking of the Utah, Soucy worked as an RN and head of the medical laboratory at the Pearl Harbor Hospital. He remained at the hospital through April of 1945. He then completed Malaria Control School with the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and worked as the Assistant Malaria Control Officer until his discharge in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Admiral Noel Gayler. Gayler graduated from the Naval Academy in 1935. In 1940 he completed flight training. His first carrier assignment was aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3). He served as a fighter pilot flying an F4F-3 (Grumman Wildcat). He was transferred to the USS Lexington (CV-2), where in January of 1942 Gayler received the first of 3 Navy Crosses in aerial combat. He received his second Navy Cross escorting torpedo planes in an operation to destroy Japanese amphibious forces en route to conquer northern Australia. In May of 1942 he participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea, where he received his third Navy Cross. He then describes the sinking of the Lexington. He describes his experience as a test pilot and the various planes he flew. In 1944 Gayler returned to combat in the Pacific commanding Fighter Squadron 12. They traveled to Japan. He describes a number of experiences that followed, including serving as operations office under Vice Admiral McCain aboard the USS Randolph (CV-15), being aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) during the surrender, observing nuclear tests in Eniwetok, serving as deputy director of the Special Devices Center, …

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 Willie Sander. Sander was born in Brenham, Texas on 18 August 1916. After graduating from high school in 1933, he worked as the manager for the A&P Grocery chain. In 1942, he joined the Navy and received pilot training on PBYs. After being commissioned in June, he was sent to Kaneohe Naval Air Station where he received advanced training. Soon after the invasion of Tarawa, he delivered a new plane there and returned to Hawaii with one that had been badly damaged. He comments on the death and destruction he saw. In March 1944 he flew to Fiji where he joined Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14), which was attached to a seaplane tender. They flew night patrols and rescue missions. In early 1945 he returned to the United States and picked up new PBM Mariners. Sander took the planes to San Diego where JATO equipment was installed. After receiving training in the use of the equipment they flew to Luzon. He recounts a number of missions, including one for which his crew was credited with sinking five Japanese ships and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 15 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with V.P. Johansen. Johansen joined the Navy soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He became a Seabee and spent 18 months working on new construction at the submarine base at Pearl Harbor. His unit was then shifted to heavy equipment for airstrip work. Johansen landed on Iwo Jima on the fourth day of the battle. His battalion began repairing Airfield #1. Johansen details the damaged planes landing on the field and the ongoing maintenance the airfield required. He was sent back to the States that summer where he served until his discharge in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Melvin Grant. Grant served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1940 to 1941. He provides detail of the CCC program, including accommodations, pay and food. Grant went to California and helped build Camp Cook, now Vandenberg Air Force Base, where he was on 7 December 1941. He was assigned to Company E, 7th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was a demolition specialist and a flame thrower and describes both of these jobs. He went to the Russell Islands aboard the USS General Harry Taylor (AP-145). He details life on board the troop ship. From Russell Island they went on maneuvers to Guadalcanal and conducted training exercises. He participated in the Battle of Okinawa and discusses his experiences. Then they traveled to China and remained there until February of 1946. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Carter. Carter enlisted in the Navy in January 1942 and went into the V-7 program until he finished college. He trained to be a motor machinist’s mate and went aboard USS LST-543 in February 1944 in Illinois. They took the ship down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. He was aboard during the Normandy invasion and rode USS LST-543 to the Pacific in April 1945 to deliver troops to Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. After returning to the US, Carter was discharged in February 1946. Carter describes several aspects of life aboard an LST and relates several anecdotes.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank "Ned" Gallagher. Gallagher was born in Watervilet, New York in 1915. He attended Boston University and was inducted into the United States Marine Corps upon graduation in 1939. Upon completion of basic training, he was assigned to the USS Houston (CA-30) as a junior officer of the Marine Detachment. Gallagher tells of the ship participating in the battle of the Java Sea along with HMS Exeter (68). He tells of the ship proceeding through Sunda Strait and encountering a large Japanese landing force. In the ensuing action, HMAS Perth (D29) was sunk as was the Houston. After reaching Java he was captured by the Japanese and placed in a jail in Serang. From there, he and 6 fellow officers were placed on a ship and taken to Ofuna Prisoner of War Camp. He tells of later being taken to Zentseyi POW camp and describes a typical day in this camp. He was later moved to a POW camp in Honshu. He describes the day the guards did not appear, of supplies of food and medical goods being dropped by US planes and realizing that the war was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Ingram. Ingram was born in Springfield, Illinois on 13 June 1924. He joined the US Navy in 1941 and after completion of boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station he traveled to California where he was assigned to the USS Houston (CA-30), boarding the ship in Darwin, Australia. He describes his battle station as loader of an 8 inch forward gun and the procedures involved in loading of the gun. He tells of the 28 February 1942 attack on the ship by Japanese forces and the sinking of the Houston. After spending two days in the water he was picked up by the enemy and following questioning he was thrown back into the water. Later, he was picked out of the water and taken to Java. He describes the questioning procedure of the Japanese and the physical abuse he endured. Ingram was then moved from Batavia, Java to Burma to work on the Thai-Burma Railroad and describes the extensive manual labor required, the starving conditions, lack of adequate medical attention and inhumane treatment by the captors. He relates the painful experience of developing dysentery, malaria …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Otto Schwarz. Schwarz was born in Newark, New Jersey, on 6 September 1923, and enlisted in the Navy in October 1940. After basic training in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Lark (AM-21), a magnetic mine sweeper. The ship sailed to the Philippines where it performed duties as a pilot rescue vessel. Schwarz was soon transferred to the USS Houston (CA-30), the flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. He recounts that the Houston left the Philippines prior to the Japanese attack and sailed to Surabaya, Indonesia where she operated between there and Darwin, Australia. Schwarz recalls participating in the Battle of Makassar Strait on 4 February 1942, during which a Japanese bomb destroyed the after turret killing 48 men. Schwarz also participated in the battles of the Java Sea and Sunda Strait, where HMAS Perth and the Houston were both sunk. He was in the water for thirteen hours, until he was picked up by a Japanese landing barge. He then hauled supplies for Japanese troops in Java between March and early October, 1942. Then he was transported to Burma to work on the Burma-Siam Railway. He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Kelly. Kelly joined the Navy in 1939. He served aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) through March of 1941. He was then transferred to USS Houston (CA-30) at Manila Bay, Philippines. Kelly served on the 5-inch antiaircraft gun aboard Houston, until it sank in March of 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was captured and interned as a prisoner of war by the Japanese. They traveled to Surabaya, Singapore and Burma, where he worked on the Thai-Burma Railroad. He recalls the Red Cross Package drop in June of 1945, and liberation in September. He returned to the US and was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Papish. Papish was born in Pueblo, Colorado on 4 April 1919. After joining the Navy in 1939 he reported aboard the USS Houston (CA-30) and was assigned to the disbursements office. He describes the job responsibilities of his position and the USS Houston being a part of the naval forces within ABDACOM (American-British-Dutch-Australian Command) during March 1942 and participating in the battle of the Java Sea. He also tells of the ship taking part in the battle of Sunda Strait during which the Houston, as well as HMAS Perth (D29), were sunk. Papish abandoned the ship and was strafed by Japanese fighters while in the water. After struggling ashore, the survivors were turned over to Japanese forces by the local natives. As prisoners of war, they were taken to Serang, Java where they were housed in a former theater. Later, Papish was among a group of the prisoners who were taken to the Bicycle Camp prison compound in Batavia and held there until October 1942. He recalls the kindness of a Japanese guard who had worked as a cab driver in New York City. In October he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.B. Pryor. Born in Oklahoma in 1922, Pryor attended the University of Wyoming on a football scholarship. Upon entering the Navy in 1941, he was selected for pilot training and tells of being at various bases training in different types of single engine planes until September 1942. He then entered multi-engine aircraft training, flying B-24s as a co-pilot. In November 1943 he was assigned to Patrol Bomber Squadron 106 flying anti-submarine patrol over the Panama Canal Zone for a six month period. The squadron returned to California for training in the PB4Y-2. Upon completion, the squadron was sent to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, then to Java. He describes the various types of missions they flew and tells of the casualties which occurred among the crewmembers.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Flynn. Flynn joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a Radioman aboard USS Houston (CA-30) until it sank in March of 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was captured by the Japanese and placed aboard their ship. Several hours later the ship was torpedoed, landing Flynn back into the water. He met up with Australian and British survivors and again was captured by another Japanese group. They were taken to a POW Camp in Serang, Java, and later to a camp in Jakarta. After 3 years of imprisonment, Flynn was liberated from the camp. He returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clarence Schilperoot. Schilperoot joined the Navy in May of 1936. He served as an Electrician’s Mate and joined the Asiatic Fleet in 1940. He was assigned to USS Houston (CA-30). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Houston joined the American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) naval force at Surabaya. Schilperoot worked aboard the ship until it sank in March of 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was captured by the Japanese, and traveled to Surabaya, Singapore and Burma, where he worked on the Thai-Burma Railroad. He remained a prisoner-of war until his liberation in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kyle Thompson. Thompson was born in Nevada County, Arkansas in 1922. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1939. In November 1941, Thompson’s unit was bound for the Philippines, but was diverted to Australia after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. After a stop at Darwin, they were escorted to Java by the USS Houston (CA-36) in January 1942. There they assisted crews of the 10th Bomb Group. After the surrender the group was joined by Houston survivors and was moved to a prisoner of war camp in Batavia. Thompson recalls cruel treatment by their captors. In October 1942 they were loaded onto a Japanese ship and taken to Camp Changi, Singapore. There they were transported by small crowded freight cars to Penang, Malaysia and put aboard the Dainichi Maru. He recalls attempts by American bombers to sink the vessel before reaching Burma. Once there in early 1943, they began work on the Thai-Burma Railroad. Thompson describes POWs working under horrible conditions of mistreatment, malnourishment and tropical diseases. He suffered from jungle rot as well as malaria while confined. After fourteen months the railroad was completed and he was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Audie Lynch. Lynch was born in Scotland, Arkansas 15 May 1925 and graduated from high school in 1942. He then attended Southeast Missouri State Teachers College where he participated in the Navy’s V-12 college training program. After one year he was sent to the Naval Reserve Midshipman School at Notre Dame University and received his commission four months later. Lynch was then ordered to report aboard the USS Charles Carroll (APA-28) at Norfolk, Virginia. The ship, which carried LCVP and LCM landing craft, sailed to Espiritu Santo where the troops trained and practiced landings prior to the invasion of Okinawa. He recalls participating in the invasion as the boat officer of a LCVP and had Ernie Pyle as a passenger. After the surrender of Japan, he made five trips to the Philippines, China and Japan ferrying troops back to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jordan Garrett. Garrett was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas 19 September 1920. He joined the Navy after he quit high school and went to Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois for boot camp. He was then assigned to the USS Houston (CA-30) serving as a cook and a barber. He gave Admiral Thomas C. Hart and General Douglas MacArthur shaves when they were aboard the ship. He was injured when the Houston was sunk by the Japanese. He was taken captive and held in a theater in Serang, Indonesia for thirty-six days. Garrett was then taken to the Bicycle Camp in Batavia where he remained for six months. Upon their arrival Singapore by ship, Garrett and other POWs were transported to Burma to work on the Thai-Burma railroad. He endured bombing of the area by Allied planes. He was also sent to Indochina to work on Japanese gun emplacements and was there when Japan surrendered. Garrett recounts the conditions POWs endured during captivity including physical abuse, starvation and disease. At the war’s end, he was taken by plane to Calcutta, India before being flown to the United States where …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Brooks. Brooks joined the Navy around 1938. He served as a trainer on the turrets aboard the USS Houston (CA-30). He worked in the Second Division, Number 2 turret. Their ship was assigned to the Asiatic Fleet to replace the USS Augusta (CA-31). They traveled to Manila Bay and the Philippines. He shares his experiences patrolling numerous islands and visiting and trading with the natives. Brooks talks about various incidents taking place leading up to the war with Japan. He was aboard the Houston on 7 December 1941 and shares his thoughts on that fateful day, as well as their plans for action. They traveled to the East Indies, and participated in the Battles of Makassar Strait, Java Sea and Sunda Strait where the Houston sank. Brooks, and other survivors were captured by the Japanese. He describes the various locations he stayed in and the work he was forced to do with fellow prisoners. Brooks did make it safely back to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Wilkinson. Wilkinson joined the Navy in 1940. He served in the Fire Control Division aboard the USS Chicago (CA-29). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Wilkinson transferred to the USS Houston (CA-30), where he served as the Forward Rangefinder Operator. They completed convoy duty, transporting American soldiers to various locations in the Pacific. In February of 1942, Wilkinson describes Japanese attacks while escorting a convoy to Timor and participating in the Battle of the Java Sea. On 1 March 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait, the Houston was fatefully damaged and sank. Wilkinson was one of the survivors of this attack and sinking, was captured by the Japanese, imprisoned and forced into labor building the Burma railroad. He returned home in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stanley Woody. Woody joined the Navy around 1940. He served as a Chief Boatswain’s Mate aboard USS Houston (CA-30). Woody worked aboard the ship until it sank in March of 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He swam ashore on Java and was captured by the Japanese. He traveled to Singapore and Burma, where he worked on the Thai-Burma Railroad. He remained a prisoner-of war until his liberation in September of 1945. Woody continued his service in the Navy, and retired in the 1990s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Crispi. Crispi joined the Navy in February of 1940. He served aboard USS Houston (CA-30). Crispi worked aboard the ship until it sank in March of 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He swam ashore on Java Island and was captured by the Japanese. Crispi was taken to a POW Camp in Serang, Java, and later to a camp in Jakarta. After 3 years of imprisonment, he was placed into an Army hospital. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John F. Kidd. Kidd enlisted in the US Navy in 1938. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36) and was later transferred to the USS Blackhawk as a yeoman striker. After a short time he was assigned to the staff of Admiral Thomas C. Hart and stationed at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. He tells of the Japanese attack on 8 December 1941 and of commandeering civilian automobiles to carry wounded military personnel from Cavite Navy Yard. He also mentions shortages of food and water. He was sent to Corregidor and recalls the surrender of American forces. He was sent to Cabanatuan. From there he went aboard a Japanese hell ship for transfer to the Yodogawa Bunsho prison camp in Japan. He describes the hellacious conditions aboard the ship. He tells of the death of a friend and the frequent deaths among the prisoners. He relates the experience of being one of ten prisoners selected for experimental surgery of which only two survived. He recalls the unsanitary conditions of the operating room, the experience of undergoing surgery without proper sedation and the lack of medication …

Transcript of an oral interview with Dutch Kooper. Kooper enlisted at the Great Lakes Training Center on November 15, 1938. After training camp, he was sent to Seattle for assignment on the USS Williamson (a four-piper converted into a Seaplane Tender), which operated between Seattle and Alaska. Kooper heard that the USS Houston was going on an Asiatic cruise and wanted volunteers so he volunteered; he was eventually transferred and became a gunners mate. After the start of the war, the Houston was sent to help the Dutch defend Java from the Japanese. He states that they were well trained but had defective ammo. The Houston was sunk on March 1, 1942 in the Sunda Straits after taking multiple torpedo hits. The HMAS Perth was also sunk. Kooper gives a very descriptive account of the Houston's sinking, his swimming and finally reaching shore, his capture by the Japanese and his life as a POW. After being a POW on Java, they transported them up to Singapore and then into Burma to build the railroad there. After 42 months as a Japanese POW, Kooper was liberated on August 29, 1945 by OSS troops. His last POW camp was in Nakhon Pathom, …