The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue of Thomas Handran-Smith. Smith served with the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, Australia Imperial Forces. They participated in the Battle of Buna in New Guinea. He provides details of the living and fighting conditions through his time at Buna. He also comments on his American allies in the 32nd Infantry Division.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nelson Granzella. Granzella joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Omaha (CL-4), based in the French Riviera. He traveled to Italy, North Africa, Turkey, and Greece during the Spanish Civil War. After the invasion of Poland, he stayed in Portugal for a few months and was then reassigned to the USS Wapello (YN-56). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was tasked with removing oil from the surface of waterways. He was then assigned to the USS Dash (AM-88), sweeping mines around Tulagi. He was transferred to the USS England (DE-635) as chief quartermaster, tracking the stars and relaying information to the navigator. Granzella also helped sink several Japanese submarines near Papua New Guinea. He would plot the submarines’ movements based on information given to him by sonar operators and then relay the information to the bridge. After the war, Granzella became a specialist in photo intelligence based in Washington, D.C.

Transcript of an oral interview with Jack O. Arnold. Arnold was born in El Paso, Texas on 27 June, 1923. He enlisted in the Army in May 1942 while in his second year at the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy. After basic training at Camp Maxey, Texas, he joined the 14th Armored Division. Circa 1944-1945, he joined the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. He participated in the battle for the recapture of Corregidor. He discusses the Japanese defensive network of tunnels on the island. He was awarded the Purple Heart for a shrapnel injury while on Negros Island. Arnold describes the living conditions of the soldiers. He also describes the Japanese practice of binding themselves up with cloth for battle. He was discharged from the Army on 31 December, 1945. After he finished college, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1949 at the age of 26 and served during the Korean War. He recounts stories of flying in an airplane during a typhoon, a bird strike, engine trouble and landing gear failure. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1952. Arnold provides information about his parents and siblings as well as his children.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Garlic. Garlic joined the Navy to become an aviator in 1941. He trained to become a pilot of a F6F Hellcat night fighter. He tells stories of his experiences through training on the USS Ranger (CV-4) in the Atlantic to his service in VF(N)-78 aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16) in the Pacific. Garlic downed three Japanese torpedo planes in one mission while protecting the Lexington .

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Keller, Jr. Keller joined the Army in 1942. He was sent to North Africa where he served in the 601st Ordnance Battalion. Keller was then a part of the invasion of Southern France as a part of the 3251st Quartermaster Service Company with the 7th Army. He describes how his unit would organize and ship supplies to the front. Keller describes serving in occupied Germany and his return to the US on the Queen Mary. He left the service soon after his return.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John R. Ahlgren. In 1942, Ahlgren, a Navy communications officer, was assigned to Admiral Chester Nimitz's staff at Pearl Harbor. From 1946 to 1947 he was stationed in Russia and worked as a translator and attaché to the US Embassy in Moscow. Ahlgren left the service soon after his time in Moscow.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Rowe. Rowe was a gunnery officer aboard the USS Remey. His first combat experience was bombarding Vabelthaup in the Palau Group, then the ship assumed screening stations for landing troops on Angaur Island, before heading for Manus and the Admiralty Group where they met up with the 7th fleet to begin the Leyte Gulf assault. Rowe discusses making torpedo attacks on the Japanese in the Surigao Straits, setting smoke screens and picking up crews from downed planes. He ancedotes about watching a failed kamikaze attack on the Missouri, being able to see a Japanese pilot's grin with gold teeth as he passed close to Rowe's station, being in San Francisco for VJ Day, and a dog on his ship biting a Japanese pilot who came on board. He also talks about food on board ship and getting mail.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Eckert. Eckert joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed aircraft welding school at Kelly Field, and served with the 40th Air Depot Repair Squadron. They traveled aboard the USS Hermitage (AP-54) to Freemantle, Australia and landed at Bombay, India in December of 1943. His squadron was assigned to Calcutta, and they repaired airplanes at Dum Dum Air Field. They also worked on Guam and Okinawa, where they arrived 3 days before the war ended. Eckert returned to the US and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Cardinal. Cardinal joined the Marine Corps after working on a farm and on the railroad. Given his experience, he was given the option of cooks and bakers school or a tank battalion. He opted for cooking and was put to work immediately, without any further training. He deployed to New Zealand with the 3rd Marine Division, emerging victoriously in the Battle of Queen Street, a massive brawl with some men of the British Eighth Army in they fought over women. A few months later he transferred to Guadalcanal, and Cardinal protected himself from holdouts by carrying a rifle and a skillet. At Bougainville, Cardinal’s galley was bombed. When the Army arrived with their own supplies, Cardinal surreptitiously procured new pots and pans. After making a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, he was promoted to staff sergeant. Cardinal’s next station was in Guam, where he found favorable gardening conditions and narrowly missed being killed by a young Japanese holdout. Cardinal returned home was discharged. He mistrusted anyone of Asian descent after the war, remedied by taking in a foreign exchange student who changed his mind.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bud Pike. Pike went into the Navy in October 1942. After going through boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois and yeoman school, he went to submarine school in New London, Connecticut. Afterwards, he was assigned to the USS Sailfish (SS-192) at Pearl Harbor. He was aboard for her 10th, 11th and 12th war patrols. Pike provides a good description of the attack on the Japanese carrier (escort) Chuyo. On 7 December 1943 a Japanese plane came in out of the sun, catching them on the surface, and put a bomb close aboard, denting the hull. They finished their patrol but when they got back to Pearl Harbor they were sent state-side for a complete overhaul. After overhaul, the Sailfish went back to Pearl Harbor for her 11th war patrol. They came back to Midway for rest camp and left from there on their 12th patrol in October 1944, part of the invasion fleet for the Philippines. They rescued twelve aviators off Formosa on this patrol but got caught on the surface again by an airplane that damaged their radio antenna. They got back in Pearl around Christmas 1944 …

Transcript of an oral interview with Jack O. Arnold. Arnold was born in El Paso, Texas on 27 June, 1923. He enlisted in the Army in May 1942 while in his second year at the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy. After basic training at Camp Maxey, Texas, he joined the 14th Armored Division. Circa 1944-1945, he joined the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. He participated in the battle for the recapture of Corregidor. He discusses the Japanese defensive network of tunnels on the island. He was awarded the Purple Heart for a shrapnel injury while on Negros Island. Arnold describes the living conditions of the soldiers. He also describes the Japanese practice of binding themselves up with cloth for battle. He was discharged from the Army on 31 December, 1945. After he finished college, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1949 at the age of 26 and served during the Korean War. He recounts stories of flying in an airplane during a typhoon, a bird strike, engine trouble and landing gear failure. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1952. Arnold provides information about his parents and siblings as well as his children.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Garlic. Garlic joined the Navy to become an aviator in 1941. He trained to become a pilot of a F6F Hellcat night fighter. He tells stories of his experiences through training on the USS Ranger (CV-4) in the Atlantic to his service in VF(N)-78 aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16) in the Pacific. Garlic downed three Japanese torpedo planes in one mission while protecting the Lexington .

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Keller, Jr. Keller joined the Army in 1942. He was sent to North Africa where he served in the 601st Ordnance Battalion. Keller was then a part of the invasion of Southern France as a part of the 3251st Quartermaster Service Company with the 7th Army. He describes how his unit would organize and ship supplies to the front. Keller describes serving in occupied Germany and his return to the US on the Queen Mary. He left the service soon after his return.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John R. Ahlgren. In 1942, Ahlgren, a Navy communications officer, was assigned to Admiral Chester Nimitz's staff at Pearl Harbor. From 1946 to 1947 he was stationed in Russia and worked as a translator and attaché to the US Embassy in Moscow. Ahlgren left the service soon after his time in Moscow.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue of Thomas Handran-Smith. Smith served with the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, Australia Imperial Forces. They participated in the Battle of Buna in New Guinea. He provides details of the living and fighting conditions through his time at Buna. He also comments on his American allies in the 32nd Infantry Division.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Rowe. Rowe was a gunnery officer aboard the USS Remey. His first combat experience was bombarding Vabelthaup in the Palau Group, then the ship assumed screening stations for landing troops on Angaur Island, before heading for Manus and the Admiralty Group where they met up with the 7th fleet to begin the Leyte Gulf assault. Rowe discusses making torpedo attacks on the Japanese in the Surigao Straits, setting smoke screens and picking up crews from downed planes. He ancedotes about watching a failed kamikaze attack on the Missouri, being able to see a Japanese pilot's grin with gold teeth as he passed close to Rowe's station, being in San Francisco for VJ Day, and a dog on his ship biting a Japanese pilot who came on board. He also talks about food on board ship and getting mail.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Eckert. Eckert joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed aircraft welding school at Kelly Field, and served with the 40th Air Depot Repair Squadron. They traveled aboard the USS Hermitage (AP-54) to Freemantle, Australia and landed at Bombay, India in December of 1943. His squadron was assigned to Calcutta, and they repaired airplanes at Dum Dum Air Field. They also worked on Guam and Okinawa, where they arrived 3 days before the war ended. Eckert returned to the US and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Cardinal. Cardinal joined the Marine Corps after working on a farm and on the railroad. Given his experience, he was given the option of cooks and bakers school or a tank battalion. He opted for cooking and was put to work immediately, without any further training. He deployed to New Zealand with the 3rd Marine Division, emerging victoriously in the Battle of Queen Street, a massive brawl with some men of the British Eighth Army in they fought over women. A few months later he transferred to Guadalcanal, and Cardinal protected himself from holdouts by carrying a rifle and a skillet. At Bougainville, Cardinal’s galley was bombed. When the Army arrived with their own supplies, Cardinal surreptitiously procured new pots and pans. After making a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, he was promoted to staff sergeant. Cardinal’s next station was in Guam, where he found favorable gardening conditions and narrowly missed being killed by a young Japanese holdout. Cardinal returned home was discharged. He mistrusted anyone of Asian descent after the war, remedied by taking in a foreign exchange student who changed his mind.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bud Pike. Pike went into the Navy in October 1942. After going through boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois and yeoman school, he went to submarine school in New London, Connecticut. Afterwards, he was assigned to the USS Sailfish (SS-192) at Pearl Harbor. He was aboard for her 10th, 11th and 12th war patrols. Pike provides a good description of the attack on the Japanese carrier (escort) Chuyo. On 7 December 1943 a Japanese plane came in out of the sun, catching them on the surface, and put a bomb close aboard, denting the hull. They finished their patrol but when they got back to Pearl Harbor they were sent state-side for a complete overhaul. After overhaul, the Sailfish went back to Pearl Harbor for her 11th war patrol. They came back to Midway for rest camp and left from there on their 12th patrol in October 1944, part of the invasion fleet for the Philippines. They rescued twelve aviators off Formosa on this patrol but got caught on the surface again by an airplane that damaged their radio antenna. They got back in Pearl around Christmas 1944 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nelson Granzella. Granzella joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Omaha (CL-4), based in the French Riviera. He traveled to Italy, North Africa, Turkey, and Greece during the Spanish Civil War. After the invasion of Poland, he stayed in Portugal for a few months and was then reassigned to the USS Wapello (YN-56). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was tasked with removing oil from the surface of waterways. He was then assigned to the USS Dash (AM-88), sweeping mines around Tulagi. He was transferred to the USS England (DE-635) as chief quartermaster, tracking the stars and relaying information to the navigator. Granzella also helped sink several Japanese submarines near Papua New Guinea. He would plot the submarines’ movements based on information given to him by sonar operators and then relay the information to the bridge. After the war, Granzella became a specialist in photo intelligence based in Washington, D.C.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing visiting Honolulu with Graves, appreciating the scenery of the island, and telling Catherine to tell their congregation that he is stationed on an island in the Pacific.

Letter sent from Cecelia McKie to Mr. P. R. Lawson, Assistant Treasurer at Manila Electric Company, acknowledging his letter of May 25, 1943. McKie describes her shortwave radio and how she records messages. She explains while she has not heard anyone mention the Manila Electric Company, some internees do mention 'the company'. Letter includes a list of names that the Manila Electric Company may recognize: 'David W. Levitt (Levy) (?); Louis Decoito; George Howard Crosby (?); Thomas P. Condy; Ion (Ronald) (?) Leing (Lane) (?); Lymos (Amos) (Lionel) William Detver'. McKie states that it would be a good plan to send the list of Manila Electric employees to her. She mentions she keeps the letters in a scrapbook, in chronological order, so they are easy to find by date of broadcast message. She requests a map of New York City and Long Island as she hears many messages for New York, Brooklyn, The Bronx.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz mentions learning Spanish from a boarder at the hotel in Kerrville. He also writes of a desire to get ahead in school by studying during the summer. Nimitz also mentions Iago's, his cousin, school ending.

Letter sent from Mrs. Childers to Dr. William McKie thanking him for the message from her son and stating he has been there (Manila) for three years. Envelope addressed to 'Dr. William C. McKie', Sacramento, California from Mrs. R. A. Childers, Garrett, Indiana.