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 Bill Lane. Lane was attending the University of Texas and tried joining the Marine Corps, but did not pass the physical. He instead opted for the Army, which accepted him. He trained at Fort Custer, Michigan. There he trained as a military policeman and was soon shipped to a prisoner of war camp housing German submarine sailors in New Mexico. After being sent to west coast, Lane boarded a ship and sailed 23 days to New Caledonia, where he was assigned to the Americal Division. From there, Lane went to Guadalcanal in late 1942 and relieved and replaced a Marine unit on the front line. Lane recalls his experiences fighting he Japanese at the Tenaru River on Guadalcanal. He was armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle. Lane also describes some experiences while on R & R in Australia before he headed for Bougainville. After a brief amount of time in the Palau Islands, Lane headed for the invasion of Leyte. Later on, he moved to Luzon and fought in Manila. Lane backtracks and shares some anecdotes about being a personal river for General Douglas MacArthur in Sydney while …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Lane. Lane was attending the University of Texas and tried joining the Marine Corps, but did not pass the physical. He instead opted for the Army, which accepted him. He trained at Fort Custer, Michigan. There he trained as a military policeman and was soon shipped to a prisoner of war camp housing German submarine sailors in New Mexico. After being sent to west coast, Lane boarded a ship and sailed 23 days to New Caledonia, where he was assigned to the Americal Division. From there, Lane went to Guadalcanal in late 1942 and relieved and replaced a Marine unit on the front line. Lane recalls his experiences fighting he Japanese at the Tenaru River on Guadalcanal. He was armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle. Lane also describes some experiences while on R & R in Australia before he headed for Bougainville. After a brief amount of time in the Palau Islands, Lane headed for the invasion of Leyte. Later on, he moved to Luzon and fought in Manila. Lane backtracks and shares some anecdotes about being a personal river for General Douglas MacArthur in Sydney while …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Fagleson. Fagleson went to school at Virginia Tech and took the Civilian Pilot Training course. To continue flying he joined the Army Air Forces. He was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri for classification due to an eye astigmatism. From there he went to Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin learning basic radio mechanics, and then on to radar school in Florida, then Control Net System training in Homer, Wisconsin. Once he graduated from CNS training he went to Camp Patrick Henry in Newport News, Virginia to board a ship heading to Bombay. He ended up in Chabour assisting with equipment arrival and transport. He was also located in Narin, bringing back planes from bombing missions and giving signal directions. He spent some time in Maran and the remainder in Michenau. After he finished his tour of duty he flew back to Karachi and took a ship back. He said that he got sick aboard the ship and was hospitalized for 6 months and partially paralyzed and got a medical discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Fagleson. Fagleson went to school at Virginia Tech and took the Civilian Pilot Training course. To continue flying he joined the Army Air Forces. He was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri for classification due to an eye astigmatism. From there he went to Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin learning basic radio mechanics, and then on to radar school in Florida, then Control Net System training in Homer, Wisconsin. Once he graduated from CNS training he went to Camp Patrick Henry in Newport News, Virginia to board a ship heading to Bombay. He ended up in Chabour assisting with equipment arrival and transport. He was also located in Narin, bringing back planes from bombing missions and giving signal directions. He spent some time in Maran and the remainder in Michenau. After he finished his tour of duty he flew back to Karachi and took a ship back. He said that he got sick aboard the ship and was hospitalized for 6 months and partially paralyzed and got a medical discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bruce Greig. Greig enlisted in the reserves and was called to active duty with the Army Air Forces in February 1943. He was sent to radio school and then radar school. Greig served stateside before being sent to Saipan as a part of a service group for the 73rd Bomb Wing. He describes the conditions on Saipan and how the airbase grew. Greig describes how he worked in a shop and specialized in a black box that was a part of early airplane radar units. He was then sent to Guam and eventually back to the US where he was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bruce Greig. Greig enlisted in the reserves and was called to active duty with the Army Air Forces in February 1943. He was sent to radio school and then radar school. Greig served stateside before being sent to Saipan as a part of a service group for the 73rd Bomb Wing. He describes the conditions on Saipan and how the airbase grew. Greig describes how he worked in a shop and specialized in a black box that was a part of early airplane radar units. He was then sent to Guam and eventually back to the US where he was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bryce Taylor. After finishing high school in 1942, Taylor joined the Marine Corps and had basic training at San Diego. After basic, Taylor was assigned to the base band in San Diego. He arrived at Pearl Harbor in February, 1944 and was part of the base band there for two years. Taylor recalls playing Taps in the evening several times on the USS Arizona (BB-39). His band also played regularly at the hospital at Aiea. After a while, he was recruited by Bob Crosby to tour parts of the Pacific and play concerts: Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima. He returned home and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bryce Taylor. After finishing high school in 1942, Taylor joined the Marine Corps and had basic training at San Diego. After basic, Taylor was assigned to the base band in San Diego. He arrived at Pearl Harbor in February, 1944 and was part of the base band there for two years. Taylor recalls playing Taps in the evening several times on the USS Arizona (BB-39). His band also played regularly at the hospital at Aiea. After a while, he was recruited by Bob Crosby to tour parts of the Pacific and play concerts: Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima. He returned home and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C B Slaughter. Slaughter was born in 1920, and joined the US Army Air Forces in January of 1942. He served as a C-47 pilot in the 5th Air Force in Townsville, Australia. He was transferred to the Air Transport Command. He made flights between Australia and New Guinea and New Caledonia. He returned to the US in mid-1944, and was assigned to a glider unit at Bergstrom Field, Austin, Texas, where he remained through the end of the war. Slaughter continued his service as a career Air Force officer and combat veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, retiring as a colonel in 1971.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C B Slaughter. Slaughter was born in 1920, and joined the US Army Air Forces in January of 1942. He served as a C-47 pilot in the 5th Air Force in Townsville, Australia. He was transferred to the Air Transport Command. He made flights between Australia and New Guinea and New Caledonia. He returned to the US in mid-1944, and was assigned to a glider unit at Bergstrom Field, Austin, Texas, where he remained through the end of the war. Slaughter continued his service as a career Air Force officer and combat veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, retiring as a colonel in 1971.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl DeLeeuw. DeLeeuw joined the Army Air Forces in late 1941 and was shipped to Australia right as the war was beginning to assemble P-40s. From there, he went to India and was an airplane mechanic involved in maintaining the planes flying supplies over the Himalaya Mountains to China and bombing Burma. He was released from the service in September, 1945 and went to work for United Airlines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl DeLeeuw. DeLeeuw joined the Army Air Forces in late 1941 and was shipped to Australia right as the war was beginning to assemble P-40s. From there, he went to India and was an airplane mechanic involved in maintaining the planes flying supplies over the Himalaya Mountains to China and bombing Burma. He was released from the service in September, 1945 and went to work for United Airlines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carl Renfroe. Renfroe volunteered for service in the Navy in December 1942. After earning a commission, he served aboard the USS Electra (AKA-4) during the invasion of the Marshall Islands followed by the invasion of Saipan. He was transferred to the USS Rockingham (APA-229), where he served as navigator during the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. He was discharged from the Navy in 1947 and resumed his career in education administration.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Boesch. After high school Boesch went to summer school at the University of Texas at Austin, joined the enlisted reserve corps and was eventually 'called up'. He had basic training in Cheyenne, Wyoming and learned to drive a truck. In what he calls 'casual status', he was shipped (like cargo) on a Liberty ship which landed in Canistel, North Africa. Conditions on board the ship were atrocious - little food, water, etc. They were drilled, exercised and run in North Africa; conditions were pretty deplorable there too. They were then put on a convoy ship which landed in Bombay, India. From there they took a train (last class) to Calbutta, then Passam and finally Ledo where he was assigned to the 195th Engineering Company. Interview contains good descriptions of his living conditions during this time - they lived off the land, had some air drops and some supp,ies trucked in. Boesch contracted malaria and jungle rot during this time. He was working on the Burma Road when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Boesch. After high school Boesch went to summer school at the University of Texas at Austin, joined the enlisted reserve corps and was eventually 'called up'. He had basic training in Cheyenne, Wyoming and learned to drive a truck. In what he calls 'casual status', he was shipped (like cargo) on a Liberty ship which landed in Canistel, North Africa. Conditions on board the ship were atrocious - little food, water, etc. They were drilled, exercised and run in North Africa; conditions were pretty deplorable there too. They were then put on a convoy ship which landed in Bombay, India. From there they took a train (last class) to Calbutta, then Passam and finally Ledo where he was assigned to the 195th Engineering Company. Interview contains good descriptions of his living conditions during this time - they lived off the land, had some air drops and some supp,ies trucked in. Boesch contracted malaria and jungle rot during this time. He was working on the Burma Road when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Christine Adler. Adler was born in New York City in 1931 to Filipino and American parents. She tells of living in an orphanage until 1938 at which time she went to the Philippines to live with her father. Upon arriving in the Philippines she attended private schools. She recalls December 1941 when she was awakened by the sound of tanks and Japanese soldiers entering homes and taking anything of value. As her father worked with a guerilla group they left their home. Adler tells of fleeing with no shoes, few clothes and very little personal belongings and moving place to place to avoid detection. She recounts an incident where Japanese soldiers picked her up and took her to Fort Santiago. She and her father were later released. She describes seeing piles of bodies and witnessing torture being done by the Japanese during the occupation and of seeing the fires as Manila was set ablaze. She tells of the joy felt by the population upon seeing the American tanks and soldiers roll into the city and of the return of her and her father to the United States aboard …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Christine Adler. Adler was born in New York City in 1931 to Filipino and American parents. She tells of living in an orphanage until 1938 at which time she went to the Philippines to live with her father. Upon arriving in the Philippines she attended private schools. She recalls December 1941 when she was awakened by the sound of tanks and Japanese soldiers entering homes and taking anything of value. As her father worked with a guerilla group they left their home. Adler tells of fleeing with no shoes, few clothes and very little personal belongings and moving place to place to avoid detection. She recounts an incident where Japanese soldiers picked her up and took her to Fort Santiago. She and her father were later released. She describes seeing piles of bodies and witnessing torture being done by the Japanese during the occupation and of seeing the fires as Manila was set ablaze. She tells of the joy felt by the population upon seeing the American tanks and soldiers roll into the city and of the return of her and her father to the United States aboard …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clinton Langstaff. Langstaff joined the Navy in early 1943 and qualified for the V-12 program and received college instruction in pre – med in Montana, then at Northwestern University. Upon commissioning and some anti-submarine warfare officer training, Langstaff was scheduled to go aboard a vessel when the war ended. He stayed in the reserves and was eventually discharged in the 1950s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clinton Langstaff. Langstaff joined the Navy in early 1943 and qualified for the V-12 program and received college instruction in pre – med in Montana, then at Northwestern University. Upon commissioning and some anti-submarine warfare officer training, Langstaff was scheduled to go aboard a vessel when the war ended. He stayed in the reserves and was eventually discharged in the 1950s.

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 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 oral interview with David Kinsey. Kinsey has assistance from his son during the interview. Kinsey joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 13th marines, 5th Marine Division. He landed on Iwo Jima on the first day of the battle. He remained at Iwo Jima for the duration of the battle. He was in a communication outfit and his job was to establish and maintain lines of communication. Kinsey was exposed to radiation at Nagasaki after the war and continued to suffer from radiation poisoning well after the exposure.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Kinsey. Kinsey has assistance from his son during the interview. Kinsey joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 13th marines, 5th Marine Division. He landed on Iwo Jima on the first day of the battle. He remained at Iwo Jima for the duration of the battle. He was in a communication outfit and his job was to establish and maintain lines of communication. Kinsey was exposed to radiation at Nagasaki after the war and continued to suffer from radiation poisoning well after the exposure.