The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Beverly Bagley of Fullerton, California. She discusses where she was when Pearl Harbor was bombed and recalls hearing President Roosevelt's speech about the incident. Mrs. Bagley also talks about how her father wanted to volunteer for the military, but her mother refused to sign off on it, so he was barred from joining the war. Mrs. Bagley recalls having to save everything from aluminum cans to chewing gum wrappers and the war time rationing that occurred. She also recounts her time spent in the hospital during the war, in 1943, due to Polio. Mrs. Bagley tells the interviewer that there was no celebration when Germany surrendered, but there was one when the bombs were dropped over Japan and the peace treaty signed, signifying the real end of World War 2. She also talks about her cousins and her husband who were enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Couch. Couch joined the Army Air Corps in 1939. He served in the armament section as an aircraft mechanic. Once the war began, he worked as the Chief Armorer of the armament section of the 73rd Bombardment Squadron until 1943. He traveled to New Guinea, Morotai Island and to Clark Field in the Philippines, where he was stationed when the war ended. He continued his service after the war ended, retiring in 1960 as a Master Sergeant, E-7.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Andrew. Andrew joined the Army in June of 1943. He served with the 34th Infantry Division, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Company B. Beginning late 1943, Andrew traveled aboard the USS Butler (DD-636) to Africa, participating in additional training. In January of 1944 they traveled to Naples, Italy, and participated in the Italian Campaign on the front line battering the Bernhardt Line defenses. From March through June, they participated in the Battle of Anzio. Andrew was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Mika. Mika joined the Navy in 1942. He attended aviation metalsmith school in Norman, Oklahoma, repairing airplane parts, including the wings and fuselage, and welding aluminum. In late 1943 he graduated from Aerial Gunnery School in California. He served aboard the USS Santee (CVE-29) beginning March of 1944. They participated in the invasion of Hollandia, Morotai and Guam. Mika’s job aboard the ship was servicing the planes and aviation gas detail. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and he describes an attack by a kamikaze plane and a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. They traveled back to Pearl Harbor for repairs, and then back out to Okinawa. He provides some details of the carrier. They traveled to Wakayama, Japan and picked up American, British and Australian prisoners of war. He was discharged in April of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Elmo King. King served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. He joined the Navy in December of 1942. In March of 1943 he served aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43) as a gunner, working with 14-inch guns. His position was rammer man in the main battery, left gun of turret two. He provides description of his job aboard and the weapons themselves. Overall, King participated in ten battles, including the bombardment of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, and the assault and capture of Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Kavieng, New Ireland, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Anguar, Palau Islands, Leyte, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Battle of Suriago Strait. He provides details of these experiences aboard the Tennessee. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Jura. Jura was drafted into the Navy in December of 1944. He was sent to Yerba Buena Island and was considered ship’s company. Jura worked in the barracks office as a Ration Yeoman on the island installation, billeting about 4,000 soldiers. Jura describes life on Treasure Island, and his job in detail. He was discharged in July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gordon Wilkinson. Wilkinson was drafted into the Army in January 1945. He completed basic training in Camp Wheeler, Georgia. He provides details of his experiences in training. He served in the Luzon, Philippines campaign. They first landed in Eniwetok and picked up a convoy then headed into the Philippines. He was a part of the fifth replacement and later the 43rd Infantry Division and Headquarters Company. They were set up in Cabanatuan. Then they traveled to Japan in September 1945. The 43rd Infantry Division was deactivated and Wilkinson joined the 1st Cavalry Division in Osaka, and he was assigned to the 302nd Recon. He provides detail of his time in Osaka. He left Japan in December 1945 and was shipped to Fort Stevens, Oregon where he re-enlisted. He attended Counter Intelligence School in Baltimore, Maryland. He was then stationed in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was in the service 29 years, and retired as Chief Warrant Officer Four.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jackie Haworth. Haworth entered the Navy March 1944. He went to Faragut, Idaho for boot camp. From there he went on to California, Hawaii and then to the South Pacific and boarded the USS Boston (CA-69). He was in the black gang on the Boston working in the aft engine room serving as a fireman, first class. Later, he became a machinist mate, first class. He was part of the Battle of the Philippine Sea in 1944. He provides details of that event. He was discharged May 1946. His ship was bombarding Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima. He toured the area afterwards and gives details of what he saw. He used his G.I. Bill to attend Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma for aircraft engine training. He later worked on the railroad, then got into the oil industry.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Lowe. Lowe joined the Army Air Forces in October 1944. He completed basic training in Wichita Falls, Texas, gunnery school in Fort Myers, Florida and Clovis, New Mexico. His training consisted of simulation bombing flights over Syracuse, New York and Havana, Cuba. Lowe completed reconnaissance training in Salina, Kansas. He was later transferred to Lincoln, Nebraska where he was assigned to a bomb crew to serve as a B-29 tail gunner. For Lowe, the war ended before he could be deployed overseas or complete any combat missions. He was assigned to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, where he received his discharge in August of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Lawrence. Lawrence graduated high school in 1938 or 1939. He then joined the Navy and completed boot camp in California. He served aboard the USS Portland (CA-33) as a radar operator. He did not go to school to learn the radar, he learned what he needed to know aboard the ship. His ship was torpedoed during the Naval Battle at Guadalcanal in 1942. After the ship was repaired they stayed in the Pacific. He served for three years and three months. Once he was discharged he worked for a local delivery dairy in Santa Rosa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Harvey. Harvey was born in Memphis, Texas on 29 October 1923. He relates some of the hardships the family of eight children endured during the Great Depression. Upon quitting high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942. Following boot camp, he was selected for the Paramarines and relates his experiences during his training as a Marine paratrooper. He remembers the conditions aboard the transport ships, the mission to Vella Lavella and incidents on Bougainville and New Caledonia, including an overdose of Atabrine. He recalls landing on Iwo Jima and his experiences there including being severely wounded.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William N. Gottsman. Gottsman joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1942. He served as a military policeman at the Kelly Air Force Base aviation cadet center for the duration of his service. He received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Hanks. Hanks joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He received his wings in February of 1944. Hanks was assigned to Malden, Missouri to teach troop carrier training, where he served as a pilot instructor for the remainder of the war. He was discharged around February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Aristides Phoutrides. Phoutrides joined the Navy in May 1943 and went to quartermaster school after boot camp. He was then assigned to USS Laffey (DD-724) in February, 1944. He recalls bombarding the shore during the Normandy invasion. In late 1944, he went to the Philippines with the Laffey. He recalls escorting carriers during the Iwo Jima invasion. He also recalls being at Okinawa on radar picket duty on 16 April and being attacked by 22 kamikazes and struck by six. They returned to Seattle for repairs and were there when the war ended. Phoutrides was discharged in May 1946 but stayed in the Reserves. He was recalled during the Korean War and given a commission.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marcus Williams. Williams was born 22 December 1927. He joined the Navy in December of 1945, at the age of 18. He received no formal training, and served as a painter aboard USS Cape Gloucester (CVE-109), and traveled to Hawaii. He was then transferred to a troop carrier, and did not have any duties aboard. Williams then served as Able Seaman on board the Japanese cruiser Sakawa from 20 May through 8 July 1946. He assisted in preparing the vessel for the Bikini atomic experiments. He shares details of the nuclear testing. Williams was then transferred to a yard patrol boat, YP-636, picking up dead fish from the nuclear testing and freezing them. He returned to the US in September. He received his discharge in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Evans. Evans joined the Army in August of 1944. He served as a tank driver with the 41st Infantry Division, participating in the New Guinea and Philippines Campaigns. Evans served with occupation forces in Japan. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe Camp Pearce. Pearce joined the Navy in November of 1944. He served as an instructor on the Link Trainer and radio navigation in Atlanta, Georgia and Pensacola, Florida. Pearce did not go overseas, though remained an instructor for the duration of the war. He received a discharge in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Golson. Golson joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and trained at San Diego. Once overseas, he was assigned as a 60mm mortar man in the 4th Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division. He was with them during the invasion of Guam. Golson describes some of the conditions of battle and his experiences in combat at Okinawa. He also shares anecdotes about occupation duty in Yokosuka before being discharged from the Marines in April, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Tubig. Tubig was born in the Philippines in 1918 and joined the Philippine Scouts in 1941. After the surrender of the American forces on Bataan, he participated in the Bataan Death March. He describes the march to Capas, where they were interned at Camp O’Donnell. Tubig escaped with another prisoner and returned to his home. He did not participate in guerilla activities after his escape. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1946 and was discharged in 1948.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Justo Dumlao. Dumlao was born in the Philippines in 1914. By the time the war broke out, he had already trained as a radio operator in the Philippine Scouts. He was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg when the Japanese invaded. Dumlao retreated to Bataan alongside American troops and ultimately surrendered. He made the brutal trek to Camp O’Donnell while suffering from malaria, dysentery, and beriberi. Upon release, his family nursed him back to health. He then rejoined the guerillas and was instrumental in the Raid at Cabanatuan. After the war, Dumlao enlisted in the United States Army and gained citizenship. At his 100th birthday celebration, he was presented with the Bronze Star for his participation in the Great Raid.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herb Stern. Stern was born in Berlin, Germany in October 1919. His father was imprisoned by the Nazis and Stern immigrated to the United States in 1936. After completing high school, he attended the University of Cincinnati for four years. He was drafted into the Army in June 1941 and sent to Camp Lee, Virginia for basic training. From there he was assigned as a medic to the 9th Infantry Division. The division made practice landings at Solomons, Maryland. In October 1942 the division went to Morocco. Being fluent in German, Stern was assigned to G-2 (intelligence) to interrogate of German prisoners of war. He was then assigned to the Free French forces and worked with the medical battalions near the front lines. He interrogated a large number of prisoners captured in Bizerte, Tunisia. After spending time in Palermo, Sicily, he went to Liverpool, England where he was trained at a British Intelligence school. When his training was completed, he was sent to various units to give instructions in intelligence gathering. Stern landed at Utah Beach three days after the initial invasion and advanced to the Hurtgen Forest, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Money Mills. Mills was drafted into the Navy in August 1943 and received basic training at Bainbridge. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Texas (BB-35), where he served as a shell handler beneath turret four. At Normandy, he reported a sniper to the captain, who called in a P-38 to eradicate him. Mills looked on as rangers struggled up the cliffs, many of them brought back to the Texas for medical care. At Cherbourg, the helmsman was killed and others were wounded, but Mills was too busy to be afraid. At the invasion of Southern France there was little resistance, but en route he encountered children living in extreme poverty. At the start of 1945, Mills became an engine-oiler and headed to Leyte, where natives lived amidst rubble. At Iwo Jima, he saw Marines wielding flamethrowers against the enemy. Plagued by kamikazes at Okinawa, he managed to shoot one down. Heartily celebrating V-J Day aboard ship, he returned home and was discharged in November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Carey. Carey joined the Navy right after finishing high school in June, 1944, and trained at Great Lakes. After basic training, he attended signal school. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Armed Guard and went aboard the Fort Erie, an oil tanker. Carey recalls some ports in the South Pacific he visited and a few experiences aboard ship. When the war ended, Carey was assigned to a crew that mothballed various ships. He was discharged in May, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Cobleigh. Cobleigh joined the Civilian Conservation Corps of Colorado in 1938, and later joined the Vermont Coast Guard, then the Navy. By October of 1942 he was serving on Tulagi Island during the Guadalcanal Campaign. He worked on island patrol and as a cook aboard the USS PT-111. PT-111 intercepted Japanese forces, completing 11 patrols, including missions around Bougainville. In January of 1943 Cobleigh was transferred to the USS Cossatot (AO-77) and traveled across the Atlantic, through the Mediterranean and around the Arabian Peninsula, supplying fuel and dry stores to ships. From late 1943 through 1944 he served aboard the USS Acontius (AGP-12) and traveled to Hallaniyat Island. In late 1944 he transferred back to PT boats until the end of the war. Cobleigh was discharge din January of 1946.