The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Rothhaar. Rothhaar joined the Navy in 1942. He served as Coxswain of a whaleboat aboard USS Cotten (DD-669). He transported crewmembers to and from shore. He recalls several encounters with the Japanese through the Pacific Theater. He remained with the Cotton until it returned to the US in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Merrill Butler. Born in 1925, he was inducted into the Army in 1943. After graduating from officer candidate school, he joined the 76th Infantry Division, 301st Engineer Combat Battalion. He explains the military hierarchy of a battalion. As a former football player at the University of Southern California (USC), he became the leader of the battalion football team. He describes being in a convoy of ships bound for England. He was sent to France in December 1944. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, moving from France into Belgium. From the location of Echternach, Luxembourg, he was part of the force that breached the Siegfried Line at the Sauer River. He describes the Siegfried Line as well as clearing German antipersonnel mines, known as Bouncing Betties, with Bangalore torpedoes. He also talks about destroying German defensive pill boxes. He discusses interactions with German citizens as they advanced across Germany. After they crossed the Rhine, his group was transferred from the First Army to the Third Army and continued toward Dresden, Germany. When the 76th Infantry Division was disbanded, he joined the 30th Infantry Division on the Elbe …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard G. Toler. Toler grew up in Oklahoma and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He received his commission in 1941 and proceeded to Hickam Field attached to the 42nd Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group. Toler describes the attack on Pearl Harbor and his participation in the battle. He also mentions attacking Henderson Field in a B-17 on Guadalcanal prior to the Marine landing there. Toler describes having to ditch in the ocean after the raid and being rescued. He also describes participating in the Battle of Midway. Also during the war ,Toler served as an instructo for B-17 bombers at Hobbs, New Mexico. He was there when the war ended. He stayed in the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1963.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Pat Duncan. Duncan joined the Navy 9 July 1940 and after training in San Diego he was put on the USS Brazos (AO-4) for transport to Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to the USS Raleigh (CL-7). He was onboard for almost a year before the war started. Duncan was the bugler, stood orderly watches and did deck work. He was standing watch on 7 December 1941 and saw the plane coming in low that dropped the torpedo that hit the Raleigh, right below where he was standing. The officer of the deck told him to sound general quarters but his bugle was full of water. His battle station was a three-inch gun. The Raleigh was hit again with a bomb aft, where Duncan’s sleeping quarters were. The ship was trying to turn over but the captain told them to jettison everything overboard. A barge came over with some float pontoons that helped the ship stay afloat. The Raleigh went into dry dock at Pearl Harbor where it got patched up enough to get to Mare Island for additional repairs. After seven and half months in San Francisco, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sterling Maresch. Maresch went into the Army in October, 1943. In May, 1944, he shipped overseas to a staging area in New Guinea and was assigned to the 470th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. From there, they moved to the Philippines for the invasion of Luzon. When the war ended, Maresch re-enlisted and transferred to the Army Air Forces. After some training in aircraft instrument repair, he was sent to Germany.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ruth Hary. Ruth was married to Edward Hary, a former submariner. She shares information of her family history, stories of civilian life during World War II, details of Edward’s time in the service, as well as anecdotes of their marriage in September of 1943. During wartime, Ruth worked at Texas A&M University until she had their first child.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hershel Downing. Downing was drafted into the Army and served as a platoon sergeant with the 81st Infantry Division, 306th Medical Battalion. He was in charge of the motor pool and also dispatched ambulances. Downing describes evacuating and assisting wounded soldiers. He briefly describes his service on Palau, Leyte, and during the occupation of Japan. Downing was discharged from the service when he returned to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Perry. Perry was born in Dallas, Texas in 1921 and graduated from high school in 1940. He joined the Navy in 1942 and was sent to boot camp at San Diego. He was selected for radio operator training. During this time he was put in the brig for five days for a rules infraction. Upon release, he was sent to North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. Here, while having no particular job assignment, he volunteered for the submarine service. After being accepted, he was sent to Mare Island, California. He was assigned to the USS Haddo (SS-255) as a fireman with additional duties as a mess cook. The captain of the boat was Chester W. Nimitz, Jr. He recalls an incident where the submarine was attacked by a Japanese plane dropping a depth charge and how frightful the experience was. After making several uneventful war patrols, he was assigned to a rest camp at Perth, Australia as a bar tender in the officer’s club. He remained on that job until the Japanese surrendered.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leal Langshaw. Langshaw was born in Salina, Kansas 29 December 1918. At 21 he joined the US Navy and underwent boot camp at San Diego. He then attended machinist school and worked in a torpedo shop. He describes defects in the torpedo firing pins. Langshaw was transferred to Pearl Harbor and he describes what he saw when he arrived there on 24 December 1941. He was assigned to the engine room of the USS Plunger (SS-179) and tells of detecting a defect in one of the engines, thus saving it from being damaged. As a result of his actions, he was promoted to seaman second class. He made four war patrols on the Plunger and tells of going through the Okhotsk Sea to attack Japanese shipping in the Sea of Japan. In 1944, Langshaw returned to the United States and was sent to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to assist in preparing the USS Scabbardfish (SS-397) for commissioning. He recalls being on a war patrol near Formosa when they encountered a typhoon. After riding out the typhoon, he requested land duty. Upon arriving at Pearl Harbor he taught hydraulics at …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Palmer. Palmer was born in 1922 in Tiosa, Indiana. He enlisted in the Army in January, 1942 and took basic training at Fort Robinson, Arkansas where he was assigned to the Medical Corps. From there, he went to Fort Benning, Georgia and worked ina field hospital until he took and passed the Army Air Forces cadet training tests. He reported to preflight training in San Antonio in December, 1942. Palmer earned his wings and was commissioned in August 1943 just prior to reporting for duty with the 309th Bomb Wing in South Carolina. Palmer was assigned to a B-25 crew as copilot and flew a new bomber to North Africa in December, where they were attached to the 310th Bomb Group stationed on Corsica. Palmer describes bombing missions over Italy and southern France. Palmer flew 40 missions in a B-25 as a copilot and 30 as a pilot. After 70 missions, Palmer was sent home in September, 1944. Palmer was assigned as a flight instructor at Altus, Oklahoma after he returned. When the war ended, Palmer was assigned to the Transport Command where he ferried planes. Later …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond F. Hasker. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on October 22, 1922 and enlisted in the Navy on December 11, 1940. After graduating from Aviation Machinist School in May 1941, he sailed on the USS Wharton (AP-7) to Pearl Harbor. During the Japanese attack on December 7, he recalls removing wounded sailors from the water near the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) to the Mobile Hospital at Landing A and pulling damaged PBYs from the airfield with a tractor. He also recounts that he and other sailors spent the night on the roof of the Operations Building at Hickham Airfield armed with antiquated machine guns in anticipation of a Japanese troop landing. He describes taking photos of Eleanor Roosevelt during a visit to Honolulu. He also recounts a flight with an admiral in a new model aircraft that was known to be problematic. He describes how the plane crash landed in the water and the admiral telling him he was grounding all future flights in that model. He recalls that he got so bored while stationed at Pearl Harbor that he volunteered for Parachute Rigging school and graduated with …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Scott. He joined the Marine Corps and served as a crew chief with Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 235 (VMSB-235). When he reached Ewa on Oahu, he was working on C-47 planes giving them their 1,000 hour overhauls with Marine Air GRoup 15 (MAG-15). He shares several anecdotes about test flying aircraft all over the Pacific.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward J. Kostelich. He joined the Army Air Corps on 1 July, 1940. He was assigned to Hickam Field, Hawaii. He recounts his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor. In October 1943, his squadron was sent to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal to fly missions targeting Japanese troop ships and supplies. In 1944 he was sent back to the United States. He was discharged in July 1945. He shares an anecdote about making moonshine while in Hawaii. The interview includes information about his parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Mann. Mann joined the Army National Guard in January of 1941. He served with a medical unit and played trumpet in the band. He completed Officer Candidate School, and was later commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army Air Forces around mid-1944. He deployed to Casablanca in September, and was assigned to a base in Abadan, Iran. He served as a B-25 pilot, completing missions over North Africa and Iran. Mann was discharged around early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Scott. He joined the Marine Corps and served as a crew chief with Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 235 (VMSB-235). When he reached Ewa on Oahu, he was working on C-47 planes giving them their 1,000 hour overhauls with Marine Air GRoup 15 (MAG-15). He shares several anecdotes about test flying aircraft all over the Pacific.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Palmer. Palmer was born in 1922 in Tiosa, Indiana. He enlisted in the Army in January, 1942 and took basic training at Fort Robinson, Arkansas where he was assigned to the Medical Corps. From there, he went to Fort Benning, Georgia and worked ina field hospital until he took and passed the Army Air Forces cadet training tests. He reported to preflight training in San Antonio in December, 1942. Palmer earned his wings and was commissioned in August 1943 just prior to reporting for duty with the 309th Bomb Wing in South Carolina. Palmer was assigned to a B-25 crew as copilot and flew a new bomber to North Africa in December, where they were attached to the 310th Bomb Group stationed on Corsica. Palmer describes bombing missions over Italy and southern France. Palmer flew 40 missions in a B-25 as a copilot and 30 as a pilot. After 70 missions, Palmer was sent home in September, 1944. Palmer was assigned as a flight instructor at Altus, Oklahoma after he returned. When the war ended, Palmer was assigned to the Transport Command where he ferried planes. Later …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond F. Hasker. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on October 22, 1922 and enlisted in the Navy on December 11, 1940. After graduating from Aviation Machinist School in May 1941, he sailed on the USS Wharton (AP-7) to Pearl Harbor. During the Japanese attack on December 7, he recalls removing wounded sailors from the water near the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) to the Mobile Hospital at Landing A and pulling damaged PBYs from the airfield with a tractor. He also recounts that he and other sailors spent the night on the roof of the Operations Building at Hickham Airfield armed with antiquated machine guns in anticipation of a Japanese troop landing. He describes taking photos of Eleanor Roosevelt during a visit to Honolulu. He also recounts a flight with an admiral in a new model aircraft that was known to be problematic. He describes how the plane crash landed in the water and the admiral telling him he was grounding all future flights in that model. He recalls that he got so bored while stationed at Pearl Harbor that he volunteered for Parachute Rigging school and graduated with …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Rothhaar. Rothhaar joined the Navy in 1942. He served as Coxswain of a whaleboat aboard USS Cotten (DD-669). He transported crewmembers to and from shore. He recalls several encounters with the Japanese through the Pacific Theater. He remained with the Cotton until it returned to the US in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Merrill Butler. Born in 1925, he was inducted into the Army in 1943. After graduating from officer candidate school, he joined the 76th Infantry Division, 301st Engineer Combat Battalion. He explains the military hierarchy of a battalion. As a former football player at the University of Southern California (USC), he became the leader of the battalion football team. He describes being in a convoy of ships bound for England. He was sent to France in December 1944. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, moving from France into Belgium. From the location of Echternach, Luxembourg, he was part of the force that breached the Siegfried Line at the Sauer River. He describes the Siegfried Line as well as clearing German antipersonnel mines, known as Bouncing Betties, with Bangalore torpedoes. He also talks about destroying German defensive pill boxes. He discusses interactions with German citizens as they advanced across Germany. After they crossed the Rhine, his group was transferred from the First Army to the Third Army and continued toward Dresden, Germany. When the 76th Infantry Division was disbanded, he joined the 30th Infantry Division on the Elbe …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard G. Toler. Toler grew up in Oklahoma and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He received his commission in 1941 and proceeded to Hickam Field attached to the 42nd Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group. Toler describes the attack on Pearl Harbor and his participation in the battle. He also mentions attacking Henderson Field in a B-17 on Guadalcanal prior to the Marine landing there. Toler describes having to ditch in the ocean after the raid and being rescued. He also describes participating in the Battle of Midway. Also during the war ,Toler served as an instructo for B-17 bombers at Hobbs, New Mexico. He was there when the war ended. He stayed in the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1963.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sterling Maresch. Maresch went into the Army in October, 1943. In May, 1944, he shipped overseas to a staging area in New Guinea and was assigned to the 470th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. From there, they moved to the Philippines for the invasion of Luzon. When the war ended, Maresch re-enlisted and transferred to the Army Air Forces. After some training in aircraft instrument repair, he was sent to Germany.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ruth Hary. Ruth was married to Edward Hary, a former submariner. She shares information of her family history, stories of civilian life during World War II, details of Edward’s time in the service, as well as anecdotes of their marriage in September of 1943. During wartime, Ruth worked at Texas A&M University until she had their first child.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hershel Downing. Downing was drafted into the Army and served as a platoon sergeant with the 81st Infantry Division, 306th Medical Battalion. He was in charge of the motor pool and also dispatched ambulances. Downing describes evacuating and assisting wounded soldiers. He briefly describes his service on Palau, Leyte, and during the occupation of Japan. Downing was discharged from the service when he returned to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Perry. Perry was born in Dallas, Texas in 1921 and graduated from high school in 1940. He joined the Navy in 1942 and was sent to boot camp at San Diego. He was selected for radio operator training. During this time he was put in the brig for five days for a rules infraction. Upon release, he was sent to North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. Here, while having no particular job assignment, he volunteered for the submarine service. After being accepted, he was sent to Mare Island, California. He was assigned to the USS Haddo (SS-255) as a fireman with additional duties as a mess cook. The captain of the boat was Chester W. Nimitz, Jr. He recalls an incident where the submarine was attacked by a Japanese plane dropping a depth charge and how frightful the experience was. After making several uneventful war patrols, he was assigned to a rest camp at Perth, Australia as a bar tender in the officer’s club. He remained on that job until the Japanese surrendered.