The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ivan Brown. Brown joined the Army in 1942. He joined the 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion. His job was working with the 4.2-inch mortar and poison gas. In April of 1943, they deployed to Oran, North Africa. They participated in the allied invasions of Sicily, Italy and southern France, and the Battle of the Ardennes. Brown was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Melvin Troutman. Troutman provides some details of his family???s experiences through the Great Depression. Troutman joined the Navy in June of 1943. He provides some details of his training. He served as a Seaman aboard LCT-943. Troutman vividly describes the LCT, its weaponry and crew members. In January of 1944 they traveled to Brisbane, Australia. From there they traveled to New Guinea, making more than 10 landings. Troutman???s job was to operate the ramp during each landing. In the fall of 1944 they participated in the invasions of Leyte in the Philippines. Troutman received 3 Battle Stars, one for Asia Pacific and two for Philippine Liberation. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Johnson. Johnson worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941, in forest preservation in the areas of firefighting and fire prevention. He then joined the Marine Corps prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina, and provides much detail of boot camp. In April of 1942 he went to American Samoa. He describes their uniform and equipment issued to them prior to their trip. He traveled to Guadalcanal in August of 1943 and served as a rifleman. He provides detail of life on Guadalcanal. He also describes the various diseases he witnessed on American Samoa and Guadalcanal. He discusses life in the infantry and his work as a Marine during the war. He was discharged in May of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Heist. Heist joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He completed navigation school and received his wings and commission in July of 1944. He was assigned to the 15th Air Force, 376th Bomb Group, 514th Bomb Squadron, and served as a navigator aboard a B-24. He also navigated the position of a Victory Ship in a convoy for a 28-day trip across the Atlantic, working with the radio system, arriving in Oran, Africa in October of 1944. He met up with the 376th Bomb Group in Italy. He flew his first mission on 6 December 1944 over Hungary and completed a total of 47 missions. Heist provides details of his experiences through several of his missions over Germany and Italy. Their bomb group was known for their precision bombing, keeping enemy viaducts, roads and rail lines destroyed and useless. After the war, he served in the Reserves and then was released from active duty and assigned to the Voluntary Air Reserve Training Unit (VARTU). He retired in 1973 from the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Schneider. Schneider was born in Akron, Ohio on 4 October 1924. After being drafted in 1943, he had basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Upon completing basic, he was assigned to 273rd Regimental Headquarters Company, 69th Infantry Division as a scout. After a while, he was sent to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey where he boarded the Highland Brigade. During July 1944 he landed on Omaha Beach as a replacement and was initially assigned to 3rd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. On July 24 and 25 the division was accidentally bombed by US aircraft resulting in 683 casualties. Among them was US General Lesley McNair. Schneider worked with the French underground during the Battle of Mortain during August 1944. He recalls entering into Belgium, Holland and Germany and describes being in the Battle of the Bulge and recounts how his battalion found the casualties of the Malmedy Massacre. In February 1945, he was assigned as the jeep driver for the assistant battalion commander. He hit a land mine, which wounded him and killed the other riders. Schneider returned to the United States aboard the RMS Queen …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with August Hodde. Hodde joined the Navy in July 1943. He completed gunnery school, and served as a 40mm gun instructor through early 1944. Around November, Hodde served as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Hugh W Hadley (DD-774). At battle stations, he was gun captain on the portside twin 40mm. Beginning February of 1945, the Hadley escorted HMS Ranee (D03). Hodde describes their role during the Battle of Okinawa in April, helping protect against submarines and aircraft as the Japanese made final attempts to stop the invasion. He provides details of their 11 May attack by the Japanese, receiving bomb hits and downing numerous kamikazes. Hodde remained aboard as the torn Hadley was towed back to the US. He continued his service after the war, receiving his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Head. Head volunteered to join the Navy in February, 1942. Since he already had his pilot’s license, he qualified for flight training. He earned his wings and a commission in October, 1942. He went to Kaneohe and was assigned to VP-13. He relates anecdotes about flying wounded Marines from Tarawa to hospital as well as General Holland Smith and his staff. He also bombed places like Wake Island and targets in the Marshalls. Later in 1944, they were stationed at Saipan and flew patrols. In April, 1945, VP-13 moved to Kerama Retto and flew patrols over the Sea of Japan. He returned to the US in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Fortmeyer. Fortmeyer joined the Navy in February of 1945. He served as Fireman First Class aboard the USS Chickasaw (AT-83). They conducted salvage and rescue operations around Wake Island, the Hawaiian Islands, and along the coast of the United States. Fortmeyer continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ross. Ross joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939, and joined the Navy in August of 1942. In September he was sent to Bremerton, Washington and helped with refurbishing the USS Nevada (BB-36). In May of 1943 they participated in the capture of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. In April of 1944 they escorted convoys to the United Kingdom, and provided fire support during the Normandy invasion. They supported landings during the Battles of Marseilles, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where the Nevada came under severe kamikaze attacks. Ross was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Head. Head volunteered to join the Navy in February, 1942. Since he already had his pilot’s license, he qualified for flight training. He earned his wings and a commission in October, 1942. He went to Kaneohe and was assigned to VP-13. He relates anecdotes about flying wounded Marines from Tarawa to hospital as well as General Holland Smith and his staff. He also bombed places like Wake Island and targets in the Marshalls. Later in 1944, they were stationed at Saipan and flew patrols. In April, 1945, VP-13 moved to Kerama Retto and flew patrols over the Sea of Japan. He returned to the US in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with August Hodde. Hodde joined the Navy in July 1943. He completed gunnery school, and served as a 40mm gun instructor through early 1944. Around November, Hodde served as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Hugh W Hadley (DD-774). At battle stations, he was gun captain on the portside twin 40mm. Beginning February of 1945, the Hadley escorted HMS Ranee (D03). Hodde describes their role during the Battle of Okinawa in April, helping protect against submarines and aircraft as the Japanese made final attempts to stop the invasion. He provides details of their 11 May attack by the Japanese, receiving bomb hits and downing numerous kamikazes. Hodde remained aboard as the torn Hadley was towed back to the US. He continued his service after the war, receiving his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Johnson. Johnson worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941, in forest preservation in the areas of firefighting and fire prevention. He then joined the Marine Corps prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina, and provides much detail of boot camp. In April of 1942 he went to American Samoa. He describes their uniform and equipment issued to them prior to their trip. He traveled to Guadalcanal in August of 1943 and served as a rifleman. He provides detail of life on Guadalcanal. He also describes the various diseases he witnessed on American Samoa and Guadalcanal. He discusses life in the infantry and his work as a Marine during the war. He was discharged in May of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Fortmeyer. Fortmeyer joined the Navy in February of 1945. He served as Fireman First Class aboard the USS Chickasaw (AT-83). They conducted salvage and rescue operations around Wake Island, the Hawaiian Islands, and along the coast of the United States. Fortmeyer continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Schneider. Schneider was born in Akron, Ohio on 4 October 1924. After being drafted in 1943, he had basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Upon completing basic, he was assigned to 273rd Regimental Headquarters Company, 69th Infantry Division as a scout. After a while, he was sent to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey where he boarded the Highland Brigade. During July 1944 he landed on Omaha Beach as a replacement and was initially assigned to 3rd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. On July 24 and 25 the division was accidentally bombed by US aircraft resulting in 683 casualties. Among them was US General Lesley McNair. Schneider worked with the French underground during the Battle of Mortain during August 1944. He recalls entering into Belgium, Holland and Germany and describes being in the Battle of the Bulge and recounts how his battalion found the casualties of the Malmedy Massacre. In February 1945, he was assigned as the jeep driver for the assistant battalion commander. He hit a land mine, which wounded him and killed the other riders. Schneider returned to the United States aboard the RMS Queen …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Heist. Heist joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He completed navigation school and received his wings and commission in July of 1944. He was assigned to the 15th Air Force, 376th Bomb Group, 514th Bomb Squadron, and served as a navigator aboard a B-24. He also navigated the position of a Victory Ship in a convoy for a 28-day trip across the Atlantic, working with the radio system, arriving in Oran, Africa in October of 1944. He met up with the 376th Bomb Group in Italy. He flew his first mission on 6 December 1944 over Hungary and completed a total of 47 missions. Heist provides details of his experiences through several of his missions over Germany and Italy. Their bomb group was known for their precision bombing, keeping enemy viaducts, roads and rail lines destroyed and useless. After the war, he served in the Reserves and then was released from active duty and assigned to the Voluntary Air Reserve Training Unit (VARTU). He retired in 1973 from the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Melvin Troutman. Troutman provides some details of his family???s experiences through the Great Depression. Troutman joined the Navy in June of 1943. He provides some details of his training. He served as a Seaman aboard LCT-943. Troutman vividly describes the LCT, its weaponry and crew members. In January of 1944 they traveled to Brisbane, Australia. From there they traveled to New Guinea, making more than 10 landings. Troutman???s job was to operate the ramp during each landing. In the fall of 1944 they participated in the invasions of Leyte in the Philippines. Troutman received 3 Battle Stars, one for Asia Pacific and two for Philippine Liberation. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ross. Ross joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939, and joined the Navy in August of 1942. In September he was sent to Bremerton, Washington and helped with refurbishing the USS Nevada (BB-36). In May of 1943 they participated in the capture of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. In April of 1944 they escorted convoys to the United Kingdom, and provided fire support during the Normandy invasion. They supported landings during the Battles of Marseilles, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where the Nevada came under severe kamikaze attacks. Ross was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ivan Brown. Brown joined the Army in 1942. He joined the 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion. His job was working with the 4.2-inch mortar and poison gas. In April of 1943, they deployed to Oran, North Africa. They participated in the allied invasions of Sicily, Italy and southern France, and the Battle of the Ardennes. Brown was discharged in late 1945.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a phone call from Bef Walcowich about selling the car, which she decided not to do, as well as a lunch with Jenny and Mammy where she found a snake in the cabinet.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his squadron's plans to make a meal of the food they received in their packages, updating Catherine that Kenny is no longer in his squadron, and expressing his joy that she decided to keep the hound dog that Teddy befriended.