The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Maurice Horine. Horine joined the Navy in August of 1942. He completed Yeoman schooling. He served as Yeoman Second-Class with a Carrier Aircraft Service Unit in Seattle through April of 1944. In January of 1945, Horine was assigned to the USS General M. L. Hersey (AP-148). They transported troops to the Philippines and the Mariana Islands during the final amphibious offensive against Japan. After the war, he returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with Ruth Fowler. Fowler was teaching in Big Spring, Texas, when she went out for the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. She was accepted and was trained to fly. She evetually became an instructor. She also discusses rationing.

Ensemble performance at the UNT College of Music Winspear Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Miller. Miller was born 10 September 1926 in rural Fulton County, Indiana. Upon graduating from high school in 1944, he joined the Navy and went to boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois. Completing boot camp he was sent to Portland, Maine and assigned as Water Tender 3rd Class on the USS Varian (DE-798). In November 1944 the ship joined two other destroyer escorts as a hunter-killer group. In April 1945, while on patrol in the Azores, their sonar picked up German submarine U-248. All three ships dropped depth charges that sank the submarine. In early 1945 the group engaged and sank the German submarine U-546. The surviving submarine crewmen were picked up by the Varian and taken to Newfoundland. Soon after Germany surrendered, the Varian met the submarine U-805 on the high seas and accepted its surrender. An American crew was put on board and taken to Newfoundland. The boat was at the Charleston, South Carolina Naval Yard for refitting when Japan surrendered. Miller was discharged 6 June 1947.

Ensemble performance at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

Ensemble performance at the UNT College of Music at Winspear Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alphonsis Stockdale. Stockdale was born near Morristown, South Dakota 2 August 1915. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy in 1934 and went to San Diego for boot training. He then trained as a radio operator. In 1940, he joined Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 aboard PT-24 and went to Pearl Harbor where he witnessed the Japanese attack. Arriving at Midway Island on 2 June 1942 he was present when the Japanese launched their attack. Afterwards, Stockdale went to Melville, Rhode Island, for training in PT boats. Completing the course, he was assigned to PT-107 of Squadron 5. Robert Montgomery, the movie actor, served as boat captain. After training in the Galapagos Islands for several months the boat was taken by ship to New Caledonia, then the Solomons, where they began combat patrols. Stockdale recalls PT-107 and three other boats were involved in an operation to land a group of Marines on Vella Lavella. The landing was repelled by the Japanese and the Marines suffered numerous casualties. He developed a severe case of jungle rot, which hospitalized him on New Caledonia. He was then put aboard …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Anthony Ganarelli. Ganarellis was born in Huntington, Pennsylvania in 1913 and enlisted in the Navy in May 1934. Upon completing basic training in Norfolk, Virginia he was assigned as a gunner’s mate to the USS Tennessee (BB-43), where he remained for seven years. He recalls that, when the Japanese attacked on the morning of December 7, 1941, the Tennessee was in Pearl Harbor, inboard of the USS Arizona (BB-39) and forward of the USS West Virginia (BB-48), and his battle station was turret four. He describes being surrounded by fires caused by explosions on the Arizona and West Virginia, which necessitated flooding all the ship’s magazines. He also remembers observing the devastation at Ford Island and Hickam Field. His next assignment was to the commissioning crew of the USS Indiana (BB-58), and he describes the Indiana’s role in supporting carrier groups at Iwo Jima, Tinian and Saipan. Ganarelli received a field commission and achieved the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) by the time he left the Indiana in April 1945. He retired in October 1959.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Crider. Crider joined the Marine Corps in early 1941. He completed Communications School, and served with the Base Guard Battalion, maintaining security of the main gates and other designated areas. In November he joined a garrison at Pearl Harbor, where he was during the Japanese attack. After the attack, his battalion traveled to Midway Island and installed two 7-inch Navy gun mounts on the island. He later traveled to New Hebrides, where they provided shore defense for the air strip. In Guadalcanal they helped with anti-aircraft operations. Crider contracted malaria several times while overseas. He returned to the US in November of 1945, though remained in the inactive reserves until 1956.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Sehe. Sehe was born in Geneva, Illinois, on 26 February 1923 and enlisted in the Navy in November 1940. Upon completing basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois in February 1941, he completed gunner’s mate school and was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36). He recalls the Nevada, the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and the USS Arizona (BB-39) made up Battle Division One at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Sehe describes the events of 7 December 1941 when the Nevada was hit by a torpedo and several bombs while attempting to move away from the Arizona and the flaming oil. He recalls many heroic actions by crew members, including Ensign Joe Taussig (later awarded the Navy Cross), as the ship eventually got underway and grounded off Hospital Point. He then details the search for victims within the hull over the ensuing days, in which he played an integral role. He describes the temporary repairs that allowed the ship to steam for Bremerton, Washington for a complete refitting. Next, he describes the Nevada’s role at Utah Beach and in the Battle of Cherbourg immediately following the Allied landing on Normandy. He recounts …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester W. Marshall. He was born March 19, 1917 in Holmes County, Mississippi. He describes growing up during the Depression. On June 26, 1940 he enlisted as a private in the Army Air Corps. In early 1942 he was accepted into Aviation Cadet training. In July 1943 he was assigned to the 30th Bomber Group of the 20th Air Force in Salina, Kansas to train as a flight engineer on B-29s. He recalls being transferred to the 31st Bomber Group on Saipan in October 1944. He describes taking part in 30 bombing raids from Saipan over Tokyo in 1945. He describes one mission over Japan at high altitude on March 17, 1945 gathering weather data for future bombing runs, when his aircraft was shot up by the Japanese and had to make an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. He recalls meeting Colonel Paul Tibbetts while in the Marianas. He recalls being assigned as a B-29 instructor at Roswell, New Mexico Air Base when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dallas Harvey. Harvey joined the Navy in 1937. He completed training as a Hospital Corpsman, and dental technician. He was assigned to Pearl Harbor, serving in the Sick Bay and dental office aboard the USS Argonne (AS-10). Harvey was aboard the ship, which was positioned at the north end of 1010 dock, during the attack on Pearl Harbor. They later traveled to the Fiji Islands, New Caledonia and Guam, where Harvey worked in a hospital built by the Seabees. He returned to the US in December of 1945 and retired from the Navy in 1967.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Deno Petrucciani. Petrucciani joined the Navy in September of 1940. He served with the deck force aboard USS Maryland (BB-46). In January of 1941 they traveled to Pearl Harbor. Petrucciani was aboard the Maryland during the attack on 7 December 1941. He served aboard the ship for four and half years. He shares a number of anecdotal stories living on the Maryland. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dick Frieze. Frieze joined the Navy in 1939. He trained as an aviation machinist mate, and worked at a base in Pearl Harbor, where he shares some anecdotal stories working for Captain John Sidney McCain. Frieze was in a hangar at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and provides his recollections of surviving that fateful day. He speaks about Lieutenant Fasada Iada, a Japanese pilot, whom Frieze shot at right before he crash-landed in the Officers’ Housing Quarters. He continues on to speak on Iada’s burial and memorial on the island. He was later assigned to the USS Platte (AO-24). Frieze served 46 months overseas during World War II, including 25 months in combat, and completed 20 years overall in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Leonard. Leonard grew up during the Great Depression and shares details of his family’s experiences during that economic downturn. He joined the Marine Corps in November of 1939. By 1940 he was in Bremerton, Washington and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 2. They were stationed 10 miles from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by 1941. Leonard completed gunnery school. He also grew up learning much about mechanics and pursued that skill set on the island. Leonard was at Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941, and provides vivid details of his experiences through that fateful event. In March of 1942 he joined Marine Aircraft Group 25. They initially operated from New Caledonia, flying missions in support of the Marines at Guadalcanal in September of 1942. In March of 1943 he took a job in the US delivering planes to factories, and sharing design changes with engineers for optimal flight performance. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Evelyn Gordon. Gordon joined the Navy in 1943. She served as Yeoman Second Class in the United States Naval Reserve, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). She trained at Hunter College in The Bronx, New York. From there she was shipped to Port Hueneme, California. Their job was to put the Naval base into commission where they trained and shipped out construction battalions, the Seabees. She provides some details of her working and living accommodations in Quonset City and shares some anecdotes. Gordon served at this location until 1945 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Garland Swann. Swann joined the Marine Corps in June of 1940. He trained to serve as an aviation mechanic. In January of 1941 he was stationed in Hawaii, working as an airplane mechanic and helping to build the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa. He recalls the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From Pearl, he was shipped to Midway Island for 13 months. Around 1943, Swann was transferred to Majuro, and moved throughout the Pacific. He was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Fyke. Fyke joined the Navy in December of 1939. He served on the USS Nevada (BB-36), and was aboard during the attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. In January of 1943 they provided fire support for the capture of Attu, during the Aleutians Campaign. They completed bombardment missions through the Battle of Okinawa. Fyke was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Swift. Swift was born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 3 December 1919. Upon joining the Navy in 1939 he had three months of boot training at San Diego, followed by four months of study at the electrical ordnance school. Reporting aboard the USS Reid (DD-369) in December 1939, he was assigned to the engine room. The Reid was at Pearl Harbor tied up next to the USS Whitney (AD-4) when the Japanese attacked. In March 1942 he went aboard the USS Barton (DD-599). Several months later the Barton was assigned as an escort for the USS Hornet (CV-8). He recalls rescuing survivors of the Hornet after the ship was sunk off Santa Cruz. In November 1942 the Barton was sunk off Guadalcanal. Swift describes his ordeal in the water, being rescued by the USS Portland (CA-33) and being taken to a Marine hospital where he spent several days. Upon his release he was assigned to the USS Navajo (AT-64). The Navajo took the damaged USS Chicago in tow. Both ships were attacked by Japanese aircraft and the Chicago was sunk. When the Navajo sank in September 1943, Swift …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James R. O'Donnel. He was born in Donora, Pennsylvania and joined the Aviation Cadet training program in December 1942. Upon graduation from Bombardier School in late 1943 he was sent to Clovis, New Mexico as a B-29 crewmember. Upon completion of training in November 1944 his crew flew a B-29 to Saipan as part of the 499th Bomber Group of the 20th Air Force. He recalls their first mission over Japan on Thanksgiving Day 1944 and 29 subsequent raids ending in June 1945. He describes one mission over Japan at high altitude on March 17, 1945 gathering weather data for future bombing runs, when his aircraft was shot up by the Japanese and had to make an emergency landing on Iwo Jima, even while mop up operations were occurring on the island. He describes meeting General Holland M. Smith while awaiting a flight off the island. He recalls that he had been transferred back to the States when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Yaklowich. Yaklowich joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 and served 2 years. He then joined the Navy in February of 1940. He completed training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Beginning around May of 1940 Yaklowich served aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as apprentice seaman, a plug man on the middle gun where he called cadence and gave the manual of arms. He was aboard the Pennsylvania in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, and provides vivid details of his experiences through the attack. In November of 1942 Yaklowich volunteered for the submarine services. After graduating from Submarine and Diesel School in New London, Connecticut he was assigned to the USS Cero (SS-225), completing 5 patrols and later commissioned to the USS Dentuda (SS-335), completing one patrol before the war ended. They traveled to the Atlantic, Pearl Harbor, the East China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, and sunk two Japanese patrol craft. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with June Reilly Leonard. Leonard was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 8 June 1923 and enlisted in the WAVES after the beginning of the war. Upon completion of basic training at Whittier College, Bronx, New York, she was sent to storekeeper’s school at the Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville. She met and married an Army soldier while on leave in August 1943, and after three months together, they were separated for the next two years until the war ended. She was assigned to the Department of the Navy, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, in Washington performing clerical work. Leonard provides anecdotes about her experiences.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth K. Little. He was born in San Diego, California on February 2, 1921 and enlisted in the California National Guard in the summer of 1940. His unit was activated on September 16, 1940. He recalls embarking on the SS Washington (later requisitioned by the Navy and renamed USS Mount Vernon (AP-22)) in San Pedro, California and sailing to Hawaii on November 5, 1940. He recounts the transit during which he contracted a serious illness and was hospitalized upon arrival in Hawaii. After recovering he was assigned to Battery B of the 251st Coast Artillery near Diamond Head, training with 3-inch anti-aircraft guns. He recounts being at Camp Malakole, at the Southwestern tip of Oahu on 7 December and observing Japanese planes flying overhead, and strafing them on return to the their fleet after bombing Pearl Harbor.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leon Kita. Kita joined the Navy in 1940. He served aboard the USS Honolulu (CL-48). Their ship was moored at the Naval Station when the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor. In the spring of 1942 they traveled to Kodiak, Alaska, participating in the Aleutian Islands Campaign. In early 1943 they operated out of Espiritu Santo, engaging in bombardments in the Solomon Islands. In early 1944 he served aboard a Yard Minesweeper. They took part in the invasion of Normandy. Kita was discharged in May of 1946.