Interview with Arwin Bowden, a marine during World War II. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw, and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment before joining the battle of Saipan. He describes ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made, and the time he had leave.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Orby Ledbetter. Ledbetter joined the Texas Army National Guard in 1937 as a soldier in the Texas 36th Infantry Division, 142nd Infantry Regiment. He provides details of serving in the Texas Guard and remaining with the 36th ID throughout the war. He describes his experiences completing basic training through numerous camps and traveling overseas aboard the SS Argentina. Beginning in April of 1943 Orby served in the North African Campaign and also landed at Salerno, Italy. He was captured by the German Army in September of 1943 and remained a prisoner of war at Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany until April of 1945. Ledbetter provides vivid details of these experiences. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles W. Kunkler. Kunkler was born in Los Angeles on 5 August 1925. He joined the Navy and was sent to Farragut, Idaho for six weeks of boot training. He was then sent to Pearl Harbor. Upon his arrival he was one of five seaman selected by Commander Hal Lamar to serve on the Admiral Nimitz’s barge. After serving for a period of time in Pearl Harbor the crew was assigned to a newly constructed barge that was sent to Admiral Nimitz’s new headquarters on Guam. Kunkler tells of the purpose of the barge and describes his assigned duties. He also comments on the personalities of Commander Lamar and of Admiral Nimitz. Following his leave after returning to the United States in 1945, he was placed in a hospital in Rhode Island for treatment of an injury he received en route to Guam. Soon after being discharged from the hospital, he was discharged from the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Fields. He was born in Benton, Kentucky on 29 June 1926. Upon graduation from high school in May, 1944, he enlisted in the Navy and was sent to basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Fields describes several of his experiences while in boot camp. He attended Radio Operator’s School and was assigned as a member of the commissioning crew of USS LSM-96. The vessel sailed to Pearl Harbor, embarked a radar intercept squadron (8th Air Warning Squadron) and landed them on a small island off of Okinawa on 1 April 1945. He describes the efforts made by his crew in assisting several American ships in distress over the ensuing days, including evacuating patients from the hospital ship USS Pinkney (APH-2), which had been hit by a kamikaze. Fields’ ship remained in the area over the ensuing months preparing for the invasion of Japan. In September 1945, his ship was diverted to northern China to deliver two companies of Marines and returned in March 1946 to Portland, Oregon where the vessel was decommissioned. He changed his rating from Radioman Second Class to Radarman Second Class near the end …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cecil Young. Young was born in Bowie, Texas on 2 October 1919. After graduating from high school in 1937, he attended Abilene Christian College on a football scholarship. After graduating from college in June 1941, he began a coaching career. He entered the Navy in June 1942 as a Chief Petty Officer and went to Norfolk, Virginia for two weeks of boot training. He then went to Little Creek, Virginia for three months of amphibious training. Upon completion of the training he boarded a ship bound for Algiers. He spent one year as a member of the staff preparing for the invasion of Italy. At this time Young received notification of promotion to ensign and reported to New York to attend a school. At the end of three weeks he was sent to the University of Arizona for training in communications. Upon completion of the course, he was sent to Coronado, California where he trained in the operation of LCVP landing craft. In August 1944 he boarded the USS Carteret (APA-70) carrying eight LCVPs and combat troops for the invasion of Iwo Jima. He describes combat and observed …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Oscar Mitchell. Mitchell joined the Army in November of 1941. He completed Officer Candidate School and served as commander of an all-black engineer combat battalion. Beginning in 1943, they traveled to North Africa and Calcutta, India, and worked as drivers along the Ledo Road. He returned from India to the US, and was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marion Kennedy. Kennedy joined the Army as a nurse in late 1941. She was assigned to the 20th General Hospital and traveled to India. Kennedy describes how the hospital supported the workers on the Ledo Road and later troops involved in combat. She describes how malaria was treated. Kennedy discusses the ration and supply situation. She also mentions how Chinese soldiers were fed and housed separately. Kennedy rotated back to the U.S. and was there when the war ended. She left the Army in 1946, but rejoined in 1953 and retired as a colonel in the early 1970s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Horace Chester Gould. Gould joined the Marine Corps in July of 1940. He served as a military policeman at Quantico, Virginia. Gould additionally served with the 5th Amphibious Corps, and participated in the battles of Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima. He participated in the allied occupation of Japan after the war ended. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Ramage. Ramage James D Ramage graduated from the Naval Academy in 1939. In 1943 he joined the USS Enterprise (CV-6), and became executive officer and later commanding officer of Bombing Squadron Ten (United States. Navy. Bombing Squadron 10 (VB-10)), flying the SBD Dauntless dive bomber. He saw his first combat in the Battle of Kwajalein in January 1944, and participated in the attack on Truk in February and landings at Hollandia in April. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, he led 29 aircraft from Enterprise in a maximum-range twilight attack against the Japanese fleet, and was personally credited with crippling a Japanese aircraft carrier. Ramage additionally participated in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was promoted to rear admiral in June of 1967, and retired in January of 1976.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill Meyers. Meyers entered the Naval ROTC program at the University of California in 1930. Beginning in 1932, he served two years as Quartermaster aboard the SS Monterey. He returned to college in 1934, received his commission through the NROTC in 1936, and graduated in 1937. In 1940 he served as the Gunnery Officer and Assistant Navigator aboard the USS Aldebaran (AF-10). They transported cargo between the West Coast and the Hawaiian Islands. In 1943 and 1944, Meyers served as Commanding Officer aboard the USS Newman (DE-205), operating in the Atlantic, escorting troop transports to England. He then served aboard USS Ringness (APD-100), transporting landing craft and troops to Guadalcanal and Okinawa. They returned to the US in early 1946 to decommission the ship. Meyers continued his service after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barbara Cameron. Cameron describes her experience on the home front as a child whose older brothers were in the military. Her brother Roger was in the Navy and her brother Victor joined the Coast Guard. Victor wrote home and said that being in the service was much easier than working as a farmhand during the Depression. Cameron’s father worked ten-hour days, seven days a week, making airplane propellers for General Motors. He also tended to his crops and livestock in the mornings, before work. Cameron’s family was shunned by fellow Brethren church members for supporting the military, as her family proudly displayed two stars in their window to represent her two brothers. Both of Cameron’s brothers returned home safely.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carter Wheelock. Wheelock joined the Navy in 1943. He served as a Radarman aboard USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). He participated in every naval battle the ship went through from mid-1943 through the end of the war, traveling to the Aleutian, Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam, Peleliu, the Philippines, and Okinawa. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific Ware presents an oral interview with Charles Butterworth. Butterworth was born in Anderson, South Carolina. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Notre Dame. In May 1939, he quit college and joined the Army Air Corps. After attending flight engineering and gunnery schools, he was assigned as flight engineer on a B-17 piloted by Emmett “Rosie” O’Donnell. He arrived at Manila, Philippine Islands on 28 August 1941 where he was assigned to the 19th Airbase Squadron stationed at Nichols Field. Starting on 9 December 1941, Nichols Field was bombed daily by the Japanese throughout the rest of the month. Butterworth traveled to Mindanao where he and his companions were picked up by a Japanese patrol craft. He and others became prisoners of war and were taken by boat to Japan where he worked in a steel mill. He tells of the filth, starvation and physical abuse to which the prisoners were subjected. After Japan surrendered, Butterworth and other freed prisoners were taken to a hospital ship for a journey home.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Land. Land was a native of Fredericksburg, Texas and served in the Navy from July of 1938 through September of 1945. He shares the story of how he and his wife met, his work as a salesman, and his volunteer work at St. David’s hospital in Austin. He also speaks about his children and grandchildren. The interviewer comments about the documents Land provided him, which he says he’s included with this interview, sharing Land’s recollections as a Pearl Harbor survivor and service through World War II. The document included was an oral history Land conducted with another organization regarding his military history.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Robert Hagen. Born in San Francisco in 1919, Hagen was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1938 but was terminated for physical reasons. He then entered the Naval Reserve program at the University of Texas, graduating in 1940 as an ensign. He was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois as Assistant Service School Selection Officer. The job consisted of testing and placing recruits in the most applicable job or school. He recalls rejecting the request by the five Sullivan brothers to be assigned to the same ship. His decision was overridden by superiors and the five brothers were assigned to the USS Juneau (CL-52). Upon requesting assignment to a ship of the line, Hagen was assigned to the USS Arron Ward (DD-483) as the communications officer, supply officer and radar officer. Hagen tells of the erratic and unprofessional behavior of the ship’s captain. He recalls seeing the USS Wasp (CV-7) hit by Japanese torpedoes and destroyer escorts looking for the Japanese submarine. In November 1942, the Aaron Ward was protecting supply ships and transports unloading at Guadalcanal, Hagen recalls the sea battle in which his …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert LeClerq. LeClerq’s brother, John, served in the Navy in World War II and also died serving his country. Robert was eight years younger than John and recalls his brother’s time serving in the war. John was commissioned in Chicago around 1941. In April of 1944 he was assigned to the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). He and his family attended the commissioning of the ship in Houston, Texas. He was an Ensign and served aboard the ship as an Assistant Gunnery Officer. Their ship was sent to Pearl Harbor to escort supply ships and later participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October of 1944. After being hit by three 14-inch shells from an enemy ship, the Samuel B. Roberts sank, claiming the lives of 90 sailors including John LeClerq. John’s parents were sent a letter by an officer from the Roberts describing in detail the fateful battle. Robert provides some additional details of his brother’s life and service in the military and the books written about the Roberts years after the event.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Horace Johnson. Johnson joined the Army in October of 1942. He provides details of his training. He was in the 14th Air Force, 308th Bomb Group, 374th Bomb Squadron. Johnson served as a B-24 right waist gunner during WWII. They traveled to Cairo, Egypt, India, China and Burma. He provides details of each of these missions. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur Weeks. Weeks joined the Navy in July 1940 and was assigned to the USS San Francisco (CA-38) at Pearl Harbor as a deckhand. His pre-war duty involved working with the catapult for the ship’s observation planes. He later maintained guns and was promoted to third-class gunner’s mate. Weeks saw the first wave of enemy planes while his ship was in dry dock, and he boarded the USS New Orleans (CA-32) to help ready the guns. Having no significant damage, the San Francisco quickly readied for carrier protection duty. In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the ship sank one enemy ship and disabled another, but by the end of the battle the admiral and the highest-ranking officers had been killed, leaving only a lieutenant commander in charge. After returning to Mare Island for repairs, many crewmembers deserted, but Weeks remained until he was sent to gunnery school. He went aboard the USS Marvin H. McIntyre (APA-129) as a gunner’s mate and was eventually promoted to chief. Weeks returned home and was discharged in July 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Wells. Wells joined the Navy in November of 1942. He served as the Electronic Field Service Group lieutenant aboard 11 different combat vessels. The Navy sent him to Harvard and MIT to receive advanced Radar training, where 3-coordinate radar was developed to combat kamikaze attacks on the US fleet in the Pacific. Wells was discharged in October of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with H.L. Tyree. Tyree was born in Cullman County, Alabama on 4 August 1924. Drafted into the Army in 1943 he was sent to Camp Polk, Louisiana for basic training. He then went to Fort Ord, California where he trained as an amphibious tractor driver. After six months training, he was assigned to the 536th Amphibious Tractor Battalion and assigned as a tractor driver. After two months of advanced training, the unit boarded USS LST-608, along with their tractors, bound for the South Pacific. Tyree was in the first tractor to hit the beach during the invasion of Leyte, landing members of the 1st Calvary Division. Soon thereafter, Tyree became extremely sick requiring hospitalization. He was then put aboard a hospital ship and taken to San Francisco. He stayed in several hospitals before receiving a medical discharge on 4 September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Gobbi. Gobbi joined the Navy in December of 1941. He served as a gun pointer on a 40 millimeter aboard the USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73). They participated in the battles of Saipan, Tinian, Leyte Gulf and the Philippines. He provides details of these battles. Around late 1944 he traveled back to the States aboard the SS Lurline (1932). He was discharged around 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Devoe Hedrick. Hedrick joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940. He joined the Navy in April of 1941. He served aboard the USS Corry (DD-463) as a Fire Control Technician. Their ship served on anti-submarine and escort duty in the Atlantic. Hedrick???s battle station was the five-inch gun director where he served as pointer and later as range finder operator. They participated in the North Africa invasion in September of 1942 providing anti-submarine patrol. He was later transferred to the USS Sangamon (CVE-26). In January of 1944, during the Battle of Kwajalein, they landed Marine and Army ground forces. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where they first encountered kamikazes. In March of 1945 they participated in the Battle of Okinawa, launching planes, support strikes and patrol groups. During this battle they were hit by a twin-engine kamikaze aircraft. Hedrick participated in the Korean War and retired from the Navy in 1967.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Jagers. Jagers joined the Navy in June 1942 and received basic training at Great Lakes. He attended signalman and quartermaster school there and received amphibious forces training in Maryland. Upon completion, he was assigned to an LST sent to North Africa, where Jagers was treated for appendicitis in a hospital that was bombed daily. He rejoined his unit for landings at Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio. At Normandy, his LST carried supplies from the USS Davis (DD-395) to Utah Beach. They loaded 1,000 prisoners and 250 paratrooper casualties and brought them back to England. Each day, Jagers spent four hours guarding prisoners, four hours tending to the wounded, and four hours standing watch. After dozens of trips across the Channel, the ship was decommissioned and handed over to the British. Jagers returned to the States in December 1944 and gave boot camp training at Great Lakes before he was discharged. He authored a book about his experiences, entitled Whales of World War II.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hugh Sheffield. Sheffield joined the Navy when he was 17 years old. He received basic training in Jacksonville and attended electrician’s mate school in Mississippi. Upon completion, was sent to the New Hebrides and then Guam, performing general duties such as digging ditches. At Subic Bay he was taught to engineer an LCVP, in preparation for the invasion of Japan. His crew was a mixture of inexperienced seamen, aviation radiomen, and soldiers fresh out of the brig; Sheffield suspects the motley crew was assigned an old Higgins boat as part of an expendable first wave of attack. After Japan surrendered, Sheffield was sent to Tokyo Bay and worked aboard several different ships. He was discharged and attended college on the GI Bill.