The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Crook. Upon enlisting into the US Navy in 1944, Crook went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for boot camp. Crook then attended a basic engineering course. Following this, he received training in large propulsion engines. He was on board a troop ship bound for the Philippines when the atomic bomb was dropped. Upon his arrival at Leyte, he was assigned to USS LSM-294. He recalls an incident on the high seas that resulted in the loss of several LCTs that his ship was escorting. Crook returned to the US in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James O., Cotton, Knight. Knight joined the Army in July of 1943. He served as Technician Fourth-Class with the 3197th Engineer Pipeline Detachment, Combat Engineers. They were deployed to New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, operating a tank farm that pumped gasoline for military planes and vehicles. He then served on Emirau Island for 13 months, where their job was to cut the supply line of the Japanese base located 80 miles from their base. In early 1945, they traveled to Leyte to work a tank farm. where they were located when the war ended. Knight returned to the U.S. in January of 1946 and received his discharge in February.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Anna Gatti, nee Cocchi. Gatti graduated from Boston University as a French major in 1942. While volunteering at a settlement house, she met her future husband, Corry, who was a student at Harvard. In 1942, Corry was drafted into the Army. In 1943, Gatti joined the Navy’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). She completed Meteorology School in New Jersey and served as Aerographer, Third Class on a base in California. By late 1943, she completed Midshipman’s School in Massachusetts, then went on to Officer Candidate School. Gatti was then assigned to the Office of Censorship in Miami, censoring national and international cables and radio messages, through mid-1945. From September, 1945 to January, 1946, she was assigned to the Gulf Sea Frontier as an Operations Officer, plotting ship and plane movements in the Gulf. Gatti finished her war service in March of 1946, as a Lieutenant j.g.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon Bowen. Bowen quit school and joined the Navy in August 1944. After training, he went aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) and served as messman and as a 40mm antiaircraft gun loader. He describes his experiences when the ship was bombed in March, 1945 and how he escaped from below decks. Bowen rode the ship back to New York. He was discharged in June, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Simpson. Simpson joined the Army in December of 1944. After boot camp, he deployed to Saipan where he served on patrol. Simpson participated with the 147th Infantry Regiment through the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he was stationed when the war ended. He returned to the US and received his discharge around early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Dean. Dean was born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma on 7 September 1924 and graduated from high school in 1942. Upon being drafted in 1943, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for thirteen weeks of basic training. While there he was selected to attend the Army Specialized Training Program at Colorado State College at Fort Collins. Soon after he entered the program, it was discontinued and he joined the 80th Infantry Division and went to Fort Dix, New Jersey. There, the division boarded HMS Queen Mary bound for Scotland. Dean recalls landing at Normandy three weeks after the invasion and describes seeing wreckage and bodies that remained. The division joined the 8th Army and advanced across France. During December 1944 he was hospitalized for three weeks with a severe case of trench foot. Upon being released from the hospital, he was assigned to the 60th US Army Band. The band played during the funeral for General George Patton and he describes the formalities of the funeral. Dean returned to the United States in 1946 and was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Everett Campbell. Campbell joined the Navy around 1942. By 1943 he had completed flight school and received his wings. He served in the Pacific theater as a fighter pilot aboard the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). In July of 1944 they traveled to Pearl Harbor to join a carrier division. They participated in the Battle of Peleliu in September and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October. They returned to the US in April of 1945 and Campbell was discharged in September.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Nicks. Nicks enlisted in the Army Air Forces in January of 1941. He received his wings in April of 1942. Nicks was in the 120th Observation Squadron in the 130th Field Artillery Squadron. He flew border patrol missions for a year between Mexico and the United States. He was assigned to Mountain Home Air Base, Idaho to serve as a B-25 instructor until the spring of 1944. He was then transferred in May of 1944 in McCook, Nebraska as a B-29 instructor. He was in the 1st Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, 313th Wing of the 20th Air Force at McCook, Nebraska. Their outfit was sent to Kwajalein, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Japan to name a few. Nicks flew a total of 35 missions. He provides great detail of their missions. He was discharged in January of 1946 with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Enrique Moncada. Moncada joined the Navy in October of 1944. He served aboard the USS Forrest (DMS-24) minesweeper beginning in December of 1944. He performed regular seaman duties and served as gunner on the 40mm gun. They traveled to Okinawa. They did patrol work, screening with small minesweepers and performed local escort missions. Their ship and crew suffered one kamikaze attack. He provides detail of their endeavors to save the ship. He was discharged in June of 1946, but reenlisted in the Navy in June of 1948 and worked up to Seaman 1st Class. In December of 1950 he served aboard the USS Gloucester (PF-22), a patrol frigate and minesweeper. They traveled to Japan, South Korea, Wonsan, Inchon and Kojo. He was then transferred to the USS Mount Baker (AE-4), an ammunition ship, in February of 1952 as a gunner’s mate. He was discharged in June of 1952.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Jenkins. Jenkins joined the Army in early 1942 and was mistakenly sent to Australia before he completed basic training. Once there, he was attached to the 35th Fighter Group as an armorer. Jenkins shares several anecdotes about his time in the service in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. Jenkins returned to the US and became an instructor before the war ended. He was discharged in January 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Officer. Officer joined the Navy in May of 1944. He completed radar school in Point Loma, California. In April of 1945 he went to the New Hebrides Islands, and served aboard a transport ship as a radar operator. He then traveled to Auckland, New Zealand where he went aboard the submarine chaser USS PC-588. His crew traveled around New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Tulagi and the Marshall Islands looking for submarines. He describes the weaponry aboard the PC-588, and his work on sonar duty. They never found a submarine. After the war was over he assisted with looking for downed men in the Pacific. He describes his initiation as a Shellback. He was discharged as Radar Man 3rd Class in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Hartzell Sherrill. Sherrill joined the Navy in December of 1941 and trained in San Diego before going to communications school. He was then sent aboard the SS Hadnot (1919) with the Navy Armed Guard personnel. Sherrill delivered fuel oil to North Africa, India, Australia and other points in the Pacific. He recalls hauling ammunition to Saipan, watching the invasion of Normandy and dodging typhoons at Okinawa. He also served aboard the SS Colgate Victory (1945). He was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Hasty. Hasty joined the Navy in November of 1943. He completed Firefighting School, and served aboard the USS Antietam (CV-36) beginning January of 1945. They conducted training in the Hawaiian Islands through mid-August, then served with occupation forces in Tokyo, Japan. Hasty returned to the US and received his discharge in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Schurmeier. Schurmeier joined the Navy in early 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot with Photographic Squadron 1 (VD-1). Beginning in the spring of 1944 they traveled to their base at the Naval Air Station on Guam. They completed patrol and photo reconnaissance missions around the Pacific Islands, including Truk, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Japan. Finley was discharged around October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Huie H. Lamb, Jr. Lamb joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He graduated from flight school in February of 1944, and served as a pilot with the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force. He was deployed to England. On his first mission he flew his P-51, nicknamed Etta Jeanne, and had mechanical problems causing him to ditch the plane in the North Sea. He was picked up by Air Sea Rescue from Martlesham Heath. Between a P-47 and his second P-51, Etta Jeanne II, he flew 61 combat missions over Europe, shooting down German aircraft. Lamb continued his service after the war ended, retiring in 1972.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan Pilot. Pilot joined the Army in January 1943 and received basic training at Camp Howze. He received further training in Louisiana for the European Theater and then in California for the Pacific Theater. In January he left for Camp Old Gold at La Havre, where he served as a combat medic, supporting Companies E, G, and H of the 343rd Infantry, 86th Division. His unit relieved the 8th Division and fought in Cologne, where he was stationed at the top of the cathedral while it was being shelled. In the Ruhr Pocket a defective shell landed 10 feet away from him. He recalls seeing 100,000 Germans surrender there. He describes the Bavarian people as friendly as he passed through Austria on VE Day. He was then sent to the Pacific as part of Operation Coronet. VJ Day came while he was still crossing the Pacific. He spent the last five months of his service in the Philippines at a quiet outpost while the rest of his unit prepared the Philippines for independence. Pilot returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan Pilot. Pilot joined the Army in January 1943 and received basic training at Camp Howze. He received further training in Louisiana for the European Theater and then in California for the Pacific Theater. In January he left for Camp Old Gold at La Havre, where he served as a combat medic, supporting Companies E, G, and H of the 343rd Infantry, 86th Division. His unit relieved the 8th Division and fought in Cologne, where he was stationed at the top of the cathedral while it was being shelled. In the Ruhr Pocket a defective shell landed 10 feet away from him. He recalls seeing 100,000 Germans surrender there. He describes the Bavarian people as friendly as he passed through Austria on VE Day. He was then sent to the Pacific as part of Operation Coronet. VJ Day came while he was still crossing the Pacific. He spent the last five months of his service in the Philippines at a quiet outpost while the rest of his unit prepared the Philippines for independence. Pilot returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Quackenbush. Quackenbush joined the Navy in 1931. He served as a First Class Ships Cook on the USS Tangier (AV-8). He is a plank owner of the Tangier and provides details of starting up the crew when it was first commissioned. His battle station was the .50 caliber gun on the forward mount. He discusses the training on the ship and activities prior to and on 7 December 1941. On the day of the attack, Quackenbush helped pull sailors out of the water, including a Japanese aviator.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Scott. Scott was born in Iowa and was attending Creighton university when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted in the Navy V-12 Program and was commissioned in March, 1944. His first assignment was as assistant supply officer aboard USS LST-283. Scott was aboard during the invasion of Saipan. At one point, Scott was in a typhoon. At the end of the war, USS LST-283 picked up Japanese troops from Chichi Jima and delivered them back to Japan. Scott transferred to USS LST-700.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Woodruff. Woodruff joined the Navy in January 1943 and received basic training at Great Lakes. He was then trained on small amphibious landing craft at Little Creek. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS LST-218 as coxswain of an LCVP and was sent to Tarawa. Once the island was secured, he carried a load of construction equipment and personnel to shore, returning with a few casualties, as there was a doctor on the LST. Their next assignment was to bring Marines and amphibious tanks from Pearl Harbor to the Marshall and Mariana Islands. At Saipan, heavy surf capsized many tanks in the initial assault wave. Woodruff evacuated casualties to the LST, which by that time carried half a dozen doctors and two dozen corpsmen. Woodruff was later transferred to Italy, where he joined 27 LCVP crews supporting the 10th Mountain Division. He did not see combat in Europe and was discharged when the war ended. He did not see combat in Europe and was discharged when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Trubach. Trubach was drafted into the Army in December of 1944. In March of 1945 he traveled to Luzon, Philippines. His job was to go out on reconnaissance missions into the hills of Luzon to locate any remaining Japanese soldiers in the caves. Trubach provides some detail of these missions and of jungle life. He then traveled to Fukaya, Japan to help clean up an ammunition storage area and destroy Japanese weapons. He was then transferred over to a medical detachment with the Army Air Forces. They traveled around Japan administering vaccinations and then he was placed into a communication detachment until early 1946. He then served as telephone operator, corresponding with other bases around Japan. Trubach was discharged in November of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John H. Butterfield. Butterfield was drafted in November, 1942 into the Army and trained as an antiaircraft gunner. In March, 1943 he was shipped to Hawaii. Soon, he was assigned to a gun battery at Pearl City. He also learned to operate the radar and describes its activity. Butterfield describes being transported across the Pacific in an LST and participating in the assault on Makin Island. Butterfield and crew set up their antiaircraft guns there after the atoll was secure. Eventually, his outfit was transported back to Pearl Harbor in July, 1944. In April, 1945, Butterfield's antiaircraft unit was attached to the Tenth Army and went to Ie Shima. Butterfield also speaks about witnessing the Japanese surrender delegation arriving on Ie Shima. After the war, he was discharged and returned home, married and resumed farming.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Winn Pinkston. Pinkston was born in Chireno, Texas in 1921. After graduating from high school he attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas for two years. He entered the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1941 and following this training he entered secondary Civilian Pilot Training in which aerobatics were taught. Upon graduating for this course, he accepted a job as an instructor with Coleman Flying School in Coleman, Texas. The school, having a contract with the US government, taught basic flying skills to new cadets. After eighteen months of the job, Pinkston joined the Army Air Forces. After receiving additional training, he was commissioned as a flight officer and sent to Love Field in Dallas, Texas to join the Fifth Ferrying Command. After being involved in various flying activities for eighteen months he was sent to Reno Army Air Field in Nevada for instrument flight training. While in training, Japan surrendered and Pinkston was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ken Babcock. Babcock served as a civilian flight instructor for two years employed by the Army Air Forces. He describes the training he provided and how he worked with his students. Babcock volunteer to join the Army Air Forces when the training program was discontinued. He became a flight officer and served as a ferry pilot and then was transferred to China where he flew with the 2nd Air Transport Squadron. Babcock describes transporting supplies and Chinese soldiers in his C-46. He also details a typical flight over the Hump. Babcock discusses the types of food that made up his diet and how they were instructed not to eat locally grown crops. He left the service in 1946.