Interview with Chris Walker, a carpenter during World War II. He discusses working as a carpenter in the Marines at Camp Pendleton and on Tinian and Saipan. He was present at Okinawa and in Nagasaki after Japan surrendered. He also tells stories about generals, his colonel, rations, and friendly fire. He describes some of the memorabilia he kept.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Anne Sloan. Sloan grew up in Oregon and joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1944. She spent time at Fort Des Moines, Iowa; Plattsburgh, New York; Camp Davis, North Carolina; Lexington, Virginia; and San Antonio, Texas before she left the service in 1946. She was at Times Square, New York City on V-E Day. After the service, she used the GI Bill to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her husband. She later became a teacher.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lanson B. Ditto. Ditto grew up in Kentucky. He went to college at Washington and Lee University and then joined the Navy in 1940. After training, Ditto chose to join the Asiatic Fleet. He went to Shanghai, China where he was assigned to the USS Langley (CV-1). The ship went to the Philippines. They were at Manila when the Japanese destroyed all B-17's at the airfield on December 8, 1941. The Langley left Manila Bay that night and headed south. On that trip, Ditto mentions that his ship fired at the planet Venus. They went to Balikpapan, refueled, and spent Christmas at Surabaya. Next, they went to Darwin, Australia, then Perth, Australia. Then, they went to Java. Before they arrived at the port, they were hit by Japanese airplanes dropping bombs. Ditto abandons ship and swims to the USS Edsall. They steam to the Christmas Island. He transferred to the Pecos. The Pecos was then bombed by the Japanese. Next the 220 survivors out of 666 men were picked up by the Whipple. He was injured and went back to the United States on the Mount Vernon. They …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Rodolf. Rodolf grew up in Oklahoma and joined the Army Air Force in 1942. He was in photo reconnaissance, called F-5, and was a pilot of P-38 camera vision. After training, he arrived in Guadalcanal in March 1944. He flew missions out of Bougainville covering Rabaul and Kavieng. In October 1944, he moved up to Noemfor, then to Sansapor. He continued flying until November 1945. He was in the 13th Army Air Force, 17th Photo Squadron. He took photographs for invasion purposes or finding targets for the fighters and bombers. He describes accidents in the airplane. He was stranded at sea with seven others, and they landed on an island occupied by the Japanese after the second atomic bomb had been dropped. Two of the men he was with did not survive. The remaining five were given food and water and treated for their wounds by the Japanese. They were rescued by the Australians. He married his wife in Sydney in March 1945. He went back to the United States and his wife followed. He was discharged in 1947. He returned to Oklahoma to begin his career. …

Transcript of an oral interview with James Avery. Mr Avery was a junior at the University of Illinois when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He signed up with the Army Air Corps since they would let him finish his degree before they would take him. However, the Army Air Corps was not able to honor its commitment since they needed pilots badly. In March 1943, they called him up and sent him to Lackland Air Base for the preflight program. From there, Avery went to Fort Stockton where he learned to fly in a Fairchild PT-19 and then to Goodfellow Field in San Angelo to learn to fly a BT-13. After two months of basic training, he went to Reese Air Base in Lubbock to train in the AT-17 and got his wings there in January 1944. Avery wanted to fly the B-26 and he got his wish; reporting first to Del Rio and then to Barksdale Field where he got his crew assigned. There were six of them in the crew. After about three months at Barksdale, they went to Savannah, Georgia to pick up a brand new airplane. However, they had to wait six weeks for their ship; Martin …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Dodson. Dodson grew up in Pennsylvania and joined the Navy before being drafted. He managed to avoid boot camp and go straight into a Navy communictions school. He volunteered to go overseas for two years and ended up with SACO in China. In China, Dodson repaired radios and radio equipment. Dodson returned to the US and was assigned duty aboard the USS William R. Rush (DD-714) in mid-1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with F. J. Whitlock. Whitlock was in 1923, in Columbia, South Dakota. He enlisted in the Navy in Los Angeles, California, in June 1942. He attended Basic Training in San Diego and then went to Diesel School. Upon graduation he was promoted from Seaman Second Class to Fireman First Class. He was then ordered to the LST program and proceeded to Treasure Island in San Francisco. His group of Dieselmen were assigned to the Southern Pacific Railroad "Round House" in Oakland in order to gain expertise on diesel engines. They worked on the train "City of San Francisco" which made the run from Chicago to Oakland. He was next assigned to the commissioning crew for USS LST-478. Over the following months the vessel practiced amphibious landings at Point Magu, Coronado and Monterey, California. Next they landed personnel at Attu and Kiska, where the Japanese had pulled out. In September 1943 the vessel embarked a company of Sea Bees. The vessel departed California and steamed to Tarawa via Pearl Harbor. The vessel joined the invasion of Tarawa. He recalls that the LST would open the bow doors, lower the ramp, and the Sea Bees would disembark …

Transcript of an oral interview with James F. Kelly. Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1921. He recounts his experiences working in his father's grocery store during the Depression. He recounts his experience in 1941 working in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard as a civilian, until he received his induction notice from Selective Service in May 1942 and joined the Navy. He attended Boot Camp in Newport, Rhode Island and then was sent to Anacostia Naval Air Station in District of Columbia, where he attended Aerography School as well as in Lakehurst, New Jersey and graduated as a meteorological aide. He recounts several of the instruments and techniques used in that specialty and his experiences in planes observing cloud formations, and other phenomena. Eventually he volunteered for secret duty in China and was shipped on a troop train with 200 other sailors to San Pedro, California. He eventually boarded the USS Admiral E.W. Eberle (AP 123), an Army transport. He recounts an interesting story about the group's leader, Commander Marcus Goodrich, who had been a novelist and screen writer in Hollywood. He recounts his experiences on the ship as it transited to Bombay, India via Australia. He recalls that the …

Transcript of an oral interview with James H. Bash. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 28, 1924. He enlisted in the Navy on January 19, 1943. Enrolled in the V-12 Program at the University of Virginia but did not complete the curriculum. Subsequently sent to Storekeeper Class A School in Sampson, New York and graduated as Storekeeper 3rd Class. In October 1944 volunteered and assigned to Naval Group China. He recalls the transit from Norfolk on the USS General W. A. Mann (AP-112) in a convoy through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and on to Bombay, India. He recalls the living conditions on the transport, passing through two fierce storms and an incident in the Suez Canal. Next he took a troop train from Bombay to Calcutta. He describes the conditions on the train. After six weeks awaiting transportation, he flew from Calcutta to Kunming, China. He describes the flight in a DC-3 over the Himalaya Mountains (The Hump). In Kunming he was assigned to the Naval Air Freight Office. He describes the squalid conditions of the local populace. He was responsible for transporting cargo from the air terminal to the Freight Office. One day he was notified …

Transcript of an oral interview with Dean Warner. Born in Geneva, Illinois, June 30, 1922. He went to boot camp in San Diego in 1941. After boot camp he attended Radio School at the University of Colorado followed by training at Signalman School. Upon completion he was assigned to an Armed Guard crew on a Merchant Marine ship as a radioman. He spent a year and a half on merchant vessels and recalls an incident when two nearby ships in his convoy were sunk by submarines. He was next assigned to the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO) and sent to Calcutta, India, from where he was flown over "The Hump" to Kunming, China. From Kunming he flew to Zhenzghou, China and SACO's Camp Six where Chinese weathermen and guards were being trained for the SACO mission. From there he was sent in company with the trained Chinese soldiers and weathermen to Pinghou on the Eastern Coast of China. He described his duties as "Coast Watcher. " The Chinese were gathering weather data, which Warner transmitted to Chungking for dissemination to the US Fleet. When the war ended, he traveled to Shanghai and sailed on a troopship back to San Pedro, California …

Transcript of an oral interview with Robert Hill. Born on a farm north of Des Moines, Iowa in 1922. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 19 in 1942. He trained at the National School of Electronics in Chicago as a Radio Technician and on to Great Lakes, Illinois for basic training. After boot camp he was sent to Radioman School in Wisconsin and Signalman School in Los Angeles. He was then assigned to the Armed Guard crew aboard a merchant tanker, the SS Vermont, as a Radioman. He describes carrying high octane gas from the Texas Gulf Coast up the East Coast. He transferred from the Vermont to the SS RP Smith. He describes how the Vermont subsequently left Galveston with a full load of fuel and was sunk by a German submarine with no survivors. He next reported to Washington D.C. where he volunteered for assignment with the Sino-American Cooperative Organization. He got underway on a troopship and sailed to Calcutta, where he was flown over "The Hump" into Kunming, China and was flown on to the east coast of China to Camp Six in Zhenzghou, China. From there he was sent to Quemoy Island to …

Transcript of an oral inerview with Norman Dike. Born in Atlanta, Illinois, on April 18, 1923. Enlisted in the Navy on March 12, 1942 and was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois for recruit training. He was sent to Radioman School at the University of Idaho on May 25, 1942. Upon completion in August, as a Third Class Radioman, he was sent to Bainbridge Island, Washington to learn Japanese code. He recalls meeting Merry Miles, the second in command at SACO, at a party he gave for the SACO team at a Chinese restaurant. A short time later he volunteered for hazardous duty outside continental United States and was in Washington, DC where he met Captain Metzger who represented the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO). Sent to San Pedro, California by train. He recounts his experiences on the train. Upon arrival in San Pedro he was embarked on the USS Hermitage (AP-54) a captured Italian liner converted into a troopship. He recalls some of his experiences on the Hermitage including the Crossing the Line ceremony where he became a Shellback. After arriving in Bombay, India he recounts the journey across India by rail and steamboat to a Himalayan airfield where he was …

Transcript of an oral interview with Robert Clark. Born in Colby, Kansas Clark joined the Navy in San Diego in 1940. Before completion of the training he was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43) in Pearl Harbor. He recounts various training missions over the following months, including gunnery exercises. He recounts relaxing in the turret of one of the 14-inch guns during the morning of December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked. He describes the efforts made by him and other sailors to extricate the Tennessee from its nest with West Virginia, USS Olkahoma and USS Arizona and sail out of Pearl Harbor. He recalls that the Tennessee then sailed to the United States and into Bremerton Naval Shipyard for repairs. Over the next several months he recalls several missions to engage in battles in the Coral Sea and at Midway, where the Tennessee saw only limited action. He describes other cruises into waters off Alaska, but also without incident. At the end of 1942 he volunteered for duty with the Sino-American Cooperative Association (SACO) and was sent to Long Beach, California and the USS Hermitage, a captured Italian luxury liner that had been converted into a troopship. He recalls …

Transcript of an oral interview with George Allen Barrett. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in January 1922, he enlisted in the Navy in January 1940. He completed Recruit Training in San Diego and was transferred to the Hospital Corps School at the Naval Hospital San Diego in April 1940. Upon graduation in July 1940, he was assigned to the Naval Hospital, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In July 1941 he was transferred to the USS McDonough (DD 351) where he recalls that on the morning of December 7, 1941, the McDonough was in Pearl Harbor undergoing repairs. He remembers the crew reassembling the propulsion machinery and the ship getting underway to out of the harbor. He recalls that McDonough remained homeported out of Pearl Harbor and conducted various patrols into the South Pacific theater. He recounts that in February 1942 McDonough collided with the USS Colorado (BB-45) in heavy seas. Later in 1942 he was assigned to the Oakland Naval Hospital, where he recalls his duties and his subsequent marriage. He states that he requested reassignment and was transferred to a Combat Utility Battalion in San Bruno, California for training in anticipation of the upcoming invasion of a Pacific island (unnamed). He states …

Transcript of an oral interview of Joseph D. Keenan. Raised in Chicago, he spent two years at Notre Dame University and when the war started, volunteered for Naval Aviation duty. Following Pre-flight School at Iowa University, he attended flight training at Naval Air Station, Chicago, where he was later diagnosed with chronic air sickness. He was disenrolled and entered the V-12 program at the University of Wisconsin. Upon graduation in September 1944, he was commissioned and ordered to Fort Pierce, Florida for Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) training. He describes the nature of the training and conditions at Fort Pierce. Upon completing UDT training in December 1944 he was sent on a troopship to Calcutta, India. After traveling by train to a camp in Eastern India, he flew over "The Hump" in a C-47 to Kunming, China and then on to Chungking and headquarters of Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO). He relates that after four weeks in Chungking he was flown with a team to a location near Amoy. Leading the team was Lieutenant Phil H. Bucklew, a professional football player who later became known as the father of Navy Special Warfare. The team made its way to Chenchow with orders to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Sledge. Sledge volunteered for service as a bombadier and anvigator in the Army Air Corps and earned a commission. In November, 1942, Sledge received orders to go to India. Once there, his crew was attached to the 10th Air Force and flew bombing missions mainly into Burma. Sledge recalls an incident in which he bombed Japanese ships. Unbeknownst to him, the ships contained Allied prisoners of war. Sledge recalls years later making contact with POWs aboard the ships he bombed. He also mentions briefing General LeMay later in his career. He also participated in the atmoic tests at Bikini with an aerial photography unit. During the Korean War, Sledge flew a few combat missions using guided bombs. For the remainder of his career, Sledge worked with guided missiles.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Kelly. Kelly joined the Army Signal Corps in September of 1943. He provides some details of his training. He was sent to New Guinea in the spring of 1944 and served as a replacement. He then traveled to Brisbane, Australia, working as a clerk in a Signal Corps office for one year. Kelly describes his life and work in Australia. From there he was assigned to Hollandia, then to the Philippines in May of 1945. He shares his experiences in Manila after the invasion, and how the city was devastated. Kelly remained in Manila until January of 1946 and was discharged in February.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Gibbons. Gibbons joined the Army in January of 1943. He shares details of his training and working at a German Prison Camp in Atlanta, Nebraska through September of 1943. He then transferred to Camp Clayburn, Louisiana training as a heavy equipment repair mechanic. In May of 1945 he traveled to Okinawa, where he worked as an engineer, setting up camp and machine shops. He worked in Okinawa through the end of the war and reenlisted, serving as a military policeman at Fort Knox until February of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alfred Rodriquez. Rodriguez was born in Santa Barbara, California on 9 September 1921 and joined the Navy in 1940. Upon completion of boot training at San Diego in July, he was assigned to the USS Bobolink (AM-20), based at Maui, Hawaii. He recalls the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and his ship’s efforts to keep the heavily damaged USS California (BB-44) afloat. Afterwards, the Bobolink began pulling barges with fuel, ammunition and other supplies, from Tulagi and Gavutu to Guadalcanal. Following major naval engagements the Bobolink towed severely damaged ships to various islands for repair. Among those towed were the USS Atlanta (CL-51), the USS Aaron Ward (DD-483), the USS Portland (CA-33) and the USS Minneapolis (CA-36). In 1943 he returned to the United States and was assigned to the USS Wedderburn (DD-684). While aboard, Rodriquez was involved in various battles including Okinawa. He describes being in the December 1944 typhoon during which three destroyers were sunk. He concludes the discussion by telling of his various assignments until he retired in 1960.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Whetsel. Whetsel graduated from Baylor in 1941, volunteered for the Navy and went into the V-7 Program. He trained at Northwestern University, received his commission after 90 days, and reported to Newport, Rhode Island Naval Operating Base. Their mission was to protect the ships coming out of New York on their way to Boston to from a convoy to England. After almost 18 months at Newport, he got orders to go to Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet. From there he went to San Francisco, went aboard the USS Enterprise which sailed to Pearl Harbor at which time Whetsel reported to Commander Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet, Adm Turner. Whetsel was on his staff from Tarawa through the end of the war. He talks about the smoke generators on the ship which they used to cover the fleet when the Japanese planes came over. Adm Turner's flagship was originally the USS Pennsylvania and then it switched to the USS Eldorado, an AGC. Whetsel also discusses the staff's move from Pearl Harbor to Guam. He was in Manila Bay when the atomic bombs were dropped. Whetsel talks very highly of Adm …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Crescencio Trevino. Trevino joined the Army in April 1944 and received basic training at Fort Robinson. He deployed to Metz, France, as a rifleman with the 379th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. Locals referred to them as The Iron Men of Metz. Trevino lost half of his platoon in Metz and survived combat on the Siegfried Line, moving on to clear out German holdouts in the Ruhr Pocket. Although he had only fired a bazooka once during training, he became the bazooka man for his unit. He describes in detail the technique of using hand grenades to clear pillboxes. Trevino turned down the Purple Heart for a minor injury to his finger, worrying that his family would be troubled by the news. After the ceasefire, Trevino was placed on occupation duty, under strict orders not to fraternize with German women, although everyone was friendly. He celebrated V-E Day with former Russian POWs who provided their own vodka. Trevino returned home in June 1945 and was discharged as a staff sergeant in April 1946. After reenlisting in 1948, he served in Corpus Christi as a recruiting sergeant until 1951.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jose King. King, of Korean descent, grew up under Japanese occupation in Songsong Village, Rota. Relations with the Japanese were mostly peaceful. He attended a strict but effective Japanese school. When Japanese supplies began to dwindle, soldiers stole food from villagers and threatened to kill them if they withheld it. The natives narrowly escaped mass execution and instead were put to work farming sweet potatoes. King’s family foraged in the mountains and jungles, hunting birds with a slingshot. His brother was recruited by the Japanese to hunt birds and was killed in an air raid. His uncle was wrongly accused of being a spy and sentenced to death. King and his family sought refuge in a cave during bombardments and were strafed while searching for food. Upon being discovered by American Marines, King feared that the food they provided might be poisoned. Although the military initially intended to send his family to Korea, they successfully pleaded to stay with their community. King’s family later moved to Saipan and then Tinian, embarking in prosperous trade with Allied occupation forces. He started a family of his own, and many of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roger Goff. Goff joined the Navy on 19 December 1941. He served as Quartermaster aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). Goff participated in every Enterprise naval battle from February of 1942 through the end of the war. He shares details of his experiences through the battles of Midway, Eastern Solomons and the Philippine Sea. He was honorably discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Schlemmer. Schlemmer joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. In late 1942 he deployed to New Zealand and participated in the Battles of Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester. He returned to the US in md-1944 to complete Officer Candidates School. He served as an instructor, teaching about jungle warfare. He then joined the 3rd Division, 9th Marines in preparation to invade Japan. Schlemmer was discharged in late 1945.