The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Abbott. Abbott was born in 1924. He dropped out of college to join the US Army in 1942. While undergoing basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, Abbott witnessed practiced segregation and consequently became involved in civil rights issues. He recalls that he did not finish basic training, and was sent to Newport News, Virginia where he was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division. He tells of being involved in action in North Africa, and Italy. Abbott returned to the US after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Abbott. Abbott was born in 1924. He dropped out of college to join the US Army in 1942. While undergoing basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, Abbott witnessed practiced segregation and consequently became involved in civil rights issues. He recalls that he did not finish basic training, and was sent to Newport News, Virginia where he was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division. He tells of being involved in action in North Africa, and Italy. Abbott returned to the US after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill Barrow. Barrow joined the Navy in April of 1944. And, beginning in June, Barrow served aboard the USS Claxton (DD-571). Barrow was assigned to a 40-millimeter gun and served as a deckhand. They went to the Solomon Islands, escorting other ships and the old USS Mississippi (BB-41). He discusses life aboard the Claxton, and his initiation experiences crossing the equator. They participated in the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. Barrow was discharged in February of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill Barrow. Barrow joined the Navy in April of 1944. And, beginning in June, Barrow served aboard the USS Claxton (DD-571). Barrow was assigned to a 40-millimeter gun and served as a deckhand. They went to the Solomon Islands, escorting other ships and the old USS Mississippi (BB-41). He discusses life aboard the Claxton, and his initiation experiences crossing the equator. They participated in the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. Barrow was discharged in February of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Boyd. Boyd was drafted into the Army Air Forces in December, 1942 and took basic training at Wichita Falls. From there, he went to aerial gunnery school at Harlingen. He was then assigned as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 and began training with a crew. Once he got to England, he was assigned to the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group in England. He flew on 30 combat missions starting in March, 1944. Boyd shares several anecdotes from his combat missions. He returned to the US in August 1944 and became an instructor. Boyd was discharged in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Boyd. Boyd was drafted into the Army Air Forces in December, 1942 and took basic training at Wichita Falls. From there, he went to aerial gunnery school at Harlingen. He was then assigned as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 and began training with a crew. Once he got to England, he was assigned to the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group in England. He flew on 30 combat missions starting in March, 1944. Boyd shares several anecdotes from his combat missions. He returned to the US in August 1944 and became an instructor. Boyd was discharged in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert R. Bridges. Bridges joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School in October of 1943. He served with the 2nd Marine Division, 18th Marine Regiment during the battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. He returned to Saipan for preparations to invade Japan, where he remained through the end of the war. Bridges received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert R. Bridges. Bridges joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School in October of 1943. He served with the 2nd Marine Division, 18th Marine Regiment during the battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. He returned to Saipan for preparations to invade Japan, where he remained through the end of the war. Bridges received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Shelby Brown. Brown joined the Navy around 1942. Beginning April of 1943, he served as Seaman Second Class aboard USS Nashville (CL-43). Brown and his division took care of the fantail of the ship and the five turrets in their main battery. In August they traveled to Pearl Harbor to join carrier task forces for strikes on Marcus and Wake islands. They traveled to Espiritu Santo, crossing the equator, and had a shellback initiation. From Espiritu they shelled targets on New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands. They provided support for landings on Bougainville and Leyte. Brown recalls the ship being hit by a kamikaze, off Negros Island in December of 1944. In May of 1945 they provided fire support for the landings on Borneo. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Shelby Brown. Brown joined the Navy around 1942. Beginning April of 1943, he served as Seaman Second Class aboard USS Nashville (CL-43). Brown and his division took care of the fantail of the ship and the five turrets in their main battery. In August they traveled to Pearl Harbor to join carrier task forces for strikes on Marcus and Wake islands. They traveled to Espiritu Santo, crossing the equator, and had a shellback initiation. From Espiritu they shelled targets on New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands. They provided support for landings on Bougainville and Leyte. Brown recalls the ship being hit by a kamikaze, off Negros Island in December of 1944. In May of 1945 they provided fire support for the landings on Borneo. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Campbell. Campbell joined the Merchant Marine in March of 1942. He began as a wiper working in the engine room. Campbell soon found work on the North Atlantic convoy. His ship was torpedoed and sunk on the way to Murmansk. His next ship hit a mine and was forced to run aground. Campbell was a crewman on a ship that arrived at Cherbourg after the storm that destroyed the Mulberry Harbor. He also manned a diesel engine on a barque that made runs to France. Campbell was forced to spend time in a Naval hospital upon his return to the States for convoy fatigue. Next, he traveled to the Mediterranean where his ship transported a chemical warfare unit. Campbell eventually ended up in the Pacific near the end of the war to transport munitions for the invasion of Japan. He made one final voyage to Brazil after the surrender.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Campbell. Campbell joined the Merchant Marine in March of 1942. He began as a wiper working in the engine room. Campbell soon found work on the North Atlantic convoy. His ship was torpedoed and sunk on the way to Murmansk. His next ship hit a mine and was forced to run aground. Campbell was a crewman on a ship that arrived at Cherbourg after the storm that destroyed the Mulberry Harbor. He also manned a diesel engine on a barque that made runs to France. Campbell was forced to spend time in a Naval hospital upon his return to the States for convoy fatigue. Next, he traveled to the Mediterranean where his ship transported a chemical warfare unit. Campbell eventually ended up in the Pacific near the end of the war to transport munitions for the invasion of Japan. He made one final voyage to Brazil after the surrender.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Cunningham. Cunningham joined the Army in the spring of 1943 while enrolled at Texas A&M and received basic training at Fort Riley. In the summer of 1944 he was pulled out of engineering training and selected as an infantryman, despite his educational background. He remembers that as a private he was reading and writing letters for his platoon sergeant, who was illiterate. He landed on Omaha Beach six weeks after the invasion and recalls a mess of mass graves. He was sent to Italy, where he joined the 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in Bologna. He spent the winter of 1944-1945 in the harsh conditions of the North Apennines. He sprained his ankle on the way to the front lines at Po Valley and was sent to an evacuation hospital. After recovering, he traveled through Torino in search of his unit. There he saw young and frightened German prisoners-of-war. He found his unit in Milan after the war had ended. Cunningham was transferred to a service company of the 5th Army and oversaw hotels and bars at GI rest areas in the Italian Riviera. He met …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Cunningham. Cunningham joined the Army in the spring of 1943 while enrolled at Texas A&M and received basic training at Fort Riley. In the summer of 1944 he was pulled out of engineering training and selected as an infantryman, despite his educational background. He remembers that as a private he was reading and writing letters for his platoon sergeant, who was illiterate. He landed on Omaha Beach six weeks after the invasion and recalls a mess of mass graves. He was sent to Italy, where he joined the 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in Bologna. He spent the winter of 1944-1945 in the harsh conditions of the North Apennines. He sprained his ankle on the way to the front lines at Po Valley and was sent to an evacuation hospital. After recovering, he traveled through Torino in search of his unit. There he saw young and frightened German prisoners-of-war. He found his unit in Milan after the war had ended. Cunningham was transferred to a service company of the 5th Army and oversaw hotels and bars at GI rest areas in the Italian Riviera. He met …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Karel Dahmen. Dahmen was born in the Netherlands and witnessed the bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940. He recalls the chaos of fires burning and people being shot. With two friends he quickly manned a vacant boat and carried 45 Jews across the North Sea to England, using only a compass and school atlas for navigation. He joined the Dutch Navy in February 1941 and was assigned to HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck as a radar operator. He went in convoy to Iceland to dismantle a German weather station. Dahmen recalls picking up Germans who were eager to turn themselves in and become prisoners-of-war. At the end of the year he attended officer school and became an engineer officer. He was then assigned to the Dutch Naval Liaison office in England, where he received messages and delivered news of the attack on Pearl Harbor to the Dutch prime minister. After the war he was sent for training at Camp Lejeune and Camp Endicott to work with Marines and Seabees in preparation for deployment to Indonesia. With the Dutch Marine Corps, he facilitated Indonesia’s transition to independence. Dahmen was reunited …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Karel Dahmen. Dahmen was born in the Netherlands and witnessed the bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940. He recalls the chaos of fires burning and people being shot. With two friends he quickly manned a vacant boat and carried 45 Jews across the North Sea to England, using only a compass and school atlas for navigation. He joined the Dutch Navy in February 1941 and was assigned to HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck as a radar operator. He went in convoy to Iceland to dismantle a German weather station. Dahmen recalls picking up Germans who were eager to turn themselves in and become prisoners-of-war. At the end of the year he attended officer school and became an engineer officer. He was then assigned to the Dutch Naval Liaison office in England, where he received messages and delivered news of the attack on Pearl Harbor to the Dutch prime minister. After the war he was sent for training at Camp Lejeune and Camp Endicott to work with Marines and Seabees in preparation for deployment to Indonesia. With the Dutch Marine Corps, he facilitated Indonesia’s transition to independence. Dahmen was reunited …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Daum. Daum joined the Navy in February 1942 and received basic training at Great Lakes and electrician’s mate training at the University of Minnesota. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS LCI-67, where he was responsible for all the electrical work aboard ship. At Bougainville, on Christmas Eve 1943, his ship was tasked with going one mile behind the Japanese position with the purpose of drawing artillery fire to locate their battery; fortunately, the Japanese never opened fire and Daum escaped unscathed. He was transferred back to the States in July 1944, helping run bond rallies, using search lights to illuminate the latest military equipment. Daum was discharged in October 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Daum. Daum joined the Navy in February 1942 and received basic training at Great Lakes and electrician’s mate training at the University of Minnesota. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS LCI-67, where he was responsible for all the electrical work aboard ship. At Bougainville, on Christmas Eve 1943, his ship was tasked with going one mile behind the Japanese position with the purpose of drawing artillery fire to locate their battery; fortunately, the Japanese never opened fire and Daum escaped unscathed. He was transferred back to the States in July 1944, helping run bond rallies, using search lights to illuminate the latest military equipment. Daum was discharged in October 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Ewing. Ewing enlisted in the Marine Corps in March of 1943. He was trained as a tanker and was sent to the Pacific as a replacement crewman where he joined the 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. He crewed LVTs during the invasions of Guam and Iwo Jima. His LVT was hit and caught fire during the landing on Guam. During the battle for Iwo Jima, Ewing’s LVT was sent inland to retrieve wounded Marines and he had to guide it through a minefield. Ewing was discharged on 7 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Ewing. Ewing enlisted in the Marine Corps in March of 1943. He was trained as a tanker and was sent to the Pacific as a replacement crewman where he joined the 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. He crewed LVTs during the invasions of Guam and Iwo Jima. His LVT was hit and caught fire during the landing on Guam. During the battle for Iwo Jima, Ewing’s LVT was sent inland to retrieve wounded Marines and he had to guide it through a minefield. Ewing was discharged on 7 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas French. French joined the Navy and received basic training in San Diego. He received hospital corpsman training and was sent to the Solomon Islands, where he participated in evacuating wounded out of Guadalcanal. Patients were transferred with French in DC-3s, or C-47s, along with supplies ranging from toilet paper to hand grenades. French returned to the United States and served as a pharmacist’s mate at Miramar for one year. He then went to the Marshall Islands and on to Okinawa with Marine Fighter Squadron 311 (VMF-311). Bombs fell so close to him there that he experienced a permanent ringing in his ears. He stayed briefly with the occupation forces in Yokosuka, near Yokohama. French returned home and was discharged as a chief pharmacist mate.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas French. French joined the Navy and received basic training in San Diego. He received hospital corpsman training and was sent to the Solomon Islands, where he participated in evacuating wounded out of Guadalcanal. Patients were transferred with French in DC-3s, or C-47s, along with supplies ranging from toilet paper to hand grenades. French returned to the United States and served as a pharmacist’s mate at Miramar for one year. He then went to the Marshall Islands and on to Okinawa with Marine Fighter Squadron 311 (VMF-311). Bombs fell so close to him there that he experienced a permanent ringing in his ears. He stayed briefly with the occupation forces in Yokosuka, near Yokohama. French returned home and was discharged as a chief pharmacist mate.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Whayland Greene. Greene joined the Army in August, 1943 and trained at Camp Fannin. When he went overseas, he went to New Guinea and joined the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He participated in the invasions of Leyte and Luzon with his outfit and recalls a few anecdotes of his combat experiences. He was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Whayland Greene. Greene joined the Army in August, 1943 and trained at Camp Fannin. When he went overseas, he went to New Guinea and joined the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He participated in the invasions of Leyte and Luzon with his outfit and recalls a few anecdotes of his combat experiences. He was discharged in January 1946.