The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Walter Skeldon. Skeldon recalls several anecdotes from growing up during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the Navy in August 1941 and trained at Newport, Rhode Island. He was in aviation mechanic school when the war started. Skeldon describes the initiation when a ship crosses the Equator while aboard USS Santee (CVE-29) and was involved in the invasion of North Africa. He shares stories from Morocco. He went to arresting gear school before he served aboard USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). Skeldon shares several anecdotes about life aboard an aircraft carrier during World War II. He also talks about the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He also served as a plane captain aboard an SBD. He also describes his experiences at Okinawa. Skeldon shares a few post war anecdotes about hauling former Italian POWs back to Italy. He retired from the Navy in 1947 and went to work on the railroad. He was recalled for the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Weldon Sherrard. Sherrard joined the Navy in July of 1942. Beginning in December, he served as a First-Class Machinist Mate with a special construction battalion at Guadalcanal, New Zealand and Japan. With little to no access from ship to shore to unload supplies, Sherrard’s battalion was assigned the unloading of ships with the help of pontoon barges. He also worked as an oiler and crane operator. They were the first battalion created to complete this type of work. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Weldon Sherrard. Sherrard joined the Navy in July of 1942. Beginning in December, he served as a First-Class Machinist Mate with a special construction battalion at Guadalcanal, New Zealand and Japan. With little to no access from ship to shore to unload supplies, Sherrard’s battalion was assigned the unloading of ships with the help of pontoon barges. He also worked as an oiler and crane operator. They were the first battalion created to complete this type of work. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wendell W. Fenn. Born in 1922, he enlisted in the Regular Army in June 1940. He was assigned to the 1st Armored Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After his unit received one hundred motorcycles, he volunteered to take over the Motor Pool. He subsequently trained in the use of the cryptographic machine and was assigned to the Division Headquarters. He quickly advanced to the rank of Master Sergeant. He attended Officers’ Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He describes social refinement training after receiving his commission. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne, 327th Glider Infantry and sent to England. He shares an anecdote about using glider boxes for living quarters. He describes his glider training as well as his additional duties as a Military Police Officer. He talks about landing in a glider in Normandy immediately prior to the D-Day invasion. He describes the capture of Sainte-Mère-Église. He shares an anecdote about flying an American flag there. He returned to England via Omaha Beach. He speaks of the grave registration unit located there. He describes participating in Operation Market Garden. In November 1944, he was evacuated to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wendell W. Fenn. Born in 1922, he enlisted in the Regular Army in June 1940. He was assigned to the 1st Armored Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After his unit received one hundred motorcycles, he volunteered to take over the Motor Pool. He subsequently trained in the use of the cryptographic machine and was assigned to the Division Headquarters. He quickly advanced to the rank of Master Sergeant. He attended Officers’ Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He describes social refinement training after receiving his commission. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne, 327th Glider Infantry and sent to England. He shares an anecdote about using glider boxes for living quarters. He describes his glider training as well as his additional duties as a Military Police Officer. He talks about landing in a glider in Normandy immediately prior to the D-Day invasion. He describes the capture of Sainte-Mère-Église. He shares an anecdote about flying an American flag there. He returned to England via Omaha Beach. He speaks of the grave registration unit located there. He describes participating in Operation Market Garden. In November 1944, he was evacuated to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur Simlik. Simlik enlisted in the Marines after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Marine Corps allowed him graduate from college prior to active duty. In May 1943, he headed for Parris Island, South Carolina. After boot camp, he went to Quantico, Virginia for Officer Candidates School (OCS). After graduation and receiving a commission, Simlik’s first assignment was guard officer at a Naval Ammunition Depot on Oahu. He received orders to the 4th Marine Division on Maui. There he was assigned command to about 150 men fresh from boot camp. They soon learned they were going to Iwo Jima. They went ashore as replacement troops on the sixth day. They were guided to an assembly site and parceled out to units in combat. He went to the 25th Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion, L Company. The only other officer in the unit was wounded and evacuated the next day, leaving Simlik in command of the company. Simlik discusses combat the company faced until they were pulled off the island about 1 5March. He was awarded the Silver Star and went back to Maui to prepare for the next invasion …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willard Cole. Cole was drafted into the Army in April, 1943. Cole went to Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas and was assigned to the 125th Evacuation Hospital, Semimobile when it formed. He went overseas to England with the unit in November, 1944. Cole arrived in France in March 1945. By early April, they had established their hospital in Krefeld, Germany and began receiving casualties. When the war ended, they were around Munchen and remained there during part of the occupation. He also worked in hospitals in Passau and Augsburg before leaving for the US in 1946. Cole was discharged later in June.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willard Cole. Cole was drafted into the Army in April, 1943. Cole went to Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas and was assigned to the 125th Evacuation Hospital, Semimobile when it formed. He went overseas to England with the unit in November, 1944. Cole arrived in France in March 1945. By early April, they had established their hospital in Krefeld, Germany and began receiving casualties. When the war ended, they were around Munchen and remained there during part of the occupation. He also worked in hospitals in Passau and Augsburg before leaving for the US in 1946. Cole was discharged later in June.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William A. "Bill" Campbell. Born in 1925, he joined the Army in 1934. He describes basic training and living conditions at Miami Beach, Florida. After basic training, he attended aerial gunnery school at Fort Meyers, Florida and was then sent to Boise, Idaho where he became a tail gunner of a B-24 crew. He was then transferred to the 466th Bomb Group of the 784th Bomb Squadron where they flew bombing missions over Germany. He provides an account of his combat mission over Germany when he was hit by anti-aircraft flak. He shares an anecdote of when he won the Distinguished Flying Cross for extinguishing a fire on the plane following a direct hit to the bomb bay. He also describes the attacks by German fighters, his twenty-seven missions and the places he bombed as part of the 8th Air Force. He shares an anecdote of a gas mission his B-24 flew to Patton???s army in France and watching the V-2 buzzbombs hitting Norwich. He left Liverpool for Boston in 1945 aboard the USS Wakefield (AP-21) where he awaited surgery from his flak wound in Atlantic City, New …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William A. "Bill" Campbell. Born in 1925, he joined the Army in 1934. He describes basic training and living conditions at Miami Beach, Florida. After basic training, he attended aerial gunnery school at Fort Meyers, Florida and was then sent to Boise, Idaho where he became a tail gunner of a B-24 crew. He was then transferred to the 466th Bomb Group of the 784th Bomb Squadron where they flew bombing missions over Germany. He provides an account of his combat mission over Germany when he was hit by anti-aircraft flak. He shares an anecdote of when he won the Distinguished Flying Cross for extinguishing a fire on the plane following a direct hit to the bomb bay. He also describes the attacks by German fighters, his twenty-seven missions and the places he bombed as part of the 8th Air Force. He shares an anecdote of a gas mission his B-24 flew to Patton???s army in France and watching the V-2 buzzbombs hitting Norwich. He left Liverpool for Boston in 1945 aboard the USS Wakefield (AP-21) where he awaited surgery from his flak wound in Atlantic City, New …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William A. Klenk. He enlisted in the Navy in May 1942. He was accepted into the Naval Air Cadet Program and received his commission in June 1943. He talks about his qualifying carrier landings at NAS Glenview. He was assigned to U.S. Carrier Air Group 80 Dive Bomber Squadron United States. Navy. Bombing Squadron 80 (VB-80) on the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). They joined the Third Fleet in Ulithi. He recalls various bombing locations in the South Pacific. He describes when the ship was hit by two kamikaze airplanes near Formosa. His air group was subsequently assigned to the USS Hancock (CV-19). He talks about making air strikes on Iwo Jima, Tokyo, and Okinawa. He describes making the trip back to the U.S. aboard various ships. He got out of the Navy in September 1945. After graduating from Penn State, he joined the Naval Reserve from which he retired in 1965. Kathryn Klenk remembers blackouts and rationing. She shares an anecdote about being married in bedroom slippers due to the rationing of shoes. William Klenk shares an anecdote about getting married despite the national holiday declared upon President Roosevelt’s …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William A. Klenk. He enlisted in the Navy in May 1942. He was accepted into the Naval Air Cadet Program and received his commission in June 1943. He talks about his qualifying carrier landings at NAS Glenview. He was assigned to U.S. Carrier Air Group 80 Dive Bomber Squadron United States. Navy. Bombing Squadron 80 (VB-80) on the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). They joined the Third Fleet in Ulithi. He recalls various bombing locations in the South Pacific. He describes when the ship was hit by two kamikaze airplanes near Formosa. His air group was subsequently assigned to the USS Hancock (CV-19). He talks about making air strikes on Iwo Jima, Tokyo, and Okinawa. He describes making the trip back to the U.S. aboard various ships. He got out of the Navy in September 1945. After graduating from Penn State, he joined the Naval Reserve from which he retired in 1965. Kathryn Klenk remembers blackouts and rationing. She shares an anecdote about being married in bedroom slippers due to the rationing of shoes. William Klenk shares an anecdote about getting married despite the national holiday declared upon President Roosevelt’s …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William McAnany. McAnany joined the Navy in October of 1938. He completed Hospital Corps and X-Ray Technician School. McAnany worked at naval hospitals in Virginia and Philadelphia. In August of 1941 he was assigned aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) and traveled to Pearl Harbor in October. McAnany was on Ford Island during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he treated wounded soldiers. He continued his service supporting campaigns including the invasion of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Midway. He also treated wounded at Guadalcanal, the Marianas, Peleliu and Okinawa. He then served aboard the hospital ship, USS Samaritan (AH-10). After the war ended, McAnany served in the US and in the Korean War. He was discharged from active duty in May of 1958.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William McAnany. McAnany joined the Navy in October of 1938. He completed Hospital Corps and X-Ray Technician School. McAnany worked at naval hospitals in Virginia and Philadelphia. In August of 1941 he was assigned aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) and traveled to Pearl Harbor in October. McAnany was on Ford Island during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he treated wounded soldiers. He continued his service supporting campaigns including the invasion of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Midway. He also treated wounded at Guadalcanal, the Marianas, Peleliu and Okinawa. He then served aboard the hospital ship, USS Samaritan (AH-10). After the war ended, McAnany served in the US and in the Korean War. He was discharged from active duty in May of 1958.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Otis Williams. Williams joined the Navy V-6 Program around October of 1944. He was transferred to the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Millington, Tennessee, and completed Radio and Radar schools. Williams then transferred to Opa-locka, Florida for Gunnery School and operations training with carrier aircraft. He completed training around February of 1946. Williams was assigned to the 75th Bombing Squadron. He continued his service after the war ended, with his final ranking status of Aviation Radioman Third-Class. Williams was discharged on 29 June 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Otis Williams. Williams joined the Navy V-6 Program around October of 1944. He was transferred to the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Millington, Tennessee, and completed Radio and Radar schools. Williams then transferred to Opa-locka, Florida for Gunnery School and operations training with carrier aircraft. He completed training around February of 1946. Williams was assigned to the 75th Bombing Squadron. He continued his service after the war ended, with his final ranking status of Aviation Radioman Third-Class. Williams was discharged on 29 June 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William S. O'Donnell. O'Donnell was working for Montgomery Ward in Chicago when he was drafted into the Army after the war got started. His aptitude with numbers led him to be assigned as a statistician in a Machine Records Unit (MRU). He went to Europe with the 39th MRU and was attached to General Patton's Third Army. He landed in Normandy, France 7 days after D-Day. His unit provided daily punch card analysis of unit strength in Patton's 3rd Army. O'Donnell was on an assignment in Paris when Germany surrendered. When the war ended, O'Donnell retunred home to Indiana.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William S. O'Donnell. O'Donnell was working for Montgomery Ward in Chicago when he was drafted into the Army after the war got started. His aptitude with numbers led him to be assigned as a statistician in a Machine Records Unit (MRU). He went to Europe with the 39th MRU and was attached to General Patton's Third Army. He landed in Normandy, France 7 days after D-Day. His unit provided daily punch card analysis of unit strength in Patton's 3rd Army. O'Donnell was on an assignment in Paris when Germany surrendered. When the war ended, O'Donnell retunred home to Indiana.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Willie Sander. Sander was born in Brenham, Texas on 18 August 1916. After graduating from high school in 1933, he worked as the manager for the A&P Grocery chain. In 1942, he joined the Navy and received pilot training on PBYs. After being commissioned in June, he was sent to Kaneohe Naval Air Station where he received advanced training. Soon after the invasion of Tarawa, he delivered a new plane there and returned to Hawaii with one that had been badly damaged. He comments on the death and destruction he saw. In March 1944 he flew to Fiji where he joined Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14), which was attached to a seaplane tender. They flew night patrols and rescue missions. In early 1945 he returned to the United States and picked up new PBM Mariners. Sander took the planes to San Diego where JATO equipment was installed. After receiving training in the use of the equipment they flew to Luzon. He recounts a number of missions, including one for which his crew was credited with sinking five Japanese ships and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 15 …

Postcard sent from E. Ansel Bailey, Marcellus, New York, to Mrs. W. L. McKie, thanking her for the message from his brother, Fay Cook Bailey. Postcard postmarked from Syracuse, New York.

A certificate promoting Clifford R. Baird to Staff Sergeant.

Handwritten letter from Anna Satti to LCDR Robert W. Copeland, dated February 22, 1945. Satti writes to thank Copeland for his letter to her family about the death of her brother, Tullio Joseph Serafini, who was killed in action during the Battle off Samar while serving on the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts. She speaks about her and Tullio’s relationship, quotes some of his letters, talks about his last visit home and the desire of his wife to have the body returned for burial.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz sends a Christmas greeting to his grandfather and informs him of the weather in Annapolis and the holiday schedule of the Academy.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz, aboard the USS Indiana (BB-1), describes leaving the Chesapeake Bay and going into the Atlantic Ocean. He also mentions he had liberty in New York City and attempted to find an aunt, but could not. He provides details about the ship's coal consumption rates.