Interview with Al Flocke, a radio operator during World War II. He discusses his flight training and being the radio operator on a B-24 bomber which did raids on Guam, Turk, Iwo Jima and other islands. He also relates anecdotes about food, rations, and living conditions on the islands.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including plans to get a perm, the weather, and updates on family members.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing missing church, having completed ten missions, and sympathizing with Bob's money troubles.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing taking a test with Williams, responding to the contents of Catherine's last letter, and planning to write a letter to Dan.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing playing bridge and rummy with other men in his squadron, writing letters to Raymond and J.D., an update that his squadron will soon be moving to another field, and plans to look for a watermelon.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his crewmates writing on the back of the letter he sent her previously, calling James Carter, and missing the spare time he had before his squadron started school.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the mail service, drinking with his friends the previous few nights, seeing a performance from Bob Hope and other stars, going on carnival rides, such as the "Big Dipper," and apologizing for being rushed when they spoke on the phone.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his crew having their picture taken in front of their plane, "Texas Kate," the mail service, hoping that the book "Frenchman's Creek" will be made into a film, and asking after Crockett.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including Ina Clark divorcing Hugh to marry Ragsdale Nichols, and plans for her to go to San Antonio with May, Lorraine, and Missie.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing what Catherine has heard of the warfront, including a letter from Jack Cope and a newspaper article about a marine who invaded Saipan. Catherine also asks that Joe tell her what he would like for Christmas.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including plans to see Missie on Christmas afternoon, Honey passing his physical, and taking a plane ride in a Piper Cub with a former Captain in the Civil Air Patrol.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his leaving for Nevada, trying to find a place for her to stay if she visits, and drinking a few beers with other soldiers. A portion of text has been removed from the letter.

Handwritten letter from William Norman Smith to Lt. Comdr. E. E. Roberts, dated January 22, 1944. He writes to thank Roberts for writing to him about the death of his son Norman Smith. He enquires about getting more details of his son’s injuries and the significance of the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts in the war.

Handwritten letter from William Norman Smith to Lt. Comdr. E. E. Roberts, dated January 22, 1944. He writes to thank Roberts for writing to him about the death of his son Norman Smith. He enquires about getting more details of his son’s injuries and the significance of the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts in the war.

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.

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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Orland Harris. Harris went to Santa Anna, California for Aviation Cadet training in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He went to primary flying school in Visalia, California and then went to LaeMoore, California for more training. From there he went to replacement training units, flying the P-38, P-322 and P-39. Harris had take civilian pilot training for one year at college before he went into the service. He received his wings at Williams Field in Arizona 3 Nov 1943 and became an officer that day. He went to the South Pacific in a C-54, along wih about 30 other pilots, ending up in Nadzab, New Guinea with the 8th Fighter Group (part of the 5th Air Force). His P-38 missions included targets of opportunity around New Guinea, a cave on Corregidor and straffed ships on the way to Borneo, and the Philippines. Normally they flew cover missions for B-17s and B-24s but on occasion covered B-25s and A-20s. Harris was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) when he was flying out of Mindoro in the Philippines on a night mission (26 Dec 1944) attacking a Japanese task …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marcia Howe Bratusek and Marcile Howe Harrison. Twins Bratusek and Harrison grew up in San Antonio, Texas and participated in the local committee called the National Defense Recreation and Service Committee of San Antonio (similar to the USO). Born in 1932, they were nine in 1941 and 13 in 1945. They took dance lessons and their mother made them costumes. Their costumes were bought in Mexico. They took classes from Bertha Almaguer. During the war, they performed dances for military men as frequently as three nights a week. They performed at different bases and mention Dodge Field near Fort Sam Houston. They also had three brothers in the military. They had their pictures in National Geographic magazine. They also visited the military hospitals.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Harrell. Harrell grew up in Kentucky and joined the Marine Corps in 1943. Once he finished training, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis in 1944. His first encounter was in the Carolina Islands. He then went to Eniwetok Islands, Kwajalein Islands, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. The next battle was the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. Then the ship went on to Peleliu until the island was secured, and onto Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The ship protected other ships as well as invasion troops during the battles. At Okinawa, the ship was damaged by a kamikaze plane and went back to the United States for repairs. He discusses the kamikaze culture and his experience at a forty-millimeter gun when the kamikaze hit the USS Indianapolis. At the point, while in the United States, the ship was chosen to take the atomic bomb parts to Tinian. At San Francisco, he describes the acquiring of the atomic bomb materials without the knowledge of the Captain of the ship or the soldiers. Next, he describes the bombing of the USS Indianapolis and the aftermath. Harrell witnessed other soldiers drink salt water, …

Transcript of an oral interview with Herman Billnitzer. Mr Billnitzer was a Pharmacist Mate in the Navy and spent most of his time as a corpsman with the 1st Marine Division, landing on Guadalcanal in October 1942. He describes the conditions on Guadalcanal as well as the conditions of the sailors that were rescued from ships sunk in Iron Bottom Sound. Near the end of the year, the 1st Marine Division was relieved by the Army and went to Australia for about eight months. From there, they were shipped to New Guinea, Milne Bay, where they stayed for about three months. Then, they landed on New Britain. Billnitzer gives a gripping description of the front line fighting on New Britain including the counterattacks by the Japanese; very revealing of what went on there. After New Britain, he was shipped back to the base hospital at Cape Gloucester and then to Pavuvu (Russell Islands) before he came back to the States for rest and rehabilitation in 1944; after over 20 months in the South Pacific. Billnitzer was sent to the naval hospital at Corpus Christi and then to the west coast for training at San Bruno, California. He went to Sasebo, …

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 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 …

Transcript of an oral interview with Al Flocke. He discusses his flight training and being the radio operator on a B-24 bomber which did raids on Guam, Turk, Iwo Jima and other islands. He also ancedotes about food, rations and living conditions on the islands.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jospeh Edward Robeau. While attending Texas A & M, Robeau joined the Army and was sent to Office rCandidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was commissioned in June 1944. In October, Robeau was assigned to a heavy weapons company in the 87th Infantry Division an dsailed for England. He was assigend to a 81mm mortar section and arrived in France in November 1944. He recalls the winter weather conditions during the Battle of the Bulge. In February, Robeau was wounded by German artillery. When he recovered, he was sent from the hospital in England back to Paris where he served on a courts martial board. When the war ended, Robeau returned to the US in 1946 and resumed his studies at Texas A & M.