Photograph of Chester W. Nimitz and Catherine Freeman Nimitz in front of shrubbery. Chester W. Nimitz stands on the left with his hands clasped in front of him and holding a quilted bag. He wears a dark Naval uniform with embroidery on the collar, three stripes and a star on the sleeves, black dress shoes and a brimmed hat with the Navy's emblem on the front. To his right stands Catherine Nimitz in an oversized coat, dark trousers, heeled boots and a large sun hat. Handwritten on lower center: "C.W. and Mrs. Nimitz [illegible] Old Point Va - June 22, 1919".

Communiqué from Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Ocean Areas to the Pacific Ocean Areas giving updates on the war.

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.

Handwritten 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.

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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Sanders. Sanders joined the Army Air Forces in October 1942 and earned his wings in April 1944. After learning to fly B-24s, he arrived in England with his crew as part of the 458th Bomb Group. From there he made raids over Germany, twice making emergency landings in Belgium after being shot up. He transitioned into being a lead crew pilot, heading up a tight formation of 36 bombers. Sanders had flown 18 missions by the time the war ended. He and his crew flew home, stopping for fuel and wine in the Azores. He was also transporting 20 soldiers who were so eager to land that they crowded the front of the plane, shifting the load and causing an extremely rough and dangerous landing. That was the last time Sanders ever piloted an aircraft.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Sanders. Sanders joined the Army Air Forces in October 1942 and earned his wings in April 1944. After learning to fly B-24s, he arrived in England with his crew as part of the 458th Bomb Group. From there he made raids over Germany, twice making emergency landings in Belgium after being shot up. He transitioned into being a lead crew pilot, heading up a tight formation of 36 bombers. Sanders had flown 18 missions by the time the war ended. He and his crew flew home, stopping for fuel and wine in the Azores. He was also transporting 20 soldiers who were so eager to land that they crowded the front of the plane, shifting the load and causing an extremely rough and dangerous landing. That was the last time Sanders ever piloted an aircraft.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Crain. Crain left law school to join the Army Air Forces in January 1942. He was assigned to an ordnance detachment with the 3rd Air Depot Group in Agra, India, where he loaded ammunition onto trains. He was transferred to Karachi, where he made reusable practice bombs out of tin cans and sand. He applied to OCS and returned to the States in April 1943. As an Infantry officer he taught math, reading, and ordnance use. He was sent to Italy and assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. In the Apennines, his unit furnished ammunition and performed light engineering. Crain was the battalion commander’s primary troubleshooter. He was assigned to the 85th Infantry Division when the armistice went into effect in Italy. There was no resistance from Germans in the Po Valley, who pleaded with Crain to help them defend their homes from the Russians. When the war ended, he was assigned to keep the peace between political factions in Tarvisio. His last occupation duty was overseeing refugees in Milan. Crain returned home and was discharged in December 1945. He returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Crain. Crain left law school to join the Army Air Forces in January 1942. He was assigned to an ordnance detachment with the 3rd Air Depot Group in Agra, India, where he loaded ammunition onto trains. He was transferred to Karachi, where he made reusable practice bombs out of tin cans and sand. He applied to OCS and returned to the States in April 1943. As an Infantry officer he taught math, reading, and ordnance use. He was sent to Italy and assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. In the Apennines, his unit furnished ammunition and performed light engineering. Crain was the battalion commander’s primary troubleshooter. He was assigned to the 85th Infantry Division when the armistice went into effect in Italy. There was no resistance from Germans in the Po Valley, who pleaded with Crain to help them defend their homes from the Russians. When the war ended, he was assigned to keep the peace between political factions in Tarvisio. His last occupation duty was overseeing refugees in Milan. Crain returned home and was discharged in December 1945. He returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Schley. Schley enlisted in the Naval Reserve in August of 1940. He was assigned to 5 destroys and served as skipper on 3 of these. He was commissioned in March of 1941 and sent to the USS Rhind (DD-404), serving as assistant engineer. He describes their supporting the British war effort. They traveled to Bermuda maintaining a destroyer tender, providing convoy escort, carrier screening and anti-submarine warfare services. They joined a Task Force commanded by the British and operating out of Scapa Flow. They moved up the Norwegian coast to Murmansk battling German bombers, torpedo planes and submarines. He describes an encounter with the German battleship Tirpitz. He provides narrative details of the sinking of HMS Punjabi. In August of 1942 they traveled to the North African landings with his destroyer division. They provided support in the advance up to Italy. By early 1944 Schley was sent to the Pacific as executive officer of the USS Stringham (APD-6). He later became the commanding officer of this ship. They escorted the main force to the Palau Islands. He describes the Pearl Harbor West Loch explosion. He became a lieutenant …

Transcript of an oral interview with Murven J. Witherel. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Allegheny High School in 1939. He went to work for a untility company before being drafted into the Army in February 1942. He qualified for Officer Candidate School (OCS) after Basic Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant at Fort Benning, Georgia in December 1942. He was then assigned as the leader of 3rd Platoon, Company E, 20th Infantry,6th Infantry Division and sent to the Mojave Desert to train anticipating a trip to North Africa. Instead, his unit went to New Guinea in January 1944. In June, his unit landed at Baffin Bay and assaulted Lone Tree Hill. Witherel was evetually wounded twice and received the new drug, penicillin at the Lae General Hospital. He was eventually shipped back to the USA. the conversatio then veers to cover such subjects as USO shows, friendly fire, the Red Cross, Tokyo Rose on the radio, morale in his outfit and a visit in the Lae General Hospital by Jack Benny.

Transcript of an oral interview with Murven J. Witherel. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Allegheny High School in 1939. He went to work for a untility company before being drafted into the Army in February 1942. He qualified for Officer Candidate School (OCS) after Basic Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant at Fort Benning, Georgia in December 1942. He was then assigned as the leader of 3rd Platoon, Company E, 20th Infantry,6th Infantry Division and sent to the Mojave Desert to train anticipating a trip to North Africa. Instead, his unit went to New Guinea in January 1944. In June, his unit landed at Baffin Bay and assaulted Lone Tree Hill. Witherel was evetually wounded twice and received the new drug, penicillin at the Lae General Hospital. He was eventually shipped back to the USA. the conversatio then veers to cover such subjects as USO shows, friendly fire, the Red Cross, Tokyo Rose on the radio, morale in his outfit and a visit in the Lae General Hospital by Jack Benny.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ramon Galindo. Galindo was born on 29 May 1921 in Nuevo San Juan, Mexico. His parents brought him to the United States in 1922. He joined the Texas State National Guard in 1943, at the age of 22, and became an American citizen that same year. In 1944 he joined the 571st Anti-Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. He received training at Camp Wallace in Galveston. From 1944 to 1945 he served in Europe, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River Battle. He provides details of these battles and familiarized himself with the sound of the German cannons 88-mm cannons, and he knew to drop to the ground when he heard the whistling sound. In May of 1945, his battalion was stationed at Adolf Hitler’s headquarters, the Führerbau, where oversized pictures of Hitler and his top officers covered the walls. Part of Galindo’s mission was to protect these images. Galindo was honorably discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ramon Galindo. Galindo was born on 29 May 1921 in Nuevo San Juan, Mexico. His parents brought him to the United States in 1922. He joined the Texas State National Guard in 1943, at the age of 22, and became an American citizen that same year. In 1944 he joined the 571st Anti-Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. He received training at Camp Wallace in Galveston. From 1944 to 1945 he served in Europe, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River Battle. He provides details of these battles and familiarized himself with the sound of the German cannons 88-mm cannons, and he knew to drop to the ground when he heard the whistling sound. In May of 1945, his battalion was stationed at Adolf Hitler’s headquarters, the Führerbau, where oversized pictures of Hitler and his top officers covered the walls. Part of Galindo’s mission was to protect these images. Galindo was honorably discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Upton Ruddock. Upton’s wife, Mary, assists with the interview. Ruddock was drafted into the Army in May 1944. He went to Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. He trained on horseback. He was part of the 56th Cavalry Brigade. After training he went to war, leaving California November 1944. They landed at Bombay, India. He joined the 124th Cavalry Regiment of the MARS Task Force. They crossed India by train to Ledo, Burma. He took care of eight mules and two horses, utilizing them to help carry their food, supplies and equipment to the Burma Road. He discusses other experiences in Burma. He also served in Shanghai, China shoveling coal into the stove for a big hotel. He returned to the States and was discharged in February 1946. After he was discharged he worked on his father’s farm. He used his G.I. Bill to purchase a home and some land, and to further his work vaccinating chickens.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Upton Ruddock. Upton’s wife, Mary, assists with the interview. Ruddock was drafted into the Army in May 1944. He went to Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. He trained on horseback. He was part of the 56th Cavalry Brigade. After training he went to war, leaving California November 1944. They landed at Bombay, India. He joined the 124th Cavalry Regiment of the MARS Task Force. They crossed India by train to Ledo, Burma. He took care of eight mules and two horses, utilizing them to help carry their food, supplies and equipment to the Burma Road. He discusses other experiences in Burma. He also served in Shanghai, China shoveling coal into the stove for a big hotel. He returned to the States and was discharged in February 1946. After he was discharged he worked on his father’s farm. He used his G.I. Bill to purchase a home and some land, and to further his work vaccinating chickens.

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.

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.