The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Foley. Foley joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. He completed Scout Sniper School, and provides details of his training. Foley served with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He was deployed to Auckland, New Zealand, where he continued combat training, in preparation for operations. Foley’s first battle action was at Guadalcanal. He subsequently participated in three major beach landings, during the battles of Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Foley. Foley joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. He completed Scout Sniper School, and provides details of his training. Foley served with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He was deployed to Auckland, New Zealand, where he continued combat training, in preparation for operations. Foley’s first battle action was at Guadalcanal. He subsequently participated in three major beach landings, during the battles of Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Gallimore. Gallimore went into the Army Air Corps glider program in 1942. After a variety of training in light planes, sail planes and gliders as well as ground school, he took advanced glider training in Lubbock, graduated, got his wings and was a flight officer. This was an appointment, not a commission; he became a warrant officer, junior grade. Gallimore flew overseas in a C-54, took a train to his base in England, and in a few days he was piloting a glider over the English channel into Normandy (D-Day +1 or 2). After landing, they became regular paratroopers until they could get back to their glider base. All together, he made four glider landings including Holland, southern France and the Rhine River. He flew the CG-4A glider. Gallimore provides good descriptions of his glider flying environment and action on the ground. He came back to the states on a Norwegian freighter in 1945 before Japan surrendered.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Gallimore. Gallimore went into the Army Air Corps glider program in 1942. After a variety of training in light planes, sail planes and gliders as well as ground school, he took advanced glider training in Lubbock, graduated, got his wings and was a flight officer. This was an appointment, not a commission; he became a warrant officer, junior grade. Gallimore flew overseas in a C-54, took a train to his base in England, and in a few days he was piloting a glider over the English channel into Normandy (D-Day +1 or 2). After landing, they became regular paratroopers until they could get back to their glider base. All together, he made four glider landings including Holland, southern France and the Rhine River. He flew the CG-4A glider. Gallimore provides good descriptions of his glider flying environment and action on the ground. He came back to the states on a Norwegian freighter in 1945 before Japan surrendered.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon E. Tucker. Born in 1919, he joined the Coast Guard in July 1942. He served on Galveston Island, Texas where he was a motor machinist. He was transferred to New York where he was assigned to the USS Might, an escort ship operating between New York to Cuba. As a Machinist Mate, he was in charge of the engine room. He describes the living conditions on the ship. He and his wife, Ethel Tucker, discuss life and entertainment in New York City. He shares anecdotes about ?the black gang? and food in the engine room; a general quarters drill; a near-collision with an ammunition building; assisting with an impromptu appendectomy at sea; and experiencing a storm en route from Cuba to New York. After twenty escort trips, he was transferred back to Galveston Island. He relates stories about a German submarine near New Jersey; a Japanese submarine on Bolivar Peninsula, Texas; and four German soldiers coming ashore in Galveston, Texas. He also describes rescuing stranded civilians during a hurricane. He was discharged in 1945. The interview also contains information about his parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon E. Tucker. Born in 1919, he joined the Coast Guard in July 1942. He served on Galveston Island, Texas where he was a motor machinist. He was transferred to New York where he was assigned to the USS Might, an escort ship operating between New York to Cuba. As a Machinist Mate, he was in charge of the engine room. He describes the living conditions on the ship. He and his wife, Ethel Tucker, discuss life and entertainment in New York City. He shares anecdotes about ?the black gang? and food in the engine room; a general quarters drill; a near-collision with an ammunition building; assisting with an impromptu appendectomy at sea; and experiencing a storm en route from Cuba to New York. After twenty escort trips, he was transferred back to Galveston Island. He relates stories about a German submarine near New Jersey; a Japanese submarine on Bolivar Peninsula, Texas; and four German soldiers coming ashore in Galveston, Texas. He also describes rescuing stranded civilians during a hurricane. He was discharged in 1945. The interview also contains information about his parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leo Itz. Itz was given a one-year exemption in order to help his father on the farm before he was drafted into the Army in March 1945. He was trained in demolitions at Fort Lewis and sent to Luzon to join the 395th Infantry Regiment. Before shipping out to the Philippines, he was assigned to work at Del Monte Foods in California, due to the labor shortage. During his voyage overseas, the war ended. Itz was tasked with guarding an ammunition dump outside of Clark Field. Armed only with an unloaded rifle, he came under fire when Japanese holdouts were raiding the dump. He returned safely to his bunk, only to discover a putrid smell. In the ground beneath him was a shallow grave. In August 1945, Itz was granted a dependency discharge upon learning that his father had suffered a heart attack. He returned to the States in December.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leo Itz. Itz was given a one-year exemption in order to help his father on the farm before he was drafted into the Army in March 1945. He was trained in demolitions at Fort Lewis and sent to Luzon to join the 395th Infantry Regiment. Before shipping out to the Philippines, he was assigned to work at Del Monte Foods in California, due to the labor shortage. During his voyage overseas, the war ended. Itz was tasked with guarding an ammunition dump outside of Clark Field. Armed only with an unloaded rifle, he came under fire when Japanese holdouts were raiding the dump. He returned safely to his bunk, only to discover a putrid smell. In the ground beneath him was a shallow grave. In August 1945, Itz was granted a dependency discharge upon learning that his father had suffered a heart attack. He returned to the States in December.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Pierce. Pierce registered for the Army in 1942, working as a machinist in a defense plant until he was called to active duty. He deployed to Leyte with the 284th Ordinance Company and set up a mobile machine shop for the repair of amphibious tanks. His unit was unarmed, as they were told they would be far from the action. But he was warned by nearby soldiers to dig a foxhole as quickly as he could, to take cover from snipers. The next day, he found bullet holes in his truck. He also restored equipment after the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Transferring to Okinawa, his company sought refuge in their trucks to survive a typhoon. At the end of the war, Pierce boarded the same ship as Admiral Nimitz for his return trip to the States and had the pleasure of shaking his hand. Pierce was discharged into the Reserves, but the Army misplaced his papers, so he was not recalled to the Korean War. He attended night school on the GI Bill and contined working as a machinist.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Pierce. Pierce registered for the Army in 1942, working as a machinist in a defense plant until he was called to active duty. He deployed to Leyte with the 284th Ordinance Company and set up a mobile machine shop for the repair of amphibious tanks. His unit was unarmed, as they were told they would be far from the action. But he was warned by nearby soldiers to dig a foxhole as quickly as he could, to take cover from snipers. The next day, he found bullet holes in his truck. He also restored equipment after the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Transferring to Okinawa, his company sought refuge in their trucks to survive a typhoon. At the end of the war, Pierce boarded the same ship as Admiral Nimitz for his return trip to the States and had the pleasure of shaking his hand. Pierce was discharged into the Reserves, but the Army misplaced his papers, so he was not recalled to the Korean War. He attended night school on the GI Bill and contined working as a machinist.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth Matthews. Matthews joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and trained at Parris Island. Then he went to Quantico and earned a commission. He was assigned to the regimental intelligence section of the 1st Marines, 1st marine Division and went to Okinawa. After the war, Matthews went to China briefly before returning to the US and being discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth Matthews. Matthews joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and trained at Parris Island. Then he went to Quantico and earned a commission. He was assigned to the regimental intelligence section of the 1st Marines, 1st marine Division and went to Okinawa. After the war, Matthews went to China briefly before returning to the US and being discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hector Mendieta. Mendieta was born in Laredo, Texas in 1924. After graduating from high school in 1941, he attended Texas A & M University until March 1943. When he was inducted into the Army he underwent nine weeks of basic training at Camp Roberts, Texas and was then sent to Camp Abbot, Oregon. In February 1944, he was selected to attend Officers Candidate School. Upon receiving his commission on 14 June 1944 he was sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana where he joined the 1326th Engineer General Service Brigade. The unit, composed primarily of African American soldiers, received training in various types of construction. On 12 February 1945 the regiment left Camp Kilmer, New Jersey for France. After landing at Le Havre, the unit moved to Marville. Mendieta’s unit converted a school into a hospital. Casualties from the 3rd Army arrived before reconstruction was completed. After Germany surrendered, his unit was sent to Mondorf les Bains, Belgium to convert a hotel into a prison for high ranking German officers. He saw Hermann Goering and Karl Doenitz arrive prior to the trials in Nuremburg. Afterward, the unit boarded the USS …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hector Mendieta. Mendieta was born in Laredo, Texas in 1924. After graduating from high school in 1941, he attended Texas A & M University until March 1943. When he was inducted into the Army he underwent nine weeks of basic training at Camp Roberts, Texas and was then sent to Camp Abbot, Oregon. In February 1944, he was selected to attend Officers Candidate School. Upon receiving his commission on 14 June 1944 he was sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana where he joined the 1326th Engineer General Service Brigade. The unit, composed primarily of African American soldiers, received training in various types of construction. On 12 February 1945 the regiment left Camp Kilmer, New Jersey for France. After landing at Le Havre, the unit moved to Marville. Mendieta’s unit converted a school into a hospital. Casualties from the 3rd Army arrived before reconstruction was completed. After Germany surrendered, his unit was sent to Mondorf les Bains, Belgium to convert a hotel into a prison for high ranking German officers. He saw Hermann Goering and Karl Doenitz arrive prior to the trials in Nuremburg. Afterward, the unit boarded the USS …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Liban Brillantes. Assisting Brillantes with the interview is his daughter Peda, and his granddaughter Precious Ross. Brillantes was born in the Philippine Islands in 1916. He joined the 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment around 1934. Following the occupation of the Philippines by the Japanese, he joined the Filipino Guerillas and he tells of life under Japanese occupation. He describes participating in the annihilation of a column of Japanese soldiers and the method of burial by the Japanese command. He also comments on the rumor that looted gold was buried by General Yamashita and that Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos was involved in its recovery.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Liban Brillantes. Assisting Brillantes with the interview is his daughter Peda, and his granddaughter Precious Ross. Brillantes was born in the Philippine Islands in 1916. He joined the 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment around 1934. Following the occupation of the Philippines by the Japanese, he joined the Filipino Guerillas and he tells of life under Japanese occupation. He describes participating in the annihilation of a column of Japanese soldiers and the method of burial by the Japanese command. He also comments on the rumor that looted gold was buried by General Yamashita and that Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos was involved in its recovery.