Interview with James William "Bill" Harrison, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He explains how he joined the navy in San Diego without going to boot camp. He worked on an oil tanker that shipped out to Pearl Harbor a month after the attack there and transported fuel out of San Diego to various ships at sea. He was then transfered to Admiral Nimitz's public relations department. There he and two others wrote stories about the action in the Pacific theater, particularly about the Battle of Midway. They also contributed to a radio show and worked with the national press corps. He then worked at the Naval Air Station in Seattle before traveling to Hilo, Hawaii to meet with soldiers who had returned from Tarawa. In Texas, he attended officer training school and college at Southwestern University. After the war ended, he studied at the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma for law school. He recalls an incident in which his office released a story about a cat that had kittens on board a cruiser; they reported this good news from the Pacific prior to the Battle of Midway. He also met Admirals Nimitz …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Johnson. He begins the interview with a summary of his life. Rufus Winfield Johnson was born in Montgomery County, Maryland in 1911. He was in the ROTC at Howard University. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1934 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserves. In 1939 he received his LLB degree from the Howard University School of Law. He shares stories from his time working in the White House as lifeguard and personal butler to Franklin Delano Roosevelt prior to entering the armed forces. He served in the 92nd Infantry Division. He shares an anecdote about receiving a ten thousand dollar reward for shooting a bandit that preyed on American sailors in North Africa. He describes the campaigns of Sicily and North Apennines. He recounts an altercation with General Almond after which he was transferred to the 442nd Infantry Division. He describes his role in rescuing Company K of the 71st Infantry. He also recounts his capture and escape from German soldiers. He discusses the treatment of African American soldiers. He also served during the Korean War. He retired from the Army Reserves …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Johnson. He begins the interview with a summary of his life. Rufus Winfield Johnson was born in Montgomery County, Maryland in 1911. He was in the ROTC at Howard University. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1934 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserves. In 1939 he received his LLB degree from the Howard University School of Law. He shares stories from his time working in the White House as lifeguard and personal butler to Franklin Delano Roosevelt prior to entering the armed forces. He served in the 92nd Infantry Division. He shares an anecdote about receiving a ten thousand dollar reward for shooting a bandit that preyed on American sailors in North Africa. He describes the campaigns of Sicily and North Apennines. He recounts an altercation with General Almond after which he was transferred to the 442nd Infantry Division. He describes his role in rescuing Company K of the 71st Infantry. He also recounts his capture and escape from German soldiers. He discusses the treatment of African American soldiers. He also served during the Korean War. He retired from the Army Reserves …

Transcript of an oral interview with Russell Milliken. He discusses being in the 82nd Airborne, parachuting into Normandy just after D-Day, being treated for frozen feet during the Battle of the Bulge and meeting a doctor he knew from home, serving on General Eisenhower's honor guard in Frankfurt, and coming home through New York and having to stay there for a Victory Parade before being allowed to go back to Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Tice. Tice was born in Detroit 3 January 1924. After joining the Navy in 1943 he went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot training. Upon completion of training he entered gunnery school in preparation for Armed Guard duty. After training, Tice served as instructor at the Armed Guard school for four months. He then volunteered for aircraft carrier duty and was assigned to a gunnery crew aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). He went aboard late in December 1943. Tice recalls meeting a childhood friend, Bob Harrison, an armament specialist who was also on board. Soon after arriving at Pearl Harbor the Franklin sailed to the Marianas. He recalls the ship being involved in many operations including the Bonin Islands, Peleliu, Guam, Luzon and Iwo Jima. It was also involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where a Japanese aircraft crashed on the deck. He went into an ammunition magazine to wet down the area with water. He received a citation from Admiral Halsey for this action. He also describes burials at sea. The ship returned to Bremerton for repairs. On 19 March 1945 a …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred L DiDomenico. DiDomenico joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. In November, he deployed to Samoa. DiDomenico served as a machine gunner with the 3rd Marine Division, and participated in the battles of Bougainville and Guam. He returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Floyd H. Fulkerson. In January, 1942, Fulkerson joined the Army Air Corps and went into flight training, graduating and being commissioned in September, 1942. From there, he went to train in B-25s in South Carolina. From there, he went overseas to Australia in September, 1943. He received transfer from B-25s to P-38s in Australia and was assigned to the 475th Fighter Group, 431st Fighter Squadron in January 1944. Fulkerson flew some with Colonel Charles Lindbergh and Major Richard Bong. On one mission in the Philippines, Fulkerson was shot down and was rescued by Filipino guerrillas and returned to his base after five weeks.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James William ""Bill"" Harrison. He begins by explaining how he joined the navy and started in San Diego without going to boot camp, then working on an oil tanker that shipped out to Pearl Harbor a month after the attack, then transported fuel out of San Diego to various ships at sea, then he was transfered to Admiral Nimitz public relations department. There he and two others wrote stories about the action in the Pacific, particularly about the Battle of Midway, they contributed to a radio show, working with the national press corps, then working at the Naval Air Station in Seattle, then to Hilo and meeting with soldiers back from Tarawa, then to Texas to go to officer training school and college at Southwestern University, then to University of Texas and University of Oklahoma for law school after the war. He ancedotes about the office releasing a story about a cat that had kittens on board a cruiser so they could report good news in the Pacific prior to the battle of Midway and meeting Admirals Nimitz and Byrd, typing up a letter for Elliott Roosevelt to …

Transcript of an oral interview with Russell Milliken. He discusses being in the 82nd Airborne, parachuting into Normandy just after D-Day, being treated for frozen feet during the Battle of the Bulge and meeting a doctor he knew from home, serving on General Eisenhower's honor guard in Frankfurt, and coming home through New York and having to stay there for a Victory Parade before being allowed to go back to Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arlie Asmussen. Asmussen joined the Navy in 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served aboard the USS Owl (AM-2) beginning in February of 1942. His job aboard was to cook and serve as a deck ape, scrubbing the decks and bulkheads, and tying up the boats. In March they traveled to Bermuda and remained for 2 years. They provided target practice for submarines and went out on distress calls, rescuing a torpedoed cargo ship from Argentina. He describes their experiences in Bermuda. They later traveled to England, where they carried breakwaters to Normandy in preparation for D-Day. In June of 1944 Asmussen and the crew participated in D-Day, aiding in the flow of men and equipment to the front. In September he returned to the states on a troop ship carrying 150 German prisoners of war. In the summer of 1945 he served aboard the USS Comstock (LSD-19), where he served as a cook. They traveled to Okinawa and he was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James William ""Bill"" Harrison. He begins by explaining how he joined the navy and started in San Diego without going to boot camp, then working on an oil tanker that shipped out to Pearl Harbor a month after the attack, then transported fuel out of San Diego to various ships at sea, then he was transfered to Admiral Nimitz public relations department. There he and two others wrote stories about the action in the Pacific, particularly about the Battle of Midway, they contributed to a radio show, working with the national press corps, then working at the Naval Air Station in Seattle, then to Hilo and meeting with soldiers back from Tarawa, then to Texas to go to officer training school and college at Southwestern University, then to University of Texas and University of Oklahoma for law school after the war. He ancedotes about the office releasing a story about a cat that had kittens on board a cruiser so they could report good news in the Pacific prior to the battle of Midway and meeting Admirals Nimitz and Byrd, typing up a letter for Elliott Roosevelt to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred L DiDomenico. DiDomenico joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. In November, he deployed to Samoa. DiDomenico served as a machine gunner with the 3rd Marine Division, and participated in the battles of Bougainville and Guam. He returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Tice. Tice was born in Detroit 3 January 1924. After joining the Navy in 1943 he went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot training. Upon completion of training he entered gunnery school in preparation for Armed Guard duty. After training, Tice served as instructor at the Armed Guard school for four months. He then volunteered for aircraft carrier duty and was assigned to a gunnery crew aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). He went aboard late in December 1943. Tice recalls meeting a childhood friend, Bob Harrison, an armament specialist who was also on board. Soon after arriving at Pearl Harbor the Franklin sailed to the Marianas. He recalls the ship being involved in many operations including the Bonin Islands, Peleliu, Guam, Luzon and Iwo Jima. It was also involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where a Japanese aircraft crashed on the deck. He went into an ammunition magazine to wet down the area with water. He received a citation from Admiral Halsey for this action. He also describes burials at sea. The ship returned to Bremerton for repairs. On 19 March 1945 a …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Floyd H. Fulkerson. In January, 1942, Fulkerson joined the Army Air Corps and went into flight training, graduating and being commissioned in September, 1942. From there, he went to train in B-25s in South Carolina. From there, he went overseas to Australia in September, 1943. He received transfer from B-25s to P-38s in Australia and was assigned to the 475th Fighter Group, 431st Fighter Squadron in January 1944. Fulkerson flew some with Colonel Charles Lindbergh and Major Richard Bong. On one mission in the Philippines, Fulkerson was shot down and was rescued by Filipino guerrillas and returned to his base after five weeks.