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 interview with Joseph Gunterman. Gunterman joined the Navy in November of 1942. He completed Sound School, learning how to operate sound equipment on ships to detect underwater activity. In early 1943 he traveled to New Caledonia. From there he was assigned to the USS Zane (DMS-14), a high-speed mine sweeper. He provides some details of the ship, including weaponry aboard. They traveled to Tulagi, Suva, Fiji, provided escort duty and participated in the Battle of Munda Point in the Solomon Islands. They also participated in the invasions of Saipan, Tinian and Guam, by sweeping mines. The Zane was the model for the stories in The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk. Wouk served aboard the Zane with Gunterman. Gunterman was discharged in December of 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with James "Jim" Joyce. When Joyce finished high school, he joined the Navy in January, 1943. Soon, he was training with a naval construction battalion (Seabees), and was assigned to Banika Island in the Russell Islands in the Solomons where he served in a bakery and as a stevedore. He was attached to the 11th Construction Battalion. Eventually, Joyce headed for Okinawa and was there on D-day (1 April 1945). He escorted Japanese prisoners of war to Saipan and headed back to Okinawa where he continued performing his bakery and stevedore duties. He stayed on Okinawa until November before returning home to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Schroeder. Schroeder joined the Army Air Forces and completed gunnery school and airplane mechanics school. Around 1943, Schroeder served with the 2nd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron as a detached service with the 13th and 7th Air Forces. They traveled over Johnston Island, Eniwetok, the Philippines and Truk Lagoon.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Elton Porter. Porter joined the Navy in late 1943. He completed Sonar School and Gunnery School, and volunteered for submarine service. Porter served as a Messman and Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Haddo (SS-255) around late 1944. He participated in their eighth and ninth war patrols, traveling through Pearl Harbor, the East China and Yellow seas. Porter received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Sharkey. Sharkey joined the Navy and served in a mobile antiaircraft unit at Pearl Harbor. He served at CINCPAC headquarters at Pearl Harbor.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Kelm. Kelm joined the Navy in September, 1938 and trained at San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the motor launch aboard USS Lexington (CV-2). Just before the war started, Kelm transferred to USS Hornet (CV-8) and was aboard for the Doolittle Raid and the Battle of Midway. He also was aboard when Hornet went down during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands. He was then assigned as a gunner aboard USS Princeton (CVL-23) briefly before going to USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in late 1943. Kelm also served aboard USS Saugus (LSV-4). Kelm spent 21 years in the Navy, retiring in 1959.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dale Mann. Mann joined the Navy in August 1943. He describes becoming a member of a Navy choir company in boot camp and discusses the unique experiences that were associated with his assignment. Mann was then sent to school to become an Electrician’s Mate. He was then selected to join the V-12 program and describes his training and campus life at several schools. Mann was still in school when the war ended and was eventually discharged in June 1946.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudolph Kraut. Kraut joined the Navy in 1943. He volunteered for submarine duty and attended torpedo school in San Diego and submarine school in New London. He was assigned aboard USS Lizardfish (SS-373) and shares several anecdotes about his service aboard that boat. Kraut was transferred to USS Blueback (SS-326) before electing to be discharged on points.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Hartman. Hartman joined the Navy in February of 1943. He trained to be a pilot in Pensacola, Florida and received his wings in February of 1944. He was commissioned and sent to Banana River Naval Air Station, Florida to fly PBMs. He joined Patrol Bombing Squadron 26 (VPB-26). Hartman served as both pilot and navigator. He provides some details of the PBM. His crew was sent to Okinawa to deliver a new PBM-5. They went to Saipan and were assigned to the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), and later assigned to the USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17). He gives his experiences of flying combat missions around Japan and the Yellow Sea. He served in the Navy for 27 years.

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 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Sharkey. Sharkey joined the Navy and served in a mobile antiaircraft unit at Pearl Harbor. He served at CINCPAC headquarters at Pearl Harbor.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudolph Kraut. Kraut joined the Navy in 1943. He volunteered for submarine duty and attended torpedo school in San Diego and submarine school in New London. He was assigned aboard USS Lizardfish (SS-373) and shares several anecdotes about his service aboard that boat. Kraut was transferred to USS Blueback (SS-326) before electing to be discharged on points.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Hartman. Hartman joined the Navy in February of 1943. He trained to be a pilot in Pensacola, Florida and received his wings in February of 1944. He was commissioned and sent to Banana River Naval Air Station, Florida to fly PBMs. He joined Patrol Bombing Squadron 26 (VPB-26). Hartman served as both pilot and navigator. He provides some details of the PBM. His crew was sent to Okinawa to deliver a new PBM-5. They went to Saipan and were assigned to the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), and later assigned to the USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17). He gives his experiences of flying combat missions around Japan and the Yellow Sea. He served in the Navy for 27 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Schroeder. Schroeder joined the Army Air Forces and completed gunnery school and airplane mechanics school. Around 1943, Schroeder served with the 2nd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron as a detached service with the 13th and 7th Air Forces. They traveled over Johnston Island, Eniwetok, the Philippines and Truk Lagoon.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Elton Porter. Porter joined the Navy in late 1943. He completed Sonar School and Gunnery School, and volunteered for submarine service. Porter served as a Messman and Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Haddo (SS-255) around late 1944. He participated in their eighth and ninth war patrols, traveling through Pearl Harbor, the East China and Yellow seas. Porter received his discharge in late 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with James "Jim" Joyce. When Joyce finished high school, he joined the Navy in January, 1943. Soon, he was training with a naval construction battalion (Seabees), and was assigned to Banika Island in the Russell Islands in the Solomons where he served in a bakery and as a stevedore. He was attached to the 11th Construction Battalion. Eventually, Joyce headed for Okinawa and was there on D-day (1 April 1945). He escorted Japanese prisoners of war to Saipan and headed back to Okinawa where he continued performing his bakery and stevedore duties. He stayed on Okinawa until November before returning home to the US.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Kelm. Kelm joined the Navy in September, 1938 and trained at San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the motor launch aboard USS Lexington (CV-2). Just before the war started, Kelm transferred to USS Hornet (CV-8) and was aboard for the Doolittle Raid and the Battle of Midway. He also was aboard when Hornet went down during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands. He was then assigned as a gunner aboard USS Princeton (CVL-23) briefly before going to USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in late 1943. Kelm also served aboard USS Saugus (LSV-4). Kelm spent 21 years in the Navy, retiring in 1959.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dale Mann. Mann joined the Navy in August 1943. He describes becoming a member of a Navy choir company in boot camp and discusses the unique experiences that were associated with his assignment. Mann was then sent to school to become an Electrician’s Mate. He was then selected to join the V-12 program and describes his training and campus life at several schools. Mann was still in school when the war ended and was eventually discharged in June 1946.

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 Joseph Gunterman. Gunterman joined the Navy in November of 1942. He completed Sound School, learning how to operate sound equipment on ships to detect underwater activity. In early 1943 he traveled to New Caledonia. From there he was assigned to the USS Zane (DMS-14), a high-speed mine sweeper. He provides some details of the ship, including weaponry aboard. They traveled to Tulagi, Suva, Fiji, provided escort duty and participated in the Battle of Munda Point in the Solomon Islands. They also participated in the invasions of Saipan, Tinian and Guam, by sweeping mines. The Zane was the model for the stories in The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk. Wouk served aboard the Zane with Gunterman. Gunterman was discharged in December of 1945.

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.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including celebrating Corrine's birthday, Rosemary asking her to come to Gonzales, and Baker going to the Texas Open.