Interview with Navy veteran Jean Balch, including Balch's personal experiences about the Pacific theater, being a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II, boot camp, radio, radar, and gunnery school, operations during the Leyte invasion, missions over Luzon, and raids on Japanese installations on Formosa and Saigon, French Indo-China. Additionally, Balch talks about his plane being shot down on a raid to Hong Kong and his capture on January 16, 1945, interrogations and beatings by the Kempei-tai, imprisonment at Ofuna, Honshu, solitary confinement for six months and continued interrogation, beatings by Japanese prison guards, starvation diet, the end of the war and liberation, and his participation in the war crimes trials held by the International Military Tribunal.

Letter from Arthur M. Alpert to Lyda Quinn informing about enclosing an invoice covering a purchase in Hong Kong and requesting to pay it to H. Kempner Cotton Company.

Letter from Arthur M. Alpert to The Consular Officer including the information to sponsor Chung Kat-yan Herbert as he desires to pursue his further education in the United States. He mentions that he'd take care of all his expenses while he's in the United States. He also encloses a statement from bank and if they need any more documents he mentioned not to hesitate.

Letter from Wright Armstrong to I. H. Kempner conveying his travel plans to Europe and arrangements to meet any friends of Mr. I. H. Kempner along the way. He mentions a forthcoming itinerary and a flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo, then a journey to Hong Kong and Naples via ship through the Suez Canal.

Interview with Navy veteran Melvin R. "Pancho" Baird. It includes a combination of interviewing and reading from Baird's personal correspondence about his pre-World War II experiences with the U.S. Asiatic Fleet and his later experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Baird talks about his stationing aboard the destroyer USS Alden as a radioman, the grounding of the SS President Hoover off of Hoishito Island, the Sino-Japanese War, liberty ashore various Asian port cities, events on the South China Patrol, civilian activities after his discharge, activities as a radio technician on Blue Beach during the Okinawan Campaign, kamikaze actions on Okinawa, and typical shipboard routine.

Dress of multi colored pastels in a plaid print; Knee length cotton sheath dress; Button front; long sleeves; fully lined; side vents at hem. Retailer's label: "Bonwit Teller" Designer's label: "Imported fabric / by / Boussac of France" Care label: "WPL 1100 / 65% cotton 35% rayon / hand washable / Made in Hong Kong"

Letter from Douglas Butler to Harris Leon Kempner about the certificate not being sufficient that's forwarded with the letter of April 18, covering silk material that he purchased in Hong Kong. As they don't have certificate of Origin, he asks Kempner to follow the instructions included in the letter from the office, dated March 25.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Carnes. Carnes joined the Navy in 1944 before he finished high school. In the Navy, he became a signalman and was assigned to USS Norton Sound (AVM-1). Carnes was aboard when the ship went to Okinawa, where he describes being attacked by kamikaze aircraft. When the war ended, Carnes went to Japan briefly before returning to the US and receiving his discharge.

Letter from F. W. Golding to Harris Leon Kempner checking if he settled down from his trip, and hopes that the excess baggage didn't trouble him too much. He also mentions that the weather didn't get any better after his departure, and that the three packages will ship on 14th of June where he included the certificate of origin just in case customs need that. He also mentions that they hope to see him soon and they could visit new territories.

Evening dress of ivory wool knit. Covered with iridescent sequins and is decorated at lower part with five bands of gold/copper sequins, three bands of rosettes composted of gold beads and pearls, and two bands of "garlands" with suspended pine-cone forms and diamond shapes of copper/gold sequins, gold bugle beads, and gold beads. Sheath style; full length. Vent at left hem. Sleeveless; rounded neckline. Elastic petersham. Zipper closure along center back. Label reads: Gene Shelly's / Boutique Internationale / California / Hand Decorated in Hong Kong / 100% Wool

Trench coat of brown vinyl. Pointed collar. Knee-length or slightly longer. Long sleeves with translucent, brown plastic button on cuff. Single breasted with closure of nine matching buttons. Two patch pockets at front hips. Diamond motif of stitching and small vinyl diamonds at yoke and pockets. Back yoke of coat lined in dark yellow fabric; balance of coat unlined, showing orange cotton knit backing of vinyl. Designer label on inside right of opening: "Ginessa / Made in / British Crown Colony of Hong Kong" Care label to right of designer label. Size label at left inside seam: "12" Content label center back neckline: "75% Vinyl / 25% Cotton / Made in British Crown / Colony of Hong Kong" With matching sash belt of same material.

Evening ensemble of heavy pink Alaskine silk/wool blend, consisting of a jacket and dress. The jacket is a cropped, bolero style, with rounded neckline and short sleeves. It has a center front opening with single hook-and-eye at throat. The sleeves, neckline, opening, and hem are edged in band of pink and crystal beads and rhinestones. Scattered over the surface of the jacket are clusters of pearl, crystal, and silvered beads. The matching dress is full-length, with an Empire waist. It is sleeveless, with very slight scoop at front neckline, and a deep rounded scoop to mid-back at back.The straps are heavily beaded with pink and crystal beads and rhinestones. The 4-gore A-line skirt gathers slightly into bodice. The dress has an inner pink nylon(?) sheath lining. The jacket labels are: Retailer's label: "R.S.V.P. / Neiman-Marcus" Designer's label, underneath retailer's label: "Gino Charles" Size label: "8" The dress labels are: Designer's label: "Gino Charles" Origin label: "Made in the British / Crown Colony of Hong Kong" Size label: "8"

Letter from Brinsley Golding to Harris Leon Kempner regarding the candles they ordered from Charlotte Horstmann. He mentions that the Customs need the certificate of origin and that he tried reaching out to Charlotte through phone calls and letter but they didn't respond yet.

Letter from F. W. Golding to Mr. H. Kempner explaining delays in the shipment of a box of candles to Galveston. The box will now be shipped per the "Mallory Lykes" on September 16th.

Letter from Elaine Harmon to Rigdon and Mary Emma Edwards discussing their appearance on the newspapers, her son's recent marriage, her son's life, a visit to the Dyes Air Force Base, and wanting to review a book.

Handwritten letter from Peg Harris to Harris Kempner asking for updates on his life and family, as it has been nine years since they have seen one another, and providing an update on Frank's global career.

Letter from D. W. Kempner to E. R. Hill discussing about his recent trip through Suez Canal and involvement with Nanyang cotton mills. He also expresses interest in conducting business and offers to supply up to 2000 bales of cotton monthly with payment terms via sight draft New York.

Letter from Celia Hunter to Alberta Head giving her holiday greetings, informing them of the weather in Fairbanks, and sharing about her experiences from her 1970 travels.

Letter from Harris L. Kempner to Frank A. Richards filling him in on their upcoming trip to East Asia and asking him to write some letters of introduction should he need them.

Letter from Harris Leon Kempner to C. Y. Tung informing about the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Oppenheimer to Hong Kong and requesting for assistance.

Letter from Harris Leon Kempner to Charlotte Horstmann regarding the certificate of Origin for the candles they bought while they were in Hong Kong. As Mr. Golding mentioned that they're not providing him with the certificate, Kempner requests them to do what they promised on doing at the beginning.

Letter from Harris Leon Kempner to Dan Oppenheimer discussing about a guest house at Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Letter from Harris Leon Kempner to Douglas Butler handing the treasury department license dated April 21st, which should now allow you to release the package of silk white material from Hong Kong.

Letter from Harris Leon Kempner to Edward Marcus handing his letters of introduction. He mentions that they have a number of people whom they could write to but mentions that Baird has met them all and it's better if he writes to them.