Interview with Mary Steele Leon, a secretary for the U. S. Navy during and after World War II. She joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) and was trained as a secretary. Her first assignment was in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during World War II. The CNO at the time was Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King. After the war, she served as personal secretary for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz while he was CNO. She was discharged in 1946.

Interview with Navy veteran Richard Donley. The interview includes Donley's personal experiences about the Mediterranean Theater during World War II, boot camp, Fleet Torpedo School, encounters with German "F-lighter" armed barges and E-boats, various assignments, and combat against enemy destroyers. Donley also talks about screening operations for the invasions of Sicily and Salerno, operations along the coasts of northern Italy and southern France and the interdiction of German barge traffic, torpedo problems, commando and intelligence operations, returning to the States, his reassignment to the Motor Torpedo Boats Training Center, and transferring to Samar, Philippines.

Transcript of an interview with Hugh M. Robinson, a Navy veteran (Patrol-Torpedo Boat Squadron 3), concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Robinson discusses the U. S. Naval Academy, 1934-38; assignment to the carrier USS Yorktown, 1938-39; assignment to the destroyer USS Bainbridge, 1939-41; assignment to Motor Boat Submarine Chaser Squadron 1, 1941; assignment to Patrol Torpedo Squadron 2, 1941; operations around the Panama Canal, 1942; reorganization of PT Squadron 2 and his transfer to Patrol Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 for duty in the Pacific; operations around the Solomon Islands, 1942-43; his promotion to commander of PT Squadron 3, 1942; engagements against the "Tokyo Express," 1942-43; his transfer to the staff of Patrol Torpedo Boat Flotilla 1, 1943; transfer to the States, 1943, to the Motor Torpedo Boats Squadron Training Center, Newport, Rhode Island; assignment as air defense officer aboard the battleship USS Wisconsin, 1944; his description of being caught with the 3rd Fleet in a massive typhoon in the Philippine Sea, December 18, 1944; offshore bombardment for the Iwo Jima and Okinawa Campaigns, 1945; offshore bombardment of Honshu and Hokkaido; and his postwar naval career.

Transcript of an interview with Ralph Robinson, a scientist, engineer, and physicist, concerning his role in the development of the proximity fuse in World War II. Robinson discusses his education and technical training, employment with the Office of Scientific Research and Development in 1942, technical aspects of developing proximity fuse, the practical applications of the proximity fuse in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean Theaters, and offers comments about the roles of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Hopkins, and Vannevar Bush. Appendix includes photograph of Ralph Robinson.

Transcript of an interview with Harry C. Strawn, Army Air Forces veteran (31st Fighter Group, 12th Air Force; and 413th Fighter Group, 14th Air Force), concerning his experiences as a fighter pilot in the European, Mediterranean, and Pacific Theaters during World War II. Appendix includes the introduction to "In a now forgotten sky: the 31st fighter group in WW2" by Dennis C. Kucera.

Political cartoon of a memorial of man in uniform riding on top of a woman like a horse. The text on the memorial reads, "Memorial to the Women of the Armed Services".

Copy of a letter from Daniel W. Burkhardt to Charlyne Creger informing her that the president is unable to provide his personal autograph due to the large number of requests they receive. He extends gratitude from President Clinton to Ms. Creger for showing interest in his administration.

Interview with Roy Cudd, a Navy WWII veteran of the USS Bougainville (CVE-100, an escort carrier) from Denton, Texas. Cudd discusses his family life, their reaction to the start of war, enlisting in the Navy and boot camp, assignment to the Bougainville, duties aboard ship and daily life, missions in the Pacific, the Okinawa Typhoon, combat, initiation as a "shellback," kamikazes, liberty, ranking up, and the end of the war.

Newspaper clipping discussing the life of Amelia Earhart, her adventures flying, and the records she set as a woman pilot. The clipping also includes puzzles and games related to remembering the pilot.

Newspaper clippings of an article about a B-17 bomber on display at Victoria Regional Airport. The article includes a photograph of the plane and one of the men who got the plane to the airport for display, Jim Ryan. On the back of the clippings are local advertisements and articles.

Form to order room and dinner reservations at the 1997 WASP Memorial Dedication Ceremony, partially filled out by Rigdon Edwards. A note written at the top of the page reads, "glad you are coming! Dawn Seymour".

Newspaper clipping describing the experiences of Marjorie Wakeham as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots and her great leadership as a major in the U.S. Air Force.

Newspaper clipping discussing the details of Charlyne Creger's invitation to meet with former U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno in regards to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial program.

Newspaper clipping discussing the details of Charlyne Creger's invitation to meet with former U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno, in regards to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial program.

Copy of a newspaper clipping describing Charlyne Creger's invitation to meet former Attorney General, Janet Reno in regards to the Women in Military Service Memorial program.

Newspaper clipping describing Charlyne Creger's invitation to meet former Attorney General, Janet Reno in regards to the Women in Military Service Memorial program. There are several advertisements and articles included on this clipping.

Transcript of an interview with Caleb H. Canby, III, a Marine Corps veteran (Scout-Bomber 243, 1st Marine Air Wing), concerning experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Canby discusses his family background and education; decision to join the Marine Corps, 1942; boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina; advanced training at Quantico, Virginia, 1943-44; assignment to Scout-Bomber Squadron 243 at Emirau, Solomon Islands, 1944-45; his work in the flight department processing pilots' flight logs; transfer to Mangaldan, Luzon, 1945; assignment to Mindanao in March, 1945; contraction of hepatitis and return to the U. S.

Transcript of an interview with Louise Pearsall Canby, a Navy veteran from Elgin, Illinois, concerning her experiences as a member of the WAVES during World War II. Canby discusses her personal background, her decision to join the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES), and her experiences as a code breaker working with Enigma and German submarine codes. Includes appendix that consists of various photographs and two documents, [5] leaves.

Transcript of an interview with Anne Pearsall Karr from Elgin, Illinois, concerning her experiences on the home front during World War II. Karr discusses her youth in Elgin, Illinois; effects of Depression on Pearsall family; college at Iowa State; courtship with Kenneth Karr, her future husband; reaction to Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor; changes on Iowa State campus after American entry into World War II; wartime rationing and Victory Gardens; effects on Pearsall family having a son and daughter in military service; her marriage to Kenneth Karr, early 1944; housing shortage in Corpus Christi, Texas, during World War II; birth of their daughter; wartime entertainment; experiences as a military wife; attitudes toward the Japanese; husband's training as a naval air cadet at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. Appendix includes various photographs [5] pages.

Transcript of an interview with Burton S. Pearsall, a Marine Corps veteran, concerning his experiences as a dive-bomber pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Appendix includes photos, newspaper articles, samples of flight log, and US Marine Corps certificate.

Transcript of an interview with William W. Pearsall concerning his experiences on the homefront as a teenager in Elgin, Illinois, during World War II. Pearsall discusses his education and childhood in Elgin; local reaction to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; air raid drills and blackouts; attempts to make people war conscious; spy hysteria; censorship of mail; harassment of German Americans; gasoline rationing; scrap drives; war bond drives; Victory Gardens; rationing of tires; scarcity of automobile parts; black market activities; clothing shortages; Boy Scout activities; effects of having a brother and sister in the military; wartime entertainment for teenagers; high school war bond dances; V-E Day celebrations; V-J Day celebrations; attitudes toward Japanese; and the adjustment of his brother and sister to civilian life. Includes appendix with photographs [3 pages].

Interview with Leonard Bock, a Navy veteran (PC-1135 and PC-1128), concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Transcript of an interview with William Eaton, an Army Air Forces veteran, concerning his experiences with the 72nd Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Group, at Hickam Field during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Includes facsimiles of discharge letter, biography, and a letter to Dr. Robert Marcello.

Interview with Robert H. "Hal" Jackson regarding his experiences as a Navy fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. It details his experiences with different aircraft and on carriers and in land-based squadrons in the Pacific.