Interview with Jerell E. Crow. He entered the Coast Guard in 1940 and trained in Florida and New York City. He served aboard a Landing Ship, Tank (LST) when those ships were first introduced. He traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Neville Island Shipyard operated by the Dravo Corporation as part of a crew that brought an LST down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. From there, the crew practiced operations at Biloxi, Mississippi. Eventually, Crow travelled to San Diego aboard the LST through the Panama Canal. From there, he went to Guadalcanal and unloaded tanks. Eventually, his ship was hit at Saipan and he was wounded. He also served aboard an LST during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Afterwards, Crow's LST was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. He visited Hiroshima while on occupation duty after the atomic bomb was dropped. Eventually, his LST made its way back to San Francisco where he was discharged.

Transcript of an interview with James G. Turner, Marine Corps veteran (Regimental Headquarters Company, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division), concerning his experiences on Saipan in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Turner discusses his decision to join the Marine Corps, December 7, 1942; boot camp, Parris Island; formation of the 4th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, 1943; preparations on Maui for the invasion of Saipan; the amphibious landings on Saipan, June 15, 1945; his duties with the Motor Transport Section and Headquarters Company; return to Maui.

Transcript of an interview with Donald W. Peters, Army veteran (C Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion), concerning his experiences in the Italian Campaign and experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Germans in the European Theater during World War II. Peters discusses his entry into the Army and basic training, 1943; transit across the Atlantic to North Africa and then to Naples; assignment as a replacement to the 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion; Monte Cassino; Anzio landing and being wounded by shrapnel when his ship sank; recuperation in Naples and return to his unit; murder of German POWs; Rome-Arno Campaign, 1944; invasion of southern France, 1944; transfer of the unit to the French Alps and his capture, 1944; initial incarceration in Torino (Turin); permanent POW camp at Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany; POW life at Stalag VII-A; liberation; and postwar adjustments to civilian life.

Interview with Glenn C. Blouse, a Army WWII veteran from Long Level, Pennsylvania. Blouse discusses his family life, being drafted, basic training, deployment to the European Theater via North Africa, assignment to the 135th Infantry, 34th Infantry Division in Italy, duties as a machine gunner, first combat experiences, fighting on the Monte Cassino front, foxhole life, shelling, tactics, taking prisoners, Italian civilians, the Anzio landing, assaulting a hill, liberating Rome, the Apennines Campaign, nightwatch and a firefight which earned him the Bronze Star, breaking into the Po Valley, Mussolini's corpse, the end of the war. In appendix is Blouse's Bronze Star citation.

Interview with Kenneth Poff, a Army WWII veteran from Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, who served with the 1913th Engineer Aviation Battalion. Poff discusses his early life, being drafted and training, shipping out to Townsville, Australia, and landing on New Guinea, fighting attached to the 1st Marine Division for the Cape Gloucester and Hollandia campaigns, constructing and maintaining an airstrip, the Lingayan Gulf campaign in the Philippines, the atomic bomb and VJ-Day, and returning home.

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

Interview with William Smeltzer, a Army WWII veteran and Navy contractor from Wrightsville, Pennsylvania. Smeltzer discusses quitting high school and moving to California in 1940, experiences working at Mare and Pearl Harbor Navy Yards as a civilian contractor before and after the start of the war, the raising of the sunken USS Oklahoma (BB-37), being drafted into the Army and infantry training, assignment to the 45th Infantry Division and participating in the drive into Germany, the end of the war and demobilization, and his career afterwards. In appendix are a photo of the insignia for the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard and two photos of the capsized Oklahoma.

Postcard of Hendrick Memorial Hospital in Abilene, Texas. A handwritten note addressed to Miss Helen H. Aten from Woodrow W. Aten says "Dear Helen & all: Quite a nice day and now is a little warm. Received a letter from Fred today. Had a letter from Al Saturday and also one from the staff. We are plenty busy right now. As ever, Woodrow."

Postcard of Wooten Hotel in Abilene, Texas, seen at night. A handwritten note addressed to Miss Helen H. Aten from Woodrow W. Aten says "Hello all- This is Friday nite and it was quite a warm day too. Tomorrow the Battalion has a picnic at Circa park and we are leaving at 1100. Should be here to see some of these places. Should be seeing some others soon. We are quite busy now. Always, Woodrow."

Postcard of a large yellow building, with text that says "United States Post Office, Abilene, Texas." A handwritten note addressed to Helen H. Aten from Woodrow W. Aten says "Dear Helen and All, Seems as tho you are getting quite a number of cards in the mail so I will send a few of Abilene. Received your card today. Have read some of Ernie Pyles columns in the Fort Worth paper. Tonite it is a bit cooler. than usual. Had another piece of watermelon. Bro Woodrow."

Postcard written to Lieutenant Roy E. Johnson from Grace Schiverea, that says: "Hi, Lt. -- Roy - the navy was never like this!!! It sure is a wonderful life - sleeping, swimming & sunning. - Time is going much too quickly. - will see you, on the 25th. (Note "Air Corp" insignia on the front of card - Ahem!!!) Grace." The front of the postcard contains an illustration of a military airplane flying over an ocean at night. The moon is visible in a cloudy sky above the plane and the Air Corps insignia is in the lower-left corner. Text above the image says "Keep 'em Flying."

Postcard with a cartoon of a policeman and other man standing next to a red armchair under a street lamp on a street corner. Text on the cartoon says "They sure make you feel at home here!" A handwritten note addressed to Mrs. Clara Aten & Family says "Dear Friends: Just a line to let you know I am well, hope you are all the same, I received your card a few days ago, I'm on my way west, somewhere in Texas now. My new address is on this card. Had a nice trip so far, don't know how the rest of it will be, we have several days riding yet. Write when you can. Nevin."

Postcard of cherry blossoms next to a body of water, near the Tidal Basin Bridge in Washington, D.C. A handwritten note addressed to Miss Helen Aten says "Dear Helen, I am having a very nice time while I am on my vacation. We are bringing a nice little baby home with us. Kenneth."

Postcard of a hotel surrounded with palm trees, with text that says "Looking North on Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Fla." A handwritten note addressed to Miss Helen Aten from Pvt. John S. Hofnagle says "This sure is a beautiful place, but you would not like it, it is too hot here for you. One block from the ocean. It looks larger than Atlantic City. J.S.H."

Postcard of the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower on the skyline of Chicago. A typed note on the back of the postcard says "Two of Chicago's most interesting and beautiful buildings are the Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building. Facing each other on Michigan Boulevard, they form an impressive gateway to the North Side of Chicago." A handwritten note addressed to Miss Helen & Ted Aten says, "Dear Helen & Ted, How are the pickles going? My bites seem to be improving. Next time I'll bring something that will kill them instead of me. Say hello to Jiggs for me. Love Ruthie."

Postcard of Rhododendrons, the West Virginia state flower, growing on green hills. A handwritten note addressed to Miss Hellen Aten says "Hello. Haveing a fine time much warmer down here we are close to 700 mile from home. Marie K."