The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Abner Aust. Aust joined the Army Air Forces in September 1941 and completed flight school in April 1943. He was assigned to Venice, Florida, as an instructor, often receiving extra runway duty on account of his mischievous acrobatics. In October 1944, he joined the 506th Fighter Group, 457th Fighter Squadron, as flight commander. Upon familiarizing himself with the P-51, he flew his first missions out of Tinian, moving next to Iwo Jima. While escorting B-29s, he sometimes broke away to lead his group of eight fighters to strafe opportunistically. He is credited with five victories, the last of which occurred on 10 August 1945, distinguishing him as the last fighter ace of World War II. Aust then served in the Air Force and participated in the Vietnam War. Just before his retirement, he worked at Bolling Air Force Base to develop the F-15. After all of his experience in fighters, his favorite plane is the P-40N.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Abner Aust. Aust joined the Army Air Forces in September 1941 and completed flight school in April 1943. He was assigned to Venice, Florida, as an instructor, often receiving extra runway duty on account of his mischievous acrobatics. In October 1944, he joined the 506th Fighter Group, 457th Fighter Squadron, as flight commander. Upon familiarizing himself with the P-51, he flew his first missions out of Tinian, moving next to Iwo Jima. While escorting B-29s, he sometimes broke away to lead his group of eight fighters to strafe opportunistically. He is credited with five victories, the last of which occurred on 10 August 1945, distinguishing him as the last fighter ace of World War II. Aust then served in the Air Force and participated in the Vietnam War. Just before his retirement, he worked at Bolling Air Force Base to develop the F-15. After all of his experience in fighters, his favorite plane is the P-40N.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al D’Agostino. D’Agostino joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and received training in Brooklyn. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Monterey where he worked as a butcher. His first trip to the Pacific was transporting European troops, who were unhappy about the looming invasion of Japan. The war ended while the Monterey was in transit, and the soldiers returning home were a much happier bunch. Even more joyful was the reunion of families when the Monterey picked up war brides and their babies from all over the Pacific and brought them back to the States. He transferred to a Liberty ship that brought German war criminals back to the States from South America, although he believes that the majority of the passengers were actually concentration camp survivors. D’Agostino was discharged but was drafted again during the Korean War and served as a radio relay operator atop a mountain in dangerous and harsh winter conditions. When he was discharged a second time, he applied his kitchen experience and attended Cornell’s hotel school. D’Agostino became the director of food service for Trans World Airlines. Before retiring, he moved …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al D’Agostino. D’Agostino joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and received training in Brooklyn. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Monterey where he worked as a butcher. His first trip to the Pacific was transporting European troops, who were unhappy about the looming invasion of Japan. The war ended while the Monterey was in transit, and the soldiers returning home were a much happier bunch. Even more joyful was the reunion of families when the Monterey picked up war brides and their babies from all over the Pacific and brought them back to the States. He transferred to a Liberty ship that brought German war criminals back to the States from South America, although he believes that the majority of the passengers were actually concentration camp survivors. D’Agostino was discharged but was drafted again during the Korean War and served as a radio relay operator atop a mountain in dangerous and harsh winter conditions. When he was discharged a second time, he applied his kitchen experience and attended Cornell’s hotel school. D’Agostino became the director of food service for Trans World Airlines. Before retiring, he moved …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael W. Deery. He discusses his family, growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael W. Deery. He discusses his family, growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudolph W. "Sam Winter. He discusses his childhood, family, growing up during the Great Depression and how he got drafted into service. He describes his experiences as a member of the US Coast Guard stationed in Central America during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Acencion Fernandez. Fernandez, a Texas farm boy born in 1924, was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the USS LCI-80 where he served as a loader on a 40-inch gun. At the Mariana Islands of Saipan and Tinian and at Iwo Jima, he was involved in strafing the beaches to enable Marines to land. Later his LCI landed Marines on Okinawa. He briefly mentions the presence of Navajo code talkers on the ship.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Acencion Fernandez. Fernandez, a Texas farm boy born in 1924, was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the USS LCI-80 where he served as a loader on a 40-inch gun. At the Mariana Islands of Saipan and Tinian and at Iwo Jima, he was involved in strafing the beaches to enable Marines to land. Later his LCI landed Marines on Okinawa. He briefly mentions the presence of Navajo code talkers on the ship.

Interview with Buck Gibson of Waco, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War Two. The interview includes some of Mr. Gibson's background before and after the war as well as his personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of his training, life in the Navy, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and what happened after he was rescued.

Interview with Buck Gibson of Waco, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War Two. The interview includes some of Strauss' background before and after the war as well as his personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of his training, life in the Navy, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and what happened after he was rescued.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Wingen discussing his childhood and education and what led him to join the Navy. He talks about boot camp and his experiences in the pacific Theatre of World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Wingen discussing his childhood and education and what led him to join the Navy. He talks about boot camp and his experiences in the pacific Theatre of World War Two.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a visit with Mae and Lorraine, her enjoyment of the photos he has sent, and a drive for more draftees that is coming up.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing playing golf on his day off, receiving a letter from Pat, apologizing for not writing Lorraine, getting a package from Annie and Doug, and encouraging Catherine to have her friends over to play bridge.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including her return from Gonzales, her hope for him to be stationed in Hawaii, and her quiet evening in with the pets.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including receiving a letter from Cope, waxing the floors and doing other chores around the house, and plans to go home for the weekend.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the mail service, plans for when he returns home, the weather, and finishing reading "The Good Earth."

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including going out to the Kopper Kettle with Dan, plans for family dinner at Gladys and Weston's house, and their dog, Teddy, having rolled in a dead fish.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a visit with a friend name Sally and a trip planned for Gonzales with Baby and John, a suggestion about an address book to track the information that she gives him, and an update that Jessie got a job in San Antonio.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the mail service, his appreciation for the work that Catherine is doing on the kitchen, his sadness at Forrest Foch's death, and being behind on his letter writing.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a trip to Gonzales with Sue Merle to see Mother, breakfast with Mammy, plans to eat dinner with Nell and Thelma, and the death of Morris Dowell and Willie Appling.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing starting school the next morning, and his squadron enjoying their three day pass out of town, during which they shared a quart of rum with a man they met on the beach.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including the Nineteenth parade, a weekend with Mother, and requests that he write back to the other friends from home who have sent him letters.