Interview with Lewis R. Hopkins, a pilot during World War II. He describes growing up on a farm in Georgia, going to college at Berry, and working for Sears, Roebuck, and the Royal Typewriter Company before joining the U. S. Navy. He tells an anecdote about joining the navy so he could go to New York to see the World's Fair, since he had heard the Atlanta Reserve would be making a trip to the Fair. He began flight training in Florida in December 1940, finished the next September, then drove cross-country to San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor attack. He eventually joined the USS Enterprise in April 1942 and saw the B-25 bombers in the Doolittle Raid take off. He was part of Bombing Squadron Six and trained under Commander Best to learn how to do scouting flights, navigation, and dive bombing. He then describes his participation in the Battle of Midway, the hours before take-off, his first view of the Japanese fleet, and his bombing mission. He was later assigned to the USS Hornet and had to fly off to a little island so that planes from the USS Wasp could land on the Hornet after their ship …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron C. Kulow. Kulow grew up in Michigan and enlisted in the Navy in 1942. After training, he joined the ship USS Pollux AKS-4 at Norfolk, Virginia. Initially the ship runs trips down to the Carribbean and Brazil but in 1943 is fitted with radar and sent to the Pacific Theater. In the Pacific, the general stores issue ship visited Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, and the New Hebrides Islands. He then returned to San Francisco in 1944 where his wife met him to get married. He left for the Pacific again and in 1945 traveled to the Philippines. In 1945 Kulow met survivors of the Bataan Death March that had been liberated. He remembers going to a friend's burial in the Philippines. On V-J Day Kulow was at Manila Harbor. He left for America in October 1945 and was discharged in New York December 12, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan Pilot. Pilot joined the Army in January 1943 and received basic training at Camp Howze. He received further training in Louisiana for the European Theater and then in California for the Pacific Theater. In January he left for Camp Old Gold at La Havre, where he served as a combat medic, supporting Companies E, G, and H of the 343rd Infantry, 86th Division. His unit relieved the 8th Division and fought in Cologne, where he was stationed at the top of the cathedral while it was being shelled. In the Ruhr Pocket a defective shell landed 10 feet away from him. He recalls seeing 100,000 Germans surrender there. He describes the Bavarian people as friendly as he passed through Austria on VE Day. He was then sent to the Pacific as part of Operation Coronet. VJ Day came while he was still crossing the Pacific. He spent the last five months of his service in the Philippines at a quiet outpost while the rest of his unit prepared the Philippines for independence. Pilot returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron C. Kulow. Kulow grew up in Michigan and enlisted in the Navy in 1942. After training, he joined the ship USS Pollux AKS-4 at Norfolk, Virginia. Initially the ship runs trips down to the Carribbean and Brazil but in 1943 is fitted with radar and sent to the Pacific Theater. In the Pacific, the general stores issue ship visited Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, and the New Hebrides Islands. He then returned to San Francisco in 1944 where his wife met him to get married. He left for the Pacific again and in 1945 traveled to the Philippines. In 1945 Kulow met survivors of the Bataan Death March that had been liberated. He remembers going to a friend's burial in the Philippines. On V-J Day Kulow was at Manila Harbor. He left for America in October 1945 and was discharged in New York December 12, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan Pilot. Pilot joined the Army in January 1943 and received basic training at Camp Howze. He received further training in Louisiana for the European Theater and then in California for the Pacific Theater. In January he left for Camp Old Gold at La Havre, where he served as a combat medic, supporting Companies E, G, and H of the 343rd Infantry, 86th Division. His unit relieved the 8th Division and fought in Cologne, where he was stationed at the top of the cathedral while it was being shelled. In the Ruhr Pocket a defective shell landed 10 feet away from him. He recalls seeing 100,000 Germans surrender there. He describes the Bavarian people as friendly as he passed through Austria on VE Day. He was then sent to the Pacific as part of Operation Coronet. VJ Day came while he was still crossing the Pacific. He spent the last five months of his service in the Philippines at a quiet outpost while the rest of his unit prepared the Philippines for independence. Pilot returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E. B. Potter. Potter was attached to the Intelligence Section of the 14th Naval District in Oahu during World War II. He graduated with an English degree from the University of Richmond in 1929. He completed an advanced degree in English at the University of Chicago, and during this time the war broke out in Europe. He applied for and received a commission in the Navy. Potter was sent to the Naval Academy as a reservist to teach college-level European and naval history. After 7 December 1941 he went to communications school. From there he went to Pearl Harbor in November of 1943. Potter worked in the Registered Publications Issuing Office (RPIO), distributing codes and ciphers to ships of the fleet. He provides a vivid description of his work. Potter became second-in-command of RPIO. He talks some of Commander Joseph Rochefort’s operation and code breaking. He discusses briefly working on the biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, and some of Admiral Bill Halsey’s actions during the war. Potter was later assigned as executive officer to the 14th Naval District and provides stories of his experiences. In 1945 he returned to …

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz, writing from Annapolis, Maryland, relates news about arriving in Annapolis and settling in at the Werntz Preparatory School. He provides clues about his schedule and some thoughts on Annapolis.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz describes Annapolis and relates a tale of sailing on Chesapeake Bay. He also indicates he is the only person among his peer group that won his appointment by competitive exam - the others were appointed outright. He also describes his academic progress so far.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz, writing from Annapolis, Maryland, relates news about arriving in Annapolis and settling in at the Werntz Preparatory School. He provides clues about his schedule and some thoughts on Annapolis.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz describes Annapolis and relates a tale of sailing on Chesapeake Bay. He also indicates he is the only person among his peer group that won his appointment by competitive exam - the others were appointed outright. He also describes his academic progress so far.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about the weather and his studies.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz tells of other young men in his prep school from Texas and that a few of them are Germans. He also observes that some of the people there did not take a competitive exam.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about the weather and his studies. This letter is written on Robert Werntz Preparatory Academy stationery.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz tells of other young men in his prep school from Texas and that a few of them are Germans. He also observes that some of the people there did not take a competitive exam. This letter is written on Robert Werntz Preparatory Academy stationery.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects. Again, Nimitz and some friends hired a sailboat and went out on the Chesapeake Bay. Nimitz became seasick. He also includes examples of problems in math that he is encountering and explanations of the formulas and solutions.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects and expresses confidence that he will be able to enter the Academy. He also mentions the risk he runs of hazing from upper classmen should he be caught in the act of looking at one.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects. Again, Nimitz and some friends hired a sailboat and went out on the Chesapeake Bay. Nimitz became seasick. He also includes examples of problems in math that he is encountering and explanations of the formulas and solutions. This letter is written on Robert Werntz Preparatory Academy stationery.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects and expresses confidence that he will be able to enter the Academy. He also mentions the risk he runs of hazing from upper classmen should he be caught in the act of looking at one. This letter is written on Robert Werntz Preparatory Academy stationery.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects and expresses his appreciation for all his grandfather has done for him. He also mentions that his ears are fine and he does not believe his hearing will bar him from entering the Academy.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects and expresses his appreciation for all his grandfather has done for him. He also mentions that his ears are fine and he does not believe his hearing will bar him from entering the Academy. This letter is written on Robert Werntz Preparatory Academy stationery.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz tells of the looming examinations for entrance into the Naval Academy and his confidence in passing and gaining admittance.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz tells of the looming examinations for entrance into the Naval Academy and his confidence in passing and gaining admittance.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz describes the rigors of the exams and indicates he has gained admittance to the US Naval Academy and will report there in a few days. He also indicates that he was almost not admitted on account of his hearing, but passed the physical exam, too.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz mentions that he has passed his entrance examinatins and has gained admittance to th eUS Naval Academy. He also thanks his grandfather for supporting him during the summer.