Transcript of an oral interview with Raymond A. Dembinski. Dembinski begins by recalling some experiences from his childhood growing up during the Great Depression. He joined the Naval Reserve in 1935 and went on active duty in September, 1941 when he was assigned to the USS Sacramento (PG-19). He describes his role in the attack on Pearl Harbor, then mentions how he was transferred to the USS Bogue (CVE-9) and spent two years on convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic. In 1944, Dembinski was transferred to the USS Bataan (CVL-29) and was involved in the Marianas Turkey Shoot. Toward the end of the war, Dembinski was transferred to the USS Robert K. Huntington (DD-781), the ship he cruised home aboard after the war ended.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with W T Hardi. Hardi joined the Navy in August, 1942 and trained at San Diego. He went aboard USS Mustin (DD-413) at Noumea. He recalls watching USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) go down in the Gilberts. Hardi served on the radar watch. After promotion, Hardi joined the crew of USS Houston (CL-81). Hardi was aboard when the Houston was severely damaged by Japanese aircraft off Formosa. He was blown into the water and rescued by USS Ingersoll (DD-652). He eventually made his way back to the Houston in December 1944. Hardi opted for discharge when the war ended.

Transcript of an oral interview with Norman E. Winter. Born in 1924, he was inducted into the Army in October 1944 after a one-year agricultural deferment. He talks about basic training and weaponry at Camp Hood, Texas. He was assigned to a light weapons platoon in Company E, 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division. He shares an anecdote about sea sickness on the ship to the Philippines and describes the living conditions of the Filipinos. He describes advancing to the northern end of Luzon in the face of Japanese artillery fire and night fighting. He shares anecdotes about dancing in Manilla and going to the beach in Aparri. After V-J Day, he re-enlisted and returned to the U.S. with the 37th Division. He was transferred to Germany where he was assigned to the Army Counter Intelligence Corps. While serving in the Berghausen field office, his mission was to arrest Nazi war criminals. He shares the stories of three such arrests. In late 1947 his mission changed to gathering information about Communist activities. He describes an incident in which he, disguised as a Military Policeman, accompanied refugees on a train bound for Hungary for repatriation. He served as Army personnel in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Brush. Brush was assigned to serve as the Chief Engineer of the Philippine Manufacturing Company in Manila, before World War II. He and his wife traveled to Manila in May of 1941 and operated the factory until the end of December. He and his wife were taken prisoner into Santo Tomas Internment Camp in January of 1942. Brush shares details of the accommodations, building structure, atmosphere, food rations, starvation, illnesses, separated living conditions of men, women and children as well as their required daily work. They were later moved to Los Baños Internment Camp. In December of 1943 his wife, along with other women from Santo Tomas, were brought to Los Baños and allowed to live together as a family. Brush provides vivid details of their rescue in February of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Johnnie Singleton. Singleton entered the Navy at 16 in June 1941 and trained at Corpus Christi. Singleton is African American and served as a mess attendant in a segregated Navy. He went aboard the USS Maryland (BB-46) at Pearl Harbor in September 1941. On December 7, 1941, Singleton was in the officers' galley when the Japanese struck. He went to his battle station in an ammunition handling room below deck. Next, Singleton describes the invasion of Tarawa and seeing bodies floating in the water. After Tarawa, the Maryland went to the Marshall Islands, Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Then, they went to Truk and Saipan. The Maryland got hit in the bow one night by a torpedo while they were in the harbor at Saipan. The battle of Leyte Gulf was next for the Maryland and she was one of the battleships at Surigao Strait. A kamikaze crashed into her later during the battle and she had to go to Bremerton for repairs. After repairs, the Maryland rejoined the fleet and sailed for Okinawa. The Maryland took another kamikaze hit off Okinawa with Singleton was trapped below deck at his …

Transcript of an oral interview with Norman E. Winter. Born in 1924, he was inducted into the Army in October 1944 after a one-year agricultural deferment. He talks about basic training and weaponry at Camp Hood, Texas. He was assigned to a light weapons platoon in Company E, 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division. He shares an anecdote about sea sickness on the ship to the Philippines and describes the living conditions of the Filipinos. He describes advancing to the northern end of Luzon in the face of Japanese artillery fire and night fighting. He shares anecdotes about dancing in Manilla and going to the beach in Aparri. After V-J Day, he re-enlisted and returned to the U.S. with the 37th Division. He was transferred to Germany where he was assigned to the Army Counter Intelligence Corps. While serving in the Berghausen field office, his mission was to arrest Nazi war criminals. He shares the stories of three such arrests. In late 1947 his mission changed to gathering information about Communist activities. He describes an incident in which he, disguised as a Military Policeman, accompanied refugees on a train bound for Hungary for repatriation. He served as Army personnel in …

Transcript of an oral interview with Raymond A. Dembinski. Dembinski begins by recalling some experiences from his childhood growing up during the Great Depression. He joined the Naval Reserve in 1935 and went on active duty in September, 1941 when he was assigned to the USS Sacramento (PG-19). He describes his role in the attack on Pearl Harbor, then mentions how he was transferred to the USS Bogue (CVE-9) and spent two years on convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic. In 1944, Dembinski was transferred to the USS Bataan (CVL-29) and was involved in the Marianas Turkey Shoot. Toward the end of the war, Dembinski was transferred to the USS Robert K. Huntington (DD-781), the ship he cruised home aboard after the war ended.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with W T Hardi. Hardi joined the Navy in August, 1942 and trained at San Diego. He went aboard USS Mustin (DD-413) at Noumea. He recalls watching USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) go down in the Gilberts. Hardi served on the radar watch. After promotion, Hardi joined the crew of USS Houston (CL-81). Hardi was aboard when the Houston was severely damaged by Japanese aircraft off Formosa. He was blown into the water and rescued by USS Ingersoll (DD-652). He eventually made his way back to the Houston in December 1944. Hardi opted for discharge when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Brush. Brush was assigned to serve as the Chief Engineer of the Philippine Manufacturing Company in Manila, before World War II. He and his wife traveled to Manila in May of 1941 and operated the factory until the end of December. He and his wife were taken prisoner into Santo Tomas Internment Camp in January of 1942. Brush shares details of the accommodations, building structure, atmosphere, food rations, starvation, illnesses, separated living conditions of men, women and children as well as their required daily work. They were later moved to Los Baños Internment Camp. In December of 1943 his wife, along with other women from Santo Tomas, were brought to Los Baños and allowed to live together as a family. Brush provides vivid details of their rescue in February of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Johnnie Singleton. Singleton entered the Navy at 16 in June 1941 and trained at Corpus Christi. Singleton is African American and served as a mess attendant in a segregated Navy. He went aboard the USS Maryland (BB-46) at Pearl Harbor in September 1941. On December 7, 1941, Singleton was in the officers' galley when the Japanese struck. He went to his battle station in an ammunition handling room below deck. Next, Singleton describes the invasion of Tarawa and seeing bodies floating in the water. After Tarawa, the Maryland went to the Marshall Islands, Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Then, they went to Truk and Saipan. The Maryland got hit in the bow one night by a torpedo while they were in the harbor at Saipan. The battle of Leyte Gulf was next for the Maryland and she was one of the battleships at Surigao Strait. A kamikaze crashed into her later during the battle and she had to go to Bremerton for repairs. After repairs, the Maryland rejoined the fleet and sailed for Okinawa. The Maryland took another kamikaze hit off Okinawa with Singleton was trapped below deck at his …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard L. Patton. He discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and the rest of World War Two in the Pacific Theatre.