The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudy Kiehne. Kiehne was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, 25 October 1919 and enlisted in the Navy in 1938 upon graduating from high school. He was assigned to the USS Maryland (BB-46) in Pearl Harbor as a gunner’s mate responsible for a battery of 5-inch/.51-caliber broadside guns. He was aboard the Maryland the morning of 7 December 1941 and watched a Japanese plane drop a torpedo on the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), which was tied up next to the Maryland. He describes his role in manning an anti-aircraft battery, but does not recall any success against the Japanese aircraft during the attack. He recalls that a bomb penetrated the forward hull of the Maryland but there were a minimum of casualties. Kiehne was transferred to a fleet oiler in October 1942 and describes his new ship’s role as a member of a tanker group located in Ulithi, Caroline Islands, conducting underway replenishments for the fleet preparing for battle in the Philippines. He next recalls before transferred to USS USS LCS-392 and participating in the landing on Okinawa in April 1945. He was discharged at Camp Wallace, Texas after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Brooks. Brooks joined the Navy around 1938. He served as a trainer on the turrets aboard the USS Houston (CA-30). He worked in the Second Division, Number 2 turret. Their ship was assigned to the Asiatic Fleet to replace the USS Augusta (CA-31). They traveled to Manila Bay and the Philippines. He shares his experiences patrolling numerous islands and visiting and trading with the natives. Brooks talks about various incidents taking place leading up to the war with Japan. He was aboard the Houston on 7 December 1941 and shares his thoughts on that fateful day, as well as their plans for action. They traveled to the East Indies, and participated in the Battles of Makassar Strait, Java Sea and Sunda Strait where the Houston sank. Brooks, and other survivors were captured by the Japanese. He describes the various locations he stayed in and the work he was forced to do with fellow prisoners. Brooks did make it safely back to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sterling Maresch. Maresch went into the Army in October, 1943. In May, 1944, he shipped overseas to a staging area in New Guinea and was assigned to the 470th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. From there, they moved to the Philippines for the invasion of Luzon. When the war ended, Maresch re-enlisted and transferred to the Army Air Forces. After some training in aircraft instrument repair, he was sent to Germany.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Moorman. Moorman was born in New Hyde Park, New York 19 December 1925. He recalls the difficulties his family faced during the depression. Upon joining the Navy in February 1943, he went to Great Lakes Naval Training Station for eight weeks of boot training. After completing the initial training he was selected to have three months instruction as a hospital corpsman. He was then sent to the Bremerton Naval Hospital where he worked in the venereal disease ward. Moorman was then sent to San Diego for Marine training in the Field Medical School. Upon completion of the training he was sent to Somoa as a corpsman. He then went to New Caledonia and he was assigned to Field Hospital 103 where he worked in the psychiatric ward treating shell shock and combat fatigue patients. He then went to Tongatapu and was assigned to the 35th Naval Construction Battalion for four months before being transferred to Fleet Hospital #3 at Espiritu Santo where he was assigned to the X-ray department. Moorman returned to the United States and was discharged in September 1945. He reenlisted in the Navy in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Money Mills. Mills was drafted into the Navy in August 1943 and received basic training at Bainbridge. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Texas (BB-35), where he served as a shell handler beneath turret four. At Normandy, he reported a sniper to the captain, who called in a P-38 to eradicate him. Mills looked on as rangers struggled up the cliffs, many of them brought back to the Texas for medical care. At Cherbourg, the helmsman was killed and others were wounded, but Mills was too busy to be afraid. At the invasion of Southern France there was little resistance, but en route he encountered children living in extreme poverty. At the start of 1945, Mills became an engine-oiler and headed to Leyte, where natives lived amidst rubble. At Iwo Jima, he saw Marines wielding flamethrowers against the enemy. Plagued by kamikazes at Okinawa, he managed to shoot one down. Heartily celebrating V-J Day aboard ship, he returned home and was discharged in November 1945.