The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edgar Granger. Granger was born in Beaumont, Texas 2 July 1916 and graduated from high school in 1934. In 1935 he joined the Merchant Marines as a deck hand with the Lykes Brothers Steamship Company. In 1941 he entered the Merchant Marine officers training class at Alameda, California. After receiving his third-class mate’s license he went aboard the SS San Antonio. He tells of picking up survivors of the merchant ship SS Cities Service that had been torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Louisiana. He then joined the Atlantic-Gulf-West Indies Lines and went aboard the newly constructed Liberty ship, SS Mary Austin (1943) and took a load of Higgins boats to Scotland. Granger experienced a storm so sever on the Atlantic that it sank three ships in the convoy and damaged the Mary Austin. During the Battle of the Bulge, while aboard the SS John Cropper, the ship took a load of gasoline in 5 gallon Jerry cans to Antwerp, Belgium. From there Granger and crew went to Cherbourg, France and picked up 350 German prisoners and took them to New York City. Following the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edgar Granger. Granger was born in Beaumont, Texas 2 July 1916 and graduated from high school in 1934. In 1935 he joined the Merchant Marines as a deck hand with the Lykes Brothers Steamship Company. In 1941 he entered the Merchant Marine officers training class at Alameda, California. After receiving his third-class mate’s license he went aboard the SS San Antonio. He tells of picking up survivors of the merchant ship SS Cities Service that had been torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Louisiana. He then joined the Atlantic-Gulf-West Indies Lines and went aboard the newly constructed Liberty ship, SS Mary Austin (1943) and took a load of Higgins boats to Scotland. Granger experienced a storm so sever on the Atlantic that it sank three ships in the convoy and damaged the Mary Austin. During the Battle of the Bulge, while aboard the SS John Cropper, the ship took a load of gasoline in 5 gallon Jerry cans to Antwerp, Belgium. From there Granger and crew went to Cherbourg, France and picked up 350 German prisoners and took them to New York City. Following the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert C. Shedd. Shedd joined the Marine Corps in February of 1942 with his brothers Donald and Paul. He provides details of boot camp. He served with the 5th Marines. In June of 1942 he traveled to New Zealand. In August they went to Guadalcanal to capture the island. He provides details of his travels and life aboard the troop ships. They traveled to New Britain in New Guinea in December of 1943, where a shell fragment hit his shoulder. In September of 1944 they invaded Peleliu. He vividly describes his experiences at each of these battles. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert C. Shedd. Shedd joined the Marine Corps in February of 1942 with his brothers Donald and Paul. He provides details of boot camp. He served with the 5th Marines. In June of 1942 he traveled to New Zealand. In August they went to Guadalcanal to capture the island. He provides details of his travels and life aboard the troop ships. They traveled to New Britain in New Guinea in December of 1943, where a shell fragment hit his shoulder. In September of 1944 they invaded Peleliu. He vividly describes his experiences at each of these battles. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Redman. Redman joined the Navy in May of 1941. He served on the deck force aboard the USS Mississippi (BB-41). From May to 7 December, they escorted convoys back and forth across the North Atlantic. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, they transferred to the Pacific Fleet. Redman completed diving school and worked with the ship’s pumps. He became Seaman First Class, Coxswain, and later became head diver and Gun Captain. Aboard the Mississippi, Redman participated in shelling Japanese forces during the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and the Philippines campaigns and the invasions of Peleliu and Okinawa. He also served in the Battle of Surigao Strait. Redman was discharged around December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Redman. Redman joined the Navy in May of 1941. He served on the deck force aboard the USS Mississippi (BB-41). From May to 7 December, they escorted convoys back and forth across the North Atlantic. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, they transferred to the Pacific Fleet. Redman completed diving school and worked with the ship’s pumps. He became Seaman First Class, Coxswain, and later became head diver and Gun Captain. Aboard the Mississippi, Redman participated in shelling Japanese forces during the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and the Philippines campaigns and the invasions of Peleliu and Okinawa. He also served in the Battle of Surigao Strait. Redman was discharged around December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eli Escobar. Escobar was drafted into the Army in May 1944. When Escobar arrived in France in November, 1944, he joined Company K, 242nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division. In January, 1945, Escobar got captured by German troops near Haguenau. He spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. He was liberated in late April and returned to the US. Escobar was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eli Escobar. Escobar was drafted into the Army in May 1944. When Escobar arrived in France in November, 1944, he joined Company K, 242nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division. In January, 1945, Escobar got captured by German troops near Haguenau. He spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. He was liberated in late April and returned to the US. Escobar was discharged in November, 1945.

Interview with Arwin Bowden, a marine during World War II. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw, and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment before joining the battle of Saipan. He describes ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made, and the time he had leave.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a series of interviews with members of the Ream family: John Ream, Sarah Ream Connelly, Katherine Ream Sobeck, and Nora Ream Kuttner. The Ream family members were children when the Japanese occupied the Philippines and they were interned as civilians at Camp John hay in Baguio. They each in turn discuss the arrival of the Japanese and their subsequent experiences as prisoners of the Japanese. At one point, they were moved to Camp Holmes, also in Baguio, prior to going to Bilibid in Manila. They mention visiting other family members at Santo Tomas and each recalls being liberated and their impressions of arriving in the United States.

Photograph of J. W. Leverton, James T. Lay, Catherine Nimitz, and Nancy Nimitz in a line at the Nimitz-Lay wedding. J. W. Leverton stands on the far left with his hands in his pocket wearing a dark Naval uniform with six buttons on the front, a dark tie and ribbon bars displayed above his pocket. On his right stands James T. Lay smiling widely and wearing the same Naval uniform but with stripes and a star visible on his sleeves. Catherine Nimitz stands next to James lay holding a large bouquet of flowers and wearing a long-sleeved dark dress, a pearl necklace, and wire frame glasses. On the far right stands Nancy Nimitz in a short-sleeved patterned dress with a large corsage pinned to her chest. The backdrop is made up of draped curtains.

Photograph of James T. Lay, Catherine Nimitz, and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Nimitz-Lay wedding. James Lay stands on the far left in a dark Naval Uniform with three buttons on the front, three stripes on the sleeves with a star above them, ribbon bars above his pocket and a dark tie. In the center stands Catherine Nimitz with a bouquet of flowers in her hands and wearing a dark long-sleeved dress, pearl necklace and wire glasses. On the right with his hands behind his back is Admiral Nimitz. He is in his dark Naval Uniform with 6 buttons on the front, seven stripes and a star on his sleeves, ribbon bars above his pocket and a dark tie. The background consists of satin like draped curtains.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including Emma having poison ivy, an unpleasant chat with Baker and Nell, and the weather.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz indicates he is not in need of funds and has plenty of clothing. He also relates information about his weekly grades and his standing. Nimitz describes a rowing competition and anticipates more German naval cadets and another prince to visit the Academy. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz indicates he is not in need of funds and has plenty of clothing. He also relates information about his weekly grades and his standing. Nimitz describes a rowing competition and anticipates more German naval cadets and another prince to visit the Academy.