The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymundo Martinez. Martinez was drafted in the Army in November of 1941. He served as a Technical Sergeant in the 807th Engineer Battalion for four years. From 1942 to 1944 Martinez was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. During this time, he recalls much combat, casualties, preparing graves for fallen soldiers and a Japanese plane being gunned down during a dog fight. He was then assigned to Hawaii and provides some details of life on the island. From May to September of 1945 his unit served on Okinawa, which he provides vivid details of his experiences. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymundo Martinez. Martinez was drafted in the Army in November of 1941. He served as a Technical Sergeant in the 807th Engineer Battalion for four years. From 1942 to 1944 Martinez was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. During this time, he recalls much combat, casualties, preparing graves for fallen soldiers and a Japanese plane being gunned down during a dog fight. He was then assigned to Hawaii and provides some details of life on the island. From May to September of 1945 his unit served on Okinawa, which he provides vivid details of his experiences. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with McGehee Word.. Word enlisted in the Army Air Corps flying cadet program in 1940 when he was 26 years old. Along the way, he was trained as a B-17 pilot and was sent overseas to England, via Africa, and was assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group, 326th Bomb Squadron. While stationed in England, Word had an encounter with J. Frank Dobie. Word returned to the US in November, 1944 after 32 missions. He was training in B-29 bombers when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with McGehee Word.. Word enlisted in the Army Air Corps flying cadet program in 1940 when he was 26 years old. Along the way, he was trained as a B-17 pilot and was sent overseas to England, via Africa, and was assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group, 326th Bomb Squadron. While stationed in England, Word had an encounter with J. Frank Dobie. Word returned to the US in November, 1944 after 32 missions. He was training in B-29 bombers when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom D. Ellison. Ellison was born 14 August 1925 in Sierra Blanca, Texas. He joined the Navy in September 1942. After 12 weeks of boot camp at the Farragut Naval Training Center, Idaho, he went for 21 weeks of aircraft maintenance training in Norman, Oklahoma, and 4 weeks of air gunnery training in Purcel, Oklahoma. This was followed by more maintenance and gunnery training at NAS Jacksonville. Next it was to NAS Oceana, Virginia working on and flying in PB4Y patrol planes. Ellison then sailed to England on the USS Matagorda (AVP-22). He spent from December 1943 to August 1945 at Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon. His squadron, VP-105, performed anti-submarine patrols in the English Channel and the North Sea. Following the German surrender, Ellison went to San Diego, Guam, Japan, and finally Shanghai, China to join a PBM Mariner squadron operating from a seaplane tender in the Whangpoo River. They provided passenger, mail, and air-sea rescue services in the area. Having advanced to AMM 1/C, Ellison was discharged from the Navy in San Diego.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom D. Ellison. Ellison was born 14 August 1925 in Sierra Blanca, Texas. He joined the Navy in September 1942. After 12 weeks of boot camp at the Farragut Naval Training Center, Idaho, he went for 21 weeks of aircraft maintenance training in Norman, Oklahoma, and 4 weeks of air gunnery training in Purcel, Oklahoma. This was followed by more maintenance and gunnery training at NAS Jacksonville. Next it was to NAS Oceana, Virginia working on and flying in PB4Y patrol planes. Ellison then sailed to England on the USS Matagorda (AVP-22). He spent from December 1943 to August 1945 at Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon. His squadron, VP-105, performed anti-submarine patrols in the English Channel and the North Sea. Following the German surrender, Ellison went to San Diego, Guam, Japan, and finally Shanghai, China to join a PBM Mariner squadron operating from a seaplane tender in the Whangpoo River. They provided passenger, mail, and air-sea rescue services in the area. Having advanced to AMM 1/C, Ellison was discharged from the Navy in San Diego.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Dugger. Dugger was born in Mazie, Oklahoma 6 September 1924 and joined the Navy in 1943. After finishing boot camp at the San Diego Naval Training Station he went to machinist school. Upon completing that training, he volunteered for the submarine service. He tells of going aboard the USS S-23 for training. Upon conclusion of his training he served as an instructor on the boat for 16 months. He describes being on a submarine and the requirement that each crewman learn the various jobs on the boat. Dugger made around 600 training dives aboard the S-23 before being transferred to Submarine Division 104 at Pearl Harbor. There he participated in the overhaul of the USS Sea Dog (SS-401), the USS Sea Poacher (SS-406) and the USS Gar (SS-206). He describes in detail the overhaul process. Dugger returned to the United States in 1945 and was assigned to the USS Vermillion (AKA-107). After a short but uneventful tour on the ship he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Dugger. Dugger was born in Mazie, Oklahoma 6 September 1924 and joined the Navy in 1943. After finishing boot camp at the San Diego Naval Training Station he went to machinist school. Upon completing that training, he volunteered for the submarine service. He tells of going aboard the USS S-23 for training. Upon conclusion of his training he served as an instructor on the boat for 16 months. He describes being on a submarine and the requirement that each crewman learn the various jobs on the boat. Dugger made around 600 training dives aboard the S-23 before being transferred to Submarine Division 104 at Pearl Harbor. There he participated in the overhaul of the USS Sea Dog (SS-401), the USS Sea Poacher (SS-406) and the USS Gar (SS-206). He describes in detail the overhaul process. Dugger returned to the United States in 1945 and was assigned to the USS Vermillion (AKA-107). After a short but uneventful tour on the ship he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.B. Pryor. Born in Oklahoma in 1922, Pryor attended the University of Wyoming on a football scholarship. Upon entering the Navy in 1941, he was selected for pilot training and tells of being at various bases training in different types of single engine planes until September 1942. He then entered multi-engine aircraft training, flying B-24s as a co-pilot. In November 1943 he was assigned to Patrol Bomber Squadron 106 flying anti-submarine patrol over the Panama Canal Zone for a six month period. The squadron returned to California for training in the PB4Y-2. Upon completion, the squadron was sent to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, then to Java. He describes the various types of missions they flew and tells of the casualties which occurred among the crewmembers.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.B. Pryor. Born in Oklahoma in 1922, Pryor attended the University of Wyoming on a football scholarship. Upon entering the Navy in 1941, he was selected for pilot training and tells of being at various bases training in different types of single engine planes until September 1942. He then entered multi-engine aircraft training, flying B-24s as a co-pilot. In November 1943 he was assigned to Patrol Bomber Squadron 106 flying anti-submarine patrol over the Panama Canal Zone for a six month period. The squadron returned to California for training in the PB4Y-2. Upon completion, the squadron was sent to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, then to Java. He describes the various types of missions they flew and tells of the casualties which occurred among the crewmembers.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John F. Kidd. Kidd enlisted in the US Navy in 1938. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36) and was later transferred to the USS Blackhawk as a yeoman striker. After a short time he was assigned to the staff of Admiral Thomas C. Hart and stationed at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. He tells of the Japanese attack on 8 December 1941 and of commandeering civilian automobiles to carry wounded military personnel from Cavite Navy Yard. He also mentions shortages of food and water. He was sent to Corregidor and recalls the surrender of American forces. He was sent to Cabanatuan. From there he went aboard a Japanese hell ship for transfer to the Yodogawa Bunsho prison camp in Japan. He describes the hellacious conditions aboard the ship. He tells of the death of a friend and the frequent deaths among the prisoners. He relates the experience of being one of ten prisoners selected for experimental surgery of which only two survived. He recalls the unsanitary conditions of the operating room, the experience of undergoing surgery without proper sedation and the lack of medication …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John F. Kidd. Kidd enlisted in the US Navy in 1938. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36) and was later transferred to the USS Blackhawk as a yeoman striker. After a short time he was assigned to the staff of Admiral Thomas C. Hart and stationed at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. He tells of the Japanese attack on 8 December 1941 and of commandeering civilian automobiles to carry wounded military personnel from Cavite Navy Yard. He also mentions shortages of food and water. He was sent to Corregidor and recalls the surrender of American forces. He was sent to Cabanatuan. From there he went aboard a Japanese hell ship for transfer to the Yodogawa Bunsho prison camp in Japan. He describes the hellacious conditions aboard the ship. He tells of the death of a friend and the frequent deaths among the prisoners. He relates the experience of being one of ten prisoners selected for experimental surgery of which only two survived. He recalls the unsanitary conditions of the operating room, the experience of undergoing surgery without proper sedation and the lack of medication …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kyle Thompson. Thompson was born in Nevada County, Arkansas in 1922. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1939. In November 1941, Thompson’s unit was bound for the Philippines, but was diverted to Australia after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. After a stop at Darwin, they were escorted to Java by the USS Houston (CA-36) in January 1942. There they assisted crews of the 10th Bomb Group. After the surrender the group was joined by Houston survivors and was moved to a prisoner of war camp in Batavia. Thompson recalls cruel treatment by their captors. In October 1942 they were loaded onto a Japanese ship and taken to Camp Changi, Singapore. There they were transported by small crowded freight cars to Penang, Malaysia and put aboard the Dainichi Maru. He recalls attempts by American bombers to sink the vessel before reaching Burma. Once there in early 1943, they began work on the Thai-Burma Railroad. Thompson describes POWs working under horrible conditions of mistreatment, malnourishment and tropical diseases. He suffered from jungle rot as well as malaria while confined. After fourteen months the railroad was completed and he was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kyle Thompson. Thompson was born in Nevada County, Arkansas in 1922. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1939. In November 1941, Thompson’s unit was bound for the Philippines, but was diverted to Australia after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. After a stop at Darwin, they were escorted to Java by the USS Houston (CA-36) in January 1942. There they assisted crews of the 10th Bomb Group. After the surrender the group was joined by Houston survivors and was moved to a prisoner of war camp in Batavia. Thompson recalls cruel treatment by their captors. In October 1942 they were loaded onto a Japanese ship and taken to Camp Changi, Singapore. There they were transported by small crowded freight cars to Penang, Malaysia and put aboard the Dainichi Maru. He recalls attempts by American bombers to sink the vessel before reaching Burma. Once there in early 1943, they began work on the Thai-Burma Railroad. Thompson describes POWs working under horrible conditions of mistreatment, malnourishment and tropical diseases. He suffered from jungle rot as well as malaria while confined. After fourteen months the railroad was completed and he was …