The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Andrus. Andrus joined the Navy in June of 1942. Beginning in November, he served as a medical corpsman in the sick bay aboard USS Rochambeau (AP-63), transporting troops throughout the Pacific islands. Around January of 1944, he transferred to the sick bay aboard USS LST-124 in New Caledonia. Andrus shares his experiences through the Battle of Tinian in July. They traveled to Guadalcanal for ferry duty, and provided transportation for supplies and men throughout the islands. Andrus left USS LST-124 in mid-1945 and went ashore in New Caledonia. He transferred back to the US around August, and recalls the celebration in the streets of downtown Los Angeles when the war ended. He received his discharge in December.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Louis Strang. Strang joined the Marines around mid-1942. He completed Radio and Radar School in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was transferred to a Marine air station on the east coast where he studied aircraft radar and transmitters. Strang was then deployed to a Marine air station at Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 4, and they traveled aboard a troop ship to Guadalcanal in February of 1945. They followed the 1st Marine Division on their Okinawa landing April 1, and provided ground to air communications support during the Battle of Okinawa through July. He describes living and working on the island, and the surrounding combat with the Japanese. Around early August, Strang describes going through a typhoon aboard a cargo ship. After the war ended, Strang and his crew were assigned with the 1st Marines to occupation duty in China. He returned to the U.S. and received his discharge in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Milford. Milford joined the Royal Australian Air Force around mid-1942. He served as a wireless air gunner aboard a Wellington bomber in 205 Group, 150 Squadron, participating in campaigns in North Africa in early 1943 and Italy in December. He completed 38 missions, his last in June of 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Gillespie. Gillespie joined the Navy in late 1944. Beginning around mid-1945, he served on Corregidor Island, Philippines as Radarman 2nd Class. He worked guard duty and serviced a radar atop a mountain on the island. He recalls his time living and working on Corregidor, and the removal of Japanese prisoners-of-war from the island. He continued his service after the war ended, returning to the US in the spring of 1946 to receive his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Liban Brillantes. Assisting Brillantes with the interview is his daughter Peda, and his granddaughter Precious Ross. Brillantes was born in the Philippine Islands in 1916. He joined the 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment around 1934. Following the occupation of the Philippines by the Japanese, he joined the Filipino Guerillas and he tells of life under Japanese occupation. He describes participating in the annihilation of a column of Japanese soldiers and the method of burial by the Japanese command. He also comments on the rumor that looted gold was buried by General Yamashita and that Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos was involved in its recovery.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Peter Williams. Williams joined the Navy in July of 1946, at the age of 17. He served as Radioman 2nd Class aboard USS Montague (AKA-98). They operated off the east coast through January of 1948. He was then transferred to the USS Winston (AKA-94), where he remained until his discharge in May.

United States. Navy; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Philippines--Luzon.; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Japan--Okinawa Island; World War, 1939-1945--South Pacific.; LST-747

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Baumbach. Baumbach joined the Marine Corps in November of 1942. Beginning around mid-1943, he served as a Radioman with the First Armored Amphibious Battalion, Company D. In January of 1944, they deployed to Kauai, Hawaii. They participated in the battles of Kwajalein, Guam and Okinawa. Baumbach returned to the US and received his discharge in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Morgenroth. Morgenroth joined the Marine Corps in April of 1944. He shares details of his training in Hawaii, learning weaponry and practicing beach landings. He served in demolition with the 5th Marine Division, 26th Marines. They participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He received his discharge in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Smith. Smith was raised on a farm with six brothers. He joined the US Navy in early 1944. He completed boot camp in San Diego and was then assigned as a deckhand aboard USS Bland (APA-134). He recalls transporting troops and supplies to Saipan. He served in the occupation of Japan, and shares stories of travels to Japan and China.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Herbert Cavness. Cavness was born in Mason County, Texas in 1924. He quit high school in his junior year and joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. After completing basic training at Wichita Falls, Texas he was sent to Las Vegas, Nevada for training in aerial gunnery. He then went to Sioux City, Iowa for additional training and assignment to an air group. He recalls the loss of air crews during training mission. In early 1943 he boarded the RMS Aquitania and sailed to England. Arriving at Sudbury, he was assigned to the 486th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force as a waist gunner on a B-17 bomber. He vividly describes his various actions and observations during various missions. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Oellerich. Oellerich joined the Navy in 1943 after he finished high school. After basic training, he attended quartermaster school to learn to navigate. Upon completion, he headed for Houston to join USS LSM-2. After training, they shaped course for Hawaii. After loading supplies, they headed for the Philippines to support the various invasions. He also made the invasion of Okinawa where his LSM ferried supplies from ship to shore for one month. He got ashore briefly and witnessed kamikaze attacks. Oellerich was discharged in April, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvin Lebsack. Lebsack joined the Army Air Corps in November of 1940. He trained in aircraft mechanics, and served with the 58th Bomb Wing as a B-29 Crew Chief and Flight Chief. They participated in the China Burma India Theater, and were stationed at a base in India. Lebsack completed bombing missions over Japan in 1944. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Daniel Montgomery. Montgomery joined the Army Air Forces in late 1942 and trained to be a radio operator. After training, he joined the 371st Fighter Group, 406th Fighter Squadron in Virginia. He travelled with the unit to England in February 1944. He also went to Normandy with them after the invasion. He shares several anecdotes and recalls experiences aboard P-47 aircraft. He was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Morgan. Morgan joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He served with the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Regiment, L Company. In August of 1942 they were assigned to Guadalcanal, where they reinforced the 1st Marine Division, and supported assaults on Tulagi Island. In June of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Saipan and in April of 1945, the Battle of Okinawa. After the war ended, Morgan and his division were sent to China to oversee the surrender of the Japanese and their return to Japan. Morgan returned to the US and was discharged in 1946. He continued serving in the Reserves and participated in the Korean War.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Justin Bible. Bible joined the Army and went to radio school in California before being assigned to the 593rd Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO). He landed in the Philippines (Leyte and Luzon) with the unit and shares a few anecdotes. He also went to Okinawa. Bible returned to the US in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Cook. Cook’s brother Sidney speaks on his behalf. Cook graduated from high school in May of 1941. He joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He went to boot camp on the east coast, and he provides some detail of his experiences. He then went on to train as an aircraft mechanic at Chanute Field, Illinois. From there he went to the Navy Pier in Chicago for additional training. Then he completed special training in electronic propellers in Norman, Oklahoma through Spartan Aviation and the University of Oklahoma. In early 1943 he went to Hawaii for survival and jungle training. He was part of a Marine air crew. They were sent to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. He assisted with ground maintenance and flying supplies and medevac. He provides some detail of his experiences on Peleliu. He provides details of attacks, and the Japanese and military life on the islands. He was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Philip and Mary Elizabeth Wales. Wales graduated from medical school in 1943. He was stationed at Ulithi and had some interaction with the island natives. When the war ended, Wales accepted his discharge and began practicing medicine in San Antonio. Mrs. Wales joined the Army Nurse Corps, graduated as a nurse and went to work in Galveston. They met after the war and married.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Whayland Greene. Greene joined the Army in August, 1943 and trained at Camp Fannin. When he went overseas, he went to New Guinea and joined the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He participated in the invasions of Leyte and Luzon with his outfit and recalls a few anecdotes of his combat experiences. He was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Sebacher. Sebacher’s son David assists with the interview. Sebacher enlisted in the Navy in December of 1942. He completed boot camp in Chicago. He volunteered for submarine training in New London, Connecticut. He boarded the USS Picuda (SS-382) at Pearl Harbor in January of 1944. He served as the electrician on board. From Pearl Harbor they went to Midway Island. He made six patrols and sunk Japanese ships on every patrol. He provides detail of these patrols and sinking around 26 ships. They also traveled to Saipan. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Howe. Howe was drafted into the Navy in August 1943. He went to boot camp in Sampson, New York. From there he went to signal school in Baltimore. From there he went into the Armed Guard division of the Navy in New York City, aboard the Liberty Ship SS Edwin Markham. He served for one year aboard the ship as signalman. They traveled through the Panama Canal picking up sugar from Hawaii and delivering it to the San Francisco Hawaii Sugar Company in California. From there they went to the Philippines for a year and a half. After that Howe was transferred to the USS Baltimore (CA-68) in Hawaii. He served on this cruiser for one year, transferring supplies and ammunition to the islands in the Pacific. He visited Hiroshima after the bomb fell and provides some description of that experience. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harmon Harris. Harris joined the Navy in May of 1944. He served with the 141st Construction Battalion. They traveled to the Marshall Islands and Kwajalein, building airstrips, houses and defensive structures.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Louis Janosek. Janosek joined the Army Air Forces in March of 1943. He completed training in radio navigation and served as an Air Transport Command C-46 Flight Officer. They traveled to Liberia, West Africa, Ascension Island and China, Tunisia, Egypt, Bagdad, transporting supplies, food and equipment. He shares his experience flying over the Hump, the Himalaya Mountains. He received his discharge in 1946. In 1947, he renewed his service with the Air Force, retiring in 1964.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Pampe. Pampe joined the Army in June of 1943. He completed Coast Artillery training. He served as a Munitions Officer with the 290th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division, Headquarters Battalion, commanding 35 soldiers. They deployed to England in October of 1944, and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. From September of 1945 until January of 1946, he served as an Athletic Officer at Camp Philadelphia Redeployment Camp in France. Upon returning to the US, Pampe entered the Inactive Reserves, retiring in July of 1977.