The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Doyon. Doyon worked as a machinist at Bath Iron Works until he joined the Navy in March 1943. He was sent to diesel school and then small boat training to become an engineman on a LCVP. Doyon was assigned to USS LST-506, which traveled to England. He tells of the preparations for D-Day taking part in the landing on 6 June at Normandy. Doyon describes picking up wounded on the beach and several Asian POWs in German uniforms. He discusses the difficulties that the LSTs had getting ashore and one incident where he had to use signal flags to direct one of them away from a mine field. Doyon was then a part of a Navy detachment that was sent inland with their LCVPs to take part in the crossing of the Rhine River. He describes some of the events that he witnessed including a barge carrying German prisoners capsizing. Doyon was sent to the Pacific soon after and was on Kwajalein when the war ended. He left the service six months later.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Doyon. Doyon worked as a machinist at Bath Iron Works until he joined the Navy in March 1943. He was sent to diesel school and then small boat training to become an engineman on a LCVP. Doyon was assigned to USS LST-506, which traveled to England. He tells of the preparations for D-Day taking part in the landing on 6 June at Normandy. Doyon describes picking up wounded on the beach and several Asian POWs in German uniforms. He discusses the difficulties that the LSTs had getting ashore and one incident where he had to use signal flags to direct one of them away from a mine field. Doyon was then a part of a Navy detachment that was sent inland with their LCVPs to take part in the crossing of the Rhine River. He describes some of the events that he witnessed including a barge carrying German prisoners capsizing. Doyon was sent to the Pacific soon after and was on Kwajalein when the war ended. He left the service six months later.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Eddleman. Eddleman joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed Bugle Master School. He served aboard the USS Texas (BB-35), and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Normandy, Cherbourg, Italy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Eddleman witnessed numerous battles atop the navigation bridge. He returned to the US in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Eddleman. Eddleman joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed Bugle Master School. He served aboard the USS Texas (BB-35), and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Normandy, Cherbourg, Italy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Eddleman witnessed numerous battles atop the navigation bridge. He returned to the US in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stewart Elder. Elder joined the Navy V-5 Program in 1942 and received his wings in November of 1944. He provides details of his flight training and the various of types of planes he flew. He was placed in a replacement squadron in Hawaii four months before the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan in August of 1945. They completed additional training exercises in Hawaii, and after the surrender he returned home. He completed over 1,000 hours of flying during operational training and additionally in the Ready Reserve. He was discharged around December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stewart Elder. Elder joined the Navy V-5 Program in 1942 and received his wings in November of 1944. He provides details of his flight training and the various of types of planes he flew. He was placed in a replacement squadron in Hawaii four months before the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan in August of 1945. They completed additional training exercises in Hawaii, and after the surrender he returned home. He completed over 1,000 hours of flying during operational training and additionally in the Ready Reserve. He was discharged around December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cletus Ernster. Ernster went to Conrad Flying School in Winona, Minnesota in 1939. He joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and was commissioned as a service pilot. He was assigned to Wilmington, Delaware to deliver planes throughout the United States and overseas. He discusses the various planes that he flew and the locations he delivered planes to. He was assigned to Chanyi, China in September of 1944, where he spent the remainder of his service. He was in the 1342nd Army Air Forces Base Unit in China. He gives detail of flying missions and transporting Chinese soldiers from one battle area to the next. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cletus Ernster. Ernster went to Conrad Flying School in Winona, Minnesota in 1939. He joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and was commissioned as a service pilot. He was assigned to Wilmington, Delaware to deliver planes throughout the United States and overseas. He discusses the various planes that he flew and the locations he delivered planes to. He was assigned to Chanyi, China in September of 1944, where he spent the remainder of his service. He was in the 1342nd Army Air Forces Base Unit in China. He gives detail of flying missions and transporting Chinese soldiers from one battle area to the next. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gilbert Esensee. Esensee was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, on 6 August 1925, into a family of eight children. In 1944, he joined the Army and took basic training at Camp Roberts, California. He was then sent to La Havre, France, where he joined the 29th Infantry Division, 175th Infantry Regiment. Esensee was involved in combat action along the Roer River, where he was wounded. He also tells of German soldiers swimming the Elbe River, to avoid capture by Russian troops.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gilbert Esensee. Esensee was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, on 6 August 1925, into a family of eight children. In 1944, he joined the Army and took basic training at Camp Roberts, California. He was then sent to La Havre, France, where he joined the 29th Infantry Division, 175th Infantry Regiment. Esensee was involved in combat action along the Roer River, where he was wounded. He also tells of German soldiers swimming the Elbe River, to avoid capture by Russian troops.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Ewing. Ewing enlisted in the Marine Corps in March of 1943. He was trained as a tanker and was sent to the Pacific as a replacement crewman where he joined the 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. He crewed LVTs during the invasions of Guam and Iwo Jima. His LVT was hit and caught fire during the landing on Guam. During the battle for Iwo Jima, Ewing’s LVT was sent inland to retrieve wounded Marines and he had to guide it through a minefield. Ewing was discharged on 7 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Ewing. Ewing enlisted in the Marine Corps in March of 1943. He was trained as a tanker and was sent to the Pacific as a replacement crewman where he joined the 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. He crewed LVTs during the invasions of Guam and Iwo Jima. His LVT was hit and caught fire during the landing on Guam. During the battle for Iwo Jima, Ewing’s LVT was sent inland to retrieve wounded Marines and he had to guide it through a minefield. Ewing was discharged on 7 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Fencik. Fencik was born in Port Vue, Pennsylvania in 1925. After dropping out of high school in 1942, he joined the Navy. Upon completing boot training, he was sent to St. Albans Naval Hospital, Long Island, to train as a Navy Corpsman. In 1943, he went aboard USS Texas (BB-35). He recalls the Texas participating in the Normandy invasion and of the ship being damaged by a German shore battery. Fenick also recalls participating in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Fencik. Fencik was born in Port Vue, Pennsylvania in 1925. After dropping out of high school in 1942, he joined the Navy. Upon completing boot training, he was sent to St. Albans Naval Hospital, Long Island, to train as a Navy Corpsman. In 1943, he went aboard USS Texas (BB-35). He recalls the Texas participating in the Normandy invasion and of the ship being damaged by a German shore battery. Fenick also recalls participating in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Finigan. Finigan joined the Navy in January 1941. He worked at a Navy radio station and then was sent to the USS Bootes (AK-99) to serve as a yeoman. Finigan describes his ship picking up wounded Marines at New Caledonia. The Bootes was then designated as an ammunition ship and operated out of New Guinea. He discusses what it was like to serve on an ammunition ship. Finigan traveled to the Philippines where the Bootes continued to distribute ammunition to the fleet. He tells of the Bootes shooting down 6 Japanese planes in one day including a close call with a kamikaze. Finigan returned to the US and was discharged for medical reasons in June 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Finigan. Finigan joined the Navy in January 1941. He worked at a Navy radio station and then was sent to the USS Bootes (AK-99) to serve as a yeoman. Finigan describes his ship picking up wounded Marines at New Caledonia. The Bootes was then designated as an ammunition ship and operated out of New Guinea. He discusses what it was like to serve on an ammunition ship. Finigan traveled to the Philippines where the Bootes continued to distribute ammunition to the fleet. He tells of the Bootes shooting down 6 Japanese planes in one day including a close call with a kamikaze. Finigan returned to the US and was discharged for medical reasons in June 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Fischman. Fischman was born in 1925 in Alexandria, Virginia. Dropping out of high school, he joined the Navy in 1942 and was sent to Newport, Rhode Island for boot camp. He was assigned to USS Texas (BB-35). He recalls the ship being involved in convoy duties prior to the invasion of North Africa. He also tells of being involved in Operation OVERLORD and his duties as a powder handler as well as being assigned to the captain’s gig. He describes evacuating the wounded from Point du Hoc at Normandy and the Texas being damaged by German shore batteries. He also recalls participation in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was discharged soon after the ship returned to the US in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Fischman. Fischman was born in 1925 in Alexandria, Virginia. Dropping out of high school, he joined the Navy in 1942 and was sent to Newport, Rhode Island for boot camp. He was assigned to USS Texas (BB-35). He recalls the ship being involved in convoy duties prior to the invasion of North Africa. He also tells of being involved in Operation OVERLORD and his duties as a powder handler as well as being assigned to the captain’s gig. He describes evacuating the wounded from Point du Hoc at Normandy and the Texas being damaged by German shore batteries. He also recalls participation in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was discharged soon after the ship returned to the US in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John E. ""Jack"" Freemann. When Freemann finished high school in Pennsylvania in 1940, he enrolled in the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. From there, Freeman enrolled in Bucknell University. He was there when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and joined the Navy in June, 1942 for pilot training. Freemann completed flight training and was commissioned in October, 1943. Then, he went to dive-bomber school in Jacksonville, Florida before reporting to Air Group 6 in Califonria. From there, he was shipped to Hawaii. At Ulithi, Freemann joined the USS Hancock (CV-19) i ntime to participate in the invasion of Okinawa. While attacking targets on the Japanese home islands, Freemann got shot down and ditched into the ocean next to a destroyer. When the war ended, Freemann and his group flew missions to get supplies to prisoner of war camps in Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John E. ""Jack"" Freemann. When Freemann finished high school in Pennsylvania in 1940, he enrolled in the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. From there, Freeman enrolled in Bucknell University. He was there when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and joined the Navy in June, 1942 for pilot training. Freemann completed flight training and was commissioned in October, 1943. Then, he went to dive-bomber school in Jacksonville, Florida before reporting to Air Group 6 in Califonria. From there, he was shipped to Hawaii. At Ulithi, Freemann joined the USS Hancock (CV-19) i ntime to participate in the invasion of Okinawa. While attacking targets on the Japanese home islands, Freemann got shot down and ditched into the ocean next to a destroyer. When the war ended, Freemann and his group flew missions to get supplies to prisoner of war camps in Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Oscar Robert Freesen. After graduating from high school, Freesen was drafted into the Army in January, 1944. He speaks about training in Georgia and Texas. In January, 1945, Freesen was sent to England and then to Belgium. Upon arriving there, Freesen was assigned to Company K, 331st Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division. He describes some of his combat experiences in Belgium. Freesen's unit eventually crossed the Rhine into Germany. Freesen describes being wounded in a German town in April, 1945 and being evacuated to a hospital in France. Freesen also speaks of connecting, decades after the war, with the daughter of a friend with whom he served in Europe. Freesen was able to verify to the daughter that her father, who was killed in Germany, knew she had been born before he died. She had spet her entire life up to that point not knowing if her father knew she had been born. After recovering in the hospital, Freesen rejoined his unit and served as a clerk until he managed to get sent home after his father became ill. He returned in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Oscar Robert Freesen. After graduating from high school, Freesen was drafted into the Army in January, 1944. He speaks about training in Georgia and Texas. In January, 1945, Freesen was sent to England and then to Belgium. Upon arriving there, Freesen was assigned to Company K, 331st Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division. He describes some of his combat experiences in Belgium. Freesen's unit eventually crossed the Rhine into Germany. Freesen describes being wounded in a German town in April, 1945 and being evacuated to a hospital in France. Freesen also speaks of connecting, decades after the war, with the daughter of a friend with whom he served in Europe. Freesen was able to verify to the daughter that her father, who was killed in Germany, knew she had been born before he died. She had spet her entire life up to that point not knowing if her father knew she had been born. After recovering in the hospital, Freesen rejoined his unit and served as a clerk until he managed to get sent home after his father became ill. He returned in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Colin Furr. Furr was born in Hunt, Texas in 1925. He tells of living conditions and schooling during his early years. Upon graduating from high school in 1942, he joined the Army and received basic training at Camp Kohler, California. He trained as a truck driver and was sent to Hollandia and assigned to the 52nd Signal Battalion, Company C. He was later assigned as a truck driver working with a unit constructing rhombic radio stations. He also had duty with the 93rd Infantry Division. He also recalls performing guard duty Army General Headquarters on Hollandia and personally checking the IDs of General McArthur and Admiral Nimitz. He remembers being stationed on Mindanao and Palawan and he describes being infected with malaria and yellow jaundice.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Colin Furr. Furr was born in Hunt, Texas in 1925. He tells of living conditions and schooling during his early years. Upon graduating from high school in 1942, he joined the Army and received basic training at Camp Kohler, California. He trained as a truck driver and was sent to Hollandia and assigned to the 52nd Signal Battalion, Company C. He was later assigned as a truck driver working with a unit constructing rhombic radio stations. He also had duty with the 93rd Infantry Division. He also recalls performing guard duty Army General Headquarters on Hollandia and personally checking the IDs of General McArthur and Admiral Nimitz. He remembers being stationed on Mindanao and Palawan and he describes being infected with malaria and yellow jaundice.