The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and interview Bill Smith. Smith went into the Army in February 1942. After basic training, Smith was shipped to Australia with the 440th Signal Construction Battalion and they built telephone lines. From there, he went to Port Moresby, still building communications infrastructure. When the invasion of the Philippines occurred, Smith went to Luzon and continued with the 440th. He also went to Okinawa with them. When the war ended, Smith went home and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and interview Bill Smith. Smith went into the Army in February 1942. After basic training, Smith was shipped to Australia with the 440th Signal Construction Battalion and they built telephone lines. From there, he went to Port Moresby, still building communications infrastructure. When the invasion of the Philippines occurred, Smith went to Luzon and continued with the 440th. He also went to Okinawa with them. When the war ended, Smith went home and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles W. Carson. Carson was born in Ecorse, Michigan on 12 August 1925 and enlisted in the Navy in September 1943. Following basic training he attended aircraft mechanic school, graduating in June 1944. He shipped overseas on the USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43). He provides several interesting anecdotes of the trip to the New Hebrides archipelago, including the ceremony for crossing the equator and international dateline. He arrived on the island of Espiritu Santo in October 1944 and was placed in an aviation engine overhaul unit. Carson describes several of his experiences while on the island. Five months later he went to Guadalcanal where his duties consisted of repairing damaged aircraft near Henderson Field. He stayed on Guadalcanal for a few months and then transferred to Guam. He recalls attending USO shows at each of his duty stations. Carson returned to the United States in December 1945 and was discharged on 6 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles W. Carson. Carson was born in Ecorse, Michigan on 12 August 1925 and enlisted in the Navy in September 1943. Following basic training he attended aircraft mechanic school, graduating in June 1944. He shipped overseas on the USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43). He provides several interesting anecdotes of the trip to the New Hebrides archipelago, including the ceremony for crossing the equator and international dateline. He arrived on the island of Espiritu Santo in October 1944 and was placed in an aviation engine overhaul unit. Carson describes several of his experiences while on the island. Five months later he went to Guadalcanal where his duties consisted of repairing damaged aircraft near Henderson Field. He stayed on Guadalcanal for a few months and then transferred to Guam. He recalls attending USO shows at each of his duty stations. Carson returned to the United States in December 1945 and was discharged on 6 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Teagarden. Teagarden joined the Army Air Corps around 1940. He received his wings and commission in February of 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot and flight leader of the 465th Bomb Group, 780th Bomb Squadron. He completed 50 missions from the Pantanella Airfield where he was based in southern Italy. He flew missions over Vienna, Budapest, Munich and the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Teagarden. Teagarden joined the Army Air Corps around 1940. He received his wings and commission in February of 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot and flight leader of the 465th Bomb Group, 780th Bomb Squadron. He completed 50 missions from the Pantanella Airfield where he was based in southern Italy. He flew missions over Vienna, Budapest, Munich and the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gerald Campbell. Campbell joined the Army around 1943. He served as a replacement for the 77th Infantry Division, and worked aboard an Army personnel carrier. He participated in the amphibious assault on Guam, and the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. He remained in a convalescent hospital in Saipan, after receiving injuries during the Okinawa campaign. After the war, Campbell returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gerald Campbell. Campbell joined the Army around 1943. He served as a replacement for the 77th Infantry Division, and worked aboard an Army personnel carrier. He participated in the amphibious assault on Guam, and the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. He remained in a convalescent hospital in Saipan, after receiving injuries during the Okinawa campaign. After the war, Campbell returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ignacio Lopez. Lopez was drafted into the Army in 1943 and made a company clerk at New Caldonia because he could type. His unit evetually joined the 24th Infantry Division in the Philippines. He also went to Japan after the war ended. He returned to the US and was discharged at Fort Sam Houston, whereupon he took a civilian job operating IBM machines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ignacio Lopez. Lopez was drafted into the Army in 1943 and made a company clerk at New Caldonia because he could type. His unit evetually joined the 24th Infantry Division in the Philippines. He also went to Japan after the war ended. He returned to the US and was discharged at Fort Sam Houston, whereupon he took a civilian job operating IBM machines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leonard Tracy. Tracy entered the Navy at 16 years old in 1940. When the Navy discovered his real age, he was allowed to stay in the service. Tracy served as a gunner on the USS Lexington (CV-2) and was aboard when the war started as well as when the ship sank during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He spent a half hour in the water before being rescued by a destroyer. He was then assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36) and then the USS Texas (BB-35), still working as a gunner. When the war ended, Tracy took his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leonard Tracy. Tracy entered the Navy at 16 years old in 1940. When the Navy discovered his real age, he was allowed to stay in the service. Tracy served as a gunner on the USS Lexington (CV-2) and was aboard when the war started as well as when the ship sank during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He spent a half hour in the water before being rescued by a destroyer. He was then assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36) and then the USS Texas (BB-35), still working as a gunner. When the war ended, Tracy took his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Margaret Heartfield. Upon high school graduation in 1939 she completed 3 years of nurse training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Allegheny General Hospital. She joined the Army as a nurse in January 1943. She completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Polk, Louisiana. Heartfield provides detail on her issued Army uniform. She was transported overseas to England on a troop ship in January 1944. She remained in Manchester for one year, volunteering in a British civilian hospital. Her unit was the 101st Evacuation Hospital unit in Patton’s Third Army. After the Battle of Normandy she was moved to the Cherbourg Peninsula in France, and for the remainder of the war assisted in surgeries. She describes her M.A.S.H.-like unit in detail. From there her unit went to Luxembourg, and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. Her outfit returned to the states November 1945. She married, started a family and went to work for Mobil Oil in 1948 as an Occupational Health Nurse.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Margaret Heartfield. Upon high school graduation in 1939 she completed 3 years of nurse training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Allegheny General Hospital. She joined the Army as a nurse in January 1943. She completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Polk, Louisiana. Heartfield provides detail on her issued Army uniform. She was transported overseas to England on a troop ship in January 1944. She remained in Manchester for one year, volunteering in a British civilian hospital. Her unit was the 101st Evacuation Hospital unit in Patton’s Third Army. After the Battle of Normandy she was moved to the Cherbourg Peninsula in France, and for the remainder of the war assisted in surgeries. She describes her M.A.S.H.-like unit in detail. From there her unit went to Luxembourg, and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. Her outfit returned to the states November 1945. She married, started a family and went to work for Mobil Oil in 1948 as an Occupational Health Nurse.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William E. Cooper. Cooper was born in Alameda, California 8 May 1925. Upon completing high school in 1943, he joined the Army and went to Oregon for training with the 13th Combat Engineers. He recalls being sent overseas aboard the USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43) and arriving at New Caledonia. He took part in the invasion of Leyte and witnessed a kamikaze plane crash into one of the troop ships. Upon landing he was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division and put in charge of a group of men assigned as stevedores. He then went to Ormoc and was assigned to Company A, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division as an infantryman. After participating on several combat patrols he was hospitalized with dengue fever. Upon being released from the hospital he was assigned to Company L, 32nd Infantry Regiment, and was in the first wave to land on Okinawa. As a combat engineer, his job was to blow up Japanese caves and fortifications. He comments that a childhood friend, Harold Gonsalves, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of his actions on Okinawa. Cooper …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William E. Cooper. Cooper was born in Alameda, California 8 May 1925. Upon completing high school in 1943, he joined the Army and went to Oregon for training with the 13th Combat Engineers. He recalls being sent overseas aboard the USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43) and arriving at New Caledonia. He took part in the invasion of Leyte and witnessed a kamikaze plane crash into one of the troop ships. Upon landing he was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division and put in charge of a group of men assigned as stevedores. He then went to Ormoc and was assigned to Company A, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division as an infantryman. After participating on several combat patrols he was hospitalized with dengue fever. Upon being released from the hospital he was assigned to Company L, 32nd Infantry Regiment, and was in the first wave to land on Okinawa. As a combat engineer, his job was to blow up Japanese caves and fortifications. He comments that a childhood friend, Harold Gonsalves, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of his actions on Okinawa. Cooper …