The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Shedd. Shedd joined the Marine Corps with his two brothers in February 1942. He joined the 1st Division, 5th Marines after basic training. Shedd was sent to Guadalcanal where he witnessed shore bombardment by Japanese ships. He was then sent to Cape Glouster, New Britain where he saw combat on several patrols. Next Shedd’s unit was sent to Peleliu where he landed with the second wave. He was wounded on the tenth day of the battle and was evacuated to a hospital ship and eventually sent back to the United States. He spent the remainder of the war as a guard at a naval ammunition depot in Massachusetts. He was discharged on 15 September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ralph Nelson Smith. Smith joined the Merchant Marines in the spring of 1945 at the age of 17. Upon completion of training at Catalina Island, which included hand-to-hand combat and jumping into flaming gasoline-covered water, he was assigned to the SS H. Weir Cook (1944) as a messman and storekeeper. In August 1945, he sailed out of San Francisco in blackout conditions but soon learned of the Japanese surrender. Despite that, the ship was targeted by torpedoes that narrowly missed. One night, Smith awoke to find the ship engulfed in flames, which threatened to detonate their 690 tons of dynamite on board until the fire was put out. For his return to the States, Smith boarded a freighter packed with 5,280 men. Rather than waiting in the four-hour chow lines, Smith subsisted off peanuts and fruit, losing 20 pounds in two weeks. He was disappointed that although the Merchant Marines suffered such high casualties rates, survivors were essentially not considered true servicemen, receiving no benefits such as clothing, transportation, or medical care upon their return.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Martin. Martin joined the Navy in August of 1943. He completed the V-5 program, and served as a pilot. Martin shares details on his training in carrier landing and skip bombing. He does not speak of any service overseas, and his discharge date is not noted.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Shirley. Shirley joined the Marine Corps in 1943. He was sent to diesel school and then to the Pacific to serve with the 1st Marine Air Wing. Shirley traveled with his radar until to an island off Okinawa to detect incoming aircraft. He spent 6 months in China at the end of the war. Shirley left the Marines when he returned to the US, but rejoined after 6 months. He went on to serve in Korea and describes in detail landing at Pusan and advancing north. Shirley describes the conditions that the Marines faced throughout the conflict.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert B. Norman. Norman grew up in North Carolina and finished two years at NC State in Raleigh before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940. Shortly after the war started, Norman qualified for cadet flying school and earned his wings in December, 1942. He shares his experiences while in flight training. Norman had an advantage as he had learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Program while at NC State. Upon graduating, Norman was made an instructo and sent to Marfa, Texas. in 1944, Norman was reassigned to the Air Transport Command and flew C-46 cargo planes and spare parts to India. Norman spent the remainder of the war flying 4-engine C-109 airplanes loaded with fuel for the fighter group in China over the Himalaya Mountains. When the war ended, Norman was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Surles. Surles was born in 1924 in Louisiana. In December, 1942 he joined the Navy. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After basic training, Surles was trained in fire control and naval gunnery in Washington, DC. Upon completing that, he reported aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January, 1944. Surles describes being aboard the Franklin when it was attacked in March, 1945 off the coast of Kyushu. Surles stayed with the ship all the way back to the US. He was discharged shortly before the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Shedd. Shedd joined the Marine Corps with his two brothers in February 1942. He joined the 1st Division, 5th Marines after basic training. Shedd was sent to Guadalcanal where he witnessed shore bombardment by Japanese ships. He was then sent to Cape Glouster, New Britain where he saw combat on several patrols. Next Shedd’s unit was sent to Peleliu where he landed with the second wave. He was wounded on the tenth day of the battle and was evacuated to a hospital ship and eventually sent back to the United States. He spent the remainder of the war as a guard at a naval ammunition depot in Massachusetts. He was discharged on 15 September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Shirley. Shirley joined the Marine Corps in 1943. He was sent to diesel school and then to the Pacific to serve with the 1st Marine Air Wing. Shirley traveled with his radar until to an island off Okinawa to detect incoming aircraft. He spent 6 months in China at the end of the war. Shirley left the Marines when he returned to the US, but rejoined after 6 months. He went on to serve in Korea and describes in detail landing at Pusan and advancing north. Shirley describes the conditions that the Marines faced throughout the conflict.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Martin. Martin joined the Navy in August of 1943. He completed the V-5 program, and served as a pilot. Martin shares details on his training in carrier landing and skip bombing. He does not speak of any service overseas, and his discharge date is not noted.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ralph Nelson Smith. Smith joined the Merchant Marines in the spring of 1945 at the age of 17. Upon completion of training at Catalina Island, which included hand-to-hand combat and jumping into flaming gasoline-covered water, he was assigned to the SS H. Weir Cook (1944) as a messman and storekeeper. In August 1945, he sailed out of San Francisco in blackout conditions but soon learned of the Japanese surrender. Despite that, the ship was targeted by torpedoes that narrowly missed. One night, Smith awoke to find the ship engulfed in flames, which threatened to detonate their 690 tons of dynamite on board until the fire was put out. For his return to the States, Smith boarded a freighter packed with 5,280 men. Rather than waiting in the four-hour chow lines, Smith subsisted off peanuts and fruit, losing 20 pounds in two weeks. He was disappointed that although the Merchant Marines suffered such high casualties rates, survivors were essentially not considered true servicemen, receiving no benefits such as clothing, transportation, or medical care upon their return.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert B. Norman. Norman grew up in North Carolina and finished two years at NC State in Raleigh before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940. Shortly after the war started, Norman qualified for cadet flying school and earned his wings in December, 1942. He shares his experiences while in flight training. Norman had an advantage as he had learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Program while at NC State. Upon graduating, Norman was made an instructo and sent to Marfa, Texas. in 1944, Norman was reassigned to the Air Transport Command and flew C-46 cargo planes and spare parts to India. Norman spent the remainder of the war flying 4-engine C-109 airplanes loaded with fuel for the fighter group in China over the Himalaya Mountains. When the war ended, Norman was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Surles. Surles was born in 1924 in Louisiana. In December, 1942 he joined the Navy. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After basic training, Surles was trained in fire control and naval gunnery in Washington, DC. Upon completing that, he reported aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January, 1944. Surles describes being aboard the Franklin when it was attacked in March, 1945 off the coast of Kyushu. Surles stayed with the ship all the way back to the US. He was discharged shortly before the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al D’Agostino. D’Agostino joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and received training in Brooklyn. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Monterey where he worked as a butcher. His first trip to the Pacific was transporting European troops, who were unhappy about the looming invasion of Japan. The war ended while the Monterey was in transit, and the soldiers returning home were a much happier bunch. Even more joyful was the reunion of families when the Monterey picked up war brides and their babies from all over the Pacific and brought them back to the States. He transferred to a Liberty ship that brought German war criminals back to the States from South America, although he believes that the majority of the passengers were actually concentration camp survivors. D’Agostino was discharged but was drafted again during the Korean War and served as a radio relay operator atop a mountain in dangerous and harsh winter conditions. When he was discharged a second time, he applied his kitchen experience and attended Cornell’s hotel school. D’Agostino became the director of food service for Trans World Airlines. Before retiring, he moved …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al D’Agostino. D’Agostino joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and received training in Brooklyn. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Monterey where he worked as a butcher. His first trip to the Pacific was transporting European troops, who were unhappy about the looming invasion of Japan. The war ended while the Monterey was in transit, and the soldiers returning home were a much happier bunch. Even more joyful was the reunion of families when the Monterey picked up war brides and their babies from all over the Pacific and brought them back to the States. He transferred to a Liberty ship that brought German war criminals back to the States from South America, although he believes that the majority of the passengers were actually concentration camp survivors. D’Agostino was discharged but was drafted again during the Korean War and served as a radio relay operator atop a mountain in dangerous and harsh winter conditions. When he was discharged a second time, he applied his kitchen experience and attended Cornell’s hotel school. D’Agostino became the director of food service for Trans World Airlines. Before retiring, he moved …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael W. Deery. He discusses his family, growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael W. Deery. He discusses his family, growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.