The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Donaldson. Donaldson talks about how the Great Depression affected his family. He joined the Navy in 1944 and provides details of his training. He traveled aboard the USS Buckingham (APA-141). They traveled to Pearl Harbor, which he describes along with his responsibilities with work parties unloading and reloading ships. He assisted with trading out old ammunition for new ammunition. He was transferred to the John Rodgers Naval Air Station in Hawaii. He worked on the Martin Mars seaplanes, repairing and test flying them. He also flew C-54s and the J-3 Piper Cub and shares his experiences. He spent the remainder of his Navy career in Hawaii and was discharged in August of 1946 and joined the reserves. While in the service he made storekeeper 3rd class. In the 1950s he was commissioned into the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Donaldson. Donaldson talks about how the Great Depression affected his family. He joined the Navy in 1944 and provides details of his training. He traveled aboard the USS Buckingham (APA-141). They traveled to Pearl Harbor, which he describes along with his responsibilities with work parties unloading and reloading ships. He assisted with trading out old ammunition for new ammunition. He was transferred to the John Rodgers Naval Air Station in Hawaii. He worked on the Martin Mars seaplanes, repairing and test flying them. He also flew C-54s and the J-3 Piper Cub and shares his experiences. He spent the remainder of his Navy career in Hawaii and was discharged in August of 1946 and joined the reserves. While in the service he made storekeeper 3rd class. In the 1950s he was commissioned into the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arvon E Caruthers. Caruthers joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a Gunner’s Mate Second-Class aboard the USS Tanager (AM-5) during the Philippine Campaign in 1941 through the sinking of the ship in May of 1942. Caruthers participated in the Battle of Corregidor, and was captured by Japanese forces. He was imprisoned at Cabanatuan number three and traveled aboard a hell ship, eventually settling at Ōmori. Cauthers was liberated in August of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arvon E Caruthers. Caruthers joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a Gunner’s Mate Second-Class aboard the USS Tanager (AM-5) during the Philippine Campaign in 1941 through the sinking of the ship in May of 1942. Caruthers participated in the Battle of Corregidor, and was captured by Japanese forces. He was imprisoned at Cabanatuan number three and traveled aboard a hell ship, eventually settling at Ōmori. Cauthers was liberated in August of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles J. Schlag. Schlag was born in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1922. When he finished high school in 1941, he went to work for the local telephone company. In early 1943, Schalg entered the Navy as a cadet learning to fly. He recalls several anecdotes from his flight training at Maryland, Georgia and at Pensacola. After he was commissioned, he went to Great Lakes for carrier landing training. Eventually, he was assigned to Air Group 10 in New Jersey and learned to fly the Corsair. When he was assigned for overseas duty, his group reported aboard the USS intrepid (CV-11) at Alameda in February 1945. He was aboard the ship when it was hit by a kamikaze. When the war ended, Schlag returned to the US aboard the USS Barnes (CVE-20) and elected to go to celectial navigation school. He ended up staying in the reserves for 20 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles J. Schlag. Schlag was born in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1922. When he finished high school in 1941, he went to work for the local telephone company. In early 1943, Schalg entered the Navy as a cadet learning to fly. He recalls several anecdotes from his flight training at Maryland, Georgia and at Pensacola. After he was commissioned, he went to Great Lakes for carrier landing training. Eventually, he was assigned to Air Group 10 in New Jersey and learned to fly the Corsair. When he was assigned for overseas duty, his group reported aboard the USS intrepid (CV-11) at Alameda in February 1945. He was aboard the ship when it was hit by a kamikaze. When the war ended, Schlag returned to the US aboard the USS Barnes (CVE-20) and elected to go to celectial navigation school. He ended up staying in the reserves for 20 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles H. Ripper. Born in Fayette, Texas 20 March 1915, Ripper describes his family’s living conditions during The Great Depression. He quit school in the eighth grade to help his family on the farm. Drafted into the Navy in 1943, he had six weeks of boot training at San Diego before being sent to Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to the USS Colorado (BB-45) as a shell man on a sixteen inch gun. He tells of the Colorado providing support during the invasions of Tarawa, Kwajalein, Guam, Saipan and Tinian. On 25 July 1944, offshore of Tinian, the ship was hit by Japanese artillery fire which resulted in many casualties. On 3 December 1944, off Leyte, the ship was hit by two kamikaze aircraft which wounded and killed many. After receiving emergency repairs at Manus Island, the Colorado returned to Luzon and while under attack by Japanese aircraft the ship was hit by friendly fire from an Australian cruiser resulting in more casualties. After being resupplied at Ulithi, they participated in the pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa. On 6 August 1945 the ship sailed to Tokyo in support …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles H. Ripper. Born in Fayette, Texas 20 March 1915, Ripper describes his family’s living conditions during The Great Depression. He quit school in the eighth grade to help his family on the farm. Drafted into the Navy in 1943, he had six weeks of boot training at San Diego before being sent to Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to the USS Colorado (BB-45) as a shell man on a sixteen inch gun. He tells of the Colorado providing support during the invasions of Tarawa, Kwajalein, Guam, Saipan and Tinian. On 25 July 1944, offshore of Tinian, the ship was hit by Japanese artillery fire which resulted in many casualties. On 3 December 1944, off Leyte, the ship was hit by two kamikaze aircraft which wounded and killed many. After receiving emergency repairs at Manus Island, the Colorado returned to Luzon and while under attack by Japanese aircraft the ship was hit by friendly fire from an Australian cruiser resulting in more casualties. After being resupplied at Ulithi, they participated in the pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa. On 6 August 1945 the ship sailed to Tokyo in support …

Transcript of an oral interview with Enid Cothren, nee Barton. Cothren joined Great Britain's Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1942 when she was 20. The ATS was the women's branch of the British Army. After two weeks training, she was assigned to a company in her hometown of Winchester where she worked in the quartermaster store. She discusses rationing in Britain during the war. She married an American in the medical corps during the war and left the ATS. She moved to the UNited States in 1946.

Transcript of an oral interview with Enid Cothren, nee Barton. Cothren joined Great Britain's Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1942 when she was 20. The ATS was the women's branch of the British Army. After two weeks training, she was assigned to a company in her hometown of Winchester where she worked in the quartermaster store. She discusses rationing in Britain during the war. She married an American in the medical corps during the war and left the ATS. She moved to the UNited States in 1946.

Transcript of an oral interview with Ernest Cothren. Cothren joined the Marine Reserves on his birthday (19 Feb) in 1943 and they called him in about two months later. He went to ordnance, radio and radar schools and finally went to bombardier and gunnery school in El Centro. He was put in a SCD squadron (VMSB-943) and put aboard a carrier in January and sailed for the Marshall Islands. They were in the 4th MAW and supported the 4th Marine Division. He couldn't fly combat missions because he wasn't 18 so he flew submarine patrol. He switched from SBDs to TBMs (and changed squadron number to VMTB-242) after the Marianas. After training on the TBMs in Hawaii, they were taken to the Caroline Islands and were part of the Fifth Fleet. They were put off on Fayette and flew missions against Yap and surrounding islands. From there they went to Guam and then Tinian and ended up flying patrol duty around Saipan and Tinian. When the U.S. got ready to hit Iwo Jima, his squadron went aboard a carrier (CVE) in the harbor at Saipan and bombed Iwo Jima. About 3-4 days after they raised the flag, his unit flew …

Transcript of an oral interview with Ernest Cothren. Cothren joined the Marine Reserves on his birthday (19 Feb) in 1943 and they called him in about two months later. He went to ordnance, radio and radar schools and finally went to bombardier and gunnery school in El Centro. He was put in a SCD squadron (VMSB-943) and put aboard a carrier in January and sailed for the Marshall Islands. They were in the 4th MAW and supported the 4th Marine Division. He couldn't fly combat missions because he wasn't 18 so he flew submarine patrol. He switched from SBDs to TBMs (and changed squadron number to VMTB-242) after the Marianas. After training on the TBMs in Hawaii, they were taken to the Caroline Islands and were part of the Fifth Fleet. They were put off on Fayette and flew missions against Yap and surrounding islands. From there they went to Guam and then Tinian and ended up flying patrol duty around Saipan and Tinian. When the U.S. got ready to hit Iwo Jima, his squadron went aboard a carrier (CVE) in the harbor at Saipan and bombed Iwo Jima. About 3-4 days after they raised the flag, his unit flew …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George W. Peterson. Peterson was born on a farm near Hermitage, Missouri on 20 November 1918 and was drafted into the Army in 1941. After basic training at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas he went to Fort Riley and was assigned to the mechanized cavalry, training with armored cars and jeeps. Next, Peterson went to Norfolk, Virginia to work in a Ground Observer Corps Filter Center where aircraft and submarine contacts were plotted. After three months he went to Richmond, Virginia as a supervisor over civilian volunteers. After making application, he was accepted into the Army Air Corps cadet training program. He went to Kessler Field, Mississippi for training and took college preparatory classes prior to being sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for ten weeks. In early 1943 he went to Thunderbird Field, Arizona for preflight training. Peterson trained in various planes at several bases and received his wings at Marfa, Texas. He then went to Albuquerque, New Mexico for training in B-24s before being selected for B-29 bomber training at McCook, Nebraska. Upon completion, his crew picked up a new B-29. They flew to Guam and were assigned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George W. Peterson. Peterson was born on a farm near Hermitage, Missouri on 20 November 1918 and was drafted into the Army in 1941. After basic training at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas he went to Fort Riley and was assigned to the mechanized cavalry, training with armored cars and jeeps. Next, Peterson went to Norfolk, Virginia to work in a Ground Observer Corps Filter Center where aircraft and submarine contacts were plotted. After three months he went to Richmond, Virginia as a supervisor over civilian volunteers. After making application, he was accepted into the Army Air Corps cadet training program. He went to Kessler Field, Mississippi for training and took college preparatory classes prior to being sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for ten weeks. In early 1943 he went to Thunderbird Field, Arizona for preflight training. Peterson trained in various planes at several bases and received his wings at Marfa, Texas. He then went to Albuquerque, New Mexico for training in B-24s before being selected for B-29 bomber training at McCook, Nebraska. Upon completion, his crew picked up a new B-29. They flew to Guam and were assigned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Wood. Wood joined the Marine Corps in January 1943 after graduating from the University of Illinois. Following special training near Camp Pendleton, Wood joined the 3rd Raider Battalion for further training in New Caledonia. His first campaign was Bougainville, where the dense jungle made it difficult to spot enemies until they were dangerously close. Wood, a rifleman, was permitted to carry a Thompson machinegun after his assistant squad leader was killed. On Guam, his platoon lost 15 men. He landed at Okinawa with little resistance but in his 15-mile walk across the island he came under heavy fire emanating from enormous caves. By this time, his unit had become part of the 4th Marines, and Wood was the last man standing in his platoon, with 21 kills and only a minor shell fragment wound. He finished the war as a squad leader at Yokosuka Naval Base as part of the occupation force and was personally saluted by Nimitz.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Wood. Wood joined the Marine Corps in January 1943 after graduating from the University of Illinois. Following special training near Camp Pendleton, Wood joined the 3rd Raider Battalion for further training in New Caledonia. His first campaign was Bougainville, where the dense jungle made it difficult to spot enemies until they were dangerously close. Wood, a rifleman, was permitted to carry a Thompson machinegun after his assistant squad leader was killed. On Guam, his platoon lost 15 men. He landed at Okinawa with little resistance but in his 15-mile walk across the island he came under heavy fire emanating from enormous caves. By this time, his unit had become part of the 4th Marines, and Wood was the last man standing in his platoon, with 21 kills and only a minor shell fragment wound. He finished the war as a squad leader at Yokosuka Naval Base as part of the occupation force and was personally saluted by Nimitz.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Runkle. Runkle joined the Marines in December of 1942. He provides some details of boot camp in San Diego, including training with the 4th paratrooper battalion for one year. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. In January of 1945 they traveled to Eniwetok and Saipan before landing on Iwo Jima on 19 February. Runkle was in the 5th wave. He fired the 81mm mortar. He provides vivid detail of his experiences at Iwo from February through 27 March. Runkle was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Runkle. Runkle joined the Marines in December of 1942. He provides some details of boot camp in San Diego, including training with the 4th paratrooper battalion for one year. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. In January of 1945 they traveled to Eniwetok and Saipan before landing on Iwo Jima on 19 February. Runkle was in the 5th wave. He fired the 81mm mortar. He provides vivid detail of his experiences at Iwo from February through 27 March. Runkle was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Ferguson. Ferguson joined the Navy in 1942 under the V-7 Program. After graduating, he received basic training in San Diego. He was then sent to Radar Operator School in Norfolk. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Cooper (DD-695). He received further training at Radar Materiel School in Pearl Harbor and was transferred to the USS Massey (DD-778). At the invasion of Okinawa, Ferguson tracked bogeys as far as 200 miles away. Although he could not see the action from his position in the radar shack, he felt the ship shudder as it fired at kamikazes. After the war, the Massey carried troops and mail to the occupation forces in Japan. Ferguson remembers the ship rolling 56 degrees during a typhoon there. He returned home and was discharged in January 1946; Ferguson found work teaching business administration to veterans.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Ferguson. Ferguson joined the Navy in 1942 under the V-7 Program. After graduating, he received basic training in San Diego. He was then sent to Radar Operator School in Norfolk. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Cooper (DD-695). He received further training at Radar Materiel School in Pearl Harbor and was transferred to the USS Massey (DD-778). At the invasion of Okinawa, Ferguson tracked bogeys as far as 200 miles away. Although he could not see the action from his position in the radar shack, he felt the ship shudder as it fired at kamikazes. After the war, the Massey carried troops and mail to the occupation forces in Japan. Ferguson remembers the ship rolling 56 degrees during a typhoon there. He returned home and was discharged in January 1946; Ferguson found work teaching business administration to veterans.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marion Adams. Adams was drafted into the Army in July of 1941. He served in the 43rd Engineer Construction Battalion, building roads, hospitals and kitchens. In 1942 he traveled to Australia, where he helped build three airstrips. They traveled to Oro Bay, Papua New Guinea, building railroads and airstrips. Adams was also trained as a medic, serving in the First Aid station. He provides details of both work experiences in engineering and building and assisting the sick and injured. He recalls helping the many wounded in Manila, as well as delivering supplies to the prison camps. He was discharged in June of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marion Adams. Adams was drafted into the Army in July of 1941. He served in the 43rd Engineer Construction Battalion, building roads, hospitals and kitchens. In 1942 he traveled to Australia, where he helped build three airstrips. They traveled to Oro Bay, Papua New Guinea, building railroads and airstrips. Adams was also trained as a medic, serving in the First Aid station. He provides details of both work experiences in engineering and building and assisting the sick and injured. He recalls helping the many wounded in Manila, as well as delivering supplies to the prison camps. He was discharged in June of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Maurice P. Pearce. Pearce finished the eighth grade and went to work on the farm on which he was raised. He joined the Arizona National Guard in June, 1940. they were activated later in Spetmenber and shipped to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for training. He evnetually was shipped to Panama for jungle training with the 158th Regimental Combat Team (Pearce was one of the original members of the Bushmasters). From there, Pearce went with the 158th to Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. While with the Bushmasters, Pearce served as a cook.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Maurice P. Pearce. Pearce finished the eighth grade and went to work on the farm on which he was raised. He joined the Arizona National Guard in June, 1940. they were activated later in Spetmenber and shipped to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for training. He evnetually was shipped to Panama for jungle training with the 158th Regimental Combat Team (Pearce was one of the original members of the Bushmasters). From there, Pearce went with the 158th to Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. While with the Bushmasters, Pearce served as a cook.