The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvino Mendoza. Mendoza joined the Navy in 1944. He trained to be a member of the amphibious forces at Camp Wallace in Galveston, Texas. Mendoza traveled through the Pacific aboard the USS St. George (AV-16). He participated in the Battle of Okinawa in March through June of 1945, where his ship was hit by a kamikaze. Once the war ended, Mendoza was sent to Japan with occupation forces. While there, he came into contact with a Japanese family who insisted he was Japanese. He shares his experiences as a Mexican-American in the war. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stanley Blumenthal. Blumenthal received his commercial Morse Code license and joined the Merchant Marines in 1944. He served aboard the liberty ship SS Lawrence D. Tyson (1943). He discusses life on the ship and experiences traveling to the Mediterranean Sea to deliver cargo. They landed in Palermo, Italy. He describes life and sightseeing in Palermo.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Featherstone. Featherstone quit high school in Indiana and joined the Navy after the war started. After boot camp in 1943, Featherstone volunteered for PT boat duty and was shipped overseas immediately. When he got to New Guinea, he was assigned to PT-137 in Squadron 7. Featherstone provides a glimpse of what life and service aboard a PT boat was like in the Southwest Pacific. During the Philippines invasion, Featherstone was rotated back to the US. He was at the PT training center in Rhode Island when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Randolph Coleman. Coleman was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on 21 December 1922. He enlisted in the US Army in 1943 and tells of his reasons for wanting to become a paratrooper. He describes the strenuous physical testing he passed allowing him to qualify for jump school. Coleman was assigned to the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, F Company, 1st Platoon. He was then selected to attend intelligence school. After receiving additional infantry training at Camp Marshall, North Carolina he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia to jump school. He relates various anecdotes regarding jump school including chute packing, a near fatal jump incident, training methods and physical treatment. Following additional combat training the unit was put aboard the USAT Santa Rosa, which ultimately landed at Naples, Italy. On 15 August 1944 his unit was involved in Operation Dragoon. He relates being at the front for 94 days in combat in freezing conditions where he developing pneumonia and frozen feet. He was sent to the hospital, due to his medical problems and returned to the United States. He was discharged on 22 June 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Oliver. Oliver was born in Brainerd, Minnesota 25 April 1919 and graduated from high school in 1937. He joined the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Tank Company in October 1940. The unit (194th Tank Battalion) was called to active duty 10 February 1941 and was sent to Ft. Lewis, Washington for further training. Oliver was ordered to Fort Knox, Kentucky to attend the radio and repair school, from which he graduated in June. On 8 September 1941 he went aboard the SS President Coolidge (1931) and sailed for the Philippines. The tank battalion was stationed at Fort Stotsenberg, Philippines. Oliver witnessed the Japanese attack on Clark Field on 8 December 1941 and describes in detail combat in which he was involved and subsequently wounded. After surrendering, he witnessed the atrocities committed by the Japanese during a forced march. He describes being put aboard boxcars and sent to Camp O’Donnell and of the conditions which caused the death of many of the prisoners. He was assigned to a grave detail. On 24 October 1944 while at Bilibid Prison, he was in a group of 1869 men put aboard the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stanley Blumenthal. Blumenthal received his commercial Morse Code license and joined the Merchant Marines in 1944. He served aboard the liberty ship SS Lawrence D. Tyson (1943). He discusses life on the ship and experiences traveling to the Mediterranean Sea to deliver cargo. They landed in Palermo, Italy. He describes life and sightseeing in Palermo.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Featherstone. Featherstone quit high school in Indiana and joined the Navy after the war started. After boot camp in 1943, Featherstone volunteered for PT boat duty and was shipped overseas immediately. When he got to New Guinea, he was assigned to PT-137 in Squadron 7. Featherstone provides a glimpse of what life and service aboard a PT boat was like in the Southwest Pacific. During the Philippines invasion, Featherstone was rotated back to the US. He was at the PT training center in Rhode Island when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvino Mendoza. Mendoza joined the Navy in 1944. He trained to be a member of the amphibious forces at Camp Wallace in Galveston, Texas. Mendoza traveled through the Pacific aboard the USS St. George (AV-16). He participated in the Battle of Okinawa in March through June of 1945, where his ship was hit by a kamikaze. Once the war ended, Mendoza was sent to Japan with occupation forces. While there, he came into contact with a Japanese family who insisted he was Japanese. He shares his experiences as a Mexican-American in the war. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Oliver. Oliver was born in Brainerd, Minnesota 25 April 1919 and graduated from high school in 1937. He joined the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Tank Company in October 1940. The unit (194th Tank Battalion) was called to active duty 10 February 1941 and was sent to Ft. Lewis, Washington for further training. Oliver was ordered to Fort Knox, Kentucky to attend the radio and repair school, from which he graduated in June. On 8 September 1941 he went aboard the SS President Coolidge (1931) and sailed for the Philippines. The tank battalion was stationed at Fort Stotsenberg, Philippines. Oliver witnessed the Japanese attack on Clark Field on 8 December 1941 and describes in detail combat in which he was involved and subsequently wounded. After surrendering, he witnessed the atrocities committed by the Japanese during a forced march. He describes being put aboard boxcars and sent to Camp O’Donnell and of the conditions which caused the death of many of the prisoners. He was assigned to a grave detail. On 24 October 1944 while at Bilibid Prison, he was in a group of 1869 men put aboard the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Randolph Coleman. Coleman was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on 21 December 1922. He enlisted in the US Army in 1943 and tells of his reasons for wanting to become a paratrooper. He describes the strenuous physical testing he passed allowing him to qualify for jump school. Coleman was assigned to the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, F Company, 1st Platoon. He was then selected to attend intelligence school. After receiving additional infantry training at Camp Marshall, North Carolina he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia to jump school. He relates various anecdotes regarding jump school including chute packing, a near fatal jump incident, training methods and physical treatment. Following additional combat training the unit was put aboard the USAT Santa Rosa, which ultimately landed at Naples, Italy. On 15 August 1944 his unit was involved in Operation Dragoon. He relates being at the front for 94 days in combat in freezing conditions where he developing pneumonia and frozen feet. He was sent to the hospital, due to his medical problems and returned to the United States. He was discharged on 22 June 1945.

Letter sent from Florence R. Cole (Mrs. Clarence Cole) to Cecelia McKie stating that Mrs. A.S. Birsh contacted her about Cecelia McKie and asks her to write back. Envelope addressed to Mrs. Cecelia McKie, Sacramento, California from F. R. Cole, Mount Vernon, New York. Envelope postmarked from New York, New York. Handwritten in pencil on the envelope is 'cousin Florence Cole'.

Letter sent from Mrs. Hazel Blanton to Dr. William L. McKie thanking him for the message from her husband and stating this is the first direct information she had about him since the fall of Manila. Envelope addressed to Dr. William L. McKie, D.C., Sacramento, California from Mrs. D. L. Blanton, San Francisco, California. Reverse side of envelope has been removed by creator.