The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Cowden. Cowden joined the Navy in November 1944. He joined the crew of USS LST-1001 as a deck seaman. Cowden describes taking part in the second wave of the invasion of Okinawa and mentions seeing several attacks by kamikaze planes on nearby ships. He describes his battle station on a 40mm anti-aircraft gun and how it operated. Cowden also details his ship being severely damaged during two typhoons. He remained aboard until the ship was decommissioned in 1946 and he left the service a few months later.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Lawrence. Lawrence was born November 6, 1924. He joined the Army Air Forces in late 1942. He completed Cryptography School at Chanute Field, Illinois. Around 1944, he traveled to India to the Assam Valley, then describes his trip to China in February 1945, over the Himalaya Mountains. Lawrence was assigned to an Army Airways Communications System Unit at a base 9 miles from Kunming, China. After the war ended, he was reassigned to a tactical team in Nanking, preparing an air field for Chinese troops to occupy and take control of the area. Lawrence returned to the US after the war and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Kelly. Kelly joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1943. He completed training as a diesel mechanic at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In December of 1944, he traveled to Calcutta, India. He recalls flying in a C-46 over the Himalaya Mountains, referred to as the Hump, transporting supplies to Chaotung, China. Kelly maintained Onan generators at an airfield in order to keep radios in operation. He was later transferred to Kunming, completing similar work. Kelly shares numerous stories of his time living and working in China. After the war ended, he continued his service at the airfield. Kelly returned to the US to receive his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Ciampa. Ciampa joined the Army in 1943 and trained at Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was assigned to a graves registration unit and sent to Europe. He landed shortly after the Normandy invasion and his unit immediately began setting up temporary cemeteries. Ciampa provides a lot of details about his experiences in France, Belgium and Germany. Later in life, Ciampa became a documentary film maker. Many of his films revolve around his experiences in Europe during WWII and during the occupation. After the war, Ciampa remained in occupied Germany for a while and he relates several anecdotes about his experiences then. He was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jerry Lewis. Lewis was born in Diamond, Missouri 18 February 1925. At sixteen he joined the Navy and trained at San Diego. He then attended radio school, after which he was assigned to the USS Frankford (DD-497). In June 1943 the ship traveled through the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Virginia. He recalls participating in convoy duty to Casablanca. He recalls relying on a tank as a fire control director during Operation Overlord. In October 1944, the ship returned to the United States and Lewis was transferred to the USS Harding (DMS-28). After the crew was trained in the use of mine sweeping gear the Harding sailed to Pearl Harbor. During March 1945, they sailed to Ulithi where they joined Task Force 58. After participating in mine sweeping operations during the invasion of Okinawa the ship was assigned to picket duty. The ship, damaged by a bomb from a kamikaze, was taken to Kerama Retto Island for repair. Lewis recalls having armed sentries on board at night to repel efforts by Japanese soldiers to board anchored ships. Returning to the United States, Lewis entered flight training at Norman, Oklahoma. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Lawrence. Lawrence was born November 6, 1924. He joined the Army Air Forces in late 1942. He completed Cryptography School at Chanute Field, Illinois. Around 1944, he traveled to India to the Assam Valley, then describes his trip to China in February 1945, over the Himalaya Mountains. Lawrence was assigned to an Army Airways Communications System Unit at a base 9 miles from Kunming, China. After the war ended, he was reassigned to a tactical team in Nanking, preparing an air field for Chinese troops to occupy and take control of the area. Lawrence returned to the US after the war and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Kelly. Kelly joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1943. He completed training as a diesel mechanic at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In December of 1944, he traveled to Calcutta, India. He recalls flying in a C-46 over the Himalaya Mountains, referred to as the Hump, transporting supplies to Chaotung, China. Kelly maintained Onan generators at an airfield in order to keep radios in operation. He was later transferred to Kunming, completing similar work. Kelly shares numerous stories of his time living and working in China. After the war ended, he continued his service at the airfield. Kelly returned to the US to receive his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Ciampa. Ciampa joined the Army in 1943 and trained at Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was assigned to a graves registration unit and sent to Europe. He landed shortly after the Normandy invasion and his unit immediately began setting up temporary cemeteries. Ciampa provides a lot of details about his experiences in France, Belgium and Germany. Later in life, Ciampa became a documentary film maker. Many of his films revolve around his experiences in Europe during WWII and during the occupation. After the war, Ciampa remained in occupied Germany for a while and he relates several anecdotes about his experiences then. He was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Cowden. Cowden joined the Navy in November 1944. He joined the crew of USS LST-1001 as a deck seaman. Cowden describes taking part in the second wave of the invasion of Okinawa and mentions seeing several attacks by kamikaze planes on nearby ships. He describes his battle station on a 40mm anti-aircraft gun and how it operated. Cowden also details his ship being severely damaged during two typhoons. He remained aboard until the ship was decommissioned in 1946 and he left the service a few months later.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jerry Lewis. Lewis was born in Diamond, Missouri 18 February 1925. At sixteen he joined the Navy and trained at San Diego. He then attended radio school, after which he was assigned to the USS Frankford (DD-497). In June 1943 the ship traveled through the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Virginia. He recalls participating in convoy duty to Casablanca. He recalls relying on a tank as a fire control director during Operation Overlord. In October 1944, the ship returned to the United States and Lewis was transferred to the USS Harding (DMS-28). After the crew was trained in the use of mine sweeping gear the Harding sailed to Pearl Harbor. During March 1945, they sailed to Ulithi where they joined Task Force 58. After participating in mine sweeping operations during the invasion of Okinawa the ship was assigned to picket duty. The ship, damaged by a bomb from a kamikaze, was taken to Kerama Retto Island for repair. Lewis recalls having armed sentries on board at night to repel efforts by Japanese soldiers to board anchored ships. Returning to the United States, Lewis entered flight training at Norman, Oklahoma. …