The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Mullins. Mullins joined the Navy in 1942. He served with the 1008th Naval Construction Battalion Detachment. In July of 1943 they deployed to Purvis Bay in the Solomon Islands. They worked at Purvis Bay, Guadalcanal and Tulagi. They built a Marine railway to bring in landing craft to do hull work. They also built floating dry docks and shops for needed camp facilities. Mullins also worked in the fuel dump handling 55-gallon barrels of gasoline. In February of 1945, Mullins transferred to Pearl Harbor to train in underwater demolition. May through June he traveled aboard the USS Schmitt (APD-76), carrying explosive and ordnance materials to participate in the Battle of Balikpapan. He returned to the US in August of 1945, and discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Russell Banwart. Banwart was born 16 March 1923 in Angona, Iowa into a family of nine children. He describes life during the Great Depression. Upon completing Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego, he entered radio school, after which he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Regiment. He describes boarding the USS Crescent City (APA-21) and participating in the invasion of Tarawa. Banwart describes the action around him including being wounded. He was taken to the Naval Hospital in San Diego. After he recovered, he was sent to Radio Repair School in Omaha, Nebraska then to Red Bank, New Jersey where he trained on the newly developed ANTRC rapid relay equipment. On 1 April 1945 he participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Once the island was secured, he was sent to Guam where he remained until he returned to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Beeler. Beeler joined the Army in April of 1943. He was assigned to a Military Police battalion with the 45th Infantry Division. In December, he was transferred to Baltimore. He completed Officer Candidate School in the spring of 1944. In December, Beeler completed additional schooling as a marine repair officer. In June of 1945 he deployed to Hickman Field in Hawaii, serving as a shipment officer, in preparation for the invasion of Japan. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge around July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Gray. Gray was drafted into the Army Air Forces in December of 1943. He was selected as an Aviation Cadet. By December of 1944 Gray completed Bombardier Training at Tuskegee and Gunnery School at Tyndall Field in Florida. He went on to complete Advanced Bombardier Training in San Angelo, Texas. He graduated as one of the only six “colored” cadets in a class of 114 and was appointed as a Flight Officer. He was assigned to primary pilot training in Class 46-A at Tuskegee, though the end of the war ended his aeronautical training and in February of 1946 he separated briefly from the military. In September of 1947 Gray’s artistic abilities and Cadet and Flight Officer experiences brought him back to the military to serve as a Sergeant performing duties in teletype, cryptography and special services. In 1952 Lieutenant Gray was commissioned in the Air Force Reserve, from where he retired in June of 1973.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gino Cianflone. Cianflone was drafted into the Navy in 1942. He served as a machinist mate aboard an LST. His battle station was first loader at a 20mm cannon. They traveled to the Hawaiian and Marshall Islands. At the Marshall Islands they prepared for invasion, supporting LVTs and the 4th Marine Division. They also participated in the invasion of Saipan. He was involved in the West Loch disaster at Pearl Harbor in May of 1944 and provides some details of this event. He was discharged around 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richmond Garrett. Garrett was inducted into the Army in November of 1943. He completed Officer Candidate School. He was selected to join Company A, 1252nd Combat Engineer Battalion. In November of 1944 they were sent to England. He describes his travels overseas and accommodations on the ship Tamaroa. While there they built bridges, removed mines and built a roadway. In December 1944 they traveled to La Havre, France, to serve in Patton???s Third Army. In February of 1945 they took part in breaching operations against Siegfried Line. They advanced into Germany. He provides vivid details of these experiences, including dropping TNT-filled tomato cans down chimneys. They traveled to Bastogne, Belgium, completing road work and removing mines. Garrett received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne T. Beery. Beery joined the US Marine Corps in 1943. After completing boot camp at San Diego, he was assigned guard duty at Mare Island Navy Yard. In 1944 he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division, 7th Marines on Guadalcanal. He tells of landing on Okinawa 1 April 1945 and comments on the stillness on the beach upon landing. Assigned the battalion headquarters company, he describes his responsibilities for the telephone communications. After the surrender of Japan, he was sent to China. He returned to the United States in 1946 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Johnson. Johnson joined the Navy in July of 1943. He completed submarine training, and served aboard the USS Tirante (SS-420). Johnson went on two of the ship’s three patrols around Midway, Guam and Korea. Johnson returned to the US after the war ended, and received his discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Mullins. Mullins joined the Navy in 1942. He served with the 1008th Naval Construction Battalion Detachment. In July of 1943 they deployed to Purvis Bay in the Solomon Islands. They worked at Purvis Bay, Guadalcanal and Tulagi. They built a Marine railway to bring in landing craft to do hull work. They also built floating dry docks and shops for needed camp facilities. Mullins also worked in the fuel dump handling 55-gallon barrels of gasoline. In February of 1945, Mullins transferred to Pearl Harbor to train in underwater demolition. May through June he traveled aboard the USS Schmitt (APD-76), carrying explosive and ordnance materials to participate in the Battle of Balikpapan. He returned to the US in August of 1945, and discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Russell Banwart. Banwart was born 16 March 1923 in Angona, Iowa into a family of nine children. He describes life during the Great Depression. Upon completing Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego, he entered radio school, after which he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Regiment. He describes boarding the USS Crescent City (APA-21) and participating in the invasion of Tarawa. Banwart describes the action around him including being wounded. He was taken to the Naval Hospital in San Diego. After he recovered, he was sent to Radio Repair School in Omaha, Nebraska then to Red Bank, New Jersey where he trained on the newly developed ANTRC rapid relay equipment. On 1 April 1945 he participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Once the island was secured, he was sent to Guam where he remained until he returned to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Beeler. Beeler joined the Army in April of 1943. He was assigned to a Military Police battalion with the 45th Infantry Division. In December, he was transferred to Baltimore. He completed Officer Candidate School in the spring of 1944. In December, Beeler completed additional schooling as a marine repair officer. In June of 1945 he deployed to Hickman Field in Hawaii, serving as a shipment officer, in preparation for the invasion of Japan. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge around July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gino Cianflone. Cianflone was drafted into the Navy in 1942. He served as a machinist mate aboard an LST. His battle station was first loader at a 20mm cannon. They traveled to the Hawaiian and Marshall Islands. At the Marshall Islands they prepared for invasion, supporting LVTs and the 4th Marine Division. They also participated in the invasion of Saipan. He was involved in the West Loch disaster at Pearl Harbor in May of 1944 and provides some details of this event. He was discharged around 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richmond Garrett. Garrett was inducted into the Army in November of 1943. He completed Officer Candidate School. He was selected to join Company A, 1252nd Combat Engineer Battalion. In November of 1944 they were sent to England. He describes his travels overseas and accommodations on the ship Tamaroa. While there they built bridges, removed mines and built a roadway. In December 1944 they traveled to La Havre, France, to serve in Patton???s Third Army. In February of 1945 they took part in breaching operations against Siegfried Line. They advanced into Germany. He provides vivid details of these experiences, including dropping TNT-filled tomato cans down chimneys. They traveled to Bastogne, Belgium, completing road work and removing mines. Garrett received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Johnson. Johnson joined the Navy in July of 1943. He completed submarine training, and served aboard the USS Tirante (SS-420). Johnson went on two of the ship’s three patrols around Midway, Guam and Korea. Johnson returned to the US after the war ended, and received his discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Walter Bernhardt discussing where he grew up and stories from his childhood. He shares some of his experiences being stationed in Hawaii and fighting in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two, as well as some of the experiences of his friends and people he's met.