The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Carlson. Carlson joined the Marines in 1943 and received machine gun training at Camp Elliot. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, at Camp Paekakariki. At the invasion of Tarawa, two Marines in Carlson’s Higgins boat were shot. Wading in from a distance due to low tide, they faced opposition from snipers on the pier. The following morning, his unit attacked a Japanese bunker with flamethrowers. Carlson was tasked with picking off enemies as they fled. A mortar exploded behind him, killing two men and leaving Carlson shell-shocked. He was sent to the hospital in San Diego for treatment. Upon his recovery, he was reassigned to CINCPAC Headquarters, where he served as a guard until the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Carlson. Carlson joined the Marines in 1943 and received machine gun training at Camp Elliot. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, at Camp Paekakariki. At the invasion of Tarawa, two Marines in Carlson’s Higgins boat were shot. Wading in from a distance due to low tide, they faced opposition from snipers on the pier. The following morning, his unit attacked a Japanese bunker with flamethrowers. Carlson was tasked with picking off enemies as they fled. A mortar exploded behind him, killing two men and leaving Carlson shell-shocked. He was sent to the hospital in San Diego for treatment. Upon his recovery, he was reassigned to CINCPAC Headquarters, where he served as a guard until the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Knipper. Knipper joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He earned his wings in June 1944 and began training in B-17s and B-29s. After deploying to Guam in February 1945, he joined the 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, whose missions included dropping propaganda leaflets. Knipper transferred to the 499th Bomb Group at Saipan. After Iwo Jima was secured, Knipper flew bombing missions over Yokohama, Kobe, Osaka and Tokyo. Following the Japanese surrender, Knipper flew humanitarian missions over POW camps, dropping food, clothing and medical supplies. He was discharged into the Reserves and earned his Master's Degree on the GI Bill.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Knipper. Knipper joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He earned his wings in June 1944 and began training in B-17s and B-29s. After deploying to Guam in February 1945, he joined the 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, whose missions included dropping propaganda leaflets. Knipper transferred to the 499th Bomb Group at Saipan. After Iwo Jima was secured, Knipper flew bombing missions over Yokohama, Kobe, Osaka and Tokyo. Following the Japanese surrender, Knipper flew humanitarian missions over POW camps, dropping food, clothing and medical supplies. He was discharged into the Reserves and earned his Master's Degree on the GI Bill.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Matthews. Matthews was born in Houston, Texas in 1925. Soon after graduating from high school, he joined the US Merchant Marine. In October 1943 he was sent to Pass Christian, Mississippi to begin three months of engineer training. After completing the course he was assigned to a US T2 tanker whose mission was to carry fuel oil for naval ships in the Pacific. His ship ran aground at New Guinea. Unable to be freed by other means, the ship was forced to transfer its cargo of fuel oil to another tanker thus allowing the ship to float free. Later his ship was sent to refuel the USS Boise CL-47). After being at sea for eight months, Matthews returned to the United States and attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy, graduating with a commission.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Matthews. Matthews was born in Houston, Texas in 1925. Soon after graduating from high school, he joined the US Merchant Marine. In October 1943 he was sent to Pass Christian, Mississippi to begin three months of engineer training. After completing the course he was assigned to a US T2 tanker whose mission was to carry fuel oil for naval ships in the Pacific. His ship ran aground at New Guinea. Unable to be freed by other means, the ship was forced to transfer its cargo of fuel oil to another tanker thus allowing the ship to float free. Later his ship was sent to refuel the USS Boise CL-47). After being at sea for eight months, Matthews returned to the United States and attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy, graduating with a commission.