The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Medley. Medley joined the Army in February of 1943. He volunteered as a paratrooper, serving with the Headquarters Company, 541st Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. In September of 1943 he received the world record for the highest free fall jump at 30,000 feet. He jumped a number of times overseas at 600 feet. Medley describes his training and these experiences. In the fall of 1943 he traveled to Northern Ireland. From there his division was flown into combat, beginning with North Africa. In June of 1944 he jumped behind Utah Beach in Normandy. They traveled to England. He jumped in Southern France and Bad Hall, Austria. Medley assisted in liberating part of Dachau concentration camp. In December of 1944 he participated in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was captured ang taken to Mons, Belgium for 92 days. He escaped in April of 1945. He was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lyle Sanders. Sanders joined the Navy in September 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He was trained as an engine mechanic in Iowa and upon completion was assigned to Motor Boat Torpedo Squadron 31, aboard PT-464, as a motor machinist. He patrolled the Solomon Islands, Palau, Leyte, and Okinawa. The small crew often traveled across the open ocean under their own power, burning 500 gallons of gasoline an hour at top speed. They never saw action or fired a torpedo, but at Okinawa Sanders was kept busy in the engine room as their boat constantly transported military personnel between ships. He recalls dragging two passengers aboard in a typically rough manner, only to realize once they were on deck that they were Admiral Turner and General Buckner. Sanders returned home and was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Vollmer. Vollmer was drafted into the Army in March, 1943. As his unit, the 66th Infantry Division, was arriving in France, his ship was torpedoed and hundreds of men from his division drowned. Vollmer stayed with the 66th throughout the France campaign and was still on hand for occupation duty around Koblenz before he went to Austria for occupation duty. He returned home and was discharged in April, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Rose. Rose joined the Navy in July 1942 out of a desire to fly Corsairs. After being selected as an aviation cadet, he ultimately landed at an advanced fighter training base at Kingsville. Upon completion of flight training he became an instructor. After qualifying in carrier landings, he was transferred to Attack and Bombing Squadron 98 (VBF-98) at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station. After spotting a Corsair at fleet repair, he offered them his services as a test pilot, which soon became his primary duty. After the war, he earned a college degree and later joined the reserves. Rose was rather unique in that he accumulated hundreds of hours in various WWII aircraft. As such, he was later interviewed for a documentary for the aircraft museum in Seattle. As such, he was later interviewed for a documentary for the aircraft museum in Seattle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E Grover Pearson. Pearson joined the Navy in mid-1942. He completed training as an aviation gunner and radioman. He served for one year in the submarine patrol off the West Coast. Beginning September of 1944, Pearson served as a flight aviation radioman aboard USS San Francisco (CA-38). Catapulting off the cruiser, he and his flight crew participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, providing air cover for the first group of Marines invading Okinawa. After the war ended, his ship was assigned show-of-force duty along the east coast of Asia. Pearson received an honorable discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Hamilton. Hamilton was born in 1921 in New York. He joined the Navy in April 1942, but finished college before getting a commission later in 1943. He was then sent aboard USS Quincy (CA-71) in December. He was aboard for the invasion of Normandy. Hamilton was still aboard when Quincy transported President Roosevelt to Yalta. He was able to get close enough to FDR to observe the state of his health at the time. He was still aboard during the Okinawa campaign. Hamilton shares several great anecdotes about his experiences aboard the Quincy during and after the war including kamikazes and typhoons.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Pugh. Pugh joined the Marine Corps in August, 1941 and trained at San Diego. In October, he was assigned to a headquarters and service company in the 2nd Engineer Battalion, Fleet Marine Force. He went to Hawaii briefly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but broke his wrist and returned to San Diego to go to scout sniper school. Then he was assigned to another H & S company in the 19th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He went overseas with them and helped build docks and roads on Guadalcanal and Bougainville. He also was at Guam for the invasion in July, 1944. Thomas received some leave and returned to the US in May, 1945. He was discharged later in September and surprised his mother upon his homecoming.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dr. Dorr W. Brown, MD. Brown begins with recalling anecdotes about growing up in various parts of Texas, attending Southwestern University in Gerogetown, and going to medical school in Galveston before joining the Navy after the beginning of World War II. Once he was in the Navy, Brown did his medical internship in Norman, Oklahoma. Brown eventually ended up at Pearl Harbor and then went to Japan as part of the Occupation. After the war, Brown stayed in the Navy for a while and became a flight surgeon. he resigned soon after and went tinto private medical practice in Fredericksburg, Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Chupp. Chupp joined the Army in November of 1942. He served with the 197th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, A Battery. He provides details of his military training, including amphibious training in Virginia. In January of 1944, Chupp traveled to Camp Upton Lovell in Codford, England, where they prepared for the invasion of Normandy. They landed on Omaha Beach the afternoon of 6 June 1944. They also participated in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. His outfit guarded ammunition and fuel dumps, as well as ammunition and fuel convoys. Chupp was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Sablan. Sablan lived in Garapan, Saipan during the Japanese occupation and attended a strict Japanese school where he was forced to pledge allegiance to the emperor. Sablan’s father was conscripted as an interpreter for the Japanese military during the invasion of Guam. When their family home was seized, they fled to their ranch, where they were raided by the Kempeitai after Sablan’s father was suspected of being a spy. They fled to a cave, with only sugarcane to eat, until they were forced out by a fire. As they left in the darkness, they could hear a banzai charge. Terrified of the American Marines, they considered suicide. But upon discovering that troops were friendly, his father began serving as their interpreter. They were taken to Camp Susupe and given medical treatment, but Sablan's sister was so malnourished that she could not properly digest food and soon died. Sablan’s father became the chief of police in Garapan in 1944, and Sablan interned at a Navy supply department so that he could learn English. He later worked for the military government, attending school in Guam, and went on to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wendell Brinson. Brinson joined the Army Air Forces in September of 1943. He completed schooling to work on radial engines. He traveled to New Guinea and was assigned to the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron. He worked on weapons, and replaced cables on C-47s throughout the island. Brinson traveled to the Philippines, where his squadron was involved in the Raid on Los Baños. He returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Vollmer. Vollmer was drafted into the Army in March, 1943. As his unit, the 66th Infantry Division, was arriving in France, his ship was torpedoed and hundreds of men from his division drowned. Vollmer stayed with the 66th throughout the France campaign and was still on hand for occupation duty around Koblenz before he went to Austria for occupation duty. He returned home and was discharged in April, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Hamilton. Hamilton was born in 1921 in New York. He joined the Navy in April 1942, but finished college before getting a commission later in 1943. He was then sent aboard USS Quincy (CA-71) in December. He was aboard for the invasion of Normandy. Hamilton was still aboard when Quincy transported President Roosevelt to Yalta. He was able to get close enough to FDR to observe the state of his health at the time. He was still aboard during the Okinawa campaign. Hamilton shares several great anecdotes about his experiences aboard the Quincy during and after the war including kamikazes and typhoons.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Rose. Rose joined the Navy in July 1942 out of a desire to fly Corsairs. After being selected as an aviation cadet, he ultimately landed at an advanced fighter training base at Kingsville. Upon completion of flight training he became an instructor. After qualifying in carrier landings, he was transferred to Attack and Bombing Squadron 98 (VBF-98) at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station. After spotting a Corsair at fleet repair, he offered them his services as a test pilot, which soon became his primary duty. After the war, he earned a college degree and later joined the reserves. Rose was rather unique in that he accumulated hundreds of hours in various WWII aircraft. As such, he was later interviewed for a documentary for the aircraft museum in Seattle. As such, he was later interviewed for a documentary for the aircraft museum in Seattle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E Grover Pearson. Pearson joined the Navy in mid-1942. He completed training as an aviation gunner and radioman. He served for one year in the submarine patrol off the West Coast. Beginning September of 1944, Pearson served as a flight aviation radioman aboard USS San Francisco (CA-38). Catapulting off the cruiser, he and his flight crew participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, providing air cover for the first group of Marines invading Okinawa. After the war ended, his ship was assigned show-of-force duty along the east coast of Asia. Pearson received an honorable discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Pugh. Pugh joined the Marine Corps in August, 1941 and trained at San Diego. In October, he was assigned to a headquarters and service company in the 2nd Engineer Battalion, Fleet Marine Force. He went to Hawaii briefly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but broke his wrist and returned to San Diego to go to scout sniper school. Then he was assigned to another H & S company in the 19th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He went overseas with them and helped build docks and roads on Guadalcanal and Bougainville. He also was at Guam for the invasion in July, 1944. Thomas received some leave and returned to the US in May, 1945. He was discharged later in September and surprised his mother upon his homecoming.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Sablan. Sablan lived in Garapan, Saipan during the Japanese occupation and attended a strict Japanese school where he was forced to pledge allegiance to the emperor. Sablan’s father was conscripted as an interpreter for the Japanese military during the invasion of Guam. When their family home was seized, they fled to their ranch, where they were raided by the Kempeitai after Sablan’s father was suspected of being a spy. They fled to a cave, with only sugarcane to eat, until they were forced out by a fire. As they left in the darkness, they could hear a banzai charge. Terrified of the American Marines, they considered suicide. But upon discovering that troops were friendly, his father began serving as their interpreter. They were taken to Camp Susupe and given medical treatment, but Sablan's sister was so malnourished that she could not properly digest food and soon died. Sablan’s father became the chief of police in Garapan in 1944, and Sablan interned at a Navy supply department so that he could learn English. He later worked for the military government, attending school in Guam, and went on to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wendell Brinson. Brinson joined the Army Air Forces in September of 1943. He completed schooling to work on radial engines. He traveled to New Guinea and was assigned to the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron. He worked on weapons, and replaced cables on C-47s throughout the island. Brinson traveled to the Philippines, where his squadron was involved in the Raid on Los Baños. He returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dr. Dorr W. Brown, MD. Brown begins with recalling anecdotes about growing up in various parts of Texas, attending Southwestern University in Gerogetown, and going to medical school in Galveston before joining the Navy after the beginning of World War II. Once he was in the Navy, Brown did his medical internship in Norman, Oklahoma. Brown eventually ended up at Pearl Harbor and then went to Japan as part of the Occupation. After the war, Brown stayed in the Navy for a while and became a flight surgeon. he resigned soon after and went tinto private medical practice in Fredericksburg, Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Chupp. Chupp joined the Army in November of 1942. He served with the 197th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, A Battery. He provides details of his military training, including amphibious training in Virginia. In January of 1944, Chupp traveled to Camp Upton Lovell in Codford, England, where they prepared for the invasion of Normandy. They landed on Omaha Beach the afternoon of 6 June 1944. They also participated in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. His outfit guarded ammunition and fuel dumps, as well as ammunition and fuel convoys. Chupp was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Medley. Medley joined the Army in February of 1943. He volunteered as a paratrooper, serving with the Headquarters Company, 541st Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. In September of 1943 he received the world record for the highest free fall jump at 30,000 feet. He jumped a number of times overseas at 600 feet. Medley describes his training and these experiences. In the fall of 1943 he traveled to Northern Ireland. From there his division was flown into combat, beginning with North Africa. In June of 1944 he jumped behind Utah Beach in Normandy. They traveled to England. He jumped in Southern France and Bad Hall, Austria. Medley assisted in liberating part of Dachau concentration camp. In December of 1944 he participated in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was captured ang taken to Mons, Belgium for 92 days. He escaped in April of 1945. He was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lyle Sanders. Sanders joined the Navy in September 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He was trained as an engine mechanic in Iowa and upon completion was assigned to Motor Boat Torpedo Squadron 31, aboard PT-464, as a motor machinist. He patrolled the Solomon Islands, Palau, Leyte, and Okinawa. The small crew often traveled across the open ocean under their own power, burning 500 gallons of gasoline an hour at top speed. They never saw action or fired a torpedo, but at Okinawa Sanders was kept busy in the engine room as their boat constantly transported military personnel between ships. He recalls dragging two passengers aboard in a typically rough manner, only to realize once they were on deck that they were Admiral Turner and General Buckner. Sanders returned home and was discharged in December 1945.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing reading the book "The House on the Roof," the quality of the mail service, undergoing advanced field training, and mailing Catherine his diploma.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including the weather, dinner with Evelyn at the Reegers' house, and Forrest Foeh being killed in action in France on July 7.