The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with C.R. Jack Mummert. Mummert was born in Logansport, Indiana on 3 January 1916 and graduated from high school in Havre, Montana in 1935. Joining the Marine Corps in December 1942, he was sent to boot camp at San Diego, California. He was selected for Officers Candidate School and received his commission at Quantico, Virginia. After undergoing several courses in communications, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as the communications officer. His responsibilities included forty Indian code talkers and he comments on their value in combat. He tells of the division spending 59 days on board a troop ship prior to the invasion of Guam and of the casualties taken during the initial landing. After Guam was secured the division participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Mummert recalls the high casualty rate among his communications people. While on Iwo Jima, he was evacuated and sent to the hospital on Guam. Following his recovery, he was sent to Hawaii for a period of time and then sent back to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with C.R. Jack Mummert. Mummert was born in Logansport, Indiana on 3 January 1916 and graduated from high school in Havre, Montana in 1935. Joining the Marine Corps in December 1942, he was sent to boot camp at San Diego, California. He was selected for Officers Candidate School and received his commission at Quantico, Virginia. After undergoing several courses in communications, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as the communications officer. His responsibilities included forty Indian code talkers and he comments on their value in combat. He tells of the division spending 59 days on board a troop ship prior to the invasion of Guam and of the casualties taken during the initial landing. After Guam was secured the division participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Mummert recalls the high casualty rate among his communications people. While on Iwo Jima, he was evacuated and sent to the hospital on Guam. Following his recovery, he was sent to Hawaii for a period of time and then sent back to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Cleland. He was born in Rochester, Indiana on December 3, 1920. He was drafted into the Army in October 1942 and was assigned to a machine gun platoon with the 12th Armored Division, 17th Infantry Battalion. On October 3, 1944 he shipped out to England on the passenger liner MS Empress of Australia. He recalls that it took two weeks to resupply, followed by a landing at Le Havre, France. He recalls that his division was assigned to the 3rd Army and relieved the 4th Armored Division. His division was sent to the small Alsatian village of Herrlisheim on January 16, 1945, to join other units. He recalls that the Americans had captured half of the village by that time, when the Germans retook the town on January 17. By January 18 his unit was holed up in a barn when a German tank arrived, forcing them to surrender. He recalls being marched to the Rhine River, suffering frostbite and crossing the river, where he and the other POWs were loaded onto railroad cattle guards and taken to the German POW camp, Stalag VI-G in Baden Baden. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Cleland. He was born in Rochester, Indiana on December 3, 1920. He was drafted into the Army in October 1942 and was assigned to a machine gun platoon with the 12th Armored Division, 17th Infantry Battalion. On October 3, 1944 he shipped out to England on the passenger liner MS Empress of Australia. He recalls that it took two weeks to resupply, followed by a landing at Le Havre, France. He recalls that his division was assigned to the 3rd Army and relieved the 4th Armored Division. His division was sent to the small Alsatian village of Herrlisheim on January 16, 1945, to join other units. He recalls that the Americans had captured half of the village by that time, when the Germans retook the town on January 17. By January 18 his unit was holed up in a barn when a German tank arrived, forcing them to surrender. He recalls being marched to the Rhine River, suffering frostbite and crossing the river, where he and the other POWs were loaded onto railroad cattle guards and taken to the German POW camp, Stalag VI-G in Baden Baden. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred P Birdwell. Birdwell joined the Army around 1943. He served as a tank driver with the 3rd Armored Division. He deployed to La Havre, France. Birdwell participated in the Battle of the Bulge, traveling through Germany along the Siegfried Line into Berlin. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred P Birdwell. Birdwell joined the Army around 1943. He served as a tank driver with the 3rd Armored Division. He deployed to La Havre, France. Birdwell participated in the Battle of the Bulge, traveling through Germany along the Siegfried Line into Berlin. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hagen. Hagen served as the gunnery officer aboard the USS Johnston (DD-557). The ship’s captain, Commander Ernest Evans, was well liked and highly respected by the crew. Hagen recalls the Johnston was with a group of seven destroyers and six escort carriers supporting the troop landing at Leyte Gulf. On 24 October 1944 they were alerted to the approach of a large Japanese force led by Admiral Kurita. Hagen describes in detail the actions involving the Johnston, which led to heavy damage and the eventual sinking of the ship. The actions initiated by Commander Evans led to him being awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. As senior surviving officer of the Johnston, Hagen wrote the recommendation for the award.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hagen. Hagen served as the gunnery officer aboard the USS Johnston (DD-557). The ship’s captain, Commander Ernest Evans, was well liked and highly respected by the crew. Hagen recalls the Johnston was with a group of seven destroyers and six escort carriers supporting the troop landing at Leyte Gulf. On 24 October 1944 they were alerted to the approach of a large Japanese force led by Admiral Kurita. Hagen describes in detail the actions involving the Johnston, which led to heavy damage and the eventual sinking of the ship. The actions initiated by Commander Evans led to him being awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. As senior surviving officer of the Johnston, Hagen wrote the recommendation for the award.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam Shelton. Shelton was born in rural Kansas on 18 August 1917. He participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program while attending Fort Hays College. Upon completing the program in 1939, he joined the Navy. After completing flight training at Pensacola, he was sent to the Corpus Christi (Texas) Naval Air Station as a flight instructor. In 1943 he was assigned to VF-7, a fighter squadron, stationed at San Diego, flying F4F and F6F fighters. In early 1944 the squadron was assigned the FM2 (fighter) and put aboard the USS Santee (CVE-29). He returned from a combat patrol and found the Santee had been stuck by a kamikaze and a bomb. Unable to land, he was directed to land aboard the USS Suwannee (CVE-27). After landing, his plane was refueled and the ammunition replenished. Smith proceeded with another combat patrol, after which he returned to the Santee after repairs. The ship returned to Pearl Harbor and Shelton was assigned to Air Group 6 based at Los Alamitos, California. Following the surrender of Japan, Shelton remained in the Navy. He recalls various assignments including being aboard the USS Valley …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam Shelton. Shelton was born in rural Kansas on 18 August 1917. He participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program while attending Fort Hays College. Upon completing the program in 1939, he joined the Navy. After completing flight training at Pensacola, he was sent to the Corpus Christi (Texas) Naval Air Station as a flight instructor. In 1943 he was assigned to VF-7, a fighter squadron, stationed at San Diego, flying F4F and F6F fighters. In early 1944 the squadron was assigned the FM2 (fighter) and put aboard the USS Santee (CVE-29). He returned from a combat patrol and found the Santee had been stuck by a kamikaze and a bomb. Unable to land, he was directed to land aboard the USS Suwannee (CVE-27). After landing, his plane was refueled and the ammunition replenished. Smith proceeded with another combat patrol, after which he returned to the Santee after repairs. The ship returned to Pearl Harbor and Shelton was assigned to Air Group 6 based at Los Alamitos, California. Following the surrender of Japan, Shelton remained in the Navy. He recalls various assignments including being aboard the USS Valley …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Dowding. Dowding joined the Army in 1942 and received four weeks of basic training at Camp Lee. He was sent to Camp Stoneman for bakery training. Having been a baker in civilian life, he was already qualified to do the work and so was not required to attend classes. He was sent to Guadalcanal on a mail ship that couldn’t dock upon arrival, due to low tide. While waiting in the water, the ship was strafed by Japanese planes. Men standing on either side of Dowding were killed. He spent over a year stationed at the end of Henderson Field, trading baked goods as a commodity with troops. There was nothing he couldn’t have, and the Seabees even made a boat for him. He traveled to a small island and came across a native who spoke perfect English, as Australians had brought him to the Midwest to be a prizefighter. Dowding was transferred to Mindanao, staying behind with his baking company for three months as the troops were fighting. When the war ended, Dowding volunteered as a baker on the way home, which gave him access to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Dowding. Dowding joined the Army in 1942 and received four weeks of basic training at Camp Lee. He was sent to Camp Stoneman for bakery training. Having been a baker in civilian life, he was already qualified to do the work and so was not required to attend classes. He was sent to Guadalcanal on a mail ship that couldn’t dock upon arrival, due to low tide. While waiting in the water, the ship was strafed by Japanese planes. Men standing on either side of Dowding were killed. He spent over a year stationed at the end of Henderson Field, trading baked goods as a commodity with troops. There was nothing he couldn’t have, and the Seabees even made a boat for him. He traveled to a small island and came across a native who spoke perfect English, as Australians had brought him to the Midwest to be a prizefighter. Dowding was transferred to Mindanao, staying behind with his baking company for three months as the troops were fighting. When the war ended, Dowding volunteered as a baker on the way home, which gave him access to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Porter. Porter was born in Woburn, Massachusetts 1 May 1916. After graduating from high school he worked on his father’s farm until 1940, when he enlisted in the Army. After basic training at Camp Edwards, Mississippi for thirteen weeks he took part in maneuvers in South Carolina. On 16 January 1941 he boarded a troop ship in New York City bound for Australia. Upon arrival in Melbourne, he was assigned to 81mm mortars in the Americal Division. He then went to New Caledonia. In November 1942, the division went to Guadalcanal to reinforce the 1st Marine Division. There, Porter was subjected to Japanese naval gunfire and nightly raids by Japanese bombers. After the island was secured he went to Fiji and while there he contracted malaria as well as hepatitis. He was put aboard a hospital ship and sent to the United States where he was taken to Winter General Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. After being discharged from the hospital, he was sent to Indian Gap, Pennsylvania where he guarded German prisoners of war. He was discharged in 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Porter. Porter was born in Woburn, Massachusetts 1 May 1916. After graduating from high school he worked on his father’s farm until 1940, when he enlisted in the Army. After basic training at Camp Edwards, Mississippi for thirteen weeks he took part in maneuvers in South Carolina. On 16 January 1941 he boarded a troop ship in New York City bound for Australia. Upon arrival in Melbourne, he was assigned to 81mm mortars in the Americal Division. He then went to New Caledonia. In November 1942, the division went to Guadalcanal to reinforce the 1st Marine Division. There, Porter was subjected to Japanese naval gunfire and nightly raids by Japanese bombers. After the island was secured he went to Fiji and while there he contracted malaria as well as hepatitis. He was put aboard a hospital ship and sent to the United States where he was taken to Winter General Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. After being discharged from the hospital, he was sent to Indian Gap, Pennsylvania where he guarded German prisoners of war. He was discharged in 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Burnett Napier. Napier joined the U.S. Navy during his senior year in high school. He was sent to Hospital Corps School to train as a corpsman. Napier then spent six weeks at the Oakland Naval Hospital. He was then sent to the Fleet Marine Force and joined a replacement battalion that was shipped to the Pacific. Napier arrived in Pavuvu and joined the 1st Marine Division. He then landed on Peleliu where his unit experienced heavy casualties. Napier was wounded later in the battle during a mortar barrage. He was evacuated to a ship and then to an Army hospital for treatment. Napier rejoined the 1st Division on Pavuvu which was sent to invade Okinawa soon after. He worked at the battalion aid station until he was sent back to the front due to a shortage of corpsman at the Shuri Line. Napier became ill with dysentery and was evacuated to an Army hospital and wasn’t released until the battle had ended. He traveled with his unit to China after the war had ended and left the service soon after he returned to the States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Burnett Napier. Napier joined the U.S. Navy during his senior year in high school. He was sent to Hospital Corps School to train as a corpsman. Napier then spent six weeks at the Oakland Naval Hospital. He was then sent to the Fleet Marine Force and joined a replacement battalion that was shipped to the Pacific. Napier arrived in Pavuvu and joined the 1st Marine Division. He then landed on Peleliu where his unit experienced heavy casualties. Napier was wounded later in the battle during a mortar barrage. He was evacuated to a ship and then to an Army hospital for treatment. Napier rejoined the 1st Division on Pavuvu which was sent to invade Okinawa soon after. He worked at the battalion aid station until he was sent back to the front due to a shortage of corpsman at the Shuri Line. Napier became ill with dysentery and was evacuated to an Army hospital and wasn’t released until the battle had ended. He traveled with his unit to China after the war had ended and left the service soon after he returned to the States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hawk Hawkins. Hawkins joined the Marine Corps in spring 1942. He was sent to radio school after boot camp. Hawkins then joined a replacement battalion and was assigned to the 1st Signal Company for a landing on Cape Glouster. Next Hawkins’ unit landed on Peleliu. He describes the battle and tells some stories from his experience. Hawkins was then sent to back to the States where he spent the remainder of the war working at a Marine Corps Supply Depot. He became a civilian employee for the Air Force after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hawk Hawkins. Hawkins joined the Marine Corps in spring 1942. He was sent to radio school after boot camp. Hawkins then joined a replacement battalion and was assigned to the 1st Signal Company for a landing on Cape Glouster. Next Hawkins’ unit landed on Peleliu. He describes the battle and tells some stories from his experience. Hawkins was then sent to back to the States where he spent the remainder of the war working at a Marine Corps Supply Depot. He became a civilian employee for the Air Force after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J L Pacheco. Pacheco joined the Marine Corps in May 1943 and received basic training at Camp Elliot. He received further training at Guadalcanal as a Raider with the 1st Marine Division. Upon completion, he was assigned to New Caledonia for special training in demolition as part of the 4th Raider Battalion. In New Caledonia he contracted malaria despite taking antimalarial pills daily. Pacheco next arrived at Guadalcanal, where remaining Japanese would sometimes sneak into camp and steal food from their hiding places in the jungle. The Raider battalions were later disbanded and instead formed the new 4th Marine Regiment. After an amphibious landing at Guam, Pacheco describes the perilous banzai-type combat in which he was engaged. In addition to his demolition duties, sealing caves, he occasionally served as an untrained mortarman and also retrieved wounded men from live combat areas. The interview ends just before Pacheco describes his experiences at Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J L Pacheco. Pacheco joined the Marine Corps in May 1943 and received basic training at Camp Elliot. He received further training at Guadalcanal as a Raider with the 1st Marine Division. Upon completion, he was assigned to New Caledonia for special training in demolition as part of the 4th Raider Battalion. In New Caledonia he contracted malaria despite taking antimalarial pills daily. Pacheco next arrived at Guadalcanal, where remaining Japanese would sometimes sneak into camp and steal food from their hiding places in the jungle. The Raider battalions were later disbanded and instead formed the new 4th Marine Regiment. After an amphibious landing at Guam, Pacheco describes the perilous banzai-type combat in which he was engaged. In addition to his demolition duties, sealing caves, he occasionally served as an untrained mortarman and also retrieved wounded men from live combat areas. The interview ends just before Pacheco describes his experiences at Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Clapper. Clapper joined the Marine Corps in December of 1942. He joined the 1st Marine Division as a replacement after Guadalcanal. His first combat landing was at Cape Glouster followed by Peleliu where he was wounded on the second day. After he recovered from his injury Clapper rejoined his unit and landed on Okinawa where he was wounded twice more. He was then transferred to Parris Island to become a drill instructor for the remainder of the war. Clapper left the service in October 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Clapper. Clapper joined the Marine Corps in December of 1942. He joined the 1st Marine Division as a replacement after Guadalcanal. His first combat landing was at Cape Glouster followed by Peleliu where he was wounded on the second day. After he recovered from his injury Clapper rejoined his unit and landed on Okinawa where he was wounded twice more. He was then transferred to Parris Island to become a drill instructor for the remainder of the war. Clapper left the service in October 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Hayes. Hayes joined the Navy in 1943. He was trained as a corpsman. Hayes spent time working at a Navy hospital in Oakland before he was sent to the Fleet Marine Force as a replacement. He joined the 1st Marine Division on Pavuvu after they returned from Cape Gloucester. Hayes mentions a USO show featuring Bob Hope that occurred during his time there. He landed on Peleliu with the fourth wave. Hayes was awarded the Bronze Star for removing wounded Marines from Bloody Nose Ridge. He was wounded and evacuated on the third day of battle. Hayes rejoined the division after he recovered and participated in the invasion of Okinawa. He describes taking Wana Ridge and the loss of two demolition men. Hayes traveled to China for occupation duty. One of his duties included manning a prophylactic station in a Chinese whorehouse frequented by servicemen. Hayes was also tasked with distributing penicillin on the voyage back to the States. He left the Navy soon after his return.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Hayes. Hayes joined the Navy in 1943. He was trained as a corpsman. Hayes spent time working at a Navy hospital in Oakland before he was sent to the Fleet Marine Force as a replacement. He joined the 1st Marine Division on Pavuvu after they returned from Cape Gloucester. Hayes mentions a USO show featuring Bob Hope that occurred during his time there. He landed on Peleliu with the fourth wave. Hayes was awarded the Bronze Star for removing wounded Marines from Bloody Nose Ridge. He was wounded and evacuated on the third day of battle. Hayes rejoined the division after he recovered and participated in the invasion of Okinawa. He describes taking Wana Ridge and the loss of two demolition men. Hayes traveled to China for occupation duty. One of his duties included manning a prophylactic station in a Chinese whorehouse frequented by servicemen. Hayes was also tasked with distributing penicillin on the voyage back to the States. He left the Navy soon after his return.