The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jerold Cox. Cox joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He served with the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Defense Battalion on Guadalcanal. He later served with the 2nd Marine Division, 3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery (formerly Defense) during the Bougainville Campaign. Cox assisted with carrying ammunition and unloading the ships. He contracted malaria, and was sent back to the US around August of 1944 for recovery. He received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jerold Cox. Cox joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He served with the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Defense Battalion on Guadalcanal. He later served with the 2nd Marine Division, 3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery (formerly Defense) during the Bougainville Campaign. Cox assisted with carrying ammunition and unloading the ships. He contracted malaria, and was sent back to the US around August of 1944 for recovery. He received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Oran Evans. Evans joined the Army Air Forces in May 1942 and received basic training at Sheppard Field. He washed out of flight training in Santa Ana and transferred to gunnery school in Las Vegas. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 95th Bombardment Group as a ball turret gunner. Evans flew 25 missions, the most dangerous of which was over Munich. He credits the Tuskegee Airmen with his safety on those missions. Evans returned home and was discharged after the war. He became a commercial pilot and joined the Texas National Guard.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Oran Evans. Evans joined the Army Air Forces in May 1942 and received basic training at Sheppard Field. He washed out of flight training in Santa Ana and transferred to gunnery school in Las Vegas. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 95th Bombardment Group as a ball turret gunner. Evans flew 25 missions, the most dangerous of which was over Munich. He credits the Tuskegee Airmen with his safety on those missions. Evans returned home and was discharged after the war. He became a commercial pilot and joined the Texas National Guard.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ralph Fink. Fink joined the Army in March 1944 and received basic training at Camp Van Dorn. Upon completion, he was assigned to an anti-tank company with the 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. While awaiting shipment of their anti-tank weapons, he joined the 3rd Infantry Division in the Colmar Pocket. At the end of January, he rejoined his division and crossed the Danube. His unit was relieved and sent to a local airfield for guard duty. Fink returned home and was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ralph Fink. Fink joined the Army in March 1944 and received basic training at Camp Van Dorn. Upon completion, he was assigned to an anti-tank company with the 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. While awaiting shipment of their anti-tank weapons, he joined the 3rd Infantry Division in the Colmar Pocket. At the end of January, he rejoined his division and crossed the Danube. His unit was relieved and sent to a local airfield for guard duty. Fink returned home and was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas M. Baye. Baye was born on 24 October 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was drafted into the Army in July 1943. Following basic training at Camp Roberts and Fort Ord in California, he was sent to Hawaii. In December 1943 he was assigned to the 27th Division, C Company, 1st Battalion, 165th Regiment. After more training, including landings on the beach in an LVT launched from an LST, his unit went to Saipan. They went ashore on 16 June 1944. They saw heavy combat, although as a radio operator, Baye had few chances to shoot his rifle. In August, the 27th went to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides for R and R. In April 1945 they landed on Okinawa. In September 1945, following the surrender of Japan, the 27th was sent to Japan as occupiers. In December, Baye returned to the United States. After brief stays at Fort Lewis in Washington and Fort Carson in Colorado, he was released from the service in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas M. Baye. Baye was born on 24 October 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was drafted into the Army in July 1943. Following basic training at Camp Roberts and Fort Ord in California, he was sent to Hawaii. In December 1943 he was assigned to the 27th Division, C Company, 1st Battalion, 165th Regiment. After more training, including landings on the beach in an LVT launched from an LST, his unit went to Saipan. They went ashore on 16 June 1944. They saw heavy combat, although as a radio operator, Baye had few chances to shoot his rifle. In August, the 27th went to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides for R and R. In April 1945 they landed on Okinawa. In September 1945, following the surrender of Japan, the 27th was sent to Japan as occupiers. In December, Baye returned to the United States. After brief stays at Fort Lewis in Washington and Fort Carson in Colorado, he was released from the service in January 1946.

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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Louis Schott. Schott joined the Marine Corps Reserve while he was a college student in the summer of 1942. He trained as an infantry officer and was sent to a replacement battalion. Schott joined the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific during the invasion of Cape Gloucester. His unit was then sent to Pavuvu where they were tasked with building their rest camp. Schott landed on Peleliu and was wounded by a mortar shell on the eleventh day of battle. He discusses the difficult terrain and the challenges it created. Schott was evacuated to a hospital where he recovered from his wounds and had a bout with malaria. He rejoined the division and took part in the invasion of Okinawa. Schott discusses taking Shuri Castle. He also mentions meeting Ernie Pyle and that his last story was about Schott’s company clerk. Schott traveled with his until to China after the war ended. He stayed in the active reserves when he returned from overseas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Louis Schott. Schott joined the Marine Corps Reserve while he was a college student in the summer of 1942. He trained as an infantry officer and was sent to a replacement battalion. Schott joined the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific during the invasion of Cape Gloucester. His unit was then sent to Pavuvu where they were tasked with building their rest camp. Schott landed on Peleliu and was wounded by a mortar shell on the eleventh day of battle. He discusses the difficult terrain and the challenges it created. Schott was evacuated to a hospital where he recovered from his wounds and had a bout with malaria. He rejoined the division and took part in the invasion of Okinawa. Schott discusses taking Shuri Castle. He also mentions meeting Ernie Pyle and that his last story was about Schott’s company clerk. Schott traveled with his until to China after the war ended. He stayed in the active reserves when he returned from overseas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Wojahn. Wojahn joined the Marine Corps in July 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion he was assigned to the 1st Pioneer Battalion, 1st Marine Division. At Pavuvu, he helped to build the camp, exterminating land crabs and rats and making roads out of crushed coral. Being from the Midwest, he had no difficulty driving trucks on the coral roads, which were slippery when wet. At Peleliu he landed in the third wave and was responsible for manually hauling ammunition and other supplies ashore. Under heavy mortar fire, he found himself hiding chest-deep in sand until he found man-made craters in the coral to use as a foxhole. At Okinawa he was regarded as an expert truck driver, able to maneuver over muddy tracks where other vehicles resorted to being pulled by a cable. He recalls having to change seven tires in one day due to driving in mud that was loaded with shrapnel. Wojahn returned home at the end of the war and was discharged in at Camp Pendleton. He enjoyed a career as a game warden and retired after 25 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Wojahn. Wojahn joined the Marine Corps in July 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion he was assigned to the 1st Pioneer Battalion, 1st Marine Division. At Pavuvu, he helped to build the camp, exterminating land crabs and rats and making roads out of crushed coral. Being from the Midwest, he had no difficulty driving trucks on the coral roads, which were slippery when wet. At Peleliu he landed in the third wave and was responsible for manually hauling ammunition and other supplies ashore. Under heavy mortar fire, he found himself hiding chest-deep in sand until he found man-made craters in the coral to use as a foxhole. At Okinawa he was regarded as an expert truck driver, able to maneuver over muddy tracks where other vehicles resorted to being pulled by a cable. He recalls having to change seven tires in one day due to driving in mud that was loaded with shrapnel. Wojahn returned home at the end of the war and was discharged in at Camp Pendleton. He enjoyed a career as a game warden and retired after 25 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Bobst. Bobst joined the Navy in March 1943 and received basic training and hospital corpsman training in Illinois. Upon completion, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital at San Diego and then field medical school at Camp Elliot. He was sent to New Britain, where he treated Marines at a regimental aid station as they returned from a battalion aid station near the front lines. He would then send patients requiring further medical care to a hospital ship. Conditions were miserable and swampy there at Camp Gloucester. Bobst was next sent to Pavuvu for R&R but spent much of his time there building roads and digging trenches in the rain. He recalls being plagued by rats, mosquitoes, land crabs, and falling coconuts. He then went to Peleliu, moving through combat alongside Marines. He arrived at Okinawa on 1 April 1945 and left a few there days before the end of the war. Bobst returned home and was discharged in March 1946, having treated some 30 to 40 wounded soldiers, including Navajo Code Talker Dennis Cattlechaser.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Bobst. Bobst joined the Navy in March 1943 and received basic training and hospital corpsman training in Illinois. Upon completion, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital at San Diego and then field medical school at Camp Elliot. He was sent to New Britain, where he treated Marines at a regimental aid station as they returned from a battalion aid station near the front lines. He would then send patients requiring further medical care to a hospital ship. Conditions were miserable and swampy there at Camp Gloucester. Bobst was next sent to Pavuvu for R&R but spent much of his time there building roads and digging trenches in the rain. He recalls being plagued by rats, mosquitoes, land crabs, and falling coconuts. He then went to Peleliu, moving through combat alongside Marines. He arrived at Okinawa on 1 April 1945 and left a few there days before the end of the war. Bobst returned home and was discharged in March 1946, having treated some 30 to 40 wounded soldiers, including Navajo Code Talker Dennis Cattlechaser.