The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral history with Ralph Bissett. Bissett grew up in California and joined the Navy at 18 in 1943. He trained at Farragut, Idaho. He was assigned aboard the USS Cahaba (AO-82) as a gunner’s mate striker just before the ship headed for duty in the Pacific. Bissett describes the mechanics of refueling ships at sea. He also shares a few anecdotes of his time aboard the Cahaba.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral history with Ralph Bissett. Bissett grew up in California and joined the Navy at 18 in 1943. He trained at Farragut, Idaho. He was assigned aboard the USS Cahaba (AO-82) as a gunner’s mate striker just before the ship headed for duty in the Pacific. Bissett describes the mechanics of refueling ships at sea. He also shares a few anecdotes of his time aboard the Cahaba.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harris Lease. Lease joined the United States Army Air Forces around 1942. He traveled to New Zealand, Karachi, Burma, Ceylon, and Calcutta on the New Amsterdam Liberty Ship beginning May of 1943. He provides detail of the ship and his experiences aboard. He also discusses food and travel among these various countries. He met some pilots who flew over the Hump and provides their stories. He and his crew worked on building runways. He served a total of 3 years and 2 months and was potentially discharged around 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth O. Good. Good joined the Army Air Forces in December of 1942. He completed Radio Operator and Mechanics Technical School at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and the Aviation Cadet Pilot Training Program in Texas. Good received his wings in August of 1944. He served with the 528th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, 14th Air Force as a P-51 fighter pilot, under the director of General Claire Chenault. In May of 1945, Good was deployed overseas and completed missions over China and Burma, escorting bombers, flying interception missions, striking enemy communications, and supporting ground operations. He served in combat until the end of the war. Good returned to the US and received his discharge in January, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth O. Good. Good joined the Army Air Forces in December of 1942. He completed Radio Operator and Mechanics Technical School at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and the Aviation Cadet Pilot Training Program in Texas. Good received his wings in August of 1944. He served with the 528th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, 14th Air Force as a P-51 fighter pilot, under the director of General Claire Chenault. In May of 1945, Good was deployed overseas and completed missions over China and Burma, escorting bombers, flying interception missions, striking enemy communications, and supporting ground operations. He served in combat until the end of the war. Good returned to the US and received his discharge in January, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Afton Keeton. Keeton joined the Navy in July of 1942. He completed Hospital Corps School and became a Pharmacist Mate. He first served aboard the USS Sea Dragon (SS-194). They patrolled the Aleutian Islands. He was then stationed at the Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor, working in a sick bay. He then served aboard the USS Apollo (AS-25) with a relief crew. He provides some detail of working aboard a submarine, serving as the Doc, living conditions and undergoing his own appendectomy aboard the Apollo. In early 1945 he was assigned for 1 year to serve at a submarine base in St. Thomas. He then served as hospital corpsman on the USS Clamagore (SS-343). Keeton also worked on sonar watch, radar watch and as a cook during his time in the Navy. He spent a total of 30 years in the Navy, retiring in February of 1972.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Afton Keeton. Keeton joined the Navy in July of 1942. He completed Hospital Corps School and became a Pharmacist Mate. He first served aboard the USS Sea Dragon (SS-194). They patrolled the Aleutian Islands. He was then stationed at the Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor, working in a sick bay. He then served aboard the USS Apollo (AS-25) with a relief crew. He provides some detail of working aboard a submarine, serving as the Doc, living conditions and undergoing his own appendectomy aboard the Apollo. In early 1945 he was assigned for 1 year to serve at a submarine base in St. Thomas. He then served as hospital corpsman on the USS Clamagore (SS-343). Keeton also worked on sonar watch, radar watch and as a cook during his time in the Navy. He spent a total of 30 years in the Navy, retiring in February of 1972.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harrold Weldon. Weldon joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned as a coxswain to the USS Neville (APA-9) for the invasion of Saipan. He was transferred to the USS Brookings (APA-140), which was loaded with Marines in anticipation of the invasion of Japan. When the war ended, the Marines were delivered instead as occupational forces. Weldon was in Tokyo Bay for the signing of the surrender and visited both atomic bomb sites, noting in particular the devastation at Hiroshima. Weldon returned home and reenlisted for four years; he was discharged in 1949.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harrold Weldon. Weldon joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned as a coxswain to the USS Neville (APA-9) for the invasion of Saipan. He was transferred to the USS Brookings (APA-140), which was loaded with Marines in anticipation of the invasion of Japan. When the war ended, the Marines were delivered instead as occupational forces. Weldon was in Tokyo Bay for the signing of the surrender and visited both atomic bomb sites, noting in particular the devastation at Hiroshima. Weldon returned home and reenlisted for four years; he was discharged in 1949.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Steward. Steward was born in Waverly, Illinois. After enlisting in the Army Air Corps, and spending four weeks in basic training, he went to aircraft maintenance school. In 1944 he went to the South Pacific and was stationed in the Philippines. One night Japanese paratroopers attacked, killing a number of Americans in their tents. On another occasion at Clark Air Base, the Japanese, under cover of darkness, put time bombs on some of the aircraft. The bombs were discovered by the maintenance crews before they exploded.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Steward. Steward was born in Waverly, Illinois. After enlisting in the Army Air Corps, and spending four weeks in basic training, he went to aircraft maintenance school. In 1944 he went to the South Pacific and was stationed in the Philippines. One night Japanese paratroopers attacked, killing a number of Americans in their tents. On another occasion at Clark Air Base, the Japanese, under cover of darkness, put time bombs on some of the aircraft. The bombs were discovered by the maintenance crews before they exploded.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Andrew Alfred. Alfred was born on 28 July 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen. He served as a navigator with the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29, called Dearly Beloved. In late 1944, they were stationed on Tinian and flew 27 missions over Japan, including Iwo Jima and Tokyo. After the war ended, they dropped supplies to American troops in Japan. Alfred returned to the US and received his discharge on 4 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Andrew Alfred. Alfred was born on 28 July 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen. He served as a navigator with the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29, called Dearly Beloved. In late 1944, they were stationed on Tinian and flew 27 missions over Japan, including Iwo Jima and Tokyo. After the war ended, they dropped supplies to American troops in Japan. Alfred returned to the US and received his discharge on 4 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Walter Gallagher. Gallagher joined the Navy after quitting high school and trained in aviation ordnance. In May, 1944 he was assigned to USS Franklin (CV-13) where he would arm dive bombers. Gallagher describes an injury he sustained while loading bombs as well as various enemy attacks on the Franklin, including a kamikaze. He was aboard when the Japanese bombed the Franklin in March, 1945. Gallagher recalls the attack and was ordered to transfer to USS Santa Fe (CL-60). From there, Gallagher spent six months at Hawaii before going back to the US.