The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral presentation given by George DeLong in 1993. DeLong tells of joining the Navy in January 1941 and of being on the battleship Oklahoma (BB-37) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes the ship turning over and his being trapped, along with 32 other shipmates for one and a half days. DeLong describes the struggle to stay alive before being rescued and spending time in the hospital. He discusses causes of the war with Japan, actions which various admirals and generals took and various battles that were fought. He closes the presentation by answering questions presented by members of the audience.

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 Joe Drastata. Drastata was born in El Campo, Texas on 1 August 1924 and entered the Army Air Forces in March 1943. After receiving initial training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri he was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he was assigned to the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403rd Troop Carrier Group. During July 1943 the unit went on board the USAT Maui bound for Australia. Drastata tells of the 28 day trip and describes the King Neptune ceremony when crossing the Equator. He describes the uncomfortable sleeping accommodations coupled with extensive rain and swarms of mosquitoes encountered at Port Moresby, New Guinea. He was assigned to communications assisting in duties that involved flag or light signals, land lines, switchboards and public address systems. The unit moved to various locations including Biak where he recounts an accident that claimed the life of a young officer. On 3 February 1945, the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron dropped paratroopers on the Los Banos prison camp to free the allied captives. Although Drastata was not personally involved in the operation he discusses various facets of this successful operation. He returned to the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Willis Cooper. Cooper joined the Army Air Forces in November 1942 at age 29, after working in the Louisiana Department of Conservation. He received mechanic’s training at Keesler Field and went to a factory in Indiana to learn about engines. He was then assigned to the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron and sent to New Guinea, where he changed engines and performed 100-hour inspections on C-47s. After Cooper became the chief of maintenance, the group inspector remarked that Cooper had dramatically reduced each plane’s maintenance time. Before returning home, he worked overtime to prepare extra planes to fly much needed supplies to Okinawa, which had been recently devastated by a typhoon. Cooper was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jacqueline Redstone and Christiane Jenkins. In 1940, Jenkins’ family moved to Tientsin, North China, where her father, Paul Henri Brabant, had taken a job overseeing a coal mine. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, they recall what life was like when the Japanese invaded. They were allowed to remain in their home, though had several encounters with the Japanese soldiers. They recall the soldiers being shipped back to Japan after the atomic bombs were dropped. After the war, they traveled to the US, then returned to China and later moved to Hong Kong.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jerell E. Crow. He entered the Coast Guard in 1940 and trained in Florida and New York City. He served aboard a Landing Ship, Tank (LST) when those ships were first introduced. He traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Neville Island Shipyard operated by the Dravo Corporation as part of a crew that brought an LST down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. From there, the crew practiced operations at Biloxi, Mississippi. Evetually, Crow travelled to San Diego aboard the LST through the Panama Canal. From there, he went to Guadalcanal and unloaded tanks. Evetually, his ship was hit at Saipan and he was wounded. He also served aboard an LST during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Afterwards, Crow's LST was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. He visited Hiroshima while on occupation duty after the atomic bomb was dropped. Eventually, his LST made its way back to San Francisco where he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Smalling. Smalling graduated in August of 1941 from the University of Texas with a degree in Chemical Engineering and a commission as ensign, Engineering Specialist in the Naval Reserve. He volunteered for submarine duty and served as a lieutenant commander aboard USS S-11 (SS-116). They conducted photoreconnaissance of Iwo Jima before the 1945 invasion, and detected and tracked the Japanese battleship Yamato prior to its being sunk. He also served aboard USS Spearfish (SS-190) and in January of 1945, USS Hackleback (SS-295).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Hylan. Hylan joined the Marine Corps in February of 1943. He completed Radio Operator School in June. In November, he deployed to New Caledonia with a replacement battalion. He served with the 1st 155mm Howitzer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and later the 3rd Marine Artillery Regiment. He conducted patrol duty and survey work. In April of 1944 he traveled to Tinian and Saipan. In July he participated in the Battle of Guam. He also participated in the Battle of Okinawa. Hylan returned to the US in October and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Reynolds. Reynolds joined the Royal Air Force on 4 September 1939 and entered active duty in July of 1940. He completed flight training and received his wings in March of 1941. Reynolds served as a flight instructor in Ontario and returned to England in early 1943 as a pilot officer. He continued serving as an instructor to the 8th Air Force, training Americans in map reading and how to navigate through cloudy, European skies. He later joined the 101st Squadron, piloting Wellington and Lancaster aircraft. They completed five bombing missions over Germany several missions to retrieve British former prisoners of war for repatriation. He recalls his memories of VE-Day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Felix Ysturiz. Ysturiz joined the Merchant Marine in January of 1943. He trained to serve as a Radio Officer. In 1943, he served as a radioman aboard the SS Oliver Wendell Holmes. They traveled to Hawaii, New Caledonia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands transporting cargo for the Navy, including PT boats and Seabee construction materials. Around mid-1944 through 1945, Ysturiz served aboard a C-2 ship, transporting cargo for the Army, traveling to New Guinea, Leyte and Manila. He was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jimmy Bennett. Bennett was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in May of 1922. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bennet, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Alfred Bisili’s oral history, a native friend of Bennett, who participated with him during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Schlemmer. Schlemmer joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. In late 1942 he deployed to New Zealand and participated in the Battles of Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester. He returned to the US in md-1944 to complete Officer Candidates School. He served as an instructor, teaching about jungle warfare. He then joined the 3rd Division, 9th Marines in preparation to invade Japan. Schlemmer was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred Bisili. Bisili was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in December of 1923. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bisili, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Jimmy Bennett’s oral history, a native friend of Bisili, who participated with him during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Bebell. Bebell joined the Navy in 1943. Beginning June of 1944, he served as Boatswain’s Mate and Fire Controlman aboard USS Hollandia (CVE-97). They traveled between the US and Navy bases in the Pacific, including Guam, transporting needed supplies and passengers. In April of 1945, they operated off the Okinawan coast, sending fighters to support the advancing troops. In May, they returned troops to San Diego. In June, they loaded replacement aircraft at Pearl Harbor and operated with the Third Fleet’s logistic supply unit. Bebell decommissioned the Hollandia and was discharged in January of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barbara Cameron. Cameron describes her experience on the home front as a child whose older brothers were in the military. Her brother Roger was in the Navy and her brother Victor joined the Coast Guard. Victor wrote home and said that being in the service was much easier than working as a farmhand during the Depression. Cameron’s father worked ten-hour days, seven days a week, making airplane propellers for General Motors. He also tended to his crops and livestock in the mornings, before work. Cameron’s family was shunned by fellow Brethren church members for supporting the military, as her family proudly displayed two stars in their window to represent her two brothers. Both of Cameron’s brothers returned home safely.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Cater. Cater joined the Navy V-7 Program, graduating in June of 1942. He then completed Midshipman School in the February of 1943. Cater then flew to Kodiak, Alaska, and served aboard USS Long (DMS-12), providing escort and patrol for the occupations of Attu and Kiska, returning to Pearl Harbor in September. Cater recalls participating in the Marshall Islands Campaign. In February of 1944, they traveled to New Guinea, escorting convoys and sweeping mines prior to the Admiralty Islands Campaign. They additionally participated in the Battles of Hollandia and Guam, and the Mariana and Palau islands campaign. Cater then served aboard the USS Columbia (CL-56), participating in pre-invasion bombardments for the landings at Leyte Gulf. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Douglas Cloakey. Cloakey joined the Marine Corps in October of 1940. He served with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. In 1941, they traveled to Iceland where they supplemented British troops to defend against a German attack on the island. In the fall of 1942, Cloakey deployed to Samoa and was assigned to the 3rd Raider Battalion. He participated in the Solomon Islands Campaign in 1943, and shares anecdotes of him and his fellow servicemen.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clifford Jenke. Jenke was born in Houston, Texas 25 February 1927. On 7 December 1942, at the age of fifteen, he joined the Navy after receiving written approval from his parents. After undergoing six week of boot training at San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Mizar as the pointer on a five inch deck gun. Soon thereafter, the ship departed for Sydney, Australia. Jenke recalls being attacked by a Japanese submarine, which was subsequently driven off by destroyers accompanying the convoy. Three weeks after their arrival, he was sent to Brisbane. After spending a night on the submarine tender USS Fulton (AS-11), he volunteered and was accepted for submarine duty. Assigned as an electrician striker on the USS Scamp (SS-277), he describes the battery propulsion system of the submarine. He recalls sinking a Japanese submarine, HIJMS I-24, during his first patrol aboard the Scamp. After making three patrols aboard the Scamp, he was transferred to the USS Dace (SS-247). With Jenke aboard, the Dace, working in conjunction with the USS Darter (SS-227), sank HIJMS Maya and HIJMS Atago in October 1944. The Dace made eight successful …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Cotner. Cotner joined the Navy in March of 1945. He completed radio operator, anti-aircraft and underwater demolition training. He served aboard the USS General William Mitchell (AP-114). They traveled to Guam, and other Pacific islands to pick up and transport soldiers and Marines. Cotner returned to the US and received his discharge in December of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Mellon. Mellon joined the Army in March of 1944. He was assigned to the 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, and participated in active duty through France and into the Siegfried Line in December. They continued their combat duty into Germany, and served on occupation duty after the war ended. Mellon returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ray Kroft. Kroft joined the Army in October of 1944. He served as a Staff Sergeant with the 77th Infantry Division. He participated in the Battle of Okinawa, and served with occupation forces in Japan. He was discharged in November of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Mooi. Mooi joined the Navy in January of 1945. He served aboard USS Cabot (CVL-28). He served on fire watch duty. Mooi remained aboard the Cabot through the end of the war, and they provided air cover during the Japanese surrender on USS Missouri (BB-63).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudolph Schultz. Schultz was drafted into the Army Air Forces in March, 1943. He received radar training in Florida and then served with the 13th Air Force. He installed a radar station at Noumea and trained men on its use. He also trained more men at Guadalcanal and the Admiralty Islands. Schultz was at Leyte when the war ended and soon went to Japan.