Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including playing a game of Tripoli with Evelyn, Elaine, and Baby, Honey registering for the draft, Pinkie Brown and Marianna McKean's upcoming marriage, and wishing Joe an early happy birthday.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clement Good. Good was born in Deland, Illinois 29 September 1920 and upon graduation from high school, was drafted into the Army in July 1942 and joined the 80th Infantry Division. He recalls that he was assigned as the driver for the division artillery’s headquarters battery commander. Good describes in detail the division’s training while operating out of Camp Forest, Tennessee. His division was moved to California for desert training in November 1943. Several weeks of more training followed at Fort Dix, New Jersey in April 1944, before being shipped to Great Britain on the Queen Mary in July. He describes the conditions on the Queen Mary during the seven day transit. The division landed on Utah Beach on 3 August 1944, and was assigned to General Patton’s Third Army. He describes his participation in the Battle for Paris and in the Battle of the Bulge. He recalls seeing the remains of the Maginot Line, the countryside of Luxemburg, crossing the Rhine River into Nuremberg, Germany and entering Munich in April 1945. He was in Austria when the war ended. During the following five months his unit was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Claiborn Wamsley. Wamsley joined the Navy in November, 1943 and attended signal school after boot training. He was then assigned to USS LST-1040, picked it up in Pittsburgh and rode down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. From there, they traveled to Pearl Harbor. From there, the 1040 went to Okinawa to unload supplies. He also recalls being caught in typhoons. After the war, Wamsley spent time in Japan and China delivering materials and people to various ports. He returned to the US and was discharged in June, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John V. Geary. Geary joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1942, and received training as an aircraft electrical specialist at Chanute Airforce Base in Rantoul, Illinois. He worked on the AT-17, AT-9 and B-29 engines, propellers and electrical systems. Geary was assigned as a B-29 crew chief with the 355th Bomb Squadron, 331st Bomb Group, 315th Air Wing. Their plane was titled Slicker Four. In late 1944, he went to Guam. He describes living on the island and working on his assigned plane and other B-29s as needed. After the war ended, Geary returned to the US and received his discharge in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles R. Clark. Clark was born in 1918 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1939. His first assignment was as a gunnery officer aboard the USS San Francisco (CA-38). Next, he served aboard the USS Fairfax (DD-93) as an engineer. He also served aboard the USS Texas (BB-35) as a radio officer. Clark attended submarine school after the war started. After graduation he served on the USS O-2 as torpedo, gunnery and engineering officer. He later became the executive officer. His next assignment was to the USS Dace (SS-247) as an engineer. He spent a year on this boat and made seven war patrols. After promotion, he commanded the USS Sennet (SS-408). In May 1945 on war patrol in the Sea of Japan, the Sennet sank four enemy vessels. After the war, Clark administered the submarine sonar school in Florida before being assigned to the USS Quillback (SS-424). Clark also served as captain aboard the USS Hawkins (DD-873). Next he was assigned as embassy naval attaché in Havana, Cuba. He also commanded the USS Tidewater (AD-31). Clark concluded his career in 1967 as naval attaché in Madrid, …

Transcript of an oral interview with John Karl Rankin. Rankin begins by talking about living on a farm in the Oklahoma panhandle during the Dust Bowl days. He describes a massive dust storm striking the farm on his fourteenth birthday. He also shares anecdotes about cowboying on his uncle's ranch in Colorado as a teenager. In August, 1942, Rankin joined the Marine Corps, where he went to radio school and then radar school. he was attached to the First Marine Air Warning Squadron. Once he shipped overseas, Rankin's unit set up their radar station in the Marshall Islands. Rankin describes the radar station being attacked one night by a Japanese bomber. Rankin also discusses going ashore on D-day at Okinawa to set up another radar station. Later in April, 1945, Rankin's unit was sent to Ie Shima where he witnessed a massive air raid of Japanese kamikazes on the American fleet at Okinawa. After the Japanese surrender, Rankin describes being caught in a typhoon that went through Okinawa, and again in another one on the way back to the US. When Rankin was discharged, he enrolled in the UNiversity of Oklahoma at Norman and became a Methodist minister.

Transcript of an oral interview with Allan D. Morrison. In 1942, Morrison finished high school in Bozeman, Montana before enrolling in the Civilian Pilot Training program. His eyesight disqualified him as a pilot, so the Army Air Corps sent him to McDill Field in Florida for advanced communications training in early 1943. He had never even had basic training and finally got shuffled to Chicago for radio school. Morrison developed an illness that prevented him from graduating and moving on, so he stayed in Chicago for a while before moving on to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he finally graduated as a radio mechanic. His first assignment took him to Annette Island in southeastern Alaska. While there, he operated an SCS system, which allowed aircraft with the right equipment to make instrument landings on the field at Annette Island (in case of fog, etc.).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Earl McWilliams. McWilliams joined the Army in October of 1944. He served as a BAR rifleman with the 25th Infantry Division, 27th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company G. McWilliams participated in the Philippines Campaign beginning April of 1945 through the end of the war. He served with occupation forces in Japan. McWilliams returned to the US and received his discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Morris Hibbs. Hibbs joined the Marine Corps in November 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He received field artillery instrument training at Camp Pendleton. Upon completion, he was sent to Hawaii. There he was reassigned to an antiaircraft unit on Kauai, serving as a cook. He was later stationed at a field kitchen on Okinawa, where he remained until the end of the war. Hibbs returned home and was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Neil Berghout. Berghout was born in Holland in 1926. He joined the Dutch resistance as a teenager, hiding downed American pilots and helping them return to England. When his identity was discovered by German officials, Berghout went into hiding in France. Members of the French resistance transported him to England, where he joined an armored division of the British Royal Army and participated in the Normandy invasion. After the war, his unit liberated a concentration camp. He then transferred to the Dutch Royal Army and served four years in Indonesia. In 1957 he became an intelligence instructor for the Dutch Royal Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Stevens. Stevens joined the U.S. Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet College Reserve April 1943. He was in the Air Training Command. He served as an Aviation Cadet. He went to Kessler Field in Mississippi for training, then on to Memphis State College for college training. Then he moved on to Scott Field, Illinois to learn radio operator mechanics. He moved on and while in the middle of B-29 flight engineer school the war in the Pacific ended. Overall he was either in training or served as an instructor. The day after the war ended he applied for resignation and resigned November of 1945. He joined the Tennessee Air Guard, serving as their Special Service Officer and later as an aide-de-camp to the commanding general. He was transferred in April of 1951 to Texas. He served with the Guard in Texas as a first lieutenant and aid to the commanding general. He utilized his G.I. Bill at Vanderbilt University.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clement Good. Good was born in Deland, Illinois 29 September 1920 and upon graduation from high school, was drafted into the Army in July 1942 and joined the 80th Infantry Division. He recalls that he was assigned as the driver for the division artillery’s headquarters battery commander. Good describes in detail the division’s training while operating out of Camp Forest, Tennessee. His division was moved to California for desert training in November 1943. Several weeks of more training followed at Fort Dix, New Jersey in April 1944, before being shipped to Great Britain on the Queen Mary in July. He describes the conditions on the Queen Mary during the seven day transit. The division landed on Utah Beach on 3 August 1944, and was assigned to General Patton’s Third Army. He describes his participation in the Battle for Paris and in the Battle of the Bulge. He recalls seeing the remains of the Maginot Line, the countryside of Luxemburg, crossing the Rhine River into Nuremberg, Germany and entering Munich in April 1945. He was in Austria when the war ended. During the following five months his unit was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Claiborn Wamsley. Wamsley joined the Navy in November, 1943 and attended signal school after boot training. He was then assigned to USS LST-1040, picked it up in Pittsburgh and rode down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. From there, they traveled to Pearl Harbor. From there, the 1040 went to Okinawa to unload supplies. He also recalls being caught in typhoons. After the war, Wamsley spent time in Japan and China delivering materials and people to various ports. He returned to the US and was discharged in June, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John V. Geary. Geary joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1942, and received training as an aircraft electrical specialist at Chanute Airforce Base in Rantoul, Illinois. He worked on the AT-17, AT-9 and B-29 engines, propellers and electrical systems. Geary was assigned as a B-29 crew chief with the 355th Bomb Squadron, 331st Bomb Group, 315th Air Wing. Their plane was titled Slicker Four. In late 1944, he went to Guam. He describes living on the island and working on his assigned plane and other B-29s as needed. After the war ended, Geary returned to the US and received his discharge in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles R. Clark. Clark was born in 1918 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1939. His first assignment was as a gunnery officer aboard the USS San Francisco (CA-38). Next, he served aboard the USS Fairfax (DD-93) as an engineer. He also served aboard the USS Texas (BB-35) as a radio officer. Clark attended submarine school after the war started. After graduation he served on the USS O-2 as torpedo, gunnery and engineering officer. He later became the executive officer. His next assignment was to the USS Dace (SS-247) as an engineer. He spent a year on this boat and made seven war patrols. After promotion, he commanded the USS Sennet (SS-408). In May 1945 on war patrol in the Sea of Japan, the Sennet sank four enemy vessels. After the war, Clark administered the submarine sonar school in Florida before being assigned to the USS Quillback (SS-424). Clark also served as captain aboard the USS Hawkins (DD-873). Next he was assigned as embassy naval attaché in Havana, Cuba. He also commanded the USS Tidewater (AD-31). Clark concluded his career in 1967 as naval attaché in Madrid, …

Transcript of an oral interview with John Karl Rankin. Rankin begins by talking about living on a farm in the Oklahoma panhandle during the Dust Bowl days. He describes a massive dust storm striking the farm on his fourteenth birthday. He also shares anecdotes about cowboying on his uncle's ranch in Colorado as a teenager. In August, 1942, Rankin joined the Marine Corps, where he went to radio school and then radar school. he was attached to the First Marine Air Warning Squadron. Once he shipped overseas, Rankin's unit set up their radar station in the Marshall Islands. Rankin describes the radar station being attacked one night by a Japanese bomber. Rankin also discusses going ashore on D-day at Okinawa to set up another radar station. Later in April, 1945, Rankin's unit was sent to Ie Shima where he witnessed a massive air raid of Japanese kamikazes on the American fleet at Okinawa. After the Japanese surrender, Rankin describes being caught in a typhoon that went through Okinawa, and again in another one on the way back to the US. When Rankin was discharged, he enrolled in the UNiversity of Oklahoma at Norman and became a Methodist minister.

Transcript of an oral interview with Allan D. Morrison. In 1942, Morrison finished high school in Bozeman, Montana before enrolling in the Civilian Pilot Training program. His eyesight disqualified him as a pilot, so the Army Air Corps sent him to McDill Field in Florida for advanced communications training in early 1943. He had never even had basic training and finally got shuffled to Chicago for radio school. Morrison developed an illness that prevented him from graduating and moving on, so he stayed in Chicago for a while before moving on to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he finally graduated as a radio mechanic. His first assignment took him to Annette Island in southeastern Alaska. While there, he operated an SCS system, which allowed aircraft with the right equipment to make instrument landings on the field at Annette Island (in case of fog, etc.).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Earl McWilliams. McWilliams joined the Army in October of 1944. He served as a BAR rifleman with the 25th Infantry Division, 27th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company G. McWilliams participated in the Philippines Campaign beginning April of 1945 through the end of the war. He served with occupation forces in Japan. McWilliams returned to the US and received his discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Morris Hibbs. Hibbs joined the Marine Corps in November 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He received field artillery instrument training at Camp Pendleton. Upon completion, he was sent to Hawaii. There he was reassigned to an antiaircraft unit on Kauai, serving as a cook. He was later stationed at a field kitchen on Okinawa, where he remained until the end of the war. Hibbs returned home and was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Neil Berghout. Berghout was born in Holland in 1926. He joined the Dutch resistance as a teenager, hiding downed American pilots and helping them return to England. When his identity was discovered by German officials, Berghout went into hiding in France. Members of the French resistance transported him to England, where he joined an armored division of the British Royal Army and participated in the Normandy invasion. After the war, his unit liberated a concentration camp. He then transferred to the Dutch Royal Army and served four years in Indonesia. In 1957 he became an intelligence instructor for the Dutch Royal Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Stevens. Stevens joined the U.S. Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet College Reserve April 1943. He was in the Air Training Command. He served as an Aviation Cadet. He went to Kessler Field in Mississippi for training, then on to Memphis State College for college training. Then he moved on to Scott Field, Illinois to learn radio operator mechanics. He moved on and while in the middle of B-29 flight engineer school the war in the Pacific ended. Overall he was either in training or served as an instructor. The day after the war ended he applied for resignation and resigned November of 1945. He joined the Tennessee Air Guard, serving as their Special Service Officer and later as an aide-de-camp to the commanding general. He was transferred in April of 1951 to Texas. He served with the Guard in Texas as a first lieutenant and aid to the commanding general. He utilized his G.I. Bill at Vanderbilt University.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz mentions Otto, his younger brother, and his going to school soon.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz mentions Otto, his younger brother, and his going to school soon. The letter is on St. Charles Hotel (Kerrville, Texas) stationery.