The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Quackenbush. Quackenbush joined the Navy in 1931. He served as a First Class Ships Cook on the USS Tangier (AV-8). He is a plank owner of the Tangier and provides details of starting up the crew when it was first commissioned. His battle station was the .50 caliber gun on the forward mount. He discusses the training on the ship and activities prior to and on 7 December 1941. On the day of the attack, Quackenbush helped pull sailors out of the water, including a Japanese aviator.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Sackett. Sackett was born in Victor, Iowa on 24 June 1920. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy in July 1937. Following basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois he was assigned to the heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) as a Machinist’s Mate. He was next assigned to the commissioning crew of USS Jamestown (AGP-3), which was converted from a yacht into a PT boat tender in the summer of 1941. Jamestown was sent to Tulagi, Solomon Islands, in September 1942, where the vessel serviced the PT boats of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3. After twelve months of service, the Jamestown returned to San Pedro, California in February 1943, for a badly needed overhaul. Sackett received a commission as ensign and in October 1944 reported as Chief Engineer to a converted Landing Craft Infantry (USS LCI(L)-74) vessel supporting the Allied landing at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines. The vessel was designated as a rocket-firing ship assigned to Amphibious Command, Seventh Fleet in support of numerous landings in the Philippines between October 1944 and February 1945. In July 1945 he describes being assigned command of the LCI(R)-34 training …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Sackett. Sackett was born in Victor, Iowa on 24 June 1920. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy in July 1937. Following basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois he was assigned to the heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) as a Machinist’s Mate. He was next assigned to the commissioning crew of USS Jamestown (AGP-3), which was converted from a yacht into a PT boat tender in the summer of 1941. Jamestown was sent to Tulagi, Solomon Islands, in September 1942, where the vessel serviced the PT boats of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3. After twelve months of service, the Jamestown returned to San Pedro, California in February 1943, for a badly needed overhaul. Sackett received a commission as ensign and in October 1944 reported as Chief Engineer to a converted Landing Craft Infantry (USS LCI(L)-74) vessel supporting the Allied landing at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines. The vessel was designated as a rocket-firing ship assigned to Amphibious Command, Seventh Fleet in support of numerous landings in the Philippines between October 1944 and February 1945. In July 1945 he describes being assigned command of the LCI(R)-34 training …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alex Vraciu. Vraciu was born in East Chicago, Indiana on 2 November 1918. He graduated from DePauw University in 1941, where he received civilian pilot training. He joined the Navy and in February 1943. He joined fighter squadron VF-6, flying the Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat as wingman to Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry “Butch” O’Hare. He entered combat in August 1943, flying off the USS Independence (CVL-22) to make strafing runs on Marcus Island. Vraciu describes a mission he flew against Wake Island with O’Hare on 10 October 1943, during which he shot down a Japanese plane. He recounts bomber escort missions over Rabaul and recalls he shot down his second Japanese bomber on 20 November 1943. He was transferred to USS Essex (CV-9), where he participated in raids on Kwajalein in December. When he learned of O’Hare’s death, he had the difficult job of informing O’Hare’s wife. In December, VF-6 was transferred to USS Intrepid (CV-11). Vraciu describes downing three Japanese bombers over Kwajalein and raiding Truk on 17 February 1944 where he shot down four Japanese Zeros. Vraciu volunteered to return to combat with Air Group 16 (VF-16) …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Blaz. Blaz was born on Guam in 1928 and recalls aspects of his education on the island prior to World War II. He then recounts the arrival of the Japanese forces in December, 1941 and how they treated the Chamorro people. His family fled Agana to some property in the hills outside of town and raised crops during the war years. Blaz was recruited to help build and maintain airfields for the Japanese. He describes his life on GUma during WWII and then recalls the return of the Americans and being liberated. In 1947, Blaz went to Notre Dame University and then joined the Marine Corps in 1951, retiring in 1980.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue by Bob Willig. Willig joined the Navy in 1942 and received basic training in Newport, Rhode Island. He went on to receive flight training in Brunswick, Maine; Charleston, South Carolina; and Yellow Water, Florida. From 1944 to 1945 he served as a flight engineer with Patrol Bombing Squadron 26 in Palau, Ulithi, and Yap. He kept a daily journal and gives detailed accounts of a typhoon, a crash landing, an engine failure, a fuel explosion, a surprise enemy attack, and having a depth-charge stuck in a bomb bay. Yet he also fondly recollects cooking steaks on hot plates during the 10- to 12-hour patrols and how peaceful his time at Ulithi was. He was rarely ashore and spent his time mostly on the USS Casco (AVP-12), USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17), and USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14). At the end of the war he returned home and was discharged in New York.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue by Bob Willig. Willig joined the Navy in 1942 and received basic training in Newport, Rhode Island. He went on to receive flight training in Brunswick, Maine; Charleston, South Carolina; and Yellow Water, Florida. From 1944 to 1945 he served as a flight engineer with Patrol Bombing Squadron 26 in Palau, Ulithi, and Yap. He kept a daily journal and gives detailed accounts of a typhoon, a crash landing, an engine failure, a fuel explosion, a surprise enemy attack, and having a depth-charge stuck in a bomb bay. Yet he also fondly recollects cooking steaks on hot plates during the 10- to 12-hour patrols and how peaceful his time at Ulithi was. He was rarely ashore and spent his time mostly on the USS Casco (AVP-12), USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17), and USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14). At the end of the war he returned home and was discharged in New York.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Gorman. Gorman was working for the US government as a Navajo interpreter when the war started. He heard the Marines needed Navajos for a special assignment, and was among the first 30 selected. After basic training, at Camp Elliott, Gorman and his group codified the Navajo language for communications usage. Once the code was in place, the Navajos were attached to the First and Second Marine divisions and sent to Guadalcanal. Gorman was assigned to the 6th Marines. Gorman also went to Tarawa with the Marines. He comments that he was not used a lot in sending and receiving codified messages in Navajo in his regiment’s headquarters and signal company at Guadalcanal, Tarawa or Saipan. Gorman contracted malaria and returned to the US. He was there when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Braden. Braden was called to active duty in the Army Air Forces from his university’s ROTC program in February 1943 and went to Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. He trained to be a navigator. In January 1945, he flew to Saipan and joined the 870th Bomb Squadron, 497th Bomb Group. He flew combat missions against the home islands of Japan and comments on the initial poor results. He also describes an incident in which they had to ditch their plane in the ocean. He also mentions the low altitude incendiary attacks on Tokyo. Braden returned to the US and was discharged in September, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David P. Newton. Newton was born in Birmingham, Alabama 2 December 1915. In 1937 he enrolled in the Birmingham School of Law, graduating and passing the bar examination in 1942. He was inducted into the US Army in 1943 and had basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 346th Harbor Craft Company. Traveling to Finschhafen, New Guinea he was assigned to a port battalion as a deck officer. He tells of the battalion commander assigning him as the defense counsel for a pending court martial trial. He outlines in detail the cause of the trial and of the favorable ruling rendered toward his client. Soon thereafter, he was sent to Hollandia, New Guinea and assigned to a small boat used for evacuation of wounded from shore. He recalls being part of the invasion force during the landing at Tacloban, Leyte and participating in the evacuation of the wounded. He recollects being ordered to report to the War Crimes Commission in Tokyo in October 1945. He was appointed as a special investigator/prosecutor into the operations of a number of prisoner …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David P. Newton. Newton was born in Birmingham, Alabama 2 December 1915. In 1937 he enrolled in the Birmingham School of Law, graduating and passing the bar examination in 1942. He was inducted into the US Army in 1943 and had basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 346th Harbor Craft Company. Traveling to Finschhafen, New Guinea he was assigned to a port battalion as a deck officer. He tells of the battalion commander assigning him as the defense counsel for a pending court martial trial. He outlines in detail the cause of the trial and of the favorable ruling rendered toward his client. Soon thereafter, he was sent to Hollandia, New Guinea and assigned to a small boat used for evacuation of wounded from shore. He recalls being part of the invasion force during the landing at Tacloban, Leyte and participating in the evacuation of the wounded. He recollects being ordered to report to the War Crimes Commission in Tokyo in October 1945. He was appointed as a special investigator/prosecutor into the operations of a number of prisoner …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Peake. Peake joined the Marine Corps in 1943. After boot camp he went to Camp Tarawa in Hawaii, where he joined the 5th Marine Division, 27th Regiment. In early 1945 they left Hawaii on an LST and traveled to the Marshall Islands, forming up their convoy to invade Iwo Jima. They were involved at Iwo Jima when the preliminary bombardment took place. Peake provides vivid detail of what ensued when they landed. They were a part of the shore party, unloading supplies and equipment and moving them along the beach. Supplies included ammunition and food. He describes the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi. He traveled back to Hawaii in April of 1945. Additionally, after the war, Peake was one of the first group of occupation forces to enter Japan, and he provides details of his experiences there. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E. B. Potter. Potter was attached to the Intelligence Section of the 14th Naval District in Oahu during World War II. He graduated with an English degree from the University of Richmond in 1929. He completed an advanced degree in English at the University of Chicago, and during this time the war broke out in Europe. He applied for and received a commission in the Navy. Potter was sent to the Naval Academy as a reservist to teach college-level European and naval history. After 7 December 1941 he went to communications school. From there he went to Pearl Harbor in November of 1943. Potter worked in the Registered Publications Issuing Office (RPIO), distributing codes and ciphers to ships of the fleet. He provides a vivid description of his work. Potter became second-in-command of RPIO. He talks some of Commander Joseph Rochefort’s operation and code breaking. He discusses briefly working on the biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, and some of Admiral Bill Halsey’s actions during the war. Potter was later assigned as executive officer to the 14th Naval District and provides stories of his experiences. In 1945 he returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E. B. Potter. Potter was attached to the Intelligence Section of the 14th Naval District in Oahu during World War II. He graduated with an English degree from the University of Richmond in 1929. He completed an advanced degree in English at the University of Chicago, and during this time the war broke out in Europe. He applied for and received a commission in the Navy. Potter was sent to the Naval Academy as a reservist to teach college-level European and naval history. After 7 December 1941 he went to communications school. From there he went to Pearl Harbor in November of 1943. Potter worked in the Registered Publications Issuing Office (RPIO), distributing codes and ciphers to ships of the fleet. He provides a vivid description of his work. Potter became second-in-command of RPIO. He talks some of Commander Joseph Rochefort’s operation and code breaking. He discusses briefly working on the biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, and some of Admiral Bill Halsey’s actions during the war. Potter was later assigned as executive officer to the 14th Naval District and provides stories of his experiences. In 1945 he returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Duncan. Duncan graduated from the Naval Academy in 1939. In 1941, he went to flight school at Pensacola after a tour on USS West Virginia (BB-48). He first flew an SOC Seagull in Alaska before transferring to the Solomons, where he caught malaria. Then he was assigned to fighters and boarded USS Hornet (CV-12). He did not stay aboard long before his unit transferred to USS Essex (CV-9) sometime in early 1944. Duncan shares several anecdotes about missions over Iwo Jima, the Marianas and the Philippines. After the war, Duncan went on to be a test pilot for several Navy aircraft and served as captain of a carrier later in his career. He retired in 1968.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glen McDole. McDole was born in Orleans, Nebraska 6 February 1921 and after graduating from high school, enlisted in the Marine Corps in the fall of 1940. Following basic training, he went to Cavite Navy Yard where he performed security guard duties as a member of the 1st Separate Marine Battalion. The battalion was moved to Corregidor Island after the Japanese began attacking the Philippines. There, he was in close contact with General MacArthur. He witnessed MacArthur’s evacuation with General Wainwright assuming command. McDole describes his close proximity to Wainwright and the eventual surrender of Corregidor. He describes his ordeal as a prisoner of war over the next few years, including building a large, concrete Japanese runway in the village of Puerto Princesa on the Philippine island of Palawan. During this time he endured an emergency appendectomy with no anesthesia and no infection-fighting drugs. He also describes the events of 14 December 1944 when the Japanese killed 139 of the 150 remaining prisoners on Palawan, by burning many of them alive. He managed to escape and find refuge among friendly villagers, and eventually was evacuated from the Philippines …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glen McDole. McDole was born in Orleans, Nebraska 6 February 1921 and after graduating from high school, enlisted in the Marine Corps in the fall of 1940. Following basic training, he went to Cavite Navy Yard where he performed security guard duties as a member of the 1st Separate Marine Battalion. The battalion was moved to Corregidor Island after the Japanese began attacking the Philippines. There, he was in close contact with General MacArthur. He witnessed MacArthur’s evacuation with General Wainwright assuming command. McDole describes his close proximity to Wainwright and the eventual surrender of Corregidor. He describes his ordeal as a prisoner of war over the next few years, including building a large, concrete Japanese runway in the village of Puerto Princesa on the Philippine island of Palawan. During this time he endured an emergency appendectomy with no anesthesia and no infection-fighting drugs. He also describes the events of 14 December 1944 when the Japanese killed 139 of the 150 remaining prisoners on Palawan, by burning many of them alive. He managed to escape and find refuge among friendly villagers, and eventually was evacuated from the Philippines …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gordon D. Gayle. Gayle was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma 13 September 1917. After graduating from high school in 1934 he entered West Point 18 July 1935. Upon graduating in 1939 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He then went to a basic school for newly commissioned officers at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Upon completing the course he was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia. Their training involved making amphibious landings at Guantanamo, Cuba. On 7 December 1941 he was promoted to company commander (M Company). On 7 August 1942 he landed on Guadalcanal as the 3rd Battalion operations officer. He describes the action and errors made by the Japanese commanders. Gayle remained with his unit in Melbourne, Australia where they regrouped, received replacements and retrained for nine months. In December 1943, Gayle made a landing at Cape Gloucester, New Britain with his unit. Six days after landing, Gayle was made commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. He describes combat situations and comments on the effect torrential rains had on the men and equipment. Gayle went to Pavuvu and began …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Commander Hal Lamar. He discusses his childhood, what led him to join the Naval Academy and how he became an aide to Admiral Chester A. Nimitz. He describes his time working with Admiral Nimitz and his experiences in the Navy during World War Two and what he did after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Freitas. Freitas joined the Navy in 1939. Freitas served as Fireman Second Class aboard the USS Tangier (AV-8) from April of 1941 to December of 1942. The Tangier picked up military personnel in Pearl Harbor and delivered them to combat areas. Freitas was aboard the Tangier when it was moored abaft the former battleship Utah at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Freitas describes in detail his duties during the attack. He helped rescue people out of the water and provided assistance where needed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ike Kampmann. Kampmann was born in San Antonio, Texas on 2 October 1918 and graduated from the University of Texas, Austin with a law degree. In the spring of 1945 when he was stationed at 6th Army Headquarters at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Island, Philippines, he was attached to the Staff Officer for Personnel (G-1) as the Army was making its move toward Manila. The commanding general, Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, appointed him to a military commission defending four Japanese soldiers who had been caught behind Allied lines in civilian clothes. Kampmann was the least experienced of the six officers on the commission. The four were found guilty and hanged. Subsequently, he was appointed aide-de-camp to General Krueger. For the duration of the interview he expresses remorse over the trial’s outcome.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ike Kampmann. Kampmann was born in San Antonio, Texas on 2 October 1918 and graduated from the University of Texas, Austin with a law degree. In the spring of 1945 when he was stationed at 6th Army Headquarters at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Island, Philippines, he was attached to the Staff Officer for Personnel (G-1) as the Army was making its move toward Manila. The commanding general, Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, appointed him to a military commission defending four Japanese soldiers who had been caught behind Allied lines in civilian clothes. Kampmann was the least experienced of the six officers on the commission. The four were found guilty and hanged. Subsequently, he was appointed aide-de-camp to General Krueger. For the duration of the interview he expresses remorse over the trial’s outcome.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jean Balch. Balch was born in Abilene, Texas and was attending Hardin-Simmons University in 1941. On 8 December, he volunteered for duty in the Navy, but was too young. He joined later that spring. He trained as a radioman and gunner before being assigned the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in the fall of 1944. Balch mentions striking targets in the Philippines and on Formosa in late 1944. On one bombing mission over Hong Kong, China, the plane Balch was in was hit, forcing him to bail out. He landed among some Chinese civilians. In a short time, Balch was captured by Japanese soldiers. After several days, he was transported to Ofuna. Balch recalls several anecdotes about life as a prisoner of war in Japan. He mentions other POWs and tells stories about various guards. When the war ended, Balch was placed aboard the hospital ship USS Benevolence (AH-13). After the war, Balch returned to Tokyo to testify at the war crime trials.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jean Balch. Balch was born in Abilene, Texas and was attending Hardin-Simmons University in 1941. On 8 December, he volunteered for duty in the Navy, but was too young. He joined later that spring. He trained as a radioman and gunner before being assigned the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in the fall of 1944. Balch mentions striking targets in the Philippines and on Formosa in late 1944. On one bombing mission over Hong Kong, China, the plane Balch was in was hit, forcing him to bail out. He landed among some Chinese civilians. In a short time, Balch was captured by Japanese soldiers. After several days, he was transported to Ofuna. Balch recalls several anecdotes about life as a prisoner of war in Japan. He mentions other POWs and tells stories about various guards. When the war ended, Balch was placed aboard the hospital ship USS Benevolence (AH-13). After the war, Balch returned to Tokyo to testify at the war crime trials.