The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Steve Weiner. Weiner graduated from high school in 1935 and attended UCLA for a period of time before graduated from the University of Pittsburg. He entered the cadet training program in 1940 and was sent to Randolph Field in San Antonio. Upon washing out of the program, he was assigned to the 86th Observation Squadron as communications officer at Bellows Field, Hawaii. He recalls 7 December 1941 when a B-17 bomber crash landed on Bellow Field and being told by the crewmembers that they had been attacked. Later his group was strafed by Japanese planes. They were told to draw weapons and prepare for invasion by land forces. He tells of Corporal David Akui bringing the commander of a Japanese midget submarine (HA-19) to him as a captive. He describes in detail the appearance of the commander, Kazuo Sakamaki, and his interaction with him before turning him over to higher authorities. He relates how he communicated with Sakamaki after the war and of meeting him in 1991. [HA-19 is on display at The National Museum of the Pacific War.] In late 1941, Weiner was assigned as officer in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Rudd. Rudd joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He completed Radio School and served as a Radio Operator with the 83rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group. In January of 1944, the group deployed to England. In June, during the Normandy campaign, they released gliders over Cherbourg, France and carried troops, weapons, ammunition and other supplies for the 82nd Airborne Division. In August through December, they participated in the invasion of southern France and Operation Market Garden, releasing paratroopers and gliders, and resupplied the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, Belgium. Rudd returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hoyt Richardson. Richardson left pharmacy school to join the Navy in 1942. Upon completion of corpsman training, he treated soldiers with PTSD. One of his unofficial duties was helping Eleanor Roosevelt with her parrots. Upon transferring to Bethesda as a pharmacist's mate, Richardson had the occasion to chat with FDR, who was receiving physical therapy. He deployed to New Guinea, specializing in the prevention of tropical diseases. Richardson himself suffered various ailments while there but was able to protect others from malaria, dengue fever, and dysentery. In the Philippines, he worked beside native doctors before returning to the States. He worked aboard USS Colorado (BB-45) during demobilization before returning to school on the G.I. Bill and earning his pharmacy degree.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Harold Garty. Garty joined the Marine Corps in July 1941, receiving basic training in San Diego. He was assigned to the antiaircraft division of the 4th Defense Battalion, stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. He was peeling potatoes at the mess hall when the first air raid started. Throughout the war, Garty’s battle station was loading fuse pots, and he describes in detail the teamwork involved in firing a three-inch shell. His left ear was always beside the gun when it fired, causing him tinnitus later in life. He spent time on Efate and Espiritu Santo in June 1942, building airstrips on coconut plantations by hauling felled trees with a tractor. He learned to make spirits by adding raisins to coconuts and allowing them to ferment. In New Zealand he was on MP duty, and in Guadalcanal he became a telephone lineman. There he witnessed a successful diversion of Washing Machine Charlie, with lights strung in the ocean to imitate a landing strip. Garty contracted malaria. He was sent to Camp Pendleton, where he had his wisdom teeth removed. There he reunited with a friend …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Shivley. Shivley joined the Navy when he was fourteen years old in August, 1944. After boot camp, Shivley went to radio operator school then aerial gunnery school. He then reported aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) in February 1945 and attached to Air Group 5. He flew in torpedo bombers as a radioman. He was aboard when the Franklin was attacked on 19 March. He rode the ship back to Hawaii and volunteered for duty aboard another ship afraid of going home and having his age discovered. Shivley was assigned to the radio shack aboard USS O'Bannon (DD-450). He was aboard when the war ended and went to Japan during the occupation.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Mesko. Mesko joined the Marine Corps in June of 1935. He completed Officers Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, graduating as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment of the Fleet Marine Force. Mesko traveled aboard USS Wisconsin (BB-64), and participated in the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended, and retired as lieutenant colonel in January of 1965.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hoyt Richardson. Richardson left pharmacy school to join the Navy in 1942. Upon completion of corpsman training, he treated soldiers with PTSD. One of his unofficial duties was helping Eleanor Roosevelt with her parrots. Upon transferring to Bethesda as a pharmacist's mate, Richardson had the occasion to chat with FDR, who was receiving physical therapy. He deployed to New Guinea, specializing in the prevention of tropical diseases. Richardson himself suffered various ailments while there but was able to protect others from malaria, dengue fever, and dysentery. In the Philippines, he worked beside native doctors before returning to the States. He worked aboard USS Colorado (BB-45) during demobilization before returning to school on the G.I. Bill and earning his pharmacy degree.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Clevenger. Clevenger was born on 13 April 1922 and was drafted into the Army in October 1942. After completing basic training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana he was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas and assigned to the 31st mule pack troop of the Quartermaster Corps. He embarked on the USS General H. W. Butner (AP-113) in Baltimore and arrived at Bombay, India. He took a train to Camp Landis where he contracted a severe case of malaria. Upon recovering, he was transferred to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), also known as Merrill’s Marauders, under the command of Brigadier General Frank Merrill. He describes some of his experiences at Camp Landis. He recalls his unit crossing the Ganges River with their mules on a train. In Burma, Clevenger remembers watching American 75mm howitzers firing upon Japanese troops in a valley. He also recalls he and his mule came under friendly fire on one occasion. He mentions in passing that he bought some jewelry from a woman in China. On 10 August 1944 the Marauders were consolidated into the 475th Infantry, which continued service in northern Burma. In September …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Shivley. Shivley joined the Navy when he was fourteen years old in August, 1944. After boot camp, Shivley went to radio operator school then aerial gunnery school. He then reported aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) in February 1945 and attached to Air Group 5. He flew in torpedo bombers as a radioman. He was aboard when the Franklin was attacked on 19 March. He rode the ship back to Hawaii and volunteered for duty aboard another ship afraid of going home and having his age discovered. Shivley was assigned to the radio shack aboard USS O'Bannon (DD-450). He was aboard when the war ended and went to Japan during the occupation.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Rudd. Rudd joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He completed Radio School and served as a Radio Operator with the 83rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group. In January of 1944, the group deployed to England. In June, during the Normandy campaign, they released gliders over Cherbourg, France and carried troops, weapons, ammunition and other supplies for the 82nd Airborne Division. In August through December, they participated in the invasion of southern France and Operation Market Garden, releasing paratroopers and gliders, and resupplied the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, Belgium. Rudd returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Mesko. Mesko joined the Marine Corps in June of 1935. He completed Officers Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, graduating as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment of the Fleet Marine Force. Mesko traveled aboard USS Wisconsin (BB-64), and participated in the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended, and retired as lieutenant colonel in January of 1965.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Steve Weiner. Weiner graduated from high school in 1935 and attended UCLA for a period of time before graduated from the University of Pittsburg. He entered the cadet training program in 1940 and was sent to Randolph Field in San Antonio. Upon washing out of the program, he was assigned to the 86th Observation Squadron as communications officer at Bellows Field, Hawaii. He recalls 7 December 1941 when a B-17 bomber crash landed on Bellow Field and being told by the crewmembers that they had been attacked. Later his group was strafed by Japanese planes. They were told to draw weapons and prepare for invasion by land forces. He tells of Corporal David Akui bringing the commander of a Japanese midget submarine (HA-19) to him as a captive. He describes in detail the appearance of the commander, Kazuo Sakamaki, and his interaction with him before turning him over to higher authorities. He relates how he communicated with Sakamaki after the war and of meeting him in 1991. [HA-19 is on display at The National Museum of the Pacific War.] In late 1941, Weiner was assigned as officer in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Harold Garty. Garty joined the Marine Corps in July 1941, receiving basic training in San Diego. He was assigned to the antiaircraft division of the 4th Defense Battalion, stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. He was peeling potatoes at the mess hall when the first air raid started. Throughout the war, Garty’s battle station was loading fuse pots, and he describes in detail the teamwork involved in firing a three-inch shell. His left ear was always beside the gun when it fired, causing him tinnitus later in life. He spent time on Efate and Espiritu Santo in June 1942, building airstrips on coconut plantations by hauling felled trees with a tractor. He learned to make spirits by adding raisins to coconuts and allowing them to ferment. In New Zealand he was on MP duty, and in Guadalcanal he became a telephone lineman. There he witnessed a successful diversion of Washing Machine Charlie, with lights strung in the ocean to imitate a landing strip. Garty contracted malaria. He was sent to Camp Pendleton, where he had his wisdom teeth removed. There he reunited with a friend …