The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard G. Toler. Toler grew up in Oklahoma and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He received his commission in 1941 and proceeded to Hickam Field attached to the 42nd Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group. Toler describes the attack on Pearl Harbor and his participation in the battle. He also mentions attacking Henderson Field in a B-17 on Guadalcanal prior to the Marine landing there. Toler describes having to ditch in the ocean after the raid and being rescued. He also describes participating in the Battle of Midway. Also during the war ,Toler served as an instructo for B-17 bombers at Hobbs, New Mexico. He was there when the war ended. He stayed in the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1963.

Transcript of an oral interview with Claxito R. Ramirez. He joined the Army in 1942 and was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division. He arrived in Belgium in late 1944 in time to participate in the Battle of the Bulge. In April, 1945 Ramirez was riding on a tank that got hit by a German 88mm shell. Ramirez was wounded by shell fragments and spent some time in the hospital before returning to his unit. By the time he returned to his unit, the war in Europe had reached an end. He stayed in Europe until December when he returned to Texas, where he was discharged in January, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Henry Carroll. Carroll joined the Marine Corps in August 1943. He became a member of a Unit Defense Company and joined VMO-155 in Hawaii. Carroll was then sent to help defend Midway, Kwajalein, and later Majuro. He briefly describes the islands. Carroll was sent back to the US before the end of the war and served as Sergeant of the Guard at Treasure Island until the end of his enlistment in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Robinette. Robinette was born on 27 March 1925. He joined the Navy and completed Basic Engineering School. Beginning in early 1944, Robinette served as a Fireman aboard USS Claxton (DD-571). They aided in the invasion of the Philippines and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where they received damage from a kamikaze plane. They provided escort duty in the Lingayen Gulf landings in January of 1945. In May, they arrived off Okinawa for duty as radar picket and fighter-director until the close of the war. Robinette returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Keteik. Keteik was working as a railroad engineer when he was drafted into the Navy in 1942. He was assigned to the USS Claxton (DD-571) as a seaman, working his way up to boatswain's mate. Operating the whaleboat was easy for him, as he was accustomed to communicating with whistles and bells, from his time on the railroad. His battle station was as a loader on turret four. He received a citation from Nimitz for remaining at his station and claims to have lived at the gun for a month at a time. A crewmate beside him fell asleep there and was killed when the gun changed directions abruptly. After colliding with another ship, the Claxton was sent to San Francisco for repairs, where Keteik enjoyed liberty with his good friend, New York Yankee Bob Cerv. Keteik also survived a kamikaze strike. He was discharged and returned to his old job, enjoying a 42-year career as a railway engineer.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ervin Vernon. Vernon joined the Navy in September of 1942. He served as a Fireman and Machinist Mate aboard USS Claxton (DD-571). They traveled to New Caledonia, Manus Island in New Guinea and participated in the invasion of the Philippines and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in late 1944. Vernon shares numerous details of his work in, and the function of, the boiler room. In May of 1945, they conducted radar picket duty off the coast of Okinawa. Vernon was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jackie Haworth. Haworth entered the Navy March 1944. He went to Faragut, Idaho for boot camp. From there he went on to California, Hawaii and then to the South Pacific and boarded the USS Boston (CA-69). He was in the black gang on the Boston working in the aft engine room serving as a fireman, first class. Later, he became a machinist mate, first class. He was part of the Battle of the Philippine Sea in 1944. He provides details of that event. He was discharged May 1946. His ship was bombarding Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima. He toured the area afterwards and gives details of what he saw. He used his G.I. Bill to attend Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma for aircraft engine training. He later worked on the railroad, then got into the oil industry.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Mika. Mika joined the Navy in 1942. He attended aviation metalsmith school in Norman, Oklahoma, repairing airplane parts, including the wings and fuselage, and welding aluminum. In late 1943 he graduated from Aerial Gunnery School in California. He served aboard the USS Santee (CVE-29) beginning March of 1944. They participated in the invasion of Hollandia, Morotai and Guam. Mika’s job aboard the ship was servicing the planes and aviation gas detail. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and he describes an attack by a kamikaze plane and a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. They traveled back to Pearl Harbor for repairs, and then back out to Okinawa. He provides some details of the carrier. They traveled to Wakayama, Japan and picked up American, British and Australian prisoners of war. He was discharged in April of 1947.

Transcript of an oral interview with Wesley Visel. Visel joined the Army shortly after war's outbreak and was sent to Texas for training. He ended up as an LVT (Landing Vehicle, Tracked) driver and describes the operation of the amphibious vehicle. Visel describes loading up onto LSTs (Landing Ship. Tank) and invading Luzon, Philippines. He describes dropping infantrymen off, then returning to the side of a liberty ship where cargo was craned over the side into his LVT. Visel then headed back to shore to unload. He would perform this task for 12 hours straight. Visel also describes experiences on Palawan and Mindanao. Visel was still in the Philippines training for the upcoming invasion of Japan when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Doug Hubbard. Hubbard joined the Navy in 1943. He served in the South Pacific as a lieutenant (j.g.). He served aboard the USS Joseph E. Connolly (DE-450). They traveled to Jamaica, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. They completed convoy duty, escorting combat ships. By late 1945 he transferred to the Hospital Corps, and was stationed in New Caledonia. Hubbard was discharged in 1946. He speaks briefly on his work in beginning the National Museum of the Pacific War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Mika. Mika joined the Navy in 1942. He attended aviation metalsmith school in Norman, Oklahoma, repairing airplane parts, including the wings and fuselage, and welding aluminum. In late 1943 he graduated from Aerial Gunnery School in California. He served aboard the USS Santee (CVE-29) beginning March of 1944. They participated in the invasion of Hollandia, Morotai and Guam. Mika’s job aboard the ship was servicing the planes and aviation gas detail. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and he describes an attack by a kamikaze plane and a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. They traveled back to Pearl Harbor for repairs, and then back out to Okinawa. He provides some details of the carrier. They traveled to Wakayama, Japan and picked up American, British and Australian prisoners of war. He was discharged in April of 1947.

Transcript of an oral interview with Claxito R. Ramirez. He joined the Army in 1942 and was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division. He arrived in Belgium in late 1944 in time to participate in the Battle of the Bulge. In April, 1945 Ramirez was riding on a tank that got hit by a German 88mm shell. Ramirez was wounded by shell fragments and spent some time in the hospital before returning to his unit. By the time he returned to his unit, the war in Europe had reached an end. He stayed in Europe until December when he returned to Texas, where he was discharged in January, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Henry Carroll. Carroll joined the Marine Corps in August 1943. He became a member of a Unit Defense Company and joined VMO-155 in Hawaii. Carroll was then sent to help defend Midway, Kwajalein, and later Majuro. He briefly describes the islands. Carroll was sent back to the US before the end of the war and served as Sergeant of the Guard at Treasure Island until the end of his enlistment in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jackie Haworth. Haworth entered the Navy March 1944. He went to Faragut, Idaho for boot camp. From there he went on to California, Hawaii and then to the South Pacific and boarded the USS Boston (CA-69). He was in the black gang on the Boston working in the aft engine room serving as a fireman, first class. Later, he became a machinist mate, first class. He was part of the Battle of the Philippine Sea in 1944. He provides details of that event. He was discharged May 1946. His ship was bombarding Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima. He toured the area afterwards and gives details of what he saw. He used his G.I. Bill to attend Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma for aircraft engine training. He later worked on the railroad, then got into the oil industry.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Robinette. Robinette was born on 27 March 1925. He joined the Navy and completed Basic Engineering School. Beginning in early 1944, Robinette served as a Fireman aboard USS Claxton (DD-571). They aided in the invasion of the Philippines and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where they received damage from a kamikaze plane. They provided escort duty in the Lingayen Gulf landings in January of 1945. In May, they arrived off Okinawa for duty as radar picket and fighter-director until the close of the war. Robinette returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ervin Vernon. Vernon joined the Navy in September of 1942. He served as a Fireman and Machinist Mate aboard USS Claxton (DD-571). They traveled to New Caledonia, Manus Island in New Guinea and participated in the invasion of the Philippines and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in late 1944. Vernon shares numerous details of his work in, and the function of, the boiler room. In May of 1945, they conducted radar picket duty off the coast of Okinawa. Vernon was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Keteik. Keteik was working as a railroad engineer when he was drafted into the Navy in 1942. He was assigned to the USS Claxton (DD-571) as a seaman, working his way up to boatswain's mate. Operating the whaleboat was easy for him, as he was accustomed to communicating with whistles and bells, from his time on the railroad. His battle station was as a loader on turret four. He received a citation from Nimitz for remaining at his station and claims to have lived at the gun for a month at a time. A crewmate beside him fell asleep there and was killed when the gun changed directions abruptly. After colliding with another ship, the Claxton was sent to San Francisco for repairs, where Keteik enjoyed liberty with his good friend, New York Yankee Bob Cerv. Keteik also survived a kamikaze strike. He was discharged and returned to his old job, enjoying a 42-year career as a railway engineer.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Doug Hubbard. Hubbard joined the Navy in 1943. He served in the South Pacific as a lieutenant (j.g.). He served aboard the USS Joseph E. Connolly (DE-450). They traveled to Jamaica, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. They completed convoy duty, escorting combat ships. By late 1945 he transferred to the Hospital Corps, and was stationed in New Caledonia. Hubbard was discharged in 1946. He speaks briefly on his work in beginning the National Museum of the Pacific War.

Transcript of an oral interview with Wesley Visel. Visel joined the Army shortly after war's outbreak and was sent to Texas for training. He ended up as an LVT (Landing Vehicle, Tracked) driver and describes the operation of the amphibious vehicle. Visel describes loading up onto LSTs (Landing Ship. Tank) and invading Luzon, Philippines. He describes dropping infantrymen off, then returning to the side of a liberty ship where cargo was craned over the side into his LVT. Visel then headed back to shore to unload. He would perform this task for 12 hours straight. Visel also describes experiences on Palawan and Mindanao. Visel was still in the Philippines training for the upcoming invasion of Japan when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard G. Toler. Toler grew up in Oklahoma and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He received his commission in 1941 and proceeded to Hickam Field attached to the 42nd Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group. Toler describes the attack on Pearl Harbor and his participation in the battle. He also mentions attacking Henderson Field in a B-17 on Guadalcanal prior to the Marine landing there. Toler describes having to ditch in the ocean after the raid and being rescued. He also describes participating in the Battle of Midway. Also during the war ,Toler served as an instructo for B-17 bombers at Hobbs, New Mexico. He was there when the war ended. He stayed in the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1963.

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including their issues with the mail, a plan to go to Gonzales on the bus, and an update on the potential sale of the car.

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the mail service, responding to the news from home Catherine shared, and watching the movie "The Sky's the Limit."

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz relates his standing in his classes after the first month at the Academy. He expects to keep improving and also expects some others will fail. Nimitz indicates the artillery drill hurts his ears, but enjoys drilling when the band is playing.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates where he stands in his class after a month at the Academy. He also expresses a belief that he ought to be able to maintain his position with hard work.