The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eberhardt Niemeyer. Niemeyer finished at the University of Texas in 1941 and was at Midshipman’s school at Northwestern when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When he was commissioned in early 1942, he reported aboard the submarine R-18 and trained the fleet on sounding equipment in the Atlantic Ocean. In early 1944, he put the USS Sea Cat (SS-399) into commission and made four war patrols on her. Niemeyer relates several anecdotes about being aboard submarines during World War II. Niemeyer was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Dahlke. Dahlke joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed torpedo and machine gun schools. He served as Torpedoman aboard the USS Fletcher (DD-445), beginning May of 1942. They participated in the Guadalcanal operation, the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Lingayen Gulf Campaign. In February of 1945, they provided fire support during the occupation of Bataan and Corregidor. Dahlke returned to the US after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John J. Keenan. Keenan joined the Army in June 1941. He served as a bugler and runner and was quickly promoted due to circumstances and luck. Keenan became a master sergeant in less than 2 years. He served with the 7th Armored Division and landed in France in August 1944. Keenan describes some of the incidents he remembers as his unit advanced across Europe including meeting the Russians at the Elbe River. He was discharged in July 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alphior Silverio. Silverio went into the Army in 1942 and trained at Camp Atterbury. He was assigned to the 308th Combat Engineer Battalion attached to the 83rd Infantry Division and went overseas in April, 1944. In August, Silverio went to France with the 83rd. He recalls building bridges across France until he was wounded in early December and evacuated to England. By then he had earned a battlefield commission. He was able to rejoin his unit after recovery and was finally discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Schneider. Schneider joined the Navy in January 1945. He describes his training at radio school including how he was taught Morse Code and typing. Schneider was assigned to PC-1244 and was based in Guam. He briefly discusses going through two typhoons with his tight-knit crew. Schneider was discharged from the Navy in July 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Collins. Collins was a student at UCSB when he witnessed the bombardment of Ellwood. He was drafted soon after and sent to the University of Colorado. Upon course completion, he was assigned to USS LST-476 as a navigator and gunnery officer. His ship generally transported Marines from secured islands to rest points such as Ulithi. After landing troops on the beach at Okinawa, he pulled back to defend a heavy cruiser. Afterward, he shared a bunk with a Marine major suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Collins brought troops to Tokyo Bay and drove into Nagasaki, which was full of civilian casualties and stunned survivors at the time. He returned home and was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Collins was sent to an aviation electronics school and later founded an electronics company that employed 350 people.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norbert Fritz. Fritz joined the Army in 1941 and was sent to radio school in San Antonio and the University of Texas. He received basic training in Amarillo and was reassigned to the Army Air Forces. He completed a radio operator course in Sioux Falls but could not get his Morse code up to speed; so, he was sent to Florida for top-secret radar training and arrived on New Guinea in the spring of 1944. There he serviced B-25 radio equipment, after removing radar equipment so the planes would be light enough for low altitude missions. He continued his work in the Netherlands East Indies, the Philippines, and Okinawa. He sailed through two typhoons on his way back to the States and was discharged in January 1946. Fritz opened a radio repair shop, became a broadcast engineer, and founded several radio stations.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Johnson. Johnson worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941, in forest preservation in the areas of firefighting and fire prevention. He then joined the Marine Corps prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina, and provides much detail of boot camp. In April of 1942 he went to American Samoa. He describes their uniform and equipment issued to them prior to their trip. He traveled to Guadalcanal in August of 1943 and served as a rifleman. He provides detail of life on Guadalcanal. He also describes the various diseases he witnessed on American Samoa and Guadalcanal. He discusses life in the infantry and his work as a Marine during the war. He was discharged in May of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lyle White. White joined the Navy in July of 1943. In Pearl Harbor he served as a carpenter, building new officers’ quarters. He talks about military life and provides some stories. He left for the South Pacific in March of 1944 aboard the USS General G. O. Squier (AP-130). He was part of the 123rd Construction Battalion. They went to Midway to empty bunkers of shells and build docks for submarines. He describes these experiences and the island. They also travelled to Samar, Philippines and built runways and Quonset huts. They built a causeway from Samar to Calaguan. White was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Furrer. Furrer joined the Navy in November of 1940. He completed Aviation Structural Mechanics School, and was assigned to Utility Squadron 1 at the Naval Station on Ford Island in mid-1941. He conducted aircraft maintenance. Furrer witnessed the first Japanese planes bomb Pearl Harbor. He later served as a Barrier Operator aboard the USS Altamaha (CVE-18) in late 1942, traveling to Funafuti, and continued his service in the South Pacific through mid-1944. He was then assigned to Jacksonville, Florida, continuing aircraft maintenance work, where he remained through the end of the war. Furrer continued his service in the Navy, retiring in 1961.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ross Lowell Kastor. Kastor joined the Navy in the spring of 1944. In September, he was assigned to pre-flight School at Hensley Field in Dallas. He completed flight training in a Boeing-Stearman NS2. He was then transferred to Cuddihy Field in Corpus Christi, and trained aboard a Consolidated PB2Y. He graduated in June of 1945, and served as a flight instructor until December. Kastor was made second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and transferred to a Curtiss R5C Commando transport squadron at the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa in Oahu. He worked as a command pilot, and delivered cargo from the Ewa base, to smaller Pacific islands, from which he transported military personnel back to Hawaii. Kastor served 14 months in the Pacific.

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 George Schneider. Schneider was born in Akron, Ohio on 4 October 1924. After being drafted in 1943, he had basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Upon completing basic, he was assigned to 273rd Regimental Headquarters Company, 69th Infantry Division as a scout. After a while, he was sent to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey where he boarded the Highland Brigade. During July 1944 he landed on Omaha Beach as a replacement and was initially assigned to 3rd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. On July 24 and 25 the division was accidentally bombed by US aircraft resulting in 683 casualties. Among them was US General Lesley McNair. Schneider worked with the French underground during the Battle of Mortain during August 1944. He recalls entering into Belgium, Holland and Germany and describes being in the Battle of the Bulge and recounts how his battalion found the casualties of the Malmedy Massacre. In February 1945, he was assigned as the jeep driver for the assistant battalion commander. He hit a land mine, which wounded him and killed the other riders. Schneider returned to the United States aboard the RMS Queen …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Johnson. Johnson worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941, in forest preservation in the areas of firefighting and fire prevention. He then joined the Marine Corps prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina, and provides much detail of boot camp. In April of 1942 he went to American Samoa. He describes their uniform and equipment issued to them prior to their trip. He traveled to Guadalcanal in August of 1943 and served as a rifleman. He provides detail of life on Guadalcanal. He also describes the various diseases he witnessed on American Samoa and Guadalcanal. He discusses life in the infantry and his work as a Marine during the war. He was discharged in May of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lyle White. White joined the Navy in July of 1943. In Pearl Harbor he served as a carpenter, building new officers’ quarters. He talks about military life and provides some stories. He left for the South Pacific in March of 1944 aboard the USS General G. O. Squier (AP-130). He was part of the 123rd Construction Battalion. They went to Midway to empty bunkers of shells and build docks for submarines. He describes these experiences and the island. They also travelled to Samar, Philippines and built runways and Quonset huts. They built a causeway from Samar to Calaguan. White was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Furrer. Furrer joined the Navy in November of 1940. He completed Aviation Structural Mechanics School, and was assigned to Utility Squadron 1 at the Naval Station on Ford Island in mid-1941. He conducted aircraft maintenance. Furrer witnessed the first Japanese planes bomb Pearl Harbor. He later served as a Barrier Operator aboard the USS Altamaha (CVE-18) in late 1942, traveling to Funafuti, and continued his service in the South Pacific through mid-1944. He was then assigned to Jacksonville, Florida, continuing aircraft maintenance work, where he remained through the end of the war. Furrer continued his service in the Navy, retiring in 1961.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ross Lowell Kastor. Kastor joined the Navy in the spring of 1944. In September, he was assigned to pre-flight School at Hensley Field in Dallas. He completed flight training in a Boeing-Stearman NS2. He was then transferred to Cuddihy Field in Corpus Christi, and trained aboard a Consolidated PB2Y. He graduated in June of 1945, and served as a flight instructor until December. Kastor was made second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and transferred to a Curtiss R5C Commando transport squadron at the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa in Oahu. He worked as a command pilot, and delivered cargo from the Ewa base, to smaller Pacific islands, from which he transported military personnel back to Hawaii. Kastor served 14 months in the Pacific.

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 oral interview with George Schneider. Schneider was born in Akron, Ohio on 4 October 1924. After being drafted in 1943, he had basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Upon completing basic, he was assigned to 273rd Regimental Headquarters Company, 69th Infantry Division as a scout. After a while, he was sent to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey where he boarded the Highland Brigade. During July 1944 he landed on Omaha Beach as a replacement and was initially assigned to 3rd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. On July 24 and 25 the division was accidentally bombed by US aircraft resulting in 683 casualties. Among them was US General Lesley McNair. Schneider worked with the French underground during the Battle of Mortain during August 1944. He recalls entering into Belgium, Holland and Germany and describes being in the Battle of the Bulge and recounts how his battalion found the casualties of the Malmedy Massacre. In February 1945, he was assigned as the jeep driver for the assistant battalion commander. He hit a land mine, which wounded him and killed the other riders. Schneider returned to the United States aboard the RMS Queen …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eberhardt Niemeyer. Niemeyer finished at the University of Texas in 1941 and was at Midshipman’s school at Northwestern when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When he was commissioned in early 1942, he reported aboard the submarine R-18 and trained the fleet on sounding equipment in the Atlantic Ocean. In early 1944, he put the USS Sea Cat (SS-399) into commission and made four war patrols on her. Niemeyer relates several anecdotes about being aboard submarines during World War II. Niemeyer was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Dahlke. Dahlke joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed torpedo and machine gun schools. He served as Torpedoman aboard the USS Fletcher (DD-445), beginning May of 1942. They participated in the Guadalcanal operation, the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Lingayen Gulf Campaign. In February of 1945, they provided fire support during the occupation of Bataan and Corregidor. Dahlke returned to the US after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John J. Keenan. Keenan joined the Army in June 1941. He served as a bugler and runner and was quickly promoted due to circumstances and luck. Keenan became a master sergeant in less than 2 years. He served with the 7th Armored Division and landed in France in August 1944. Keenan describes some of the incidents he remembers as his unit advanced across Europe including meeting the Russians at the Elbe River. He was discharged in July 1945.