The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.L. Summers. While attending college, Summers entered the Army in November, 1940 when his unit, the headquarters battery in the 131st Field Artillery, was mobilized. Prior to that, Summers had been in the National Guard. En route to the Philippines, Summers' unit was redirected to Australia after the Japanese attack. From there, they went to Java. In March, 1942, Summers became a prisoner of war and wound up at Bicycle Camp in Batavia (Jakarta today). Summers describes life as a POW at Bicycle Camp. He was shipped out to the POW camp at Changi, Singapore in September, 1942 aboard the Dai Nichi Maru. In January a train trip and another hell ship ride occurred to Burma. Once there, Japanese trucks took Summers and the other POWs to 18 Kilo Camp where they were to build the railroad to Thailand. From there, he went to the 40 Kilo Camp in March, the 80 Kilo Camp in June, and the 100 Kilo Camp in late August. Throughout this time, Summers suffered from tropical ulcers on his legs, malaria, wet beriberi, dysentery and dengue fever. When the railroad was completed, Summers …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Powers. Powers was born on 1 August 1925 and graduated from high school in 1943. Upon entering the Army on 13 December 1943 he was sent to Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida for five weeks of basic training. In May 1944, he boarded the SS Extavia (1941) bound for Buna Bay, New Guinea. Upon his arrival he was assigned to LCM-513 with the primary function being off-loading Liberty ships. Four months later he was sent to the Philippines where he remained until Japan surrendered. He was then sent to Wakayama, Japan. He returned to the United States aboard the USS General M C Meigs (AP-116) during January 1946 and was discharged soon thereafter.

The National museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dorothy Danner. Danner graduated from nursing school in Los Angeles in 1935. In 1939, she applied and was accepted as a nurse in the Navy. After a while, she received orders for the Philippines and arrived in early 1940 on a two-year assignment. Danner recalls the idyllic setting prior to the war before describing activities just after the Japanese invasion. She was stationed at a hospital at Sangley Point near Cavite in Luzon, Philippines. She was captured by the Japanese and interned at Santo Tomas starting in March 1942. Sometime in 1943, she was sent to Los Banos.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Gordon. Gordon was born in Scotland and joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1939 at Stirling Castle. He was sent to Singapore in January 1940 before the Japanese invaded. Gordon recalls defending the Malay Peninsula starting in January 1942. Gordon was the last to go over the causeway into Singapore before it was destroyed. As Singapore fell, Gordon escaped to Sumatra. When Sumatra fell, Gordon escaped on a sailboat but was captured asea and sent back to Singapore where he entered Changi. He was sent north to build the Death Railway. He describes the conditions along the railway and the work environment.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with John Fitch. Fitch begins with a summary of the naval career of his father, Admiral Aubrey Fitch. Fitch joined the Navy in early 1942. He was assigned to the USS Wasp (CV-7) just before it sank, then to the USS Hornet (CV-8) just before it sank. He was finally assigned to CASU-3 and sent to Guadalcanal. He reflects on what it was like for him in the service while having a high-ranking father. In April, 1943, Fitch transferred aboard the USS Nicholas (DD-449). Fitch shares several anecdotes of his experiences aboard the Nicholas while engaged in the fight around the Solomon Islands and in the Slot. During the Battle of Kula Gulf, Fitch went aboard a whaleboat and rescued survivors from the USS Helena (CL-50). Fitch attended a gunnery school at Noumea before reporting aboard the USS La Vallette (DD-448) in October 1943. He describes being at the Marshall Islands invasion. In July 1944 Fitch returned to the US and put the USS Benner (DD-807) into commission. He recalls battling kamikazes while aboard the Benner on station off the coast of Japan toward the end of the war. Fitch …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ken Towery. Towery joined the Army in early 1941 and was sent to Corregidor to join a coast artillery unit. He recalls several details about life under siege at Corregidor before he was captured by the Japanese and taken to Cabanatuan. He left the Philippines later that year and was taken to China. Towery shares his opinions about being a POW as well as several anecdotes. He also comments on being liberated by Russians and how the Russians and Chinese communists cooperated right after the war. When he was liberated, Towery was put aboard a hospital ship at Port Arthur.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ray Hunt. Hunt joined the Army Air Corps in early 1939. After training, Hunt became an aircraft mechanic and went to the Philippines in November, 1941. He was captured on Bataan and made a prisoner of war. Hunt describes his experiences on the Death March. Along the way, he escaped and was aided by Filipinos until he was healthy enough to join a guerrilla band in Tarlac. Hunt describes his activities and the command structure of his guerrilla organization. When the Allies invaded Luzon, Hunt’s band of guerrillas created havoc behind enemy lines. He received a battlefield commission retroactively sometime in 1945. He stayed in the Army, retiring in 1959.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This recording contains footage of session 1, including discussions on the Hawaii Summit: FDR/Nimitz/MacArthur. Speakers include Bruce Smith, Ron Holliday, Moderator Howard Gutin, Dr. Dean Allard, John Costello, E.B Potter, Calvin L. Christman, Dr. Jeffrey Clarke and Hal Lamar.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This recording features part two of the discussion on the Hawaii Summit: FDR/Nimitz/MacArthur. Speakers include Calvin Christman, Jeffrey Clarke and E.B. Potter.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage from session two on the Marianas Turkey Shoot Speakers include Barrett Tillman, Alex Vraciu, George Duncan, W. "Spider" Webb, James Ramage and Zenji Abe.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage from session three: Marianas and Beyond, covering Saipan, Tinian and Guam. Speakers include Baine Kerr, Edwin Simmons, James Donovan, Carl Gorman, Vicente Blaz and Bunichi Ohtsuka.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains continued footage from session three: Marianas and Beyond covering Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Speakers include Edwin Simmons, Talbot Rain, David Peak, Norman Mollard, Barry Atkins and Martin Allday.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains continued footage from session three: Marianas and Beyond covering Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Speakers include Martin Clayton.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This recording features day two of the symposium, including session four: Blockage Japan. Speakers include Helen McDonald, Jerry Kelley, Roger Pineau, Howard Gutin, Mark Parillo, Marcus Worde and David Braden.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This recording includes audience questions for session four: Blockade Japan.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage from Session five: Forgotten Campaigns. Speakers include Harry Gailey, Gordon Gayle, Fred Fox and Lillian Dunlap.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage of This video contains footage of session Six: Battle of Leyte Gulf Part one. Speakers include Clark Reynolds, David McClintock, Barry Atkins and Henry Pyzdrowski.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This recording features footage from session Six: Battle of Leyte Gulf part two. Speakers include Clark Reynolds, Paul Stillwell, Edwin Wilson, F. B. Phillips and Kennosuke Torisu.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video features an interview with an unknown man.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage of the after action of the symposium. This is session one with John Costello.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage of the after action of the symposium. This is session one with John Costello, part two.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage of the after action of the symposium. This is session one with John Costello, part three.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage of the after action of the symposium. This is session one with John Costello, part four.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled The Die is Cast discussing the final campaigns of the Pacific War in 1944 and 1945. This video contains footage of the after action of the symposium. This is session one with John Costello, part five.