The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leslie Bray. After several attempts to get into the Army Air Corps flying cadet program, Bray finally succeeded in late 1941 and started flight school in Coleman, Texas. He earned hi swings and commission in October, 1942. He ended up learning to fly C-47 cargo planes and serving as an operations officer for the 10th Troop Carrier Group. In June, 1944, Bray was selected to command the newly-formed 16th Combat Cargo Squadron in New York. They went overseas in November, 1944 to India to assist the British 14th Army in Burma. Bray shares several anecdotes about his time in India. He also flew missions carrying fuel drums over the Himalaya Mountains (the Hump) toward the end of the war. Bray returned to the US in late December, 1945 and elected to stay on active duty. He shares anecdotes about the rest of his career in the Air Force.

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 interview with Frederick Holland. Holland was drafted in April 1942 into the Army. From there, he applied for a transfer to the Army Air Forces and was accepted. He attended officer candidate school and earned a commission in early 1943. Then, he was flown to India and worked in Calcutta seeing that equipment and supplies were loaded and flown to other bases in India. Holland developed a conveyor mechanism that assisted in loading cargo onto planes while overseas. He returned to the US and was discharged in February 1946.

Transcript of an oral monologue by John A. Hugghins. Hugghins finished high school in Bryan, Texas in May, 1041, and went to Baylor University that fall on a football scholarship. He joined the Navy and was called to active duty in July, 1943. In the meantime, he stayed in school. Once he received the call, he reported to stations in Mississippi and New York for training. When he finished midshipman school in Plattsburgh, New York, he was commissioned an ensign in June, 1944. He immediately reported to Charleston, South Carolina, where LSM-152 was under construciton. Before long, he was made gunnery and supply officer assigned to USS LSM-201, which became his home for the duration of the war. Aboard USS LSM-201, Hugghins passed through the Panama Canal on the way to Pearl Harbor, where tanks were loaded aboard the vessel for transport to Iwo Jima. Hugghins speaks about his first impression of Iwo Jima, the naval bombardment prior to the invasion and making a landing there. He also discusses the flag-raising and what it felt like to witness that. Hugghins visited the island one day and got a tour from a Marine in a jeep. He also visited the Marine …

Transcript of an oral monologue by John A. Hugghins. Hugghins finished high school in Bryan, Texas in May, 1041, and went to Baylor University that fall on a football scholarship. He joined the Navy and was called to active duty in July, 1943. In the meantime, he stayed in school. Once he received the call, he reported to stations in Mississippi and New York for training. When he finished midshipman school in Plattsburgh, New York, he was commissioned an ensign in June, 1944. He immediately reported to Charleston, South Carolina, where LSM-152 was under construciton. Before long, he was made gunnery and supply officer assigned to USS LSM-201, which became his home for the duration of the war. Aboard USS LSM-201, Hugghins passed through the Panama Canal on the way to Pearl Harbor, where tanks were loaded aboard the vessel for transport to Iwo Jima. Hugghins speaks about his first impression of Iwo Jima, the naval bombardment prior to the invasion and making a landing there. He also discusses the flag-raising and what it felt like to witness that. Hugghins visited the island one day and got a tour from a Marine in a jeep. He also visited the Marine …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Johnsen. Johnsen joined the Army Air Corps in August of 1940. He worked as a clerk and postal inspector for the Army at Scott Field, Illinois. He graduated in August of 1942 from the Flying Sergeant Program. He opted not to be a pilot and immediately transferred to the 426th Army Air Forces Band in Waco, Texas as a trombonist. They were sent to San Marcos and provided music for the marching soldiers, the black soldiers in their compound and the white soldiers in theirs, as they were not integrated at that time. In 1945 they went to Calcutta and New Delhi, India where they played music and concerts for the enlisted men and officers. They also played at the rest and recuperation camps in the Himalaya Mountains. On the troop ship he served guard duty, and he provides details of those experiences. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudy Kiehne. Kiehne was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, 25 October 1919 and enlisted in the Navy in 1938 upon graduating from high school. He was assigned to the USS Maryland (BB-46) in Pearl Harbor as a gunner’s mate responsible for a battery of 5-inch/.51-caliber broadside guns. He was aboard the Maryland the morning of 7 December 1941 and watched a Japanese plane drop a torpedo on the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), which was tied up next to the Maryland. He describes his role in manning an anti-aircraft battery, but does not recall any success against the Japanese aircraft during the attack. He recalls that a bomb penetrated the forward hull of the Maryland but there were a minimum of casualties. Kiehne was transferred to a fleet oiler in October 1942 and describes his new ship’s role as a member of a tanker group located in Ulithi, Caroline Islands, conducting underway replenishments for the fleet preparing for battle in the Philippines. He next recalls before transferred to USS USS LCS-392 and participating in the landing on Okinawa in April 1945. He was discharged at Camp Wallace, Texas after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudy Kiehne. Kiehne was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, 25 October 1919 and enlisted in the Navy in 1938 upon graduating from high school. He was assigned to the USS Maryland (BB-46) in Pearl Harbor as a gunner’s mate responsible for a battery of 5-inch/.51-caliber broadside guns. He was aboard the Maryland the morning of 7 December 1941 and watched a Japanese plane drop a torpedo on the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), which was tied up next to the Maryland. He describes his role in manning an anti-aircraft battery, but does not recall any success against the Japanese aircraft during the attack. He recalls that a bomb penetrated the forward hull of the Maryland but there were a minimum of casualties. Kiehne was transferred to a fleet oiler in October 1942 and describes his new ship’s role as a member of a tanker group located in Ulithi, Caroline Islands, conducting underway replenishments for the fleet preparing for battle in the Philippines. He next recalls before transferred to USS USS LCS-392 and participating in the landing on Okinawa in April 1945. He was discharged at Camp Wallace, Texas after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harry Lapham. Lapham joined the Navy and after completing boot, he attended a machinist mate school at Norfolk, Virginia until March 1941. He tells of traveling to Goat Island, California where he went aboard the USS Tangier (AV-8). The ship was anchored near the USS Utah at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes what he saw and felt following the attack. In February 1942, Lapham left the Tangier to attend Diesel school. He returned to sea aboard another ship.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Lesko. Lesko was drafted into the Army Air Forces in August of 1943. He was trained in long-range navigation [LORAN] radar. In February 1945 he went to Calcutta, India aboard the USS General W. A. Mann (AP-112). He worked on C-46s as a radar and radio technician in the 13th Squadron, 4th Combat Cargo Group. He describes his work on the planes. His unit also went to Myitkyina, Burma, where he assisted in setting up the camp and building bridges. The pilots in his unit flew out of these bases to provide supplies to troops in combat zones. Lesko describes primitive life at the camps. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Minnish. Minnish joined the Navy in September of 1924, at the age of 15. He provides some details of boot camp at Great Lakes. He was sent to San Pedro, California and assigned to the USS Oklahoma (BB-37). They traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and Samoa. Minnish describes life aboard the Oklahoma. His job was to clean the deck, serve as a messenger and maintain watch. He was discharged in September of 1928, then completed submarine school beginning January of 1930. Minnish was a radioman aboard the USS Bushnell (AS-15), the USS R-14 (SS-91), the USS Perch (SS-176) and the USS S-43 (SS-154). From 1938-1940 he served as an instructor aboard the USS Saury (SS-189). He continued working in radio aboard the USS Albemarle (AV-5), transporting German prisoners of war. Minnish made Chief Warrant Officer and worked at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. He was discharged in May of 1947.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled But Not in Shame discussing men who were Prisoners of War in Japan during World War Two. This video features remarks given by Kyle Thompson, John Olson, Ken Towery, Bob Martindale and Fiske Hanley.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War entitled But Not in Shame discussing men who were Prisoners of War in Japan during World War Two. This video contains remarks given by Admiral Grojean, Marty Marshall, Margaret Gillooly, Inez Jongenburger and Morris Shoss.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This recording features the opening of the symposium and remarks given by John R. Braizil, Walt Davine and R. James Wilson.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This video features remarks given by Sandal Wilson and Kent Harrington as well as questions from the audience.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This recording features remarks given by William O. Studman, Ralph Earl and Rick Status.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This recording features remarks given by John Mills, Chris Abbot and Robert Fitz as well as questions from the audience.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This recording features remarks given by General Wilson and Matt Showers.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This video contains remarks given by Matt Showers, David Hats and Doug McCekin.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This recording includes a panel discussion featuring Gary Lowery and John Pardos as well as audience questions.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This recording features remarks given by Mike Actsure, Paul Redman, Allison B. Gillan as well as audience questions.

Video footage from a symposium sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War Double-Edged Secretes which covers US intelligence in the Pacific Ocean during and after World War Two. This video features remarks given by Admiral Grojean and Sherry Shaugtac.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and interview with Hal Olsen. Olsen joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939 and went to Utah. When the war started, Olsen was a toolmaker. His deferment expired so he joined the Navy in January 1943. He attended aviation machinist school in Memphis before being assigned to the Bunker Hill Naval Air Station in Indiana. He eventually specialized in instrument repair. In January 1945, he shipped overseas to Tinian. On the side, he painted nose art. Olsen was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard L. Patton. He discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and the rest of World War Two in the Pacific Theatre.