Transcript of an oral interview with John W. Finn. Finn grew up in California and joined the Navy in 1926. He went through training. By 1941, he has been made Chief Petty Officer and is in the BP-14 squadron. This squadron arrived in Kaneohe Bay on the USS Enterprise in May 1941. Finn has become the Chief Ordnance and Bombsight man. He describes the Japanese bombing Kaneohe Bay just before Pearl Harbor. He took a gun outside and is exposed to Japanese strafing while he fires at the airplanes. He received the Medal of Honor for his efforts.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Chaffin. Chaffin was born on 30 March 1922 in Spring Valley, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1940 he worked for the National Youth Administration as an aircraft mechanic trainee. He joined the US Navy and had two weeks of boot camp at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station (NAS), Texas. Upon completing boot training he was sent to the Beeville NAS, Texas. In 1943 he was assigned to United States. Navy. Carrier Air Service Unit 1 (CASU-1) and reported to the Ford Island NAS at Pearl Harbor. During February 1944 he went aboard the USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) in time to deliver of planes to the Marshall Islands. On 2 May 1944, he went aboard the USS Essex (CV-9) as a member of the ship’s crew. He describes characteristics of the various planes he worked on aboard ship and also explains the procedures followed to determine whether a damaged plane was to be repaired or destroyed. On 25, November 1944, the Essex was struck by a kamikaze and Chaffin was severely wounded. After the ship arrived at Ulithi for repairs, he was transferred to the USS …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Tacker. Tacker was born in Cornith, Mississippi on 6 November 1924. Enlisting in the US Navy in January 1943 he underwent boot camp at San Diego, California. He then attended quartermaster school. In August 1943 he was assigned to the USS Buchanan (DD-484). He recalls cruising off the coast of Bougainville when the ship was subjected to shelling by Japanese shore batteries resulting in casualties. He tells of going aboard the USS Hazelwood as the helmsman soon after it was hit severely damaged by kamikazes and describes the death and destruction he observed. Tacker recalls being in the typhoon during which the USS Spence, USS Monahan and USS Hull were sunk. After the war, he stayed in the Navy and underwent flight training earning his wings in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Shown. Shown was born 23 November 1920 on a ranch in Oregon. He joined the Navy in 1939 and went to boot camp in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) as a deck hand and during battle stations he was a gun pointer. After delivering troops to Melbourne, Australia, the Indianapolis was ordered to the Bering Sea to patrol the Aleutian Islands. Heavy seas damaged the ship making repairs Mare Island Naval Shipyard necessary. Shown also tells of the Indianapolis participating in the invasions of Tarawa, Saipan and Okinawa. He relates an incident where the ship was damaged by a kamikaze requiring a return to Mare Island for repair. Upon completion of the repairs the ship was ordered to Hunters Point Naval Shipyard where atomic bomb components were put on board, under tight security, and delivered to Tinian. On 30 July 1945 the ship was hit by a Japanese torpedo and sunk. Shown shares anecdotes of being in the water five days: men hallucinating, men dying of thirst and exposure, witnessing fatal shark attacks and being rescued by the USS Bassett …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Korner. Korner was born in Star City, Indiana 31 December 1921 and graduated from high school in 1940. After working at various jobs, he was employed by a company that manufactured the Norden bombsight. As a machinist his work was classified as essential to war production, thus exempting him from military service. He felt it was his duty to serve his country however, and joined the US Navy in 1944. After completing boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois he volunteered for submarine duty. Completing submarine school at New London, Connecticut he served as a motor machinist aboard an R Boat (R-18) for six months before being assigned to the USS Argonaut (SS-475). In early 1946, while at sea, the Argonaut collided with the USS Honolulu (CL-48) resulting in extensive damage to the submarine. It went to dry dock at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Korner remained on board as a member of the maintenance crew until he was discharged May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Maxwell. Maxwell was born 19 May 1926 in Monon, Indiana. In 1942 he attended the government sponsored National Youth Organization School training in mechanics. In 1944 he was drafted into the Army. After completing training at Camp Fannin, Texas he was sent to Fort Ord, California. He went to Hawaii where he received jungle training and practiced landings. Maxwell received additional jungle training at Saipan. He was then sent to Okinawa and assigned to the 77th Infantry Division, 307th Infantry. He recalls various combat situations in which he was involved, describing his experiences, including being wounded. After the Japanese surrendered on Okinawa his unit was sent to Cebu for replacements and refit. While there, Japan surrendered thus ending the war. Maxwell tells of being stationed in Japan for a period of time, returning to the United States and receiving his discharge in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester W. Nimitz, Jr. Nimitz was born in Brooklyn, New York 17 February 1915. He attended Severn Preparatory School prior to entering the US Naval Academy in 1932. Upon graduating in 1936, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) as assistant navigator. He applied for submarine duty in 1938 and trained at New London, Connecticut. After training he was assigned to the USS Sturgeon (SS-187) based in San Diego. In November 1941, the Sturgeon proceeded to Manila. Recalling his first war patrol aboard the Sturgeon, Nimitz recalls being subjected to depth charge attacks and the frustration caused by defective torpedoes. Returning to the United States he was assigned to the USS Bluefish (SS-222) as the executive officer. Later, he was withdrawn from sea duty and assigned to work on the torpedo problem. Nimitz was then put in command of the USS Haddo (SS-255) and describes an attack on a Japanese ship during which all six torpedoes launched exploded prematurely. He discusses the problem of defective torpedoes. On their last patrol in the Haddo, his crew sank five enemy ships and received a Navy Unit Commendation. Nimitz received …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Korner. Korner was born in Star City, Indiana 31 December 1921 and graduated from high school in 1940. After working at various jobs, he was employed by a company that manufactured the Norden bombsight. As a machinist his work was classified as essential to war production, thus exempting him from military service. He felt it was his duty to serve his country however, and joined the US Navy in 1944. After completing boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois he volunteered for submarine duty. Completing submarine school at New London, Connecticut he served as a motor machinist aboard an R Boat (R-18) for six months before being assigned to the USS Argonaut (SS-475). In early 1946, while at sea, the Argonaut collided with the USS Honolulu (CL-48) resulting in extensive damage to the submarine. It went to dry dock at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Korner remained on board as a member of the maintenance crew until he was discharged May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Maxwell. Maxwell was born 19 May 1926 in Monon, Indiana. In 1942 he attended the government sponsored National Youth Organization School training in mechanics. In 1944 he was drafted into the Army. After completing training at Camp Fannin, Texas he was sent to Fort Ord, California. He went to Hawaii where he received jungle training and practiced landings. Maxwell received additional jungle training at Saipan. He was then sent to Okinawa and assigned to the 77th Infantry Division, 307th Infantry. He recalls various combat situations in which he was involved, describing his experiences, including being wounded. After the Japanese surrendered on Okinawa his unit was sent to Cebu for replacements and refit. While there, Japan surrendered thus ending the war. Maxwell tells of being stationed in Japan for a period of time, returning to the United States and receiving his discharge in 1947.

Transcript of an oral interview with John W. Finn. Finn grew up in California and joined the Navy in 1926. He went through training. By 1941, he has been made Chief Petty Officer and is in the BP-14 squadron. This squadron arrived in Kaneohe Bay on the USS Enterprise in May 1941. Finn has become the Chief Ordnance and Bombsight man. He describes the Japanese bombing Kaneohe Bay just before Pearl Harbor. He took a gun outside and is exposed to Japanese strafing while he fires at the airplanes. He received the Medal of Honor for his efforts.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Chaffin. Chaffin was born on 30 March 1922 in Spring Valley, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1940 he worked for the National Youth Administration as an aircraft mechanic trainee. He joined the US Navy and had two weeks of boot camp at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station (NAS), Texas. Upon completing boot training he was sent to the Beeville NAS, Texas. In 1943 he was assigned to United States. Navy. Carrier Air Service Unit 1 (CASU-1) and reported to the Ford Island NAS at Pearl Harbor. During February 1944 he went aboard the USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) in time to deliver of planes to the Marshall Islands. On 2 May 1944, he went aboard the USS Essex (CV-9) as a member of the ship’s crew. He describes characteristics of the various planes he worked on aboard ship and also explains the procedures followed to determine whether a damaged plane was to be repaired or destroyed. On 25, November 1944, the Essex was struck by a kamikaze and Chaffin was severely wounded. After the ship arrived at Ulithi for repairs, he was transferred to the USS …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Tacker. Tacker was born in Cornith, Mississippi on 6 November 1924. Enlisting in the US Navy in January 1943 he underwent boot camp at San Diego, California. He then attended quartermaster school. In August 1943 he was assigned to the USS Buchanan (DD-484). He recalls cruising off the coast of Bougainville when the ship was subjected to shelling by Japanese shore batteries resulting in casualties. He tells of going aboard the USS Hazelwood as the helmsman soon after it was hit severely damaged by kamikazes and describes the death and destruction he observed. Tacker recalls being in the typhoon during which the USS Spence, USS Monahan and USS Hull were sunk. After the war, he stayed in the Navy and underwent flight training earning his wings in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Shown. Shown was born 23 November 1920 on a ranch in Oregon. He joined the Navy in 1939 and went to boot camp in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) as a deck hand and during battle stations he was a gun pointer. After delivering troops to Melbourne, Australia, the Indianapolis was ordered to the Bering Sea to patrol the Aleutian Islands. Heavy seas damaged the ship making repairs Mare Island Naval Shipyard necessary. Shown also tells of the Indianapolis participating in the invasions of Tarawa, Saipan and Okinawa. He relates an incident where the ship was damaged by a kamikaze requiring a return to Mare Island for repair. Upon completion of the repairs the ship was ordered to Hunters Point Naval Shipyard where atomic bomb components were put on board, under tight security, and delivered to Tinian. On 30 July 1945 the ship was hit by a Japanese torpedo and sunk. Shown shares anecdotes of being in the water five days: men hallucinating, men dying of thirst and exposure, witnessing fatal shark attacks and being rescued by the USS Bassett …