The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Will Scott. Scott joined the Navy in May of 1941. He served as a Gunner’s Mate aboard the USS Utah (BB-31). He shares his experiences living at sea, his work and general life aboard the Utah. Scott also provides details of the attack while berthed in Pearl Harbor. After the Utah was sunk, Scott was assigned to the USS Honolulu (CL-48) for ten months, and then transferred to the USS Denver (CL-58) for two and half years. From there he served aboard the USS Harold J. Ellison (DD-864) until the war ended. During his service he traveled to the Aleutian Islands, Guadalcanal and Leyte Gulf.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roland Eberhardt. Eberhardt joined the Navy in 1937, and attended a watertender school in Philadelphia. He served as chief watertender aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36). Eberhardt was aboard the ship while it was docked in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He provides vivid details of his experiences through that fateful day, and the grounding of their ship. He was then assigned to the USS San Francisco (CA-38) for the remainder of the war. Later in December of 1941 they reinforced Wake Island. In August of 1942 they participated in the Battle of Savo Island, off Guadalcanal. They patrolled around the Aleutian Islands, Attu and Kiska, to keep the Japanese from reinforcing their bases. From there they went through the Marshall Islands in 1943 and the Mariana Islands in 1944. Eberhardt was then sent to Oil Burning School in Philadelphia, and then assigned to a base in Salamaua, Papua New Guinea. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Sehe. Sehe was born in Geneva, Illinois, on 26 February 1923 and enlisted in the Navy in November 1940. Upon completing basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois in February 1941, he completed gunner’s mate school and was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36). He recalls the Nevada, the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and the USS Arizona (BB-39) made up Battle Division One at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Sehe describes the events of 7 December 1941 when the Nevada was hit by a torpedo and several bombs while attempting to move away from the Arizona and the flaming oil. He recalls many heroic actions by crew members, including Ensign Joe Taussig (later awarded the Navy Cross), as the ship eventually got underway and grounded off Hospital Point. He then details the search for victims within the hull over the ensuing days, in which he played an integral role. He describes the temporary repairs that allowed the ship to steam for Bremerton, Washington for a complete refitting. Next, he describes the Nevada’s role at Utah Beach and in the Battle of Cherbourg immediately following the Allied landing on Normandy. He recounts …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alphonsis Stockdale. Stockdale was born near Morristown, South Dakota 2 August 1915. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy in 1934 and went to San Diego for boot training. He then trained as a radio operator. In 1940, he joined Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 aboard PT-24 and went to Pearl Harbor where he witnessed the Japanese attack. Arriving at Midway Island on 2 June 1942 he was present when the Japanese launched their attack. Afterwards, Stockdale went to Melville, Rhode Island, for training in PT boats. Completing the course, he was assigned to PT-107 of Squadron 5. Robert Montgomery, the movie actor, served as boat captain. After training in the Galapagos Islands for several months the boat was taken by ship to New Caledonia, then the Solomons, where they began combat patrols. Stockdale recalls PT-107 and three other boats were involved in an operation to land a group of Marines on Vella Lavella. The landing was repelled by the Japanese and the Marines suffered numerous casualties. He developed a severe case of jungle rot, which hospitalized him on New Caledonia. He was then put aboard …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Swift. Swift was born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 3 December 1919. Upon joining the Navy in 1939 he had three months of boot training at San Diego, followed by four months of study at the electrical ordnance school. Reporting aboard the USS Reid (DD-369) in December 1939, he was assigned to the engine room. The Reid was at Pearl Harbor tied up next to the USS Whitney (AD-4) when the Japanese attacked. In March 1942 he went aboard the USS Barton (DD-599). Several months later the Barton was assigned as an escort for the USS Hornet (CV-8). He recalls rescuing survivors of the Hornet after the ship was sunk off Santa Cruz. In November 1942 the Barton was sunk off Guadalcanal. Swift describes his ordeal in the water, being rescued by the USS Portland (CA-33) and being taken to a Marine hospital where he spent several days. Upon his release he was assigned to the USS Navajo (AT-64). The Navajo took the damaged USS Chicago in tow. Both ships were attacked by Japanese aircraft and the Chicago was sunk. When the Navajo sank in September 1943, Swift …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Rhodes. Rhodes was born in 1922 and enlisted in the Army on 23 January 1941. Soon after enlisting, he boarded the USS Republic (AP-33) for an eighteen day voyage to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii for basic training. Upon completion of basic, he was assigned to the 696th Ordnance Company at Wheeler Field. Rhodes recalls being at breakfast when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He describes the actions he and others that were with him took that day and remembers seeing the Japanese pilots smiling while strafing ground targets. In 1943 he was assigned to the 7th Fighter Command and went to Makin Island to help establish an ordnance center for the command. Upon his return to the United States in November 1944, Rhodes was assigned to Langley Field, Virginia and remained there until he was discharged in September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Montague. Montague joined the Navy in August 1941 and went to boot camp at San Diego, California. He recalls being sent to the submarine base at Pearl Harbor and attending signal school. His first assignment was at the signal tower where incoming ships were assigned docking positions by the use of lights and signal flags. One of his frequent visitors was Admiral Chester Nimitz who would often take his daily walk in the area. His recollections of 7 December 1941 include returning from breakfast mess and seeing Japanese planes strafing. Montague describes the scene and tells of the actions he took. He went aboard the US Stingray (S-40) in 1943 and recollects the war missions they went on including mine laying, picking up downed flyers and a special mission to Luzon. He was transferred off the boat into the Shore Patrol and tells of his experiences. Montague returned to the United States in 1945 and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leroy McCovney. McCovney joined the Navy in May of 1941. Beginning around August he served with the deck force aboard the USS Honolulu (CL-48). He was aboard the Honolulu on 7 December 1941 when it was moored in Pearl Harbor. McCovney provides vivid details of his experiences through the attack on that fateful day. His job was to help clean up the ship after the attack. After minor repairs to the ship, they traveled to Australia, Vanuatu and invaded Guadalcanal. In July of 1943 they participated in the Battle of Kolombangara. McCovney was discharged around October of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Wiesmann. Wiesmann joined the Navy in June of 1939. He served aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Wiesmann recalls being ashore waiting for a church service to begin when the first Japanese planes attacked. Beginning August of 1942, he was transferred to the USS Boston (CA-69), and served on the deck force. He speaks of his shellback initiation, crossing the equator. Wiesmann also recalls their participation in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with June Reilly Leonard. Leonard was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 8 June 1923 and enlisted in the WAVES after the beginning of the war. Upon completion of basic training at Whittier College, Bronx, New York, she was sent to storekeeper’s school at the Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville. She met and married an Army soldier while on leave in August 1943, and after three months together, they were separated for the next two years until the war ended. She was assigned to the Department of the Navy, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, in Washington performing clerical work. Leonard provides anecdotes about her experiences.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Deno Petrucciani. Petrucciani joined the Navy in September of 1940. He served with the deck force aboard USS Maryland (BB-46). In January of 1941 they traveled to Pearl Harbor. Petrucciani was aboard the Maryland during the attack on 7 December 1941. He served aboard the ship for four and half years. He shares a number of anecdotal stories living on the Maryland. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nelson Howard. He was born in Everett, Washington, March 17, 1920. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the Navy in 1940. He was sent to Pearl Harbor and assigned to the USS Macdonough (DD-351) where he served as a Gunners Mate. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he recalls shooting down a Japanese plane. He recalls that the Macdonough steamed out of the harbor that morning and returned the following Wednesday to provision and refuel and sailed with the USS Lexington (CV-2) battle group to the Coral Sea. During April 1942 he recalls observing an action near Rabaul when Edward "Butch" O'Hare shot down five Mitsubishi G4M bombers. In the spring of 1942 he was transferred ashore and then to the crew of the USS Moore (DE-240), which escorted convoys to North Africa. He recounts that his ship returned to Norfolk in 1943 for repairs. He recalls that he was transferred to another destroyer escort (not named) that sailed to the Caroline Islands and then Shanghai, China, where he was transferred back to the States suffering from anxiety neurosis. He recalls that he was subsequently transferred to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester W. Marshall. He was born March 19, 1917 in Holmes County, Mississippi. He describes growing up during the Depression. On June 26, 1940 he enlisted as a private in the Army Air Corps. In early 1942 he was accepted into Aviation Cadet training. In July 1943 he was assigned to the 30th Bomber Group of the 20th Air Force in Salina, Kansas to train as a flight engineer on B-29s. He recalls being transferred to the 31st Bomber Group on Saipan in October 1944. He describes taking part in 30 bombing raids from Saipan over Tokyo in 1945. He describes one mission over Japan at high altitude on March 17, 1945 gathering weather data for future bombing runs, when his aircraft was shot up by the Japanese and had to make an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. He recalls meeting Colonel Paul Tibbetts while in the Marianas. He recalls being assigned as a B-29 instructor at Roswell, New Mexico Air Base when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James R. O'Donnel. He was born in Donora, Pennsylvania and joined the Aviation Cadet training program in December 1942. Upon graduation from Bombardier School in late 1943 he was sent to Clovis, New Mexico as a B-29 crewmember. Upon completion of training in November 1944 his crew flew a B-29 to Saipan as part of the 499th Bomber Group of the 20th Air Force. He recalls their first mission over Japan on Thanksgiving Day 1944 and 29 subsequent raids ending in June 1945. He describes one mission over Japan at high altitude on March 17, 1945 gathering weather data for future bombing runs, when his aircraft was shot up by the Japanese and had to make an emergency landing on Iwo Jima, even while mop up operations were occurring on the island. He describes meeting General Holland M. Smith while awaiting a flight off the island. He recalls that he had been transferred back to the States when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth K. Little. He was born in San Diego, California on February 2, 1921 and enlisted in the California National Guard in the summer of 1940. His unit was activated on September 16, 1940. He recalls embarking on the SS Washington (later requisitioned by the Navy and renamed USS Mount Vernon (AP-22)) in San Pedro, California and sailing to Hawaii on November 5, 1940. He recounts the transit during which he contracted a serious illness and was hospitalized upon arrival in Hawaii. After recovering he was assigned to Battery B of the 251st Coast Artillery near Diamond Head, training with 3-inch anti-aircraft guns. He recounts being at Camp Malakole, at the Southwestern tip of Oahu on 7 December and observing Japanese planes flying overhead, and strafing them on return to the their fleet after bombing Pearl Harbor.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Voss. Voss joined the Navy in late 1938. He completed Radio Signaling School, and served aboard USS West Virginia (BB-48), USS California (BB-44) during the attack on Pearl Harbor and USS New Mexico (BB-40) during the invasion of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the bombardment of Guam, Saipan and Tinian and the Aleutian Islands Campaign. Voss additionally served aboard USS Menifee (APA-202) during the invasion of Okinawa. He was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Jones. Jones joined the Navy in January of 1941. He served in the Fire Control Division and Gunner’s Gang aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43). The ship was moored near Battleship Row during the attack on 7 December 1941. He recalls going through the Harbor and retrieving servicemen out of the water. He was transferred to the USS Massachusetts (BB-59). They supported the invasion of North Africa in October of 1942 and struck Iwo Jima for the invasion in February of 1945. Jones was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ellinger. Ellinger joined the Navy in August of 1943. He served aboard the USS California (BB-44) beginning in December of that same year. They provided shore bombardment during the Battles of Saipan, Guam and Tinian. In late 1944, they participated in the Leyte operation during the invasion of the Philippines. They were struck by a kamikaze in January of 1945 while providing shore bombardment at Lingayen Gulf. They continued support operations during the Battle of Okinawa. Ellinger was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Fyke. Fyke joined the Navy in December of 1939. He served on the USS Nevada (BB-36), and was aboard during the attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. In January of 1943 they provided fire support for the capture of Attu, during the Aleutians Campaign. They completed bombardment missions through the Battle of Okinawa. Fyke was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Kimzey. Kimzey joined the Coast Guard in September of 1939. He provides details of his training in Alameda, California, and service aboard a 75-foot patrol boat. He served as a gunnery pointer and gun captain. In 1940 he was assigned to the USCGC Taney (WHEC-37), where he remained for one year, patrolling at sea and completing search and rescue operations. They traveled to Hollandia, Johnston, Palmyra, Wake, Canton Island and others. Kimzey was then transferred to the buoy tender, USCGC Kukui (WAGL-225), serving as the ship’s cook, commissary chief and more. They maintained and replaced navigational buoys in the Hawaiian archipelago. They were at Sand Island on 7 December 1941, and Kimzey provides vivid details of what he witnessed and how he participated through that fateful day. He returned to the US in 1944 and was promoted to Chief Commissary Man. He was discharged in 1945 and joined the Coast Guard Reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Gray. Gray joined the Navy in September of 1939. Gray trained as an aviation mechanic. He worked with Squadron VP-14, using multi-engine seaplanes to relocate older seaplanes from water to land. Gray was one of 6 family members serving in the war, and stationed at Hawaii, during the attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. From spring through August of 1942, he worked as a plane captain aboard a PBY Catalina Patrol Bomber in Hawaii. From August through July of 1943, Gray served with Patrol Aircraft Service Unit 1-1 and was assigned to Guadalcanal to support the first Black Cat squadron, VP-12. In the summer of 1943 through the end of the war, he was assigned to a B-24 unit, overseeing advanced trouble-shooting and engine changes. He retired in 1959.

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 interview with Joseph Yaklowich. Yaklowich joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 and served 2 years. He then joined the Navy in February of 1940. He completed training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Beginning around May of 1940 Yaklowich served aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as apprentice seaman, a plug man on the middle gun where he called cadence and gave the manual of arms. He was aboard the Pennsylvania in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, and provides vivid details of his experiences through the attack. In November of 1942 Yaklowich volunteered for the submarine services. After graduating from Submarine and Diesel School in New London, Connecticut he was assigned to the USS Cero (SS-225), completing 5 patrols and later commissioned to the USS Dentuda (SS-335), completing one patrol before the war ended. They traveled to the Atlantic, Pearl Harbor, the East China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, and sunk two Japanese patrol craft. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dallas Harvey. Harvey joined the Navy in 1937. He completed training as a Hospital Corpsman, and dental technician. He was assigned to Pearl Harbor, serving in the Sick Bay and dental office aboard the USS Argonne (AS-10). Harvey was aboard the ship, which was positioned at the north end of 1010 dock, during the attack on Pearl Harbor. They later traveled to the Fiji Islands, New Caledonia and Guam, where Harvey worked in a hospital built by the Seabees. He returned to the US in December of 1945 and retired from the Navy in 1967.