The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with M J Cotter. Cotter joined the Navy in March of 1941. After boot camp, he provided upkeep and maintenance of the 16-inch gun turret aboard the USS Maryland (BB-46). They traveled to Hawaii around July of 1941. The Maryland was present on Battleship Row during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Cotter was aboard the ship and describes his experiences through this fateful day, including their 50-caliber gunner taking down a Japanese plane. After repairs to their ship, they participated in the battles of Midway, Tarawa, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Cotter was discharged in July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dick Frieze. Frieze joined the Navy in 1939. He trained as an aviation machinist mate, and worked at a base in Pearl Harbor, where he shares some anecdotal stories working for Captain John Sidney McCain. Frieze was in a hangar at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and provides his recollections of surviving that fateful day. He speaks about Lieutenant Fasada Iada, a Japanese pilot, whom Frieze shot at right before he crash-landed in the Officers’ Housing Quarters. He continues on to speak on Iada’s burial and memorial on the island. He was later assigned to the USS Platte (AO-24). Frieze served 46 months overseas during World War II, including 25 months in combat, and completed 20 years overall in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Herndon. Herndon joined the Navy in January of 1940. In April he was assigned aboard USS San Francisco (CA-38). He maintained the decks of the ship and worked as a mess cook. They were in Pearl Harbor Navy Yard awaiting an overhaul of their engineering plant when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. In late 1943 Herndon was assigned to a beach landing party aboard the USS Oxford (APA-189). He served in visual communications, and assisted troops from ship to shore. They landed parties in the Philippine Islands and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Oliver. Oliver quit school at the age of sixteen and joined the Army in September 1939. He was sent to Hawaii, where he joined the 19th Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He attended cooks school in Honolulu for sixteen weeks then he drove trucks. He describes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and tells of clearing the beach area of vegetation and installing rolls of barbed wire in anticipation of a landing by Japanese forces. In June 1942 he was sent to Oklahoma where he spent two years working in Battalion Headquarters during the formation of a new Army infantry division. He was then sent to Fort Benning, Georgia where he was a non-jumper instructor at the parachute school. He was discharged in July 1945. Oliver concludes the interview by telling of his duties after being recalled into the Army during the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Overfelt. Overfelt joined the Navy in August of 1938. From January of 1939 through June of 1942, he served on the deck force, and as a mess cook, aboard the USS Conyngham (DD-371). The ship was moored at Pearl Harbor during the attack. Overfelt was aboard the ship when the Japanese attacked. They completed numerous plane-guarding and submarine patrol missions. In February of 1943 they provided bombardment support through the Guadalcanal operation, and screening reinforcements through the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October of 1944. Overfelt was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Garland Swann. Swann joined the Marine Corps in June of 1940. He trained to serve as an aviation mechanic. In January of 1941 he was stationed in Hawaii, working as an airplane mechanic and helping to build the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa. He recalls the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From Pearl, he was shipped to Midway Island for 13 months. Around 1943, Swann was transferred to Majuro, and moved throughout the Pacific. He was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Phillip Corsello. Corsello joined the Army Air Corps in May of 1941. He completed aircraft and engine mechanic school, and was stationed in Hawaii when the attack occurred on 7 December 1941. After the attack, Corsello worked guard duty at night and worked on B-17s during the day. He returned to the US in June of 1942 for flight training, but washed out.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Hornok. Hornok joined the Navy around 1940. He served as a Machinist’s Mate aboard USS St. Louis (CL-49). The ship was moored to the pier in Southeast Loch at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He notes how his ship was in 11 major battles, including the Marshall and Gilbert islands, Guadalcanal and Wake Island. They escorted ships back and forth from the US to Pearl Harbor. Hornok was later transferred to a submarine base in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, before he was transferred to the USS Massachusetts (BB-59). He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Somers. Somers joined the Navy in March of 1941. He served aboard the USS Castor (AKS-1). They transported troops from Johnston Island to Wake Island in October. They were docked in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Through February of 1942, they carried cargo from the US to aid in the buildup of Pearl Harbor, then aided in the opening operations in New Caledonia, New Hebrides, the Fiji Islands and New Zealand. In mid-1943 through 1945, Somers served aboard USS Gatling (DD-671). Somers recalls their support during the invasions of the Marshall Islands and Okinawa. He returned to the US and was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.M. Barclay. Barcaly was born in Broadus, Texas 12 September 1923. Upon joining the Navy in 1941 he went to San Diego for boot camp. He then was assigned to the USS Utah (BB-31) as a helmsman. The ship was at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and Barclay recalls observing Japanese planes attacking the fleet and a bomb hitting the Utah. He abandoned ship and tells of Japanese planes strafing men in the water. He assisted in recovering bodies of sailors from the USS Arizona (BB-39). Later in the evening, among a group of sailors resting on an oil tanker, Barclay’s group was subjected to friendly fire, resulting in casualties. For several weeks before the attack, Barclay recalls seeing a foreign submarine on the surface near the ship on a daily basis. He would report the sighting to the captain but no action was taken. In early 1942 he was transferred to the USS Honolulu (CL-48). He recounts several battles and recalls the Honolulu having forty feet of her bow blown off by a torpedo. After a short period of shore duty Barclay was transferred to the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Evelyn Meehan. Meehan and her husband, who served in the Navy, were stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack. At the time of the attack, her husband was at sea aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). They remained in Hawaii after the attack, and Meehan continued working in the Office of Censorship in Honolulu. She speaks on general civilian life during World War II.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Evelyn Gordon. Gordon joined the Navy in 1943. She served as Yeoman Second Class in the United States Naval Reserve, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). She trained at Hunter College in The Bronx, New York. From there she was shipped to Port Hueneme, California. Their job was to put the Naval base into commission where they trained and shipped out construction battalions, the Seabees. She provides some details of her working and living accommodations in Quonset City and shares some anecdotes. Gordon served at this location until 1945 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rita Harvey. Harvey joined the Navy around 1941. She served as Third Class Pharmacist Mate at a hospital in Bainbridge, Maryland. She completed accounting school there and worked on payroll in the accounting department, in addition to assisting at the hospital. Around 1942 Harvey was sent to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where she worked as an assistant to the accounting officer in the main dispensary by day, and an ambulance driver by night. She was later transferred to Base Hospital 126 in Pearl Harbor where she remained through the end of the war. She speaks of her travels to Hawaii aboard the USS General William Mitchell (AP-114), where she worked in the WAVES Medical Clinic.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leon Kita. Kita joined the Navy in 1940. He served aboard the USS Honolulu (CL-48). Their ship was moored at the Naval Station when the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor. In the spring of 1942 they traveled to Kodiak, Alaska, participating in the Aleutian Islands Campaign. In early 1943 they operated out of Espiritu Santo, engaging in bombardments in the Solomon Islands. In early 1944 he served aboard a Yard Minesweeper. They took part in the invasion of Normandy. Kita was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Davis. Davis entered the Army Air Corps in 1939. He was sent to Wheeler Field, Hawaii and spent a short time with the 19th Pursuit Squadron. He was transferred to the 58th Bomb Squadron. He recalls he was a crew chief on an A-20 (Havoc) bomber when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Wheeler Field on 7 December 1941. Davis describes the actions he took on that day, which included two days of intense labor repairing aircraft to a flyable condition. He was assigned to flight training, but washed out. Davis was soon assigned to gunnery school at Las Vegas, Nevada. After completion, he went aboard RMS Queen Elizabeth. Upon arrival at Turleigh, England he was assigned to the 306th Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron as a flight engineer and gunner on a B-17. He describes many of the 24 combat missions he flew and tells of several incidents involving members of the crew. After the surrender of Germany, he returned to the United States. He tells of reenlisting and of some of his experiences he had until his retirement in 1965.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur Wright. Wright was born in Craig, Missouri 29 December 1919. He joined the Navy in 1938 and went to San Diego for boot camp. After training he went to Hawaii and was assigned to the USS Oglala (CM-4/ARG-1). On 6 December 1941 the ship’s crew unloaded a cargo of mines at Pearl Harbor. Wright was on board when the Japanese attacked. He witnessed the attack and recalls not firing the ship’s guns as they were unable to get ammunition. He mentions a torpedo went under the Oglala and hit the USS Helena (CL-50). The concussion from the explosion damaged Oglala’s hull so badly, she began to take on water. The crew abandoned ship as it capsized. Wright saw the face of a Japanese pilot as he strafed the ships and docks. He recalls a Japanese midget submarine getting into the harbor and watching the USS Monaghan (DD-354) ram it and drop depth charges, which caused the submarine to surface. He saw Marines in a motor launch board the submarine and take off two crewmen. The Japanese crewmen were handcuffed with hoods over their heads as they went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Werner. Werner joined the Army in January of 1940. He served as a gun mechanic with the 64th Coast Artillery Antiaircraft. Additionally, he worked as an assistant mail censor. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the 7 December 1941 attack. Werner provides vivid details of his experiences on the night before and during that fateful day. In early 1943 he joined the Army Air Forces, and was sent to radio school with specialty training in direction finding. From there he traveled to New Guinea to set up a direction finding station near a military landing strip. He continued on to Hollandia, Australia and the Philippines. He was discharged around January of 1946.

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The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Neal Hachenberg. Hachenberg joined the Navy in June of 1941. He served as First Class Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Detroit (CL-8). They were moored at Pearl Harbor alongside the USS Raleigh (CL-7) and USS Utah (BB-31) when the Japanese attacked. They ran convoy duty from Pearl Harbor, transporting 9 short tons of gold evacuated from Corregidor, to the United States Treasury Department at San Francisco. In early 1945 they transported troops to Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Hachenberg served aboard the Detroit through the end of the war. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wayne Chambers. Chambers joined the Naval Reserve in September of 1940. He completed the V-7 Officer Training Program. Beginning September of 1941, he served in the Engineering Department aboard USS Henley (DD-391). They were moored in East Loch at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. In May of 1942 they rescued survivors of USS Neosho (AO-23) and USS Sims (DD-409), sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea. They protected Marines landing on Guadalcanal, and remained in the area screening ships bringing in supplies and reinforcements. In June of 1943 Chambers transferred to the USS Quincy (CA-71). In June of 1944 they participated in the invasion of Normandy. In that same month they traveled to Cherbourg, France providing bombardment of the batteries surrounding the city in conjunction with the Army ground assault. Chambers returned to the US and was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Barton Dale Messler. Messler joined the Navy in January of 1940. He served as a Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). They were in Dry Dock No. 1 in Pearl Harbor undergoing a refit when the Japanese attacked. He was transferred to the USS Columbia (CL-56), and traveled to Guadalcanal. He also served aboard the USS Amsterdam (CL-101), traveling to Leyte, Okinawa and Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Peace Treaty. Messler participated in 9 major engagements.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Luckham. Luckham joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a deck hand aboard the USS Helena (CL-50). He completed Machine Gun School in the fall of 1941. Luckham was aboard the Helena, moored at 1010 Dock, Navy Yard on the base (southeast) side of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked. In late 1942 Luckham was transferred to USS Feland (APA-11) and served as a 20mm gunner. They transported Marines for the invasions of Tarawa, Saipan and Guam. He remained in the Navy for a total of 20 years, retiring in 1958.

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 interview with James John. John joined the Navy in June of 1941. He operated the boilers in the engine room aboard the USS Case (DD-370). They were berthed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He recalls dropping a depth charge on a Japanese midget submarine stuck in the mud 40 feet under water, and seeing it surface. After the attack they had patrol duty in the Harbor. From May to August of 1942, they patrolled off Kodiak, Alaska and participated in the pre-invasion bombardment of Kiska. They assisted with further engagements at Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, Truk Island, Iwo Jima and the Mariana Islands. He was later transferred to the USS Knight (DD-633), again serving with the Black Gang. John returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.