The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe Matlock. Matlock joined the Army Air Forces on 8 December 1941. He received his wings in 1943, and served as a pilot with the 434th Troop Carrier Group, 71st Squadron. From 1944 through 1945, they flew combat paratroopers on airborne assaults on Normandy, southern France, the Netherlands and Germany. They additionally flew resupply missions in the relief of Bastogne and evacuated the wounded. Matlock returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edwin Bullian. Bullian joined the Army Air Corps in October of 1940. He served as a B-26 flight engineer and gunner with the 17th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. He completed 45 missions over North Africa, the islands of Sardinia and Sicily and the Italian mainland. Bullian continued his service after the war ended, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1960.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Buck Gibson. Gibson enlisted in the Navy and once he finished boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis where he was a loader on a 20mm gun. He first sailed for the Aleutian Islands, then to Tarawa for the invasion. When the island was secure, he went ashore with Admiral Raymond Spruance. He desribes the kamekazi attack on Indianapolis during the Okinawa campaign, then the torpedo attack after leaving Tinian. He spent five days in the water before being rescued, then some time in the hospital after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Earl Smith. Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 20 April 1923. Joining the Navy soon after graduation in 1941, he completed boot training at San Diego. Upon graduating from fire control school, he reported aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43) at Pearl Harbor. He experienced the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and retrieved bodies in the aftermath. He was assigned to the USS Hornet (CV-8). After the Hornet sank, Smith was transferred to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) in June 1943. The Saratoga returned to the United States for repairs after being damaged by Japanese torpedoes and Smith received orders to report aboard the USS Hancock (CV-19). In November 1944, the Hancock was hit by a kamikaze and Smith was wounded. After being hospitalized in Hawaii for a short period of time, he was sent to the Naval Hospital at Norman, Oklahoma. He also shares various experiences he had following World War II. Smith retired in 1968 after twenty-seven years of active service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Johnson. Johnson was born in Dallas, Texas 9 April 1918. He was attending Washington University in St. Louis when he was drafted into the US Army. After serving for nine months he received a hardship discharge. Soon after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, he joined the Navy. Johnson tells of the pilot training he received at Murray, Kentucky prior to washing out of the program. He then went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for electrician’s school. In January 1944 he went by troop ship to the naval base at Ulithi. There, he was assigned to the USS Raby (DE-698) as a radioman. When at general quarters, Johnson was on the bridge with the ship’s captain as the captain’s talker. After the surrender of Japan the ship returned to San Pedro, California and Johnson was discharged December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Whitehair. Whitehair joined the Navy in March of 1945. He served as a Storekeeper and deck hand aboard a Landing Ship Medium, traveling to Johnston Island, Midway and Kwajalein. They decommissioned the ship Manus Island and then stationed Whitehair on Guam. He completed duty at Pearl Harbor. He was sent back to the US and discharged in 1948. Whitehair re-enlisted in the Navy and retired in August of 1966.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth W. Prescott. Prescott was born 9 August 1920 in Jackson, Michigan. Upon graduating from midshipman’s school at Northwestern University in December 1942, Prescott volunteered to serve with a PT boat squadron. He was sent to Melville, Rhode Island for training. When complete, went to Tulagi and was assigned as executive officer aboard PT Boat 61. Commenting on the construction of a PT boat he also discusses the armament and number of crewmen and the responsibilities of each. He reminisces about his friendship with John F. Kennedy and comments on several experiences he had with him. Recalling the PT boat tender, USS Jamestown (APG-3), he tells of the services it provided to the PT squadrons in the area. Prescott was later made executive officer of the Jamestown.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Wolfe. Wolfe joined the Army in 1939. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Regiment. He served as a commanding officer and participated in the battles of Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Wright. Wright was born on a ranch in Nebraska in 1921. He participated in the Civilian Pilot Training program while attending the University of Missouri and quit school to join the Navy on 1 June 1941. He was undergoing flight training at Pensacola when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Soon thereafter, he had his final check flight with Joe Foss, who was awarded the Medal of Honor. Upon graduation, Wright became a flight instructor at Pensacola. After a period of time he received orders to undergo B-24 flight training. He was eventually relieved of B-24 duties and was assigned as a carrier pilot and trained in using rockets. He was involved in combat at Guadalcanal and Peleliu. He recalls three instances where his plane was damaged and explains the procedure for disposing of severely damaged aircraft. He describes the effect of extremely high angle dives on both the crew and the plane. Wright describes an on board landing accident in which he was injured resulting in hospitalization at Noumea, New Caledonia. He spent eight months recovering from the injury. He also tells of sinking three Japanese ships …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Higgins. Higgins joined the Army in August of 1940. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment. He participated in the battles of Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa. His job was to ensure that supplies were delivered on the beach within an hour of the beach landings. Higgins continued his service in the military, retiring in 1973 with rank of lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George De Laughter. De Laughter joined the Army in 1942. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Regiment. He worked as a supply officer. He participated in the battles of Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gerald Peterson. Peterson was born in Indianapolis in 1917. He grew up during the Great Depression and shares memories of how his family managed. He graduated from Arsenal Technical School in 1935. Peterson graduated from General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan in 1939 with a degree in industrial engineering and management. He was hired by the Boeing Company, and completed structural designs for the tail section of the B-17. He also assisted in the design and build of the B-29. In 1940, Peterson was required to register for possible draft, though after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, his engineering job was frozen and he remained in his position for the duration of the war. Peterson remained with Boeing until June of 1949.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Sloup. Sloup joined the Army in 1943. He served with the 7th Infantry Division and participated in the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. After the war ended, Sloup was shipped to Korea. In January of 1946, he returned to the US and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James “Jim” White. White was born in Cosby, Tennessee on 6 April 1920. He tells of conditions encountered while growing up during the Depression. Entering the U.S. Army in 1942 he was assigned to the 90th Infantry Division, Company A, 358th Regiment and trained as a rifleman at Camp Barkley, Texas. The division was sent to England in preparation for Operation Overlord. White landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day +1 and comments on the high casualty rate, the procedures in clearing a town of German soldiers and of being wounded by a land mine. Mrs. Betty White tells of receiving the message that her husband was wounded and of her concern. White was awarded a Bronze Star, a Silver Star and a Purple Heart while in the Army.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Mike C. Dillingham. Dillingham was born in Commerce, Texas 18 February 1912. Upon graduating from Texas A&M University in 1935, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Coast Artillery reserves. Called for active duty 19 April 1941 he reported to the 69th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) at Camp Hulen, Texas where he was assigned to Search Light Battery A. In November 1941 the battery went to Midland, Texas to practice using aircraft sound detection and search light equipment. Radar was not available and aircraft detection was made with large horn acoustic receiving devices. On 9 December 1941 the unit moved to San Diego to defend the aircraft production plant. In 1942, Dillingham was sent to Camp Davis, North Carolina to search light school. Upon completing the training he was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas to help establish the 233rd Search Light Battalion (anti- aircraft). In 1943 the battalion was provided with a radar (SCR268) receiving set and went to Fiji in September. In 1944, Dillingham was sent to New Caledonia as executive officer of the 518th Gun Battalion. The battalion arrived at Lingayen Gulf two days after the initial …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe Matlock. Matlock joined the Army Air Forces on 8 December 1941. He received his wings in 1943, and served as a pilot with the 434th Troop Carrier Group, 71st Squadron. From 1944 through 1945, they flew combat paratroopers on airborne assaults on Normandy, southern France, the Netherlands and Germany. They additionally flew resupply missions in the relief of Bastogne and evacuated the wounded. Matlock returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edwin Bullian. Bullian joined the Army Air Corps in October of 1940. He served as a B-26 flight engineer and gunner with the 17th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. He completed 45 missions over North Africa, the islands of Sardinia and Sicily and the Italian mainland. Bullian continued his service after the war ended, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1960.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Buck Gibson. Gibson enlisted in the Navy and once he finished boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis where he was a loader on a 20mm gun. He first sailed for the Aleutian Islands, then to Tarawa for the invasion. When the island was secure, he went ashore with Admiral Raymond Spruance. He desribes the kamekazi attack on Indianapolis during the Okinawa campaign, then the torpedo attack after leaving Tinian. He spent five days in the water before being rescued, then some time in the hospital after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Earl Smith. Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 20 April 1923. Joining the Navy soon after graduation in 1941, he completed boot training at San Diego. Upon graduating from fire control school, he reported aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43) at Pearl Harbor. He experienced the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and retrieved bodies in the aftermath. He was assigned to the USS Hornet (CV-8). After the Hornet sank, Smith was transferred to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) in June 1943. The Saratoga returned to the United States for repairs after being damaged by Japanese torpedoes and Smith received orders to report aboard the USS Hancock (CV-19). In November 1944, the Hancock was hit by a kamikaze and Smith was wounded. After being hospitalized in Hawaii for a short period of time, he was sent to the Naval Hospital at Norman, Oklahoma. He also shares various experiences he had following World War II. Smith retired in 1968 after twenty-seven years of active service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Johnson. Johnson was born in Dallas, Texas 9 April 1918. He was attending Washington University in St. Louis when he was drafted into the US Army. After serving for nine months he received a hardship discharge. Soon after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, he joined the Navy. Johnson tells of the pilot training he received at Murray, Kentucky prior to washing out of the program. He then went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for electrician’s school. In January 1944 he went by troop ship to the naval base at Ulithi. There, he was assigned to the USS Raby (DE-698) as a radioman. When at general quarters, Johnson was on the bridge with the ship’s captain as the captain’s talker. After the surrender of Japan the ship returned to San Pedro, California and Johnson was discharged December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Wolfe. Wolfe joined the Army in 1939. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Regiment. He served as a commanding officer and participated in the battles of Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth W. Prescott. Prescott was born 9 August 1920 in Jackson, Michigan. Upon graduating from midshipman’s school at Northwestern University in December 1942, Prescott volunteered to serve with a PT boat squadron. He was sent to Melville, Rhode Island for training. When complete, went to Tulagi and was assigned as executive officer aboard PT Boat 61. Commenting on the construction of a PT boat he also discusses the armament and number of crewmen and the responsibilities of each. He reminisces about his friendship with John F. Kennedy and comments on several experiences he had with him. Recalling the PT boat tender, USS Jamestown (APG-3), he tells of the services it provided to the PT squadrons in the area. Prescott was later made executive officer of the Jamestown.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Whitehair. Whitehair joined the Navy in March of 1945. He served as a Storekeeper and deck hand aboard a Landing Ship Medium, traveling to Johnston Island, Midway and Kwajalein. They decommissioned the ship Manus Island and then stationed Whitehair on Guam. He completed duty at Pearl Harbor. He was sent back to the US and discharged in 1948. Whitehair re-enlisted in the Navy and retired in August of 1966.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George De Laughter. De Laughter joined the Army in 1942. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Regiment. He worked as a supply officer. He participated in the battles of Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa. He was discharged in March of 1946.