The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral history with Arthur Aicklen. Aicklen joined the Navy in 1940. He served as a machinist. He was also stationed on Padre Island, Texas before being assigned to a fleet oiler, the USS Taluga (AO-62). They transited the Panama Canal on their way to Honolulu and other points in the Pacific. When the war ended, Aicklen visited Yokahama during the occupation. He also describes the kamikaze attack off Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Stroud. Stroud joined the Army in June of 1943. He served in the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In January of 1944, they traveled to Goodenough Island in the Solomons, and participated in the battles of Hollandia and Leyte, where he went ashore with the 15th wave. Stroud received a medical discharge in July of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Coble. Coble joined the Navy in May of 1942. He served as Radioman First-Class aboard USS LST-339 and deployed to New Caledonia, transporting cargo. They participated in the New Georgia, Bougainville, New Guinea and Hollandia campaigns. In 1944, Coble transferred to USS Henry T. Allen (APA-15) and deployed to the Philippines. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Gardner. Gardner joined the Navy in March of 1943. He served as Storekeeper First-Class. In December he deployed to New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), where all supply work was being conducted. Gardner worked in an oil and grease warehouse for the duration of the war. He shares details of his living and working conditions on the island. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Byron K. Henry. Henry finished high school in Indiana and joined the Marine Corps in January, 1943. He had his basic training in San Diego and recalls experiences there. He also provides details about training he got once he arrived at Pearl harbor later in 1943. He also served on Midway Island as a guard. He shares two anecdotes about saving guys' lives: one from a mountin accident and another from drowning in the surf.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Archer. Archer was born in Medaryville, Indiana on 10 December 1916. Quitting school after the ninth grade, he worked at various jobs until being drafted into the Army in September 1942. After completing basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he was sent to Camp Clipper, California where he joined Company F, 123rd Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division. In 1943 the unit went to Hawaii where they had amphibious training. Boarding the SS Lurline, the division went to Finchhafen, New Guinea where they spent three months of dock duty. Then they went to Maffin Bay, New Guinea where they performed patrols. The regiment then went to Luzon, Philippine Islands where Archer was the leader of a light machine gun squad. He tells of various combat situations in which they were involved and tells of a night attack made by the Japanese forces. He was in a rest camp when Japan surrendered and his unit was sent to Takarazuka, Japan as part of the occupation forces. Archer describes some of the inter-action he had with Japanese civilians. He returned to the United States 21 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Thompson. Thompson was born in Chicago on 3 December 1919. He worked various jobs after graduating from high school in Indiana in 1937. In 1943, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Joseph Robinson, Arkansas for six weeks of infantry basic training. He then went to Westchester State Teacher College in Pennsylvania for six weeks of training in Army Postal Services. After spending some time at Camp Shanks, Pennsylvania he went to Newport News, Virginia where he boarded the RMS Empress of Scotland for a three day trip to Casablanca in North Africa. There he was assigned to the 5th Army, Adjutant Generals Office, 9th Base Post Office, in June 1943. He was assigned to the bulk mail section in Algeria and worked there thirteen months before being sent to Leghorn, Italy. He describes in detail receiving and processing military mail. He returned to the United States in September 1945 and was discharged.

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 Burl Bonnell. Bonnell joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1941. He served as an aircraft mechanic with the 20th Carrier Group. They deployed to Africa in July of 1943, where Bonnell worked as a crew chief in a Ferrying Command. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Schlemmer. Schlemmer joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. In late 1942 he deployed to New Zealand and participated in the Battles of Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester. He returned to the US in md-1944 to complete Officer Candidates School. He served as an instructor, teaching about jungle warfare. He then joined the 3rd Division, 9th Marines in preparation to invade Japan. Schlemmer was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred Bisili. Bisili was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in December of 1923. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bisili, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Jimmy Bennett’s oral history, a native friend of Bisili, who participated with him during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Phillip Kruzick. Kruzick joined the Army Air Forces in May of 1942. He trained as a mechanic in the Signal Corps, working in the truck division until he joined the 73rd Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force. In August of 1944, they deployed to newly constructed airfields on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. Kruzick served as a rifleman on the runway during raids on the island. He shares details of some of the bombing missions the pilots flew. He returned to the U.S. and was discharged in Augusto f 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James N. Clark. Clark was born on 29 October 1914 in Washington Township, Indiana. He tells of growing up during the Depression, which was instrumental in his decision to join the Army in 1933. He tells of the training he received as well as his involvement with the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was discharged in 1936. In 1943, he was drafted into the Army. In 1944, after receiving more training, he traveled to England aboard the RMS Aquitania. Soon after his arrival, he was sent to Europe where he joined the US Army III Corp. He tells of the various assignments he had and of liberating Dachau concentration camp. He returned to the US in 1946 where he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jimmy Bennett. Bennett was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in May of 1922. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bennet, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Alfred Bisili’s oral history, a native friend of Bennett, who participated with him during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Reynolds. Reynolds joined the Royal Air Force on 4 September 1939 and entered active duty in July of 1940. He completed flight training and received his wings in March of 1941. Reynolds served as a flight instructor in Ontario and returned to England in early 1943 as a pilot officer. He continued serving as an instructor to the 8th Air Force, training Americans in map reading and how to navigate through cloudy, European skies. He later joined the 101st Squadron, piloting Wellington and Lancaster aircraft. They completed five bombing missions over Germany several missions to retrieve British former prisoners of war for repatriation. He recalls his memories of VE-Day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Felix Ysturiz. Ysturiz joined the Merchant Marine in January of 1943. He trained to serve as a Radio Officer. In 1943, he served as a radioman aboard the SS Oliver Wendell Holmes. They traveled to Hawaii, New Caledonia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands transporting cargo for the Navy, including PT boats and Seabee construction materials. Around mid-1944 through 1945, Ysturiz served aboard a C-2 ship, transporting cargo for the Army, traveling to New Guinea, Leyte and Manila. He was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Rodenhouse. Rodenhouse joined the Army Air Forces on 8 December 1941. He served as a B-29 Pilot with the 313th Bombardment Wing, 6th Bombardment Group, 39th Bomb Squadron. From his base on Tinian, Rodenhouse completed 35 Pacific Theater missions. Rodenhouse served in the Air Force Reserves until he earned the rank of major, then was honorably discharged in September of 1956.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernard Link. Link joined the Marine Corps in 1943 after finishing high school. He trained in San Diego and then was shipped to Camp Tarawa on Hawaii. He boarded the USS Lubbock (APA-197) for a ride to Iwo Jima. On the third day of the battle, Link was wounded while attacking an enemy bunker. He was evacuated and placed aboard a hospital ship that soon sailed for Guam. From there, he went to a hospital at Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, he rejoined his outfit at Camp Tarawa. Link had a friend found guilty of desertion. He went with his unit to Kyushu for occupation duty in September, 1945. In May, 1946, Link was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Knouff. Knouff joined the Coast Guard in February of 1942. He served aboard a patrol boat in charge of depth charges. They patrolled the shipping lanes between the US and Cuba. He later served as a Leading Seaman aboard a yard oiler, and participated in the Battle of Leyte in October of 1944. They traveled to Luzon, Mindoro and Manila in the Philippines and remained in that area through early 1946. Knouff was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Hylan. Hylan joined the Marine Corps in February of 1943. He completed Radio Operator School in June. In November, he deployed to New Caledonia with a replacement battalion. He served with the 1st 155mm Howitzer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and later the 3rd Marine Artillery Regiment. He conducted patrol duty and survey work. In April of 1944 he traveled to Tinian and Saipan. In July he participated in the Battle of Guam. He also participated in the Battle of Okinawa. Hylan returned to the US in October and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Green. Green joined the Army in the spring of 1943. He served with the 763rd Tank Battalion, 96th Infantry Division, and transferred to Scofield Barracks in Hawaii in January of 1944. They participated in the battles of Leyte and Okinawa. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edwin H. Simmons. Simmons was born 21 August 1921 in Paulsboro, New Jersey. Graduating from Lehigh University in 1942 he entered the Marine Corps as a 2nd lieutenant. Upon graduating from the reserve officers training course at Quantico, Virginia he served as an instructor. In the fall of 1943 he went to New Caledonia aboard the USS Orizaba (AP-24). He was then sent to Guadalcanal and assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment as a shore party officer. Simmons landed on Guam on 21 July 1944 with the 4th Marines, 1st Marine Brigade and describes the action in which he was involved. He was later selected to be the adjutant of the 5th Field Depot and remained on Guam until the end of the war. In late August 1945 he was assigned to the 7th Service Regiment and went to Okinawa. There, he set up a public relations system which entailed training clerks and photographers to do personal stories about various marines, which were then sent to the hometown newspapers. He was then sent to China and he relates several incidents which occurred during that assignment. He returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Inami. Inami was born in April of 1921 in Madera, California. After graduating from Madera High School, Frank attended the University of California, Berkeley. While working on his degree in electrical engineering, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Inami and his family, all Japanese-Americans, were removed from the west coast and incarcerated in Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas. In 1944, while still in Jerome, Inami volunteered for the Army. He was assigned to the Military Intelligence Service because of his proficiency in Japanese. He was stationed at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, where he eventually became an instructor. After the war, he served in the Signal Corps and then in the 8th Army during the Korean War. He retired from the Army in 1974, at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Bell. Bell graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1937. He completed Submarine School in 1940 and worked aboard USS Cuttlefish (SS-171). They were located at Mare Island when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and they were released to make unrestricted warfare on the enemy. He served as Commanding Officer of USS Pargo (SS-264) during the 7th war patrol of that vessel from 15 January through 24 March of 1945. He was awarded the Navy Cross. Bell continued his service in the Navy and retired as a rear admiral in 1970.