The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Brown. Born in 1919, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1941. He was sent to Pearl Harbor. He recounts his actions during the Japanese attack there. He was then assigned to the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). He describes his duties as the captain?s orderly. He talks about an encounter with fifteen Japanese twin-engine airplanes while escorting troop ships from the Coral Sea to Australia. He also discusses sinking Japanese supply ships in Alaska. After being hospitalized in San Francisco for tuberculosis, he joined the 1st Marine Division in Guadalcanal in late 1943. He shares an anecdote about the troops and quinine on Guadalcanal. He describes the Battle of Peleliu where he was a gun captain on a 105mm howitzer. When the war ended, he was transported on the USS Wharton (AP-7) to San Diego, California where Roy Rogers and Dale Evans greeted the troops with the song ?Happy Trails.? Shortly thereafter, he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.C. Alston. Alston joined the Navy in August, 1941. He eventually reported aboard the USS California (BB-44) and served in the number 2 turret. Alston describes being present aboard the California when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, Alston stayed with the California repairing and refurbishing her. Alston was aboard for the in Leyte invasion in the Philippines and describes watching some of the action at Iwo Jima. Alston also speaks about life aboard the California during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Curre. Curre joined the Navy in June of 1941. Beginning in August, he served as Mess Cook aboard USS Tennessee (BB-43). They were moored in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Through 1942, Curre served aboard a yard mine sweeper in Bremerton. He completed training on minesweeping gear. He traveled through the Caroline, Marshall and Gilbert islands. They swept around Bougainville, New Britain and New Georgia prior to invasions. They were stationed on Midway Island, where Curre remained through the end of the war. He was discharged in August of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Euell White. White entered the Marine Corps on 29 May 1941 and did his basic training in San Diego. His first assignment was on Midway Island where he manned 3-inch anti-aircraft guns. He was at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 in the Marine barracks, which looked down on battleship row. White talks about a Japanese aircraft that was shot down and ended up about 500 feet from the hospital near his barracks. He states that the pilot had a map that marked every battleship and aircraft carrier that was supposed to be in the harbor. White also talks about a two-man Japanese submarine in the bay during the attack; the sub had hit a sand bar. He also mentions guarding a tank farm two days after the attack. Two to three weeks after Pearl Harbor, White was put on a destroyer that was going to Wake Island but they received word that Wake was going to fall so they went to Johnston Island instead. At Johnston Island they pumped coral and built a runway. After leave back in the States, White went back to Hawaii and was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Pat Duncan. Duncan joined the Navy 9 July 1940 and after training in San Diego he was put on the USS Brazos (AO-4) for transport to Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to the USS Raleigh (CL-7). He was onboard for almost a year before the war started. Duncan was the bugler, stood orderly watches and did deck work. He was standing watch on 7 December 1941 and saw the plane coming in low that dropped the torpedo that hit the Raleigh, right below where he was standing. The officer of the deck told him to sound general quarters but his bugle was full of water. His battle station was a three-inch gun. The Raleigh was hit again with a bomb aft, where Duncan’s sleeping quarters were. The ship was trying to turn over but the captain told them to jettison everything overboard. A barge came over with some float pontoons that helped the ship stay afloat. The Raleigh went into dry dock at Pearl Harbor where it got patched up enough to get to Mare Island for additional repairs. After seven and half months in San Francisco, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert D. Tippen. Tippen was born in Goldthwaite, Texas on 8 May 1923. He joined the Navy in July 1942. After boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, he was sent to the Canal Zone where he joined the USS Columbia (CL-56), assigned to the Navigation Department. In October 1942 Columbia sailed for Espiritu Santo, supporting the struggle for Guadalcanal. For the next 14 months, with few breaks, Tippen and Columbia saw combat. Starting with securing Guadalcanal, they participated in the bombardment of Munda, supported the landings at Bougainville, participated in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, made raids on Rabaul and Truk, and covered an assault of Emirau Island. After an overhaul in San Francisco to repair battle damage, Columbia supported the landings at Peleliu, and participated in the Battle for Leyte Gulf. In December 1944 Tippen was transferred to USS Denver (CL-58). Denver helped in the final capture of the Philippines, supported the landings at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Balikpapan, Borneo, and hunted Japanese shipping off the China coast. Following the end of hostilities, Denver provided cover for the liberation of prison camps in Wakayama, Honshu, Japan. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alfred Rodriquez. Rodriguez was born in Santa Barbara, California on 9 September 1921 and joined the Navy in 1940. Upon completion of boot training at San Diego in July, he was assigned to the USS Bobolink (AM-20), based at Maui, Hawaii. He recalls the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and his ship’s efforts to keep the heavily damaged USS California (BB-44) afloat. Afterwards, the Bobolink began pulling barges with fuel, ammunition and other supplies, from Tulagi and Gavutu to Guadalcanal. Following major naval engagements the Bobolink towed severely damaged ships to various islands for repair. Among those towed were the USS Atlanta (CL-51), the USS Aaron Ward (DD-483), the USS Portland (CA-33) and the USS Minneapolis (CA-36). In 1943 he returned to the United States and was assigned to the USS Wedderburn (DD-684). While aboard, Rodriquez was involved in various battles including Okinawa. He describes being in the December 1944 typhoon during which three destroyers were sunk. He concludes the discussion by telling of his various assignments until he retired in 1960.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Cary Salter. Salter learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Training program before entering the Army Air Forces in June 1942 and entering flight training. He was commissioned in August, 1943 and went to England in September 1944 where he joined the 354th Fighter Group to fly P-51s. Salter describes missions he flew over France and Germany where he attacked various ground targets and engaged in aerial combat. Salter flew over 60 combat missions and, after the war, took a flight in a German fighter. Slater shares several anecdotes from his time overseas. He was discharged in November, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Snell. Snell joined the Navy on 11 February 1941. After boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois he took a train to San Pedro and from there rode the USS Kaskaskia (AO-27) to Hawaii where he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6). On 7 December 1941 Snell was in baker’s school at the submarine base. He went down to the pier and got a panoramic view of all that was happening. Snell returned aboard the Enterprise on 8 December. He saw the USS Hornet (CV-8) with Doolittle’s B-25s aboard and the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, Santa Cruz and Stewart Islands before going back to Bremerton, Washington for repairs. Snell was assigned to the USS Morrison (DD-560) and helped put her in commission in December 1943. The Morrison saw action off Saipan and in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Snell was supervisor of lookouts and saw the plane that dropped the bomb that hit and sank the USS Princeton (CVL-23). Next, the Morrison was sent to Okinawa for radar picket duty. There, on 4 May 1945, the Morrison took four kamikaze hits and sank with heavy …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Cunningham. Cunningham joined the Navy in 1940 and, after training, was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48) at Bremerton, Washington. At tehe time, the ship was in drydock being updated with armor plating and more guns. Cunningham was aboard when the fleet was moved from California to Hawaii. He shares his experiences he had during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Cunningham was in a captain's gig headed for the landing in the Southeast Lock when the attack commenced. He describes seeing torpedo bombers just above his head as they attacked. Cunningham and crew soon began picking up survivors from the water in their boat. For the next two days, Cunningham assisted infighting fires aboard the USS Arizona (BB-39). Later, Cunningham was assigned to the USS APc-35 that went to Guadalcanal. En route, they picked up a unit of Fiji Islanders and dropped them off on Guadalcanal for a covert mission. His vessel became grounded on a reef and was abandoned. He was then assigned to another inter-island transport vessel, the USS APc-33.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Takeo and Roberta Shiroma. Takeo Shiroma was born in Fresno County, California to parents who were both born in Okinawa. Roberta Shiroma, wife of Takeo, was born in Los Angeles, California in 1932. Her mother was born in San Francisco and her father was born in Japan. Takeo & Roberta were both relocated to an internment camp on an Indian Reservation in Poston, Arizona. They share their remembrances of learning of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the treatment of Japanese Americans, and life in the internment camp.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Greene. Greene dropped out of high school and joined the Navy in 1939, going to boot camp in Norfolk, Virginia. Afterwards, he went to the USS Kilty (DD-137). After a year on her, Greene was assigned to the USS Detroit (CL-8) in December 1940, remaining on her until December 1945. The Detroit changed its home port from San Diego to Pearl Harbor and was there on 7 December 1941. Greene states the Detroit was light in the water at the time of the attack, and therefore enemy torpedoes went underneath her. They rendezvoused with the USS Enterprise (CV-6) before coming back into Pearl Harbor. The Detroit escorted two ocean liners back to the States after the attack. Then, the Detroit provided escort duty to Australia and was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. They bombarded Kiska and Attu islands and one of the Japanese islands north of Honshu. At war’s end, the Detroit went into Tokyo Bay to find a safe way to get through the mined channel. Greene recalls taking the gold, silver and currency that the submarine USS Trout (SS-202) had taken from the Philippines to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Quinton Pyle. Pyle joined the Navy in 1940 before he finished high school. After training in San Diego, he reported to the USS Bagley (DD-386). The Bagley was in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He was the ‘hot case man’ on number two turret. That day, the turret started firing while the fireman got the boilers lit so they could generate steam and get underway. Pyle states that the ship shot down six Japanese planes that morning. The Bagley got steam up, passed the beached USS Nevada as they were going out, and went to sea. They came back in fairly soon for supplies and fuel but went back out immediately. Pyle states that the Bagley went all over the South Pacific area, had R&R in Brisbane, Australia and was in numerous minor and major skirmishes. The only damage the ship ever received was off Guadalcanal when one of the pilots from a downed Japanese torpedo bomber shot at the 20mm gunner with his pistol. Pyle also talks about the Bagley going alongside the heavily damaged and burning Astoria (CA-34) and taking off survivors during the battle …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Watters. Watters enlisted in the Naval Reserves in Los Angeles in November, 1940. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to the USS New York (BB-34) for a training cruise, which went to Cuba. After 30 days on the battleship he applied to midshipman’s school in New York. Watters was commissioned and assigned to an aircraft squadron, VP-23, based at Pearl Harbor. Watters’ primary duty in the squadron was administrative but he also flew as a crewmember as the commander wanted his men to learn navigation, etc. He was on Ford Island on 7 December 1941 when the Japanese attacked. He recalls going to the hangar area and pushing planes away from burning ones. Eleven of the squadrons 12 airplanes (PBY) were damaged. Later, VP-23 were among the first supporting the initial Solomon Island campaign. After Watters returned, he was assigned to a PB4Y squadron. He served as liaison officer from the fall of 1942 to the spring of 1944. In March 1944, he rotated back to Olathe, Kansas where he was the assembly and repair officer at the air station. Watters separated from active duty in March 1946 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward J. Kostelich. He joined the Army Air Corps on 1 July, 1940. He was assigned to Hickam Field, Hawaii. He recounts his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor. In October 1943, his squadron was sent to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal to fly missions targeting Japanese troop ships and supplies. In 1944 he was sent back to the United States. He was discharged in July 1945. He shares an anecdote about making moonshine while in Hawaii. The interview includes information about his parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Graves. Graves joined the Marine Corps Reserves while attending the Rice Institute in 1941. After graduation he was sent to Quantico, Virginia in June 1942. He was placed into a candidate?s class, a reserve officer?s class, and then an artillery class. He was sent to Camp Pendleton, California to train artillerymen. In January 1944, he was sent to Hawaii as the Battery Executive Officer of E battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment of the 4th Marine Division. He recounts his experiences in the Battles of Kwajalein and Saipan. He was injured by a grenade on Saipan. He relates his experiences in a tent hospital on Saipan and naval hospitals in Hawaii and Long Beach, California. As a result of his injury, he spent the remainder of the war on limited duty.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Mann. Mann joined the Army National Guard in January of 1941. He served with a medical unit and played trumpet in the band. He completed Officer Candidate School, and was later commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army Air Forces around mid-1944. He deployed to Casablanca in September, and was assigned to a base in Abadan, Iran. He served as a B-25 pilot, completing missions over North Africa and Iran. Mann was discharged around early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Pontow. Pontow joined the Navy in May, 1944. After basic training, he headed for Little Creek, Virginia, for amphibious training. After that, he was assigned to USS LSM-96. On his first cruise, they took a marine radar unit to the Philippines in early 1945. He also went to Okinawa for the initial landings. When the war ended, the USS LSM-96 battled typhoons and then went to China with the First Marine Division. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Custer. Custer joined the Army Air Corps in December, 1942. He attended aerial gunnery school before shipping to England.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Combs. Combs was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1940 and was in flight school in California when Pearl Harbor was attacked. After graduating and receiving his commission, he was assigned as a flight instructor at West Point in March, 1942. After transitioning from B-17s to B-29s, Combs joined a B-29 crew as a crew commander and headed overseas to Tinian in spring, 1945 and joined the 313th Bomb Wing. When the war ended, Combs returned home and was placed in the reserves. He was recalled for the Korean War and flew supplies from Japan and then VIPs around the theater.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charlie Boswell. After boot training in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Tennessee in April 1941. The Tennessee was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 tied up on the inside of the USS West Virginia, next to the pier. Boswell's battle station was as an ammunition handler on one of the 5-inch guns. He went down there and stayed there all day, sending up rounds. Boswell states that the Tennessee took two bombs hits. After about seven or eight days and they had blasted the big concrete pillars to give the Tennessee enough room to get out, they went to Bremerton, Washington along with the USS Pennsylvania and USS Maryland. After repairs, the Tennessee operated out of San Francisco. In September 1942, the Tennessee put back into Bremerton for additional work. Boswell was transferred to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the USS Waller (DD-466), a new Fletcher-class destroyer. The Waller sailed through the Panama Canal and ended up in the Solomon Islands, around Guadalcanal, where they joined up with four cruisers and four other destroyers. They operated out of an island called Tonagawa for two …

Recording was taken from a homemade CD titled "Test Run Poetry/ 30 Tracks." There are 28 individual tracks featuring poems written and read by Harold Epstein. There are some with related or similar content and others that are unique. Epstein uses different styles for a few of the poems to add effects like singing, echoing his words, and emphasizing some words and not others.

Interview with Larry Aldrich, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in England during the Iraqi war. Aldrich describes his experiences when he enlisted including his training and work as a guard at a nuclear weapons storage facility and later, overseas at RAF Lakenheath.