The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Brewer. Brewer joined the Navy in April of 1943. He completed Gunnery School and Radio School. In mid-1944, Brewer was assigned to Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47) and later deployed to Hawaii. Beginning in spring of 1945, he served as an Aviation Radioman-Gunner aboard USS Bataan (CVL-29). The task force conducted a series of raids to support the invasion of Okinawa. They participated in the Battle of the East China Sea, and conducted numerous bombing runs on airfields and factories in Japan. He returned to the US in September of 1945 and was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Cyril Conn. Conn joined the Army Air Forces in May of 1942. He served as an aircraft mechanic with the 27th Air Depot Group. From May of 1943 through the fall of 1945, he was stationed in New Guinea. Conn was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Cotner. Cotner joined the Navy in March of 1945. He completed radio operator, anti-aircraft and underwater demolition training. He served aboard the USS General William Mitchell (AP-114). They traveled to Guam, and other Pacific islands to pick up and transport soldiers and Marines. Cotner returned to the US and received his discharge in December of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Horace Chester Gould. Gould joined the Marine Corps in July of 1940. He served as a military policeman at Quantico, Virginia. Gould additionally served with the 5th Amphibious Corps, and participated in the battles of Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima. He participated in the allied occupation of Japan after the war ended. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Guthrie. Guthrie joined the Navy in late December of 1941. In 1942, he flew PBY Catalinas with Patrol Squadron 23, a Black Cat Squadron. They were assigned to Midway, participating in patrols searching for the Japanese invasion force. They also supported the invasion of and operations at Guadalcanal. In 1943, Guthrie was assigned to Funafuti and completed air, sea and rescue missions. In 1944, he flew missions over Kwajalein, Guam, Saipan, Iwo Jima and numerous other islands. He returned to the US and was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ivan Haselby. Haselby joined the Army in July of 1944. He completed Officer Candidate School and served as a first lieutenant in the First Cavalry Division, Eighth Cavalry Regiment. He worked at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas through May of 1945. Beginning in July, he was deployed to Japan and served with the occupation forces. He was stationed in the Chiba Prefecture, occupying and investigating schools. Haselby returned to the US and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Kolar. Kolar joined the Army in June of 1943. He served as a mechanic with the 997th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company. Beginning February of 1944, they deployed to England. They landed on Omaha Beach 2 weeks after the initial invasion. He was later transferred to the 95th Infantry Division, 379th Infantry Regiment. They traveled into France and, by November, captured the forts surrounding Metz and repulsed enemy attempts to cross the river. They traveled into Germany and participated in ongoing battles for several months, holding their position until the war ended. Kolar returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ray Kroft. Kroft joined the Army in October of 1944. He served as a Staff Sergeant with the 77th Infantry Division. He participated in the Battle of Okinawa, and served with occupation forces in Japan. He was discharged in November of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with W. A. (Bill) Henderson. He discusses his time as a bombardier and navigator on a B-24 in the China-Burma-India Theater. His crew made bombing runs along the Burma Railway and hit the bridge over River Kwai (Mae Klong), and also flew runs to supply gasoline to various bases in China, India and Burma. He ancedotes about the food and living quarters on the bases and saving his co-pilot's life after a bullet tore through the plane's nose wheel into the man's leg, then helping the pilot land the crippled plane.

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 oral interview with Hamilton McWhorter. McWhorter was born in Athens, Georgia on 8 February 1921 and enrolled in a Civilian Pilot Training Program while in college. He enlisted in the Navy in June 1941 with a pilot’s license. He received his Aviator wings at Pensacola in February 1942. His first assignment was to Fighter Squadron Nine (VF-9) at Norfolk, Virginia. He was flying the much-maligned Brewster Buffalo (F2A-3) trainer when he had the only flight accident of his career at an airfield in Miami, Florida. His first combat flight was off the USS Ranger (CV-4) just off Morocco in support of the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. He was transferred to the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in August 1943. His combat missions in the Pacific consisted of strafing runs on islands and escorting bombers and torpedo planes over Wake Island during which he encountered his first Japanese Mitsubishi A6M (Zero). He shot down another Zero while making a strafing run on Wake Island. He also attacked Rabaul on 11 November 1943 while escorting American bombers. He remembers a strafing run on the Japanese heavy cruiser Mogami, and he shot down …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Dege. Dege joined the Navy in 1940. He was stationed on Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Shortly after the attack, Dege was transferred to Philadelphia to complete schooling on super-heated boilers. Beginning April of 1944, he served as a Fireman aboard USS Wisconsin (BB-64). They traveled to Australia, Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Tucker. Tucker joined the Navy in January of 1945. Beginning in the spring, he served as Storekeeper Third-Class aboard USS Remey (DD-688). They went through a typhoon close to Okinawa and provided shore bombardment in Alaska. They were docked on the coast of Japan when the Japanese surrendered. Tucker recalls Japanese officials from the city of Ōminatoa surrendering aboard the destroyer, and signing a peace treaty. They returned to the US in October of 1945, and Tucker was discharged in mid-1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Causey. Causey was born in Mississippi and was drafted into the Army right after he finished high school in 1944. Causey shares a few stories about basic training in Florida. Causey went overseas aboard the USS General M.M. Patrcik (AP-150) from Seattle to Hawaii in February, 1945. Causey describes more training he received on Hawaii before shipping out to Saipan in April. On 1 May, Causey arrived as a replacement o nOkinawa. He was assigned to C Company, 1st battalion, 381st Regiment, 96th Infantry Division. Causey then describes his impressions and experiences fighting on Okinawa. Causey was eventually wounded by shell fragments and evacuated to a hospital near the beach. After treatment, he was able to rejoin his unit on Okinawa. When the war ended, Causey was aboard an LST bound for the Philippines and more training in anticipation of the invasion of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jamie Davis. Davis joined the Marine Corps in July of 1944. He served with a replacement draft for the 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Regiment. They deployed in mid-December to Pavuvu Island in the Solomons. He completed additional training between Pavuvu and Guadalcanal via LSTs and LCVPs. They participated in the Battle of Okinawa, where Davis served as a forward observer, coordinating naval gunfire to enemy positions. After the war ended, they served as occupational troops in Tientsin, China, and returned to the US in December of 1945. Davis was discharged in July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Dugger. Dugger was born in Mazie, Oklahoma 6 September 1924 and joined the Navy in 1943. After finishing boot camp at the San Diego Naval Training Station he went to machinist school. Upon completing that training, he volunteered for the submarine service. He tells of going aboard the USS S-23 for training. Upon conclusion of his training he served as an instructor on the boat for 16 months. He describes being on a submarine and the requirement that each crewman learn the various jobs on the boat. Dugger made around 600 training dives aboard the S-23 before being transferred to Submarine Division 104 at Pearl Harbor. There he participated in the overhaul of the USS Sea Dog (SS-401), the USS Sea Poacher (SS-406) and the USS Gar (SS-206). He describes in detail the overhaul process. Dugger returned to the United States in 1945 and was assigned to the USS Vermillion (AKA-107). After a short but uneventful tour on the ship he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Finnegan. Finnegan joined the Marine Corps without finishing high school right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He went to Parris Island to train in February 1942. At New River, North Carolina, Finnegan was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, First Marine Division. Finnegan was among the first Marines to arrive on Guadalcanal in August, 1942. He participated in the Battle of the Tenaru River. After leaving Guadalcanal, Finnegan went to Melbourne, Australia with the rest of the First Marine Division. From there, he landed on Cape Gloucester and recalls an engagement with the Japanese. After that, he went to Pavuvu prior to landing on Peleliu. He describes landing on Peleliu and his experiences in combat there. Finnegan was wounded and evacuated after a week on Peleliu. He spent time at a hospital on Manus and then was returned to the US in November, 1944. Upon recovery, he was sent to an ammunition station in Indiana to perform guard duty. The war ended and he was discharged in November, 1945. He re-enlisted in 1948 and was on hand to go to Korea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Theodore Gruhn. Gruhn joined the Navy in September 1941 after working as a carpenter. He was en route to Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Once at Hawaii, Gruhn did shore patrol for a year until he was assigned to the USS Farenholt (DD-491) as a carpenter's mate in December 1942. In May, 1944, Gruhn transferred to the USS Abercrombie (DE-343). When the war ended, Gruhn had enough points to be discharged in October, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dana S. Green. Green joined the Army Air Forces in March, 1943. Ha made it through pilot training before switching to radio operator/gunner. Once Green arrived in England in October, 1944, he was assigned to the 305th Bomb Group in Chelveston, England. When the war in Europe ended, Green was shipped to California to await reassignment to a B-29 crew.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harrison Gunter. Gunter joined the Navy in June, 1942 as an aviation cadet. He trained in Georgia and Texas before receiving his commission. He then opted to transfer to the Marine Corps. He was retained as a flight instructor. In January, 1945, Gunter was sent to Guam and flew C-47s hauling personnel all over the Pacific. His squadron was VMR-952. When the war ended, his unit went to occupation duty in Japan. Gunter was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Hausladen. Hausladen joined the Marine Corps in 1939 after two years of college. After boot camp came sea school, after which Hausladen went aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37). He was aboard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and recalls being in a 5-inch gun compartment when the ship rolled. He escaped and was rescued by a whaleboat. In April, 1942, he was sent to VMF-223 as an armory technician. He travelled with them to Guadalcanal, arriving in August, 1942. His unit returned to the US in October. He went to Bougainville briefly and was in the US training when the war ended. Hausladen was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Haskett. Haskett joined the Navy in 1938. He served as a gunner on PT-155 in the Solomon Islands. Haskett describes PT boat operations, armament, and combat in general. He also details how the early torpedo tubes were activated with a mallet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Floy Hughes. Hughes joined the Navy in early 1941. From 1941 through early 1944, he served as a First Class Cook in the Officers Mess at Corpus Christi, Texas. Beginning April of 1944, Hughes did the same work at Camp Kearny in San Diego, California. He returned to Texas and was discharged in September of 1945.