The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Johnson. He begins the interview with a summary of his life. Rufus Winfield Johnson was born in Montgomery County, Maryland in 1911. He was in the ROTC at Howard University. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1934 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserves. In 1939 he received his LLB degree from the Howard University School of Law. He shares stories from his time working in the White House as lifeguard and personal butler to Franklin Delano Roosevelt prior to entering the armed forces. He served in the 92nd Infantry Division. He shares an anecdote about receiving a ten thousand dollar reward for shooting a bandit that preyed on American sailors in North Africa. He describes the campaigns of Sicily and North Apennines. He recounts an altercation with General Almond after which he was transferred to the 442nd Infantry Division. He describes his role in rescuing Company K of the 71st Infantry. He also recounts his capture and escape from German soldiers. He discusses the treatment of African American soldiers. He also served during the Korean War. He retired from the Army Reserves …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Johnson. He begins the interview with a summary of his life. Rufus Winfield Johnson was born in Montgomery County, Maryland in 1911. He was in the ROTC at Howard University. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1934 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserves. In 1939 he received his LLB degree from the Howard University School of Law. He shares stories from his time working in the White House as lifeguard and personal butler to Franklin Delano Roosevelt prior to entering the armed forces. He served in the 92nd Infantry Division. He shares an anecdote about receiving a ten thousand dollar reward for shooting a bandit that preyed on American sailors in North Africa. He describes the campaigns of Sicily and North Apennines. He recounts an altercation with General Almond after which he was transferred to the 442nd Infantry Division. He describes his role in rescuing Company K of the 71st Infantry. He also recounts his capture and escape from German soldiers. He discusses the treatment of African American soldiers. He also served during the Korean War. He retired from the Army Reserves …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Cheney. Cheney enlisted in the Army Air Forces in September of 1942. He completed radio school and served in Australia, New Guinea and Los Negros Island. He provides some details of his work and travel experiences. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John W. Griffing. Griffing was born on 31 December 1915 on a farm near Hubbard, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1932, he was drafted in April 1941. He entered the 200th Coast Artillery and underwent basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. In August of 1941 he went to Fort Stotsenberg, in the Philippines. In December 1941 the Japanese invaded the Philippines and Griffing recalls surrendering. His group was put into trucks and taken to Camp O’Donnell. After four months he was sent to Cabanatuan. After three months, he volunteered for a work detail on an airfield at Lipa, Batangas until March 1944. He tells of being at Camp Murphy and Bilibid prison until October 1944 when he went aboard the Hell ship Haro Maru bound for Japan. After spending thirty-nine days on the ship they landed on Formosa on 9 November 1944. After two months he was sent to Moji, Japan and assigned to work in the zinc mines. On 20 August 1945 the prisoners were notified that the war was over and B-29s soon began dropping food and clothing to the prisoners. On 12 September …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Lansford. Lansford joined the navy in January 1941. His first duty station was at Kaneohe Naval Air Station on Oahu. He was an electrician and kept crash boat batteries operating. Lansford recalls the Japanese attack on Kaneohe. He remained at Kaneohe for the rest of the war at the air station serving as an electrician.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Walker. Walker finished high school in 1942, then joined the Navy. He was trained as a pharmacist's mate and went to Guadalcanal in February 1943 and stayed until October. He was evacuated with a few illnesses. Once he recovered, he was assigned to USS Rixey (APH-3). He went to officer candidate school in Kansas in August, 1944. He finished the war there and elected to stay for the education to become an officer rather than return to the Fleet as a first class petty officer. When he finished school and received his commission, he was assigned to USS Ashtabula (AO-51) in 1948 and headed for Japan and other ports. Walker resigned his commission in 1951.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Dewitt. Dewitt joined the Navy and served as a Chief Yeoman. He served aboard the ammunition ship, USS Nitro (AE-2). They traveled to all ports along the east coast and in the Caribbean. From there he boarded the USS Medusa (AR-1). He then transferred a year and half later to the supply ship, USS Antares (AKS-3), where he was stationed in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He recalls when a Japanese two-man submarine was sunk prior to the attack, and the events he endured during and after the attack. In 1945 he was sent to Guam and served in the receiving station until December of that year.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wayne VanDerWeele. VanDerWeele joined the Navy in June of 1944. He discusses briefly the relocation of the Japanese-Americans during wartime. He was assigned to HMS Battleaxe beginning August of 1944. They traveled to the New Hebrides Islands, working on a dry dock. From there they went to New Caledonia working on a receiving station, and at the Fleet Record Office forwarding mail. He served in the Fleet Office from October 1944 until March of 1945 and provides details of their work and living conditions. Their office was then moved to Guam, where he worked from April 1945 until February 1946. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Melford K. Jarstad. Jarstad joined the Marine Corps in January 1942. He was sent to defend Johnston Island and manned antiaircraft guns for 16 months. Jarstad was transferred to the 5th Marine Division and served as a crewman on a 37mm gun. His unit landed on Iwo Jima and he describes in detail his experiences in battle and how his gun was utilized. Jarstad took part in the occupation of Japan and was discharged in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Lansford. Lansford joined the navy in January 1941. His first duty station was at Kaneohe Naval Air Station on Oahu. He was an electrician and kept crash boat batteries operating. Lansford recalls the Japanese attack on Kaneohe. He remained at Kaneohe for the rest of the war at the air station serving as an electrician.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Walker. Walker finished high school in 1942, then joined the Navy. He was trained as a pharmacist's mate and went to Guadalcanal in February 1943 and stayed until October. He was evacuated with a few illnesses. Once he recovered, he was assigned to USS Rixey (APH-3). He went to officer candidate school in Kansas in August, 1944. He finished the war there and elected to stay for the education to become an officer rather than return to the Fleet as a first class petty officer. When he finished school and received his commission, he was assigned to USS Ashtabula (AO-51) in 1948 and headed for Japan and other ports. Walker resigned his commission in 1951.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John W. Griffing. Griffing was born on 31 December 1915 on a farm near Hubbard, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1932, he was drafted in April 1941. He entered the 200th Coast Artillery and underwent basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. In August of 1941 he went to Fort Stotsenberg, in the Philippines. In December 1941 the Japanese invaded the Philippines and Griffing recalls surrendering. His group was put into trucks and taken to Camp O’Donnell. After four months he was sent to Cabanatuan. After three months, he volunteered for a work detail on an airfield at Lipa, Batangas until March 1944. He tells of being at Camp Murphy and Bilibid prison until October 1944 when he went aboard the Hell ship Haro Maru bound for Japan. After spending thirty-nine days on the ship they landed on Formosa on 9 November 1944. After two months he was sent to Moji, Japan and assigned to work in the zinc mines. On 20 August 1945 the prisoners were notified that the war was over and B-29s soon began dropping food and clothing to the prisoners. On 12 September …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Cheney. Cheney enlisted in the Army Air Forces in September of 1942. He completed radio school and served in Australia, New Guinea and Los Negros Island. He provides some details of his work and travel experiences. He was honorably discharged in 1946.