The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Morton Harrington. Harrington joined the Navy in January of 1944. He completed Gunnery School and Aviation Ordnance School, learning about aircraft bombs, fuses, various caliber guns, rockets, flags, radio communication and Morse Code. Beginning February of 1945 Harrington was assigned to the USS Nehenta Bay (CVE–74), serving as a turret gunner aboard both TBF’s and TBM’s. Their ship qualified with F4-U Corsair squadrons for carrier work. They traveled to Eniwetok, bombing several islands that the Japanese still held. In April of 1945 they participated in the Battle of Okinawa, where they shot down three kamikazes. Harrington provides details of his experiences aboard the Nehenta Bay and throughout their battles. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clifford Ashby. Ashby was born in Effingham, Illinois on 11 June 1925. He became interested in amateur radio while in high school and joined the Merchant Marines in 1943. After passing tests related to radio operations he was assigned to the liberty ship, SS James B. Francis (1942) as a radio operator. He tells of the ship loaded with ammunition sitting in the harbor at Guadalcanal with hoses pumping water on the deck to keep it cool. He also observed Japanese air raids over the island of Morotai. Ashby’s ship also participated in the invasion of Luzon. Later, he was assigned to the SS Benjamin Grierson commenting on the excellent food served aboard Liberty ships. He comments on the excellent wages paid to Merchant seaman and the fact that the pay was doubled when the ship was within a war zone. He tells of the SS Grierson setting at Ulithi with 40 other merchant ships for three months following the Japanese surrender. After leaving the Merchant Marine he attended various colleges and he comments on his career prior to retirement.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Weymouth. Weymouth joined the Navy in June of 1934. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1938. He completed flight training in August of 1940. Beginning September of 1943, he served as Commanding Officer of Bombing Squadron 16 (VB-16) aboard USS Lexington (CV-16). Weymouth participated in the Gilbert Islands operation and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. He continued his service after the war, retiring in January of 1973 as a vice admiral and anti-nuclear campaigner.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Louis Giroil. Giroil recalls much about the Great Depression in the New Orleans area and the defense work available once the war started. He joined the Navy in January 1943 and trained as an aviation radioman. After training, he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 80 (VT-80) and went aboard USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) in time for the invasion of the Philippines. He returned to the US and joined Torpedo Squadron 44 (VT-44), went aboard USS Langley (CVL-27) and hit targets at Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Formosa. Giroil was back in the US when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Tinney. Tinney joined the Navy in June of 1943. In October he was assigned to the USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) and traveled to the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Yap, Truk, Okinawa, Australia, the Caroline Islands, the Admiralty Islands and the Philippine Islands. He worked in the black gang as a fireman, firing boilers. He provides details of his work, which he remained in for the 25 months he served aboard the Ralph Talbot. He also worked as a hot shell man on the number four 5-inch gun. While in Okinawa the Ralph Talbot was hit by a kamikaze. It also picked up 24 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) survivors and they shot down 26 planes including 4 kamikazes. Tinney provides details of these events and his involvement. He was discharged 26 November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clifford Ashby. Ashby was born in Effingham, Illinois on 11 June 1925. He became interested in amateur radio while in high school and joined the Merchant Marines in 1943. After passing tests related to radio operations he was assigned to the liberty ship, SS James B. Francis (1942) as a radio operator. He tells of the ship loaded with ammunition sitting in the harbor at Guadalcanal with hoses pumping water on the deck to keep it cool. He also observed Japanese air raids over the island of Morotai. Ashby’s ship also participated in the invasion of Luzon. Later, he was assigned to the SS Benjamin Grierson commenting on the excellent food served aboard Liberty ships. He comments on the excellent wages paid to Merchant seaman and the fact that the pay was doubled when the ship was within a war zone. He tells of the SS Grierson setting at Ulithi with 40 other merchant ships for three months following the Japanese surrender. After leaving the Merchant Marine he attended various colleges and he comments on his career prior to retirement.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Weymouth. Weymouth joined the Navy in June of 1934. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1938. He completed flight training in August of 1940. Beginning September of 1943, he served as Commanding Officer of Bombing Squadron 16 (VB-16) aboard USS Lexington (CV-16). Weymouth participated in the Gilbert Islands operation and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. He continued his service after the war, retiring in January of 1973 as a vice admiral and anti-nuclear campaigner.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Morton Harrington. Harrington joined the Navy in January of 1944. He completed Gunnery School and Aviation Ordnance School, learning about aircraft bombs, fuses, various caliber guns, rockets, flags, radio communication and Morse Code. Beginning February of 1945 Harrington was assigned to the USS Nehenta Bay (CVE–74), serving as a turret gunner aboard both TBF’s and TBM’s. Their ship qualified with F4-U Corsair squadrons for carrier work. They traveled to Eniwetok, bombing several islands that the Japanese still held. In April of 1945 they participated in the Battle of Okinawa, where they shot down three kamikazes. Harrington provides details of his experiences aboard the Nehenta Bay and throughout their battles. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Louis Giroil. Giroil recalls much about the Great Depression in the New Orleans area and the defense work available once the war started. He joined the Navy in January 1943 and trained as an aviation radioman. After training, he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 80 (VT-80) and went aboard USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) in time for the invasion of the Philippines. He returned to the US and joined Torpedo Squadron 44 (VT-44), went aboard USS Langley (CVL-27) and hit targets at Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Formosa. Giroil was back in the US when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Tinney. Tinney joined the Navy in June of 1943. In October he was assigned to the USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) and traveled to the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Yap, Truk, Okinawa, Australia, the Caroline Islands, the Admiralty Islands and the Philippine Islands. He worked in the black gang as a fireman, firing boilers. He provides details of his work, which he remained in for the 25 months he served aboard the Ralph Talbot. He also worked as a hot shell man on the number four 5-inch gun. While in Okinawa the Ralph Talbot was hit by a kamikaze. It also picked up 24 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) survivors and they shot down 26 planes including 4 kamikazes. Tinney provides details of these events and his involvement. He was discharged 26 November 1945.