The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Weston. Weston joined the Navy in June 1942 after graduating high school. Upon completing aviation machinist's mate training, he was assigned to CASU-23. In July 1943, Weston boarded USS Monterey (CVL-26), where he ran into childhood friend Gerald Ford. He was stationed on deck as a carburetor specialist making final engine adjustments just before planes took off. He helped push totaled planes overboard to clear the deck. After sailing through a typhoon that caused extensive damage and claimed three lives, Weston served as a pallbearer for their burial at sea. While the Monterey docked in Bremerton for repairs, Weston performed maintenance for training aircraft at Kitsap County Airport. Returning to combat at Okinawa, he was too busy to be frightened as kamikazes attacked. Weston was discharged in December 1945. As a civilian, he had difficulty finding work as an aircraft mechanic and instead pursued a career in pharmacy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph V. Kight, Jr. Kight was born 21 August 1924 in Pleasanton, Texas. He joined the Marines at age 17 in April 1942 in San Antonio and attended boot camp and radio school in San Diego where he trained as an artillery forward observer (AFO). His permanent unit was 12th Marines, 1st battalion, 3rd Marine Division, although he was temporarily attached to other units as needed. Kight sailed for the Pacific on the Mt. Vernon, and arrived in New Zealand before going to Guadalcanal on 4 July 1943 for artillery practice. On Bougainville, he landed in the initial waves and acted as radio man and AFO. Kight was on the island during the battles of Piva Trail and Grenade Hill. He contracted dengue fever before leaving the island after 72 days on 12 January 1944. On Guam, Kight was involved in a banzai attack and numerous actions against the Japanese including the battle of Finnegayan. Kight arrived on Iwo Jima on 18 February and remained in reserve until 23 February. Upon landing, he helped conduct fire missions on the air strip. He departed Iwo Jima around 10 April …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Weston. Weston joined the Navy in June 1942 after graduating high school. Upon completing aviation machinist's mate training, he was assigned to CASU-23. In July 1943, Weston boarded USS Monterey (CVL-26), where he ran into childhood friend Gerald Ford. He was stationed on deck as a carburetor specialist making final engine adjustments just before planes took off. He helped push totaled planes overboard to clear the deck. After sailing through a typhoon that caused extensive damage and claimed three lives, Weston served as a pallbearer for their burial at sea. While the Monterey docked in Bremerton for repairs, Weston performed maintenance for training aircraft at Kitsap County Airport. Returning to combat at Okinawa, he was too busy to be frightened as kamikazes attacked. Weston was discharged in December 1945. As a civilian, he had difficulty finding work as an aircraft mechanic and instead pursued a career in pharmacy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph V. Kight, Jr. Kight was born 21 August 1924 in Pleasanton, Texas. He joined the Marines at age 17 in April 1942 in San Antonio and attended boot camp and radio school in San Diego where he trained as an artillery forward observer (AFO). His permanent unit was 12th Marines, 1st battalion, 3rd Marine Division, although he was temporarily attached to other units as needed. Kight sailed for the Pacific on the Mt. Vernon, and arrived in New Zealand before going to Guadalcanal on 4 July 1943 for artillery practice. On Bougainville, he landed in the initial waves and acted as radio man and AFO. Kight was on the island during the battles of Piva Trail and Grenade Hill. He contracted dengue fever before leaving the island after 72 days on 12 January 1944. On Guam, Kight was involved in a banzai attack and numerous actions against the Japanese including the battle of Finnegayan. Kight arrived on Iwo Jima on 18 February and remained in reserve until 23 February. Upon landing, he helped conduct fire missions on the air strip. He departed Iwo Jima around 10 April …