Transcription of a phone interview with L. B. Blackmon of Corpus Christi, Texas, a World War Two veteran of the United States Marine Corps. In the interview, Mr. Brown talks about his time in the Marines as well as life growing up during the Great Depression and other biographical information. He recalls memories of surviving Pearl Harbor, guard duty around naval storage in Hawaii, and the Horse Marines.

Interview with Lieutenant Col. W. A. Bill Henderson of Gatesville, Texas, who is a veteran of the United States Air Force. In the interview, Mr. Henderson answers biographical questions and talks about his military flight training, traveling, and bombing the Kwai River Bridge during World War II.

Interview with Dale R. Walker of Kingsville, Texas, a United States Marine Corps veteran from World War Two. The interview includes Hill's memories about growing up as well as his personal experiences while in the Marines, including details from his involvement in the Iwo Jima attacks, 3rd Battalion, and the occupation of Nagasaki.

Interview with L. B. Blackmon, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He discusses boot camp in San Diego, his assignment to Pearl Harbor, and his experiences during the attack. He later trained cadets in Corpus Christi.

Interview with Dale R. Walker, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He joined the Marine Corps in 1944 and was trained in mortars at Camp Pendleton, California. He then went to Camp Tarawa at Hawaii for further training with the Fifth Marine Division. Walker landed with the sixth wave on D-day at Iwo Jima. While working with mortars supporting the infantry, he was called on to be a stretcher-bearer on occasion. Walker spent 36 days on Iwo Jima. After the Japanese surrendered, Walker served in the occupation of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Zapalac. Zapalac was born in Pasadena, California 27 April 1923. He joined the US Army in 1940 and received his basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. Upon volunteering for parachute training he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia where he qualified as a paratrooper. He then went to Fort Bragg, Kentucky and was assigned to the 506th Parachute infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. In 1943 the unit went to England and continued training. On 6 June 1944 his division participated in Operation Neptune. He describes the procedure of boarding the plane with full combat gear and weapons. He also tells of preparing for bailout. After jumping from 700 hundred feet and landing, he recalls using a cricket device to indentify one’s self with other members of the unit. On 11 June while advancing on bridges at Carentan, France, Zapalac was severely wounded. He was treated by a medic and returned to a hospital in England. After three months in the hospital he was sent to a replacement depot. He was unable to return to combat due to the lack of mobility of his right arm. Requiring frequent …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Skirvin. Skirvin was born on a farm in Iowa on 26 January 1922. He dropped out of school after the eighth grade to work on the farm. In 1942 he was drafted into the Army and spent six week of infantry basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. He then went to Fort Bliss, Texas where he was assigned to the Troop G, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He recalls training as cavalry with horses until early 1943 when the horses were taken away and the unit became infantry. Trained as a Browning automatic rifle (BAR) operator, he boarded the USAT Maui with an advance detail bound for Brisbane, Australia. Upon their arrival they began four weeks of intensive jungle training. This was followed by four weeks of amphibious training. Skirvin’s unit went to New Guinea and the Admiralties where they were involved in combat. While there, Skirvin developed a severe case of Shingles, which hospitalized him for two weeks. Eventually, his unit boarded the USS La Salle (AGF-3) and landed on Leyte in October 1944. He recounts various experiences while there, including a banzai charge, loss …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Peter Hammersen. Hammersen joined the California Army National Guard in September of 1939. He joined, as a charter member, Company A of the 115th Medical Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. He worked as a surgical technician in various hospitals, including the 48th Station Hospital at Vila, Efate, Henderson Field at Guadalcanal and finally the 37th Portable Surgical Hospital in New Guinea. Hammersen shares a number of anecdotal stories, and he was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Pace. Pace was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania on 14 April 1924. Upon joining the Navy in 1942, he went to boot camp at Sampson, New York. After attending Motor Machinist Mate’s school in Boston, he went to Bath, Maine where he reported aboard the USS Healy (DD-672). In January 1944 the ship joined Task Force 58 and participated in the invasion of the Marshall Islands. Pace tells of participating in various invasions, among them were Guam, Marianas, Leyte, and Iwo Jima. The ship returned to San Francisco in April 1945. He was discharged in November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth Harrell. Harrell joined the Marine Corps in August 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division as a radio operator with the 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion and first encountered enemy fire during a practice landing on Goodenough Island. With Chesty Puller, he walked across Cape Gloucester amidst sniper fire. Harrell transferred to the 6th Amphibious Tractor Battalion, landing on Peleliu in the second wave. When his LV-2 Water Buffalo was hit twice in shallow water, Harrell’s shoes were blown off and he crawled ashore, shredding his hands and knees on the reef. After the air strip was secured, Harrell was put on shore patrol, deterring enemy barges. Holdouts remained in caves, and Harrell was bayoneted during a banzai charge. He killed his assailant and boarded a hospital ship. His battalion having been decimated, Harrell rejoined the 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion at Okinawa, taking fragments when a nearby Japanese soldier committed suicide by grenade and hiding amidst urns in native burial grounds. In September 1945, Harrell transferred to the 1st Motor Transport Battalion in north China, facilitating the disarmament of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harry Longerich. Longerich was born in Germany in 1917 and immigrated to the United States. He attended the Stanton Military Academy and was an amateur radio operator. After opening a successful radio service store with celebrity customers, he sold the business in 1938 and enlisted in the Army in anticipation of the war. He attended basic training and learned CW operation at Fort Monmouth. He was stationed on Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Days later, Longerich overheard Admiral Kimmel lamenting the loss so many young men. Because of his fluency in German, he was chosen for several offensive and defensive counterintelligence operations with the Sixth Army, broadcasting false information to Germany leading to a diversion of Hitler’s divisions on the Eastern Front, and attaching an antenna to a balloon to eavesdrop in hard to reach locales. He was so adept with radio equipment that he was called upon to repair Patton’s personal radio, and he hand-delivered eyes-only communications to Eisenhower. He later joined the Army Security Agency as an electronic countermeasures specialist and R&D engineer. After attending Command and General Staff College, Longerich retired in 1963.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Brunson. Brunson left engineering school to join the Army Air Forces in December 1941, having already completed the CPTP. After basic training at Fairfax Field, he transferred to the Navy. His night fighter training at Quonset Point with VF(N)-75 emphasized navigating without landmarks. He transferred to VF(N)-101 and joined the USS Enterprise (CV-6) at Majuro, making the first strike on Truk. After the USS Intrepid (CV-11) was torpedoed, Brunson was one of just a few Corsair pilots remaining in the fleet, a group known as the Grasshoppers. He supported the Hollandia landing and participated in the Marianas Turkey Shoot. He also escorted seaplanes on search and rescue missions. Although the F4U was fast, due to faulty radar gear he only once got on the enemy’s tail. Brunson was badly injured when his wing caught the edge of the Enterprise. In July 1944 he returned to the States as a night fighter instructor, stationed at Vero Beach. He was discharged into the Reserves in June 1946 and resumed his studies at Kansas State, with a focus on aeronautical engineering. Brunson began a career in flight testing, but when …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Grote. Born 11 November 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri, Grote was drafted 4 January 1943 and sent to Miami Beach, Florida for basic training. Upon completing basic he went to radio school at Scott Field, Illinois and aerial gunnery training at Wendover, Utah. From there, Grote went to a base in Colorado where he joined a new B-24 crew. He recalls going to Langley Field, Virginia for advanced crew training. Upon completion of the training they flew the B-24 to Hethel, England where they joined the 389th Bomb Group, 567th Bomb Squadron. He flew thirty missions and describes his activities as a radio operator and gunner. Recalling 6 June 1944 he tells of bombing missions over the beaches of Normandy and of the sight of the invasion forces from the air. Grote returned to the United States in October 1944 aboard RMS Queen Mary. Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire put on an impromptu show using tables in the mess hall area of the ship as a stage. After arriving in the U.S. he was sent to Romulus, Michigan to become part of a plane crew that ferried …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Dragoni. Dragoni joined the Army Aviation Cadet Training Program in August of 1943. He completed cadet training and gunnery school, though served as a Radar Navigator aboard a B-29. Beginning in December of 1944 he completed missions to Singapore out of a base in India. During one mission, their plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Singapore and they crash landed on Burma. They were later stationed on Guam, completing missions to Iwo Jima and Japan. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Charles Liapes. Liapes was born in Newburg, New York 27 November 1921. Five of his brothers were in the service during World War II. Three were wounded and all returned home. In November 1942, Liapes volunteered for the Army and went to Fort McClelland for basic training. Upon completion of basic he traveled to England aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth (R-08) to attend a British Commando school. Completing the commando training he returned to the United States and volunteered for the paratroopers. He was assigned to the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. In May 1944 he made five jumps on three successive days to quickly qualify as a paratrooper. On 6 June 1944 he participated in Operation Overlord by jumping over France. He describes the action during and after the jump, seeing comrades and German soldiers killed. He also describes destroying a German tank during the battle of Sainte-Mere-Eglise. He was wounded but recovered prior to participating in Operation Market Garden. Soon after landing he was seriously wounded and sent to a hospital in England. From there he went to the military hospital in Framingham, Massachusetts and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Lindberg. Lindberg joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He joined Carlson’s Raiders. In the spring and summer, they traveled through Midway, Fiji and New Caledonia. In November they conducted the Long Patrol on Guadalcanal, traveling through the jungle to Henderson Field, engrossed in combat with the Japanese and destroying enemy camps and equipment. They participated in the Bougainville Campaign in November of 1943. In February of 1944 Lindberg served with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division. They participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima and were part of the First Flag Raising on the island. He received a Purple Heart and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Morgan. Morgan joined the Navy in December of 1941. Beginning in January of 1942 he served as Boatswain’s Mate Second Class and Master of Arms, aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). They participated in the New Guinea and Aleutian Islands Campaigns. From late 1942 into early 1945 they bombarded for invasions of Kwajalein, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In July of 1945 they successfully delivered atomic bomb components to Tinian. Morgan describes their fateful event of 30 July, when the Indianapolis was sunk, and his survival and rescue on 2 August. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Palmer. Palmer joined the Army Air Forces in August of 1942. He completed preflight, primary flight and ground school. From August through December of 1944, Palmer served as a second lieutenant pilot aboard a Curtiss C-46 Commando transporting B-29 engines and other cargo from Miami to Cairo, Egypt. This was a four-day round trip, which he made 3-4 times per month. In January of 1945 he was transferred to a base in India, and flew the Hump to China. He returned to the US in October of 1945. Palmer was discharged in December of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Swaney. Swaney was born in Linton, North Dakota on 21 September 1920. He describes the hardships he faced during the Depression. After high school, he attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and graduated in 1942. Upon entering the US Navy in September 1942, he went to Columbia University to Midshipman’s School. He graduated as an ensign and reported to Solomon Island, Maryland for amphibious training. There, as captain of an LCT, he and his crew of ten made practice landings. During one of the training sessions, he injured his spine, which resulted in extensive hospitalization. After spending over a year in various hospitals, he reported to the USS Nevada (BB-36) as a division officer of a five-inch gun. Swaney recalls the ship being attacked by kamikazes off Iwo Jima. He describes actions the ship was involved in during the invasion of Okinawa and recalls the ship being hit by a kamikaze. He witnessed the burial at sea of eleven shipmates. Following the end of the war, Swaney participated in preparing the Nevada for Operation Crossroads in 1946. He decided to be discharged from the Navy in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Hanley. Hanley joined the Navy in April of 1942. He trained as a storekeeper and completed midshipman’s school at Navy Pier in Chicago. In December of 1944 he was transferred to Hawaii and served on the CINCPAC staff of Admiral Chester Nimitz. He traveled to Guam in early 1945, working as head over all the stores. He shares a number of anecdotes of his encounters with Nimitz. His discharge was around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Burman Stewart. Stewart joined the Navy in February of 1944. Beginning in May, he served as a seaman aboard the SS Sea Runner (1944), a passenger and cargo ship. In June they transported supplies and Seabees for the Battle of Saipan, going ashore by tank landing ships. Stewart operated the cranes to lower and raise the boats into the water. Stewart and his shipmates served on the island of Hawaii until January of 1945, then they transported the 12th Service Marine Division to the Battle of Iwo Jima. In April they delivered a group of soldiers from Guam to the Battle of Okinawa. In June they transferred back to Hawaii, where Stewart served on the island until his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John E. Underwood. Underwood grew up on a farm in Georgia and volunteered for service in the US Navy when he was 15 years old in 1941. His mother signed for him and then he went to boot camp in Virginia. Upon completing training, Underwood was assigned VF-42 aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and assisted the airplane mechanics. Underwood discusses being aboard the Yorktown in May, 1942, during the Battle ofthe Coral Sea and witnessing the USS Lexington (CV-2) sink. Underwood also discusses making repairs in time to participate in the Battle of Midway in June, 1942. Underwood discusses the attack on the Yorktown that disabled the ship, and he describes abandoning her, but not before rescuing the contents of his locker, which included his watch, ring and poker winnings. He was soon rescued by a destroyer crewman. Once he returned to Hawaii, he stayed on in the office of the Commander, Air Force Pacific Fleet for the duration of the war and served as a driver for Admiral Forrest Sherman at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, until he was transferred to Washington, DC. Underwood discusses getting out of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William McAnany. McAnany joined the Navy in October of 1938. He completed Hospital Corps and X-Ray Technician School. McAnany worked at naval hospitals in Virginia and Philadelphia. In August of 1941 he was assigned aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) and traveled to Pearl Harbor in October. McAnany was on Ford Island during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he treated wounded soldiers. He continued his service supporting campaigns including the invasion of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Midway. He also treated wounded at Guadalcanal, the Marianas, Peleliu and Okinawa. He then served aboard the hospital ship, USS Samaritan (AH-10). After the war ended, McAnany served in the US and in the Korean War. He was discharged from active duty in May of 1958.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Elbert L. Buegeler. Buegeler was born in New Ulm, Texas 18 May 1918. He quit school after the 7th grade and worked for his father. Drafted in 1940, he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for basic training. Upon completing basic, he was sent to the Mojave Desert and assigned to a reconnaissance company in the 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. After additional training a Camp Pickett, Virginia and Indian Gap, Pennsylvania the battalion boarded a ship and went by convoy to England. Landing on Omaha Beach several days after the initial invasion of France, they were attached to the 3rd Armored Division. Buegeler discusses his activities in a recon unit consisting of a jeep, a driver, an observer and a gunner. He recalls one occasion when four German soldiers surrendered and others continued to join the group until there were thirty prisoners. On 30 March 1944, Buegler was shot in the back by a sniper. He describes his wound and the surgeries he had in Scotland. After spending a month in hospital in Scotland he was flown to the Army Hospital in Temple, Texas. After nine months of recovery …