The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stephen Perrone. Perrone joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1941. He completed training for airplane instrumentation, mechanic and flying cadet. He served as a Radar Bombardier with the 63rd Bombardment Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force. Perrone was in the B-24 snooper squadron. They bombed targets in Indonesia, Malaysia and New Guinea, including shipping areas, airfields and railways. They operated out of a captured base in Morotai. They experimented with low level skip bombing, using this tactic at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March of 1943. In November of 1944 they helped the ground campaign in the Philippines. In July of 1945 they moved to Ie Shima, Okinawa, flying missions over Japan. He was discharged in May of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Kuryla. Kuryla was born in Chicago, Illinois on 10 September 1925 into a family of eight children. He describes his family’s living conditions during the Depression. Joining the US Navy in 1942, he underwent boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois. Following boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) as the fire director of a five-inch gun. He explains the job of the gun director. He describes the bombardment of Tarawa and tells of participating in battles at Kwajalein, Guam, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He shares a personal experience he had with Admiral Spruance. The Indianapolis was struck by a kamikaze and Kuryla describes the damage done and the lives lost as a result. Once the ship was repaired components for an atomic bomb were put on board for delivery to Tinian. After delivery the ship was bound for Guam when it was struck by Japanese torpedoes. Kuryla graphically describes his personal experience of abandoning the ship and what he witnessed during five nights and four days in the water. He recalls being taken aboard the USS Register (APD-92) and delivered to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Hood of Indianapolis, Indiana. He discusses entering the U.S. Navy in September of 1942 without basic training as he was a college graduate. After being sworn in at Wabash College he was sent to Harvard Business School for Supply Corps for 4 months before being assigned to a ship in Pearl Harbor despite having no sailing training. Mr. hood was assigned to the Cummings DE643, he was supposed to be on the Samuel B. Roberts but the naval officer over him changed his mind last minute and 37 days later the Roberts sunk. While in Tulagi, Mr. Hood was involved in shooting down a Kamikaze plane, even receiving a ribbon for it after the war. He was also involved in the Battle of Okinawa and even saved two shells and years later had them signed by U.S. pilot Paul Tibbets. Mr. Hood was discharged from the Navy on February 28th, 1946, at Santa Ana, California as a Full Lieutenant. He was recalled to the Navy for the Korean War on March 2nd, 1951, and discharged for the final time on March 30th, 1953, as a Lieutenant Commander.

Transcript of an oral interview with Joel Alderson and his wife Nila. He discusses going to boot camp in Texas, shipping off to France in early 1945 and working as an engineer, constructing bridges and demolishing German fortifications for the Army as it made it's way through Germany, blowing up Hilter's bunker in Salzburg, Austria and using bulldozers to cover piles of dead Jews the Germans left in the open (likely at Dachau). He ancedotes about meeting Eisenhower, carrying fuel up to Patton's limo when it ran out of gas, seeing Bob Hope, soldiers getting poisoned from confiscated alcohol, and getting met by his family and the town sheriff when he came home after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leo Charles Kimble. He discusses his childhood growing up during the great depression and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences int he Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Hood of Indianapolis, Indiana. He discusses entering the U.S. Navy in September of 1942 without basic training as he was a college graduate. After being sworn in at Wabash College he was sent to Harvard Business School for Supply Corps for 4 months before being assigned to a ship in Pearl Harbor despite having no sailing training. Mr. hood was assigned to the Cummings DE643, he was supposed to be on the Samuel B. Roberts but the naval officer over him changed his mind last minute and 37 days later the Roberts sunk. While in Tulagi, Mr. Hood was involved in shooting down a Kamikaze plane, even receiving a ribbon for it after the war. He was also involved in the Battle of Okinawa and even saved two shells and years later had them signed by U.S. pilot Paul Tibbets. Mr. Hood was discharged from the Navy on February 28th, 1946, at Santa Ana, California as a Full Lieutenant. He was recalled to the Navy for the Korean War on March 2nd, 1951, and discharged for the final time on March 30th, 1953, as a Lieutenant Commander.

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 Lloyd Fulbright. Fulbright joined the Army in September 1943 and trained in the artillery branch. He went overseas in Fenruary 1944 first to New Caledonia, then to New Zeraland where he was assigned to the 169th Field Artillery Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He then went to Aitape, New Guinea with the division and the Philippines. Fulbright shares several anecdotes about his combat experiences and stories from his time in occupied Japan. While in Japan, he was part of a detail that guarded the Kirin Brewery in Yokohama. He returned tot he US in January, 1946 and opted for discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Thomas Earp. Earp was born in Baltimore 15 November 1923. He joined the Marines and went to Camp Pendleton where he had boot training. He then went to Camp Goettge on New Caledonia and was assigned to the 1st Raider Regiment. In January 1944 he went to Guadalcanal where he had additional combat training before transferring into the 4th Marine Regiment. He was then assigned to the 1st Marine Provisional Brigade. Earp’s unit served as a reserve force during the invasion of Saipan. On 21 July 1944 he participated in the invasion of Guam. He recalls waiting on deck for a Higgins boat and seeing piles of body parts taken on board. His landing craft hung up on a coral reef and the troops had to wade ashore in high water under fire. On his first night on the island, they endured a banzai charge. As the battle moved inland he was assigned to the 53rd Construction Battalion and they began building bridges and roads. They also constructed landing strips for B-29s as well as a headquarters building for Admiral Chester Nimitz. Earp departed Guam November 1945 and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Sterrie. Sterrie was born 14 November 1917 in St. James, Minnesota and graduated from high school in 1934. Upon graduating from college in 1939 he joined the Navy. He graduated from flight school at Pensacola in 1940 and was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 2 on the USS Lexington (CV-2). His first combat mission occurred in March 1942 when his squadron attacked Japanese shipping at Salamaua, New Guinea. During his next mission, he and eleven others in his flight dropped torpedoes on HIJNS Shokaku. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, as Sterrie prepared to depart the Lexington, the ship was hit by torpedoes. He abandoned ship and was picked up by the USS New Orleans (CA-32). His squadron was taken to New Caledonia where they instructed Army pilots in torpedo warfare. Upon returning to the US, Sterrie was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 16 (VT-16), on the new USS Lexington (CV-16). He describes various missions he flew off until the Lexington was hit by torpedoes on 4 December 1943. After being repaired, the ship returned to the Pacific. He describes other missions he flew including those during the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Kozak. Kozak provides some details of his family’s history as professional musicians, including his experience on the piano, marimba, harp and drums. Kozak served as the head of the department in the Shreveport Symphony, and served as a music teacher at a number of schools, including Juilliard School of Music in New York. He joined the Navy in 1943. He graduated from the Washington D.C. School of Music and was assigned as a Coxswain on a Higgins boat. He served as a marimba soloist in a band that played for Admiral Chester Nimitz throughout the war.

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 oral interview with Lindsey Wilcox. Wilcox joined the Navy in November 1942 and received training on Treasure Island as a machinist. He was assigned briefly to the Aleutian Islands before boarding USS Indianapolis (CA-35) as a fireman, first class. He describes the Indianapolis as a beautiful ship, complete with ice cream parlor and shops. He was aboard the Indianapolis from Tarawa through Okinawa and saw components of the atomic bomb loaded aboard ship, although he didn’t know at the time what they were. While traveling from Guam to Leyte, the Indianapolis was sunk by a torpedo. Wilcox survived close encounters with sharks during the four days he waited for rescue. He was taken by USS Bassett (APD-73) to a hospital in Guam. Wilcox returned home and joined the inactive reserve. He was honorably discharged in 1951. Later in life he came to know Captain McVay personally. Although McVay was subjected to court-martial for losing the Indianapolis, Wilcox maintains that McVay was an excellent captain and an honorable person.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Glenn Radder. Radder joined the Navy in 1943. He completed Gunner’s Mate School, learning how to care for the various guns aboard ship. He served aboard the USS Laffey (DD-724) where his job was to care for and fire the 20mm mounts on the fantail. Radder provides some detail of life aboard the Laffey. They traveled to England in preparation for the invasion of France. On 3 June 1944 the Laffey went to the Normandy beaches escorting tugs, landing craft, and two Dutch gunboats. On 6 June the group arrived in the assault area off Utah beach at dawn on D-Day. Radder describes their participation in the Normandy landings. On 25 June he provides detail of their shelling the defenses at Cherbourg. In November they conducted airstrikes against enemy shipping, aircraft, and airfields in the Philippines. In April of 1945, while assigned to radar picket station 1, the Laffey came under heavy attack by the Japanese. He describes this event, including picking up two downed Japanese pilots. He was discharged around the end of 1945.

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 interview with Ari Phoutrides. Phoutrides joined the Navy in 1942. He completed Quartermaster School, and was assigned to the USS Laffey (DD-724) in February of 1944. His job aboard was overseeing supplies and ammunition. His battle station was on the bridge. They participated in the invasion of France, taking Landing Craft, Infantry to Utah Beach in June of 1944. Beginning April of 1945, they participated in the Battle of Okinawa, where the Laffey overcame unrelenting kamikaze air attacks. Phoutrides provides vivid details of these experiences. He served aboard the ship until his discharge in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hiroshi Sakahara. Sakahara is second generation Japanese-American. He provides some details of his family history and life growing up in Tacoma, Washington during the Great Depression. In 1941 he joined the Army and volunteered for the 442nd Infantry Combat Team, 5th Army. They fought in Belgium and Italy on the front lines opposite the Germans. He served as an ammunition carrier and later carried the Browning Automatic Rifle. In the Spring of 1944 through May of 1945, Sakahara pulled guard duty until Germany surrendered. He was discharged in June of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Walter Skeldon. Skeldon recalls several anecdotes from growing up during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the Navy in August 1941 and trained at Newport, Rhode Island. He was in aviation mechanic school when the war started. Skeldon describes the initiation when a ship crosses the Equator while aboard USS Santee (CVE-29) and was involved in the invasion of North Africa. He shares stories from Morocco. He went to arresting gear school before he served aboard USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). Skeldon shares several anecdotes about life aboard an aircraft carrier during World War II. He also talks about the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He also served as a plane captain aboard an SBD. He also describes his experiences at Okinawa. Skeldon shares a few post war anecdotes about hauling former Italian POWs back to Italy. He retired from the Navy in 1947 and went to work on the railroad. He was recalled for the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jim Spriggs. Spriggs joined the Navy in August of 1943. Beginning February of 1944, he served as Machinist Mate Third-Class aboard the USS Laffey (DD-724). They provided support during the Invasion of Normandy and the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. During Okinawa, Spriggs worked in the engine room helping keep the ship afloat after significant kamikaze damage. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Giles McCoy. McCoy joined the Marines in June of 1943. He served as a sniper. McCoy was assigned to the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He participated in the Invasion of Peleliu in September of 1944, as well as the battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He talks about his experiences with kamikaze planes at Okinawa. He then served as a Marine replacement and a hot shell man aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). McCoy provides vivid details of the ship sinking and his 4 days surviving in the Philippine Sea. He was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Minarik. Minarik joined the Navy in December of 1941. He was appointed as an Aviation Cadet and provides details of his training. He completed Carrier School, learning how to land on carriers. He was assigned to Torpedo Squadron Sixteen (VT-16). They completed a number of training sessions in and around Hawaii. In the spring of 1943 he flew planes aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16). Minarik provides details of their participation during the Battle of Tarawa. They traveled to Wake Island in October of 1943, when the Lexington raided. In December of 1943 Minarik was aboard the Lexington during the Kwajalein Raid, and explains how the ship got hit by a Japanese torpedo. In March of 1944 the Lexington crew traveled to Majuro in the Marshall Islands and began a series of operations against the Japanese positions in the Central Pacific. In June of 1944 they participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. He was officially discharged in 1949.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kirby Krause. Krause joined the Navy in September of 1943 and served aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36) in the 4th Division retrieving seaplanes out of the water. He vividly describes his work aboard the ship, including his work with fueling hoses. Krause goes into great detail of life aboard the ship including food, living quarters and overall morale amongst the men. The Nevada served as a convoy escort, providing fire support during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Krause provides details of getting hit by a kamikaze during the Battle of Okinawa. He also shares the procedures for burial at sea for the men killed in action. In August of 1945 they were sent to Leyte Island for ship repairs. He was discharged around June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Mauller. Mauller joined the Navy around 1942. He completed Midshipman???s School and served aboard the USS Ozark (LSV-2). With his commission as a deck officer, he also served as a Chaplain aboard the Ozark. They participated in the invasions of both Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He provides details of their mission at Iwo Jima. He was later assigned as Troop Transport Officer aboard the USS William P. Biddle (APA-8). He was discharged around 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Afton Keeton. Keeton joined the Navy in July of 1942. He completed Hospital Corps School and became a Pharmacist Mate. He first served aboard the USS Sea Dragon (SS-194). They patrolled the Aleutian Islands. He was then stationed at the Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor, working in a sick bay. He then served aboard the USS Apollo (AS-25) with a relief crew. He provides some detail of working aboard a submarine, serving as the Doc, living conditions and undergoing his own appendectomy aboard the Apollo. In early 1945 he was assigned for 1 year to serve at a submarine base in St. Thomas. He then served as hospital corpsman on the USS Clamagore (SS-343). Keeton also worked on sonar watch, radar watch and as a cook during his time in the Navy. He spent a total of 30 years in the Navy, retiring in February of 1972.