The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gino Cianflone. Cianflone was drafted into the Navy in 1942. He served as a machinist mate aboard an LST. His battle station was first loader at a 20mm cannon. They traveled to the Hawaiian and Marshall Islands. At the Marshall Islands they prepared for invasion, supporting LVTs and the 4th Marine Division. They also participated in the invasion of Saipan. He was involved in the West Loch disaster at Pearl Harbor in May of 1944 and provides some details of this event. He was discharged around 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richmond Garrett. Garrett was inducted into the Army in November of 1943. He completed Officer Candidate School. He was selected to join Company A, 1252nd Combat Engineer Battalion. In November of 1944 they were sent to England. He describes his travels overseas and accommodations on the ship Tamaroa. While there they built bridges, removed mines and built a roadway. In December 1944 they traveled to La Havre, France, to serve in Patton???s Third Army. In February of 1945 they took part in breaching operations against Siegfried Line. They advanced into Germany. He provides vivid details of these experiences, including dropping TNT-filled tomato cans down chimneys. They traveled to Bastogne, Belgium, completing road work and removing mines. Garrett received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Reestman. Reestman was drafted into the Army in August 1942 and trained at Fort Bliss before joining the 531st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. After training, he headed overseas to England in February 1944. On 15 June, his unit landed at Omaha Beach. He provides details about his experiences at the Battle of St. Lo. Reestman describes action at the Battle of the Bulge and then recalls moving into Germany before the war ended. When it was over, Reestman found himself on occupation duty. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frederick Coffee. Coffee was born in Decatur, Indiana 16 August 1923 and graduated from high school in 1942. Upon joining the Navy, he underwent eight weeks of boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois before entering Aviation Machinist School. He was then sent to Memphis, Tennessee for radio and radar training. After that, he attended gunnery school at Hollywood, Florida before going Ft. Lauderdale where he was assigned as a crew member on a TBM. The crew was assigned to VT-85 on the USS Shangri-La (CVE-38). He supported the invasion of Okinawa and participated in raids over Japan. On 29 April 1945 his plane was shot down while on a bombing mission over Kikai Jima. Coffee was severely burned before he and the pilot bailed out. The pilot did not survive. Coffee was picked up by a seaplane from Rescue Squadron VH-3 and taken to the USS St. George (AV-16) for treatment. He was put on board a hospital ship and taken to Oak Knoll Naval Hospital where he was treated for gangrene on his severely burned legs. He was then taken to the Naval …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Frank Vojtek. Vojtek joined the Navy in September of 1942. Beginning in April of 1943, he served as a Helmsman aboard the USS Murray (DD-576). They participated in the invasions of Bougainville, Tarawa, Aitape, New Guinea, Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard K Rohde. Rohde describes growing up during the Great Depression. He joined the Navy around 1943 and provides details of basic training. He completed Navy Radio School and served as a radioman. Rohde was assigned to the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), beginning January of 1944. They traveled to Hawaii, Eniwetok Atoll, Manus in the Admiralty Islands and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Rohde provides details of his travels, life aboard the Roberts and the sinking of the ship in October of 1944 off Samar. After traveling through numerous hospitals, and receiving multiple treatments, Rohde was honorably discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Reestman. Reestman was drafted into the Army in August 1942 and trained at Fort Bliss before joining the 531st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. After training, he headed overseas to England in February 1944. On 15 June, his unit landed at Omaha Beach. He provides details about his experiences at the Battle of St. Lo. Reestman describes action at the Battle of the Bulge and then recalls moving into Germany before the war ended. When it was over, Reestman found himself on occupation duty. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frederick Coffee. Coffee was born in Decatur, Indiana 16 August 1923 and graduated from high school in 1942. Upon joining the Navy, he underwent eight weeks of boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois before entering Aviation Machinist School. He was then sent to Memphis, Tennessee for radio and radar training. After that, he attended gunnery school at Hollywood, Florida before going Ft. Lauderdale where he was assigned as a crew member on a TBM. The crew was assigned to VT-85 on the USS Shangri-La (CVE-38). He supported the invasion of Okinawa and participated in raids over Japan. On 29 April 1945 his plane was shot down while on a bombing mission over Kikai Jima. Coffee was severely burned before he and the pilot bailed out. The pilot did not survive. Coffee was picked up by a seaplane from Rescue Squadron VH-3 and taken to the USS St. George (AV-16) for treatment. He was put on board a hospital ship and taken to Oak Knoll Naval Hospital where he was treated for gangrene on his severely burned legs. He was then taken to the Naval …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Frank Vojtek. Vojtek joined the Navy in September of 1942. Beginning in April of 1943, he served as a Helmsman aboard the USS Murray (DD-576). They participated in the invasions of Bougainville, Tarawa, Aitape, New Guinea, Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard K Rohde. Rohde describes growing up during the Great Depression. He joined the Navy around 1943 and provides details of basic training. He completed Navy Radio School and served as a radioman. Rohde was assigned to the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), beginning January of 1944. They traveled to Hawaii, Eniwetok Atoll, Manus in the Admiralty Islands and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Rohde provides details of his travels, life aboard the Roberts and the sinking of the ship in October of 1944 off Samar. After traveling through numerous hospitals, and receiving multiple treatments, Rohde was honorably discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gino Cianflone. Cianflone was drafted into the Navy in 1942. He served as a machinist mate aboard an LST. His battle station was first loader at a 20mm cannon. They traveled to the Hawaiian and Marshall Islands. At the Marshall Islands they prepared for invasion, supporting LVTs and the 4th Marine Division. They also participated in the invasion of Saipan. He was involved in the West Loch disaster at Pearl Harbor in May of 1944 and provides some details of this event. He was discharged around 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richmond Garrett. Garrett was inducted into the Army in November of 1943. He completed Officer Candidate School. He was selected to join Company A, 1252nd Combat Engineer Battalion. In November of 1944 they were sent to England. He describes his travels overseas and accommodations on the ship Tamaroa. While there they built bridges, removed mines and built a roadway. In December 1944 they traveled to La Havre, France, to serve in Patton???s Third Army. In February of 1945 they took part in breaching operations against Siegfried Line. They advanced into Germany. He provides vivid details of these experiences, including dropping TNT-filled tomato cans down chimneys. They traveled to Bastogne, Belgium, completing road work and removing mines. Garrett received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was discharged in April of 1946.