The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Bloomfield. Bloomfield joined the Navy in 1942 as a Naval Aviation Cadet. In June of 1943 he received his wings. Beginning around August, Bloomfield joined Fighter Squadron Six (VF-6), with Butch O’Hare. He served as tail-end Charlie of O’Hare’s division, flying the Grumman F6F-Hellcat. Bloomfield participated in the carrier raids around Marcus Island and Wake Island. He later served as a wing man to Harry Harrison. In late 1943, Pearl Harbor served as his base of operations. From there they completed missions, participated in raids and supported landings in the Solomons, Coral Sea, Rabaul, New Hebrides, Espiritu Santo, Tarawa, the Marshall Islands and the Gilbert Islands. He was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Bloomfield. Bloomfield joined the Navy in 1942 as a Naval Aviation Cadet. In June of 1943 he received his wings. Beginning around August, Bloomfield joined Fighter Squadron Six (VF-6), with Butch O’Hare. He served as tail-end Charlie of O’Hare’s division, flying the Grumman F6F-Hellcat. Bloomfield participated in the carrier raids around Marcus Island and Wake Island. He later served as a wing man to Harry Harrison. In late 1943, Pearl Harbor served as his base of operations. From there they completed missions, participated in raids and supported landings in the Solomons, Coral Sea, Rabaul, New Hebrides, Espiritu Santo, Tarawa, the Marshall Islands and the Gilbert Islands. He was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Boone. Boone joined the Navy in 1937. He was assigned to the USS Blue (DD-387) and initially served in the deck division. Boone was also a pointer on one of the 5-inch guns. He eventually joined the engineering division and worked in the boiler room and details how the boiler room operated. Boone describes his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He witnessed the Utah capsize and the Arizona explode. Boone describes traveling to several areas of the ship and trying to access ammunition for the main guns as well as the efforts to get underway. He also mentions dropping depth charges on a Japanese submarine. The Blue traveled to Guadalcanal and rescued crewmembers of HMAS Canberra. Boone details his ship being critically damaged by a torpedo off Guadalcanal. He was sent back to the States on leave and then joined the USS McCook (DD-496), participating in convoy duty to North Africa and Sicily. Boone was then sent to Steam Turbine school and subsequently joined the crew of Auxiliary Rescue Tug 64 (ATR-64). He travelled to Mindanao, Philippines as his tug towed a drydock. Boone was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Boone. Boone joined the Navy in 1937. He was assigned to the USS Blue (DD-387) and initially served in the deck division. Boone was also a pointer on one of the 5-inch guns. He eventually joined the engineering division and worked in the boiler room and details how the boiler room operated. Boone describes his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He witnessed the Utah capsize and the Arizona explode. Boone describes traveling to several areas of the ship and trying to access ammunition for the main guns as well as the efforts to get underway. He also mentions dropping depth charges on a Japanese submarine. The Blue traveled to Guadalcanal and rescued crewmembers of HMAS Canberra. Boone details his ship being critically damaged by a torpedo off Guadalcanal. He was sent back to the States on leave and then joined the USS McCook (DD-496), participating in convoy duty to North Africa and Sicily. Boone was then sent to Steam Turbine school and subsequently joined the crew of Auxiliary Rescue Tug 64 (ATR-64). He travelled to Mindanao, Philippines as his tug towed a drydock. Boone was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gladys Kizziar. Kizziar was training as a nurse at the beginning of the war. She became a US Army nurse after she graduated from nursing school. Kizziar was sent to the Philippines to help prepare for the invasion of Japan. She was on board a hospital ship in Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremony. Kizziar served with the 42nd General Hospital in Yokohama helping to process POWs as they were being liberated. She tells of General MacArthur visiting the former POWs. Kizziar stayed in the Army and was eventually sent to Germany where she met her husband.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gladys Kizziar. Kizziar was training as a nurse at the beginning of the war. She became a US Army nurse after she graduated from nursing school. Kizziar was sent to the Philippines to help prepare for the invasion of Japan. She was on board a hospital ship in Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremony. Kizziar served with the 42nd General Hospital in Yokohama helping to process POWs as they were being liberated. She tells of General MacArthur visiting the former POWs. Kizziar stayed in the Army and was eventually sent to Germany where she met her husband.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Leo. Leo joined the Navy in February 1941 after having already received training in the Naval Reserves. He was assigned to the NPG radio station in San Francisco as a radioman, third class. He was then sent to Japanese code school at Bainbridge Island. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Farallon Islands, where he intercepted and relayed Japanese radio transmissions. In that role he was often able to determine the bearings of Japanese ships. Leo received numerous messages during the Battle of Midway, the contents of which are unknown to him, since it was not his duty to decrypt messages before relaying them. At subsequent posts he relayed Japanese diplomatic messages to the State Department and sent radio intelligence to the Army. Under the V-12 program, Leo received a Bachelor’s Degree from Cal Tech and ultimately earned a Master’s from Stanford. After the war, he traveled the world extensively and became a prominent ham radio operator. Leo spent 20 years in the Naval Reserves and retired as a lieutenant commander.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Leo. Leo joined the Navy in February 1941 after having already received training in the Naval Reserves. He was assigned to the NPG radio station in San Francisco as a radioman, third class. He was then sent to Japanese code school at Bainbridge Island. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Farallon Islands, where he intercepted and relayed Japanese radio transmissions. In that role he was often able to determine the bearings of Japanese ships. Leo received numerous messages during the Battle of Midway, the contents of which are unknown to him, since it was not his duty to decrypt messages before relaying them. At subsequent posts he relayed Japanese diplomatic messages to the State Department and sent radio intelligence to the Army. Under the V-12 program, Leo received a Bachelor’s Degree from Cal Tech and ultimately earned a Master’s from Stanford. After the war, he traveled the world extensively and became a prominent ham radio operator. Leo spent 20 years in the Naval Reserves and retired as a lieutenant commander.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Leon. Leon graduated from the Army Air Forces Cadet School at Kelly Field in San Antonio in April of 1942. He was assigned to the 12th Bomb Group, 83rd bomb Squadron, a B-25 outfit at Esler Field in Louisiana. He worked as the squadron navigator. In July of 1942 he traveled to Moascar in Egypt to a base the British had established. He completed 55 missions and his group helped stop the advance of German General Erwin Rommel. Leon provides details of their combative interactions with the Germans and their travels through Africa and Italy in 1943. Leon also served in the Korean War and describes navigation training. He was discharged around 1952.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Leon. Leon graduated from the Army Air Forces Cadet School at Kelly Field in San Antonio in April of 1942. He was assigned to the 12th Bomb Group, 83rd bomb Squadron, a B-25 outfit at Esler Field in Louisiana. He worked as the squadron navigator. In July of 1942 he traveled to Moascar in Egypt to a base the British had established. He completed 55 missions and his group helped stop the advance of German General Erwin Rommel. Leon provides details of their combative interactions with the Germans and their travels through Africa and Italy in 1943. Leon also served in the Korean War and describes navigation training. He was discharged around 1952.

Transcript of an oral interview with Julius “Bud” Masinick. Born in 1925, he was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He describes boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois. He talks about joining both the baseball team and the boxing program. He describes submarine school at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut. He was assigned to the USS Icefish (SS-367) in the Pacific Fleet in June, 1944. He talks about the submarine attire. He describes being depth charged while on the submarine. He also describes a burial at sea. He talks about being the athletic officer at Camp Dealy on Guam. He shares anecdotes about being the designated swimmer on the submarine who was tasked with ocean rescues of downed pilots; starting a riot in Perth, Australia; intercepting small gunboats and apprehending Japanese officials attempting to return to Japan; and the unintentional sinking of Javanese fishing boats. He was discharged in April, 1946 and played professional minor league baseball.

Transcript of an oral interview with Julius “Bud” Masinick. Born in 1925, he was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He describes boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois. He talks about joining both the baseball team and the boxing program. He describes submarine school at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut. He was assigned to the USS Icefish (SS-367) in the Pacific Fleet in June, 1944. He talks about the submarine attire. He describes being depth charged while on the submarine. He also describes a burial at sea. He talks about being the athletic officer at Camp Dealy on Guam. He shares anecdotes about being the designated swimmer on the submarine who was tasked with ocean rescues of downed pilots; starting a riot in Perth, Australia; intercepting small gunboats and apprehending Japanese officials attempting to return to Japan; and the unintentional sinking of Javanese fishing boats. He was discharged in April, 1946 and played professional minor league baseball.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wilbur Moerbe. Moerbe joined the Navy in February of 1943. He provides some details of his boot camp experiences. He completed fireman school, learning about the engine rooms, water pumps, running the boiler and how to fight fires. He served in the boiler room aboard the USS Highlands (APA-119) beginning November of 1944. They first traveled to Hilo, Hawaii to pick up Marines. They traveled to Eniwetok and Saipan. On 19 February 1945 they landed elements of the Fifth Marine Division at Iwo Jima, where Moerbe also served as a loader on a 20mm aboard the Highlands. He describes their nine days there, including witnessing the American flag raising. They delivered wounded men to Saipan, then headed to the Philippines to pick up Army troops whom they landed at Okinawa in April of 1945. He describes their twelve days at Okinawa and witnessing the kamikaze attacks. They went to Japan and pulled in next to the USS Missouri (BB-63) to witness the signing of the Peace Treaty. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wilbur Moerbe. Moerbe joined the Navy in February of 1943. He provides some details of his boot camp experiences. He completed fireman school, learning about the engine rooms, water pumps, running the boiler and how to fight fires. He served in the boiler room aboard the USS Highlands (APA-119) beginning November of 1944. They first traveled to Hilo, Hawaii to pick up Marines. They traveled to Eniwetok and Saipan. On 19 February 1945 they landed elements of the Fifth Marine Division at Iwo Jima, where Moerbe also served as a loader on a 20mm aboard the Highlands. He describes their nine days there, including witnessing the American flag raising. They delivered wounded men to Saipan, then headed to the Philippines to pick up Army troops whom they landed at Okinawa in April of 1945. He describes their twelve days at Okinawa and witnessing the kamikaze attacks. They went to Japan and pulled in next to the USS Missouri (BB-63) to witness the signing of the Peace Treaty. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Uros Roessman. Roessmann was born in Vevce, Slovenia 9 September 1925 and graduated from high school in 1943. As the country was occupied by German and Italian forces, he joined the Slovene Home Guard (Domobranci), a home defenders group. The group, led by General Rupnik fought the communist group called the Partisans led by Marshall Tito. Roessmann tells of treating an American pilot for burns after being shot down by the Germans. Although the pilot was hidden from the Germans, he along with other Americans were betrayed and ultimately sent to a prisoner of war camp. At the end of the war, Rosessman and a group of anti-communists found their way to Austria where they were placed into a refugee camp. He and his family migrated to the United States in 1949.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Uros Roessman. Roessmann was born in Vevce, Slovenia 9 September 1925 and graduated from high school in 1943. As the country was occupied by German and Italian forces, he joined the Slovene Home Guard (Domobranci), a home defenders group. The group, led by General Rupnik fought the communist group called the Partisans led by Marshall Tito. Roessmann tells of treating an American pilot for burns after being shot down by the Germans. Although the pilot was hidden from the Germans, he along with other Americans were betrayed and ultimately sent to a prisoner of war camp. At the end of the war, Rosessman and a group of anti-communists found their way to Austria where they were placed into a refugee camp. He and his family migrated to the United States in 1949.