The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Knowles. Knowles was born in Stubenville, Ohio on 22 October 1923. After graduating from high school he attended Citadel College for two and a half years serving in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. His ROTC class was called to active duty and was taken to Fort McClellan, Alabama for basic training. In December 1943 he was ordered to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on 2 May 1944 and reported to the 84th Infantry Division at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 334th Infantry Regiment with the responsibility of providing ammunition to the rifle companies. On 16 December 1944 he was assigned as a platoon leader to Company A of the regiment. He tells of his various experiences including involvement in the Battle of the Bulge, finding three of his men who had been on patrol bound and executed, thwarting a tank attack for which he was awarded a Bronze Star, and capturing a German command car. He was wounded by machinegun fire and spent four weeks in an Army hospital. In May 1945, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Knowles. Knowles was born in Stubenville, Ohio on 22 October 1923. After graduating from high school he attended Citadel College for two and a half years serving in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. His ROTC class was called to active duty and was taken to Fort McClellan, Alabama for basic training. In December 1943 he was ordered to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on 2 May 1944 and reported to the 84th Infantry Division at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 334th Infantry Regiment with the responsibility of providing ammunition to the rifle companies. On 16 December 1944 he was assigned as a platoon leader to Company A of the regiment. He tells of his various experiences including involvement in the Battle of the Bulge, finding three of his men who had been on patrol bound and executed, thwarting a tank attack for which he was awarded a Bronze Star, and capturing a German command car. He was wounded by machinegun fire and spent four weeks in an Army hospital. In May 1945, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Steenhagen. Steenhagen was drafted into the Army in mid-1942. He was sent to the Pacific as a replacement and joined the Americal Division on Guadalcanal. Steenhagen was then sent to Bougainville. There he suffered from malaria, yellow jaundice, and jungle rot. He discusses conducting patrols and life in a fox hole. Steenhagen traveled with the Americal to the Philippines where he was wounded. He talks about his time at the hospital and going AWOL to rejoin his unit. Steenhagen fought with his unit on Cebu until the war ended. He details the combat conditions and the loss of several inexperienced lieutenants (90-day wonders). Steenhagen was part of the Occupation of Japan and left the Army soon after he returned to the States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Steenhagen. Steenhagen was drafted into the Army in mid-1942. He was sent to the Pacific as a replacement and joined the Americal Division on Guadalcanal. Steenhagen was then sent to Bougainville. There he suffered from malaria, yellow jaundice, and jungle rot. He discusses conducting patrols and life in a fox hole. Steenhagen traveled with the Americal to the Philippines where he was wounded. He talks about his time at the hospital and going AWOL to rejoin his unit. Steenhagen fought with his unit on Cebu until the war ended. He details the combat conditions and the loss of several inexperienced lieutenants (90-day wonders). Steenhagen was part of the Occupation of Japan and left the Army soon after he returned to the States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Campbell. Campbell joined the Merchant Marine in March of 1942. He began as a wiper working in the engine room. Campbell soon found work on the North Atlantic convoy. His ship was torpedoed and sunk on the way to Murmansk. His next ship hit a mine and was forced to run aground. Campbell was a crewman on a ship that arrived at Cherbourg after the storm that destroyed the Mulberry Harbor. He also manned a diesel engine on a barque that made runs to France. Campbell was forced to spend time in a Naval hospital upon his return to the States for convoy fatigue. Next, he traveled to the Mediterranean where his ship transported a chemical warfare unit. Campbell eventually ended up in the Pacific near the end of the war to transport munitions for the invasion of Japan. He made one final voyage to Brazil after the surrender.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Campbell. Campbell joined the Merchant Marine in March of 1942. He began as a wiper working in the engine room. Campbell soon found work on the North Atlantic convoy. His ship was torpedoed and sunk on the way to Murmansk. His next ship hit a mine and was forced to run aground. Campbell was a crewman on a ship that arrived at Cherbourg after the storm that destroyed the Mulberry Harbor. He also manned a diesel engine on a barque that made runs to France. Campbell was forced to spend time in a Naval hospital upon his return to the States for convoy fatigue. Next, he traveled to the Mediterranean where his ship transported a chemical warfare unit. Campbell eventually ended up in the Pacific near the end of the war to transport munitions for the invasion of Japan. He made one final voyage to Brazil after the surrender.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Morger. Morger enlisted into the Marine Corps Reserves on 13 October 1942. After boot camp in San Diego, Morger went to the naval station in Newport, Rhode Island to study electronics for three months. Morger then went to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he joined the 16th Pioneer Battalion. They joined the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton. Morger was transferred out of the pioneer battalion and became the police sergeant in charge of clean-up duties and the battalion bugler. After a special pre-embarkation furlough, the entire division was shipped to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii arriving in the middle of September 1944. When the division shipped out, no one knew where they were going to Iwo Jima. Morger landed with the 7th or 8th wave as part of the 28th Regiment, First Battalion, Company C. He talks of the devastating fire they took once ashore and all the caves and spider holes that the Japanese hid in. For the first 10 days of fighting, Morger was in charge of security for the stretcher bearers. He was at the base of Mount Suribachi when he saw the flag go …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Morger. Morger enlisted into the Marine Corps Reserves on 13 October 1942. After boot camp in San Diego, Morger went to the naval station in Newport, Rhode Island to study electronics for three months. Morger then went to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he joined the 16th Pioneer Battalion. They joined the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton. Morger was transferred out of the pioneer battalion and became the police sergeant in charge of clean-up duties and the battalion bugler. After a special pre-embarkation furlough, the entire division was shipped to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii arriving in the middle of September 1944. When the division shipped out, no one knew where they were going to Iwo Jima. Morger landed with the 7th or 8th wave as part of the 28th Regiment, First Battalion, Company C. He talks of the devastating fire they took once ashore and all the caves and spider holes that the Japanese hid in. For the first 10 days of fighting, Morger was in charge of security for the stretcher bearers. He was at the base of Mount Suribachi when he saw the flag go …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Parr. Parr was inducted into the Army in July 1942 where he served as a radio operator in the Signal Corps. In 1944 he was sent to OCS to become an officer in the Signal Corps. In November 1944, he was sent to Finschhafen, New Guinea to serve with the 3169th Signal Service Battalion. He later volunteered to serve in a signal unit attached to the 273rd Heavy Construction Company, an engineering unit consisting of primarily African-American troops. The unit was eventually shipped to the Philippines. Parr left active duty in February 1946, but remained in the Army Reserve.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Parr. Parr was inducted into the Army in July 1942 where he served as a radio operator in the Signal Corps. In 1944 he was sent to OCS to become an officer in the Signal Corps. In November 1944, he was sent to Finschhafen, New Guinea to serve with the 3169th Signal Service Battalion. He later volunteered to serve in a signal unit attached to the 273rd Heavy Construction Company, an engineering unit consisting of primarily African-American troops. The unit was eventually shipped to the Philippines. Parr left active duty in February 1946, but remained in the Army Reserve.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Ewing. Ewing enlisted in the Marine Corps in March of 1943. He was trained as a tanker and was sent to the Pacific as a replacement crewman where he joined the 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. He crewed LVTs during the invasions of Guam and Iwo Jima. His LVT was hit and caught fire during the landing on Guam. During the battle for Iwo Jima, Ewing’s LVT was sent inland to retrieve wounded Marines and he had to guide it through a minefield. Ewing was discharged on 7 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Ewing. Ewing enlisted in the Marine Corps in March of 1943. He was trained as a tanker and was sent to the Pacific as a replacement crewman where he joined the 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. He crewed LVTs during the invasions of Guam and Iwo Jima. His LVT was hit and caught fire during the landing on Guam. During the battle for Iwo Jima, Ewing’s LVT was sent inland to retrieve wounded Marines and he had to guide it through a minefield. Ewing was discharged on 7 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Shelby Brown. Brown joined the Navy around 1942. Beginning April of 1943, he served as Seaman Second Class aboard USS Nashville (CL-43). Brown and his division took care of the fantail of the ship and the five turrets in their main battery. In August they traveled to Pearl Harbor to join carrier task forces for strikes on Marcus and Wake islands. They traveled to Espiritu Santo, crossing the equator, and had a shellback initiation. From Espiritu they shelled targets on New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands. They provided support for landings on Bougainville and Leyte. Brown recalls the ship being hit by a kamikaze, off Negros Island in December of 1944. In May of 1945 they provided fire support for the landings on Borneo. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Shelby Brown. Brown joined the Navy around 1942. Beginning April of 1943, he served as Seaman Second Class aboard USS Nashville (CL-43). Brown and his division took care of the fantail of the ship and the five turrets in their main battery. In August they traveled to Pearl Harbor to join carrier task forces for strikes on Marcus and Wake islands. They traveled to Espiritu Santo, crossing the equator, and had a shellback initiation. From Espiritu they shelled targets on New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands. They provided support for landings on Bougainville and Leyte. Brown recalls the ship being hit by a kamikaze, off Negros Island in December of 1944. In May of 1945 they provided fire support for the landings on Borneo. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Hughes. Hughes joined the Navy in July of 1943. He completed Midshipman School in December of 1944. Beginning in January of 1945, he served as a Fighter Director aboard USS Kasaan Bay (CVE-69). They completed anti-submarine patrols and combat operations through Guam and Okinawa. He returned to the US and was discharged around late 1945, early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Hughes. Hughes joined the Navy in July of 1943. He completed Midshipman School in December of 1944. Beginning in January of 1945, he served as a Fighter Director aboard USS Kasaan Bay (CVE-69). They completed anti-submarine patrols and combat operations through Guam and Okinawa. He returned to the US and was discharged around late 1945, early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Jeter. Jeter was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He found boot camp to be tough, and some men committed suicide there. Jeter attended fire-control school in Bainbridge and then boarded USS New York (BB-34) as a fire controlman, working with highly classified computers and gyroscopes. Because his commanding officer was a childhood friend, Jeter turned down promotions to avoid misperceptions of favoritism. He instead served as the telephone man and orderly for the captain. In combat, Jeter served as the main battery director, witnessing the bloody aftermath of friendly fire from his battle station at Iwo Jima. After a kamikaze attacked the ship at Okinawa, Jeter saved the rising sun emblem from its wing as a souvenir. Upon returning to the States, Jeter guarded German prisoners at Norfolk. After his discharge, he earned a degree in physics on the GI Bill, later befriending several Japanese colleagues through his work.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Jeter. Jeter was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He found boot camp to be tough, and some men committed suicide there. Jeter attended fire-control school in Bainbridge and then boarded USS New York (BB-34) as a fire controlman, working with highly classified computers and gyroscopes. Because his commanding officer was a childhood friend, Jeter turned down promotions to avoid misperceptions of favoritism. He instead served as the telephone man and orderly for the captain. In combat, Jeter served as the main battery director, witnessing the bloody aftermath of friendly fire from his battle station at Iwo Jima. After a kamikaze attacked the ship at Okinawa, Jeter saved the rising sun emblem from its wing as a souvenir. Upon returning to the States, Jeter guarded German prisoners at Norfolk. After his discharge, he earned a degree in physics on the GI Bill, later befriending several Japanese colleagues through his work.