The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carroll Layton. Layton joined the Navy in May of 1944. He completed Electrician School and PT boat training. In April of 1945 he traveled to PT Base 17 in Samar, Philippines and later to Mindoro. He worked out of an electrician shack, serving as a motor mechanic on boat engines, and gunner when needed. He was later switched over from PT boats to a Landing Craft Tank vessel. He was discharged around late 1945 and served in the Naval Reserve for seven years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carroll Layton. Layton joined the Navy in May of 1944. He completed Electrician School and PT boat training. In April of 1945 he traveled to PT Base 17 in Samar, Philippines and later to Mindoro. He worked out of an electrician shack, serving as a motor mechanic on boat engines, and gunner when needed. He was later switched over from PT boats to a Landing Craft Tank vessel. He was discharged around late 1945 and served in the Naval Reserve for seven years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dan Hixenbaugh. Hixenbaugh joined the Navy V-7 program on 7 December 1941. After officer training he went to torpedo school. Hixenbaugh then joined the crew of USS Lamson (DD-367) in early 1943. He met John F. Kennedy on the troopship taking them both to the South Pacific. Hixenbaugh also talks about how he knew Kennedy’s executive officer, Lenny Thom, from earlier in life. He details a kamikaze attack in Ormac Bay that damaged his ship and caused many casualties. Hixenbaugh was awarded the Bronze Star for helping to save the Lamson. He describes returning to the States to have the entire bridge replaced. Hixenbaugh returned to the Pacific on board the Lamson and tells of saving downed aircrewman and going through a major typhoon. He stayed on board for a short period after the surrender when he visited Nagasaki and became the Navigation Officer. Hixenbaugh details the process of ship navigation. He left the service after he had earned enough points after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dan Hixenbaugh. Hixenbaugh joined the Navy V-7 program on 7 December 1941. After officer training he went to torpedo school. Hixenbaugh then joined the crew of USS Lamson (DD-367) in early 1943. He met John F. Kennedy on the troopship taking them both to the South Pacific. Hixenbaugh also talks about how he knew Kennedy’s executive officer, Lenny Thom, from earlier in life. He details a kamikaze attack in Ormac Bay that damaged his ship and caused many casualties. Hixenbaugh was awarded the Bronze Star for helping to save the Lamson. He describes returning to the States to have the entire bridge replaced. Hixenbaugh returned to the Pacific on board the Lamson and tells of saving downed aircrewman and going through a major typhoon. He stayed on board for a short period after the surrender when he visited Nagasaki and became the Navigation Officer. Hixenbaugh details the process of ship navigation. He left the service after he had earned enough points after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Minick. Minick joined the Navy in 1942 and was trained as an electrician. He was assigned to the USS Thorn (DD-647) and worked in the E division. Minick became a searchlight operator and a member of a repair party. He describes the electrical systems aboard the Thorn. Minick was aboard the destroyer as it served as an escort for Task Force 38 and fired star shells during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He describes the ship searching for several days for survivors of the USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95), but finding none. Minick was aboard when the Thorn went through a typhoon and experienced 72-degree rolls. He visited Tokyo after the surrender and describes the burned city and the civilians he encountered. Minick also boarded HIJMS Nagato and mentions the engine room and souvenir hunting. He left the service after he returned to the States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Minick. Minick joined the Navy in 1942 and was trained as an electrician. He was assigned to the USS Thorn (DD-647) and worked in the E division. Minick became a searchlight operator and a member of a repair party. He describes the electrical systems aboard the Thorn. Minick was aboard the destroyer as it served as an escort for Task Force 38 and fired star shells during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He describes the ship searching for several days for survivors of the USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95), but finding none. Minick was aboard when the Thorn went through a typhoon and experienced 72-degree rolls. He visited Tokyo after the surrender and describes the burned city and the civilians he encountered. Minick also boarded HIJMS Nagato and mentions the engine room and souvenir hunting. He left the service after he returned to the States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herman Hoffman. Hoffman went into the Navy on 29 July 1944, the day after his 18th birthday, and took boot camp at the naval training station in Bainbridge, Maryland. After boot camp, he went to Fort Pierce, Florida for amphibious training on landing craft. Hoffman trained as a signalman, studying semaphore, Morse code, etc. After this training, he was sent to Baltimore, Maryland where his ship, the USS Valencia (AKA-81), was commissioned. He was in the 3rd Division on board and his battle station was the first loader on a twin 40mm. Hoffman was on the ship for 15 months, 29 days; from the day it was commissioned to the day it was decommissioned. He gives a detailed list of all the places the ship went in those 16 months of service including the battle of Okinawa and taking the first occupation troops to Japan. After leaving Okinawa, they were in a very bad storm; the captain stating that another two degrees and the ship would go over. Hoffman said he lost two friends on other ships during that storm. He also talks about the kamikazes at Okinawa …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herman Hoffman. Hoffman went into the Navy on 29 July 1944, the day after his 18th birthday, and took boot camp at the naval training station in Bainbridge, Maryland. After boot camp, he went to Fort Pierce, Florida for amphibious training on landing craft. Hoffman trained as a signalman, studying semaphore, Morse code, etc. After this training, he was sent to Baltimore, Maryland where his ship, the USS Valencia (AKA-81), was commissioned. He was in the 3rd Division on board and his battle station was the first loader on a twin 40mm. Hoffman was on the ship for 15 months, 29 days; from the day it was commissioned to the day it was decommissioned. He gives a detailed list of all the places the ship went in those 16 months of service including the battle of Okinawa and taking the first occupation troops to Japan. After leaving Okinawa, they were in a very bad storm; the captain stating that another two degrees and the ship would go over. Hoffman said he lost two friends on other ships during that storm. He also talks about the kamikazes at Okinawa …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Stebelton. Stebelton joined the Navy in 1943 as an aviation cadet. He then volunteered to transfer to the Armed Guard. Stebelton became a 20mm gunner on the SS Isaac Delgado and traveled to Mindoro with a load of 500-pound bombs. He discusses life on board ship and working with the Merchant Marine. Stebelton left the Navy in 1946, but joined the Air Force in 1947 to become a pilot. He discusses career as a jet pilot in detail. Stebelton retired from the Air Force as a captain after 21 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Stebelton. Stebelton joined the Navy in 1943 as an aviation cadet. He then volunteered to transfer to the Armed Guard. Stebelton became a 20mm gunner on the SS Isaac Delgado and traveled to Mindoro with a load of 500-pound bombs. He discusses life on board ship and working with the Merchant Marine. Stebelton left the Navy in 1946, but joined the Air Force in 1947 to become a pilot. He discusses career as a jet pilot in detail. Stebelton retired from the Air Force as a captain after 21 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William E. Bullard. Bullard joined the Marine Corps in 1938 and received a discharge before the U.S. entered WWII. He then joined the Army Air Forces and trained to become a fighter pilot. He joined the 354th Fighter Group and began flying missions over Europe. Bullard was part of an escort for C-47s that dropped airborne troops on D-Day. His plane was damaged on a mission over Germany and he was captured and became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I. He managed to escape after nine months. Bullard stayed in the service after WWII ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William E. Bullard. Bullard joined the Marine Corps in 1938 and received a discharge before the U.S. entered WWII. He then joined the Army Air Forces and trained to become a fighter pilot. He joined the 354th Fighter Group and began flying missions over Europe. Bullard was part of an escort for C-47s that dropped airborne troops on D-Day. His plane was damaged on a mission over Germany and he was captured and became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I. He managed to escape after nine months. Bullard stayed in the service after WWII ended.