The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Adkins. Adkins joined the Marine Corps in the fall of 1942. He served with the 6th Marine Division, 22nd Marine Regiment. They participated in the Battle of Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. On Guadalcanal, they formed the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, participating in the Battle of Guam until they disbanded in September of 1944. Continuing on with the 22nd Marines, Adkins served in the Battle of Okinawa. He returned to the US and received his discharge in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Adkins. Adkins joined the Marine Corps in the fall of 1942. He served with the 6th Marine Division, 22nd Marine Regiment. They participated in the Battle of Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. On Guadalcanal, they formed the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, participating in the Battle of Guam until they disbanded in September of 1944. Continuing on with the 22nd Marines, Adkins served in the Battle of Okinawa. He returned to the US and received his discharge in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Boffi. Boffi joined the Navy in September 1942 and received basic training in Newport. Boffi was assigned to the USS Bernadou (DD-153) as a machinist???s mate. He participated in the invasions of Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio. In June 1944 he was transferred to Norfolk to oversee the construction of the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774). He joined the ship???s company, working in the engine room. He was badly burned during the kamikaze attack off of Okinawa, when damage to the ship sent hot steam blasting toward him as he escaped the engine room. A corpsman rescued Boffi, administered morphine. Boffi awoke two days later aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) and was transferred to Tinian, where he received the Purple Heart. He spent the next four months recovering and was discharged in November 1945. Boffi worked for the American Society of Safety Engineers until he retired at the age of 84.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Boffi. Boffi joined the Navy in September 1942 and received basic training in Newport. Boffi was assigned to the USS Bernadou (DD-153) as a machinist???s mate. He participated in the invasions of Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio. In June 1944 he was transferred to Norfolk to oversee the construction of the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774). He joined the ship???s company, working in the engine room. He was badly burned during the kamikaze attack off of Okinawa, when damage to the ship sent hot steam blasting toward him as he escaped the engine room. A corpsman rescued Boffi, administered morphine. Boffi awoke two days later aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) and was transferred to Tinian, where he received the Purple Heart. He spent the next four months recovering and was discharged in November 1945. Boffi worked for the American Society of Safety Engineers until he retired at the age of 84.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hugh Donald Brandt. Brandt dropped out of high school, went to work for a few years, then joined the Marine Corps in February, 1942. When he finished boot camp, Brandt opted for Field Music School. After finishing that, he was stationed up at Kodiak Island, Alaska, at the submarine base as a bugler. Every other day, Brandt served as a bugler as there were two stationed on the base. On days when he did not sound the bugle calls, he worked as a censor in the base post office. He finally got a 30-day furlough during which he returned home and got married. After that, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton. Brandt continues with anecdotes about his time in the service. He shares stories about censoring letters and playing the bugle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hugh Donald Brandt. Brandt dropped out of high school, went to work for a few years, then joined the Marine Corps in February, 1942. When he finished boot camp, Brandt opted for Field Music School. After finishing that, he was stationed up at Kodiak Island, Alaska, at the submarine base as a bugler. Every other day, Brandt served as a bugler as there were two stationed on the base. On days when he did not sound the bugle calls, he worked as a censor in the base post office. He finally got a 30-day furlough during which he returned home and got married. After that, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton. Brandt continues with anecdotes about his time in the service. He shares stories about censoring letters and playing the bugle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Engh. Engh entered the Navy’s V-1 program before beginning V-12 in July 1943. He graduated from midshipmen’s school in 1945 and was sent to Subic Bay in June on lighterage duty as a yeoman. In July he was sent to Okinawa with a flotilla of LCTs that drifted out of formation each night and would spend the following day reorganizing. He was beached by a typhoon at Okinawa for 10 days until a channel was dredged and a tug and bulldozer helped with maneuvering. In October he was sent to China, where he delivered bombs to the Nationalists. After turning his LCT over to the Chinese, Engh returned home in June 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Engh. Engh entered the Navy’s V-1 program before beginning V-12 in July 1943. He graduated from midshipmen’s school in 1945 and was sent to Subic Bay in June on lighterage duty as a yeoman. In July he was sent to Okinawa with a flotilla of LCTs that drifted out of formation each night and would spend the following day reorganizing. He was beached by a typhoon at Okinawa for 10 days until a channel was dredged and a tug and bulldozer helped with maneuvering. In October he was sent to China, where he delivered bombs to the Nationalists. After turning his LCT over to the Chinese, Engh returned home in June 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tom English. English was born 17 October 1926 in Manhattan, New York. As a 17 year old in 1944, he enlisted in the Navy. After boot camp at the Naval Training Center at Sampson, New York, he went to Treasure Island where he reported aboard USS Hugh Hadley (DD-774) and sailed with a task force headed for Okinawa. Hadley escorted cargo ships during the battle and was eventually assigned picket duty. On 11 May 1945, Hadley shot down 23 Japanese aircraft, a record, but was also hit by bombs and kamikazes. English was in the ammo handling room for mount 51. One of the bomb hits knocked him unconscious, cutting his head and crushing one of his feet. He came to on deck as the ship was being abandoned. Despite the damage, Hadley stayed afloat and was towed to the West Coast, where she was scrapped. English went aboard an APA, then a hospital ship. He received treatment at Tinian, Pearl Harbor, Oakland, San Diego, and finally St. Albans in New York. After his foot healed, he was assigned briefly to USS Leyte (CV-32). He was discharged from the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tom English. English was born 17 October 1926 in Manhattan, New York. As a 17 year old in 1944, he enlisted in the Navy. After boot camp at the Naval Training Center at Sampson, New York, he went to Treasure Island where he reported aboard USS Hugh Hadley (DD-774) and sailed with a task force headed for Okinawa. Hadley escorted cargo ships during the battle and was eventually assigned picket duty. On 11 May 1945, Hadley shot down 23 Japanese aircraft, a record, but was also hit by bombs and kamikazes. English was in the ammo handling room for mount 51. One of the bomb hits knocked him unconscious, cutting his head and crushing one of his feet. He came to on deck as the ship was being abandoned. Despite the damage, Hadley stayed afloat and was towed to the West Coast, where she was scrapped. English went aboard an APA, then a hospital ship. He received treatment at Tinian, Pearl Harbor, Oakland, San Diego, and finally St. Albans in New York. After his foot healed, he was assigned briefly to USS Leyte (CV-32). He was discharged from the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Frank. Frank joined the Navy in January 1943 and received basic training at Sampson. After yeoman training and amphibious duty at Little Creek, he was sent to Dartmouth to commission an LCT flotilla. From there he was deployed to England for the invasion of Normandy. His landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day was delayed by several hours due to weather, and when he approached the Easy Red Sector in LCT(6)-542, his flotilla launched and lost several tanks in the high waves. Operating under heavy fire, Frank made several supply trips to the beach. The day after it was secured, there was a memorial service held, complete with an organist. Frank spent the rest of the war stationed in England, where he played trumpet with a local big band while on liberty. He was sent home in August 1945 after the military learned that his father had died; however, it was a mix-up with a different Jack Frank whose father had died, so Frank simply enjoyed a nice visit home. He was stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard until his discharge in April 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Frank. Frank joined the Navy in January 1943 and received basic training at Sampson. After yeoman training and amphibious duty at Little Creek, he was sent to Dartmouth to commission an LCT flotilla. From there he was deployed to England for the invasion of Normandy. His landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day was delayed by several hours due to weather, and when he approached the Easy Red Sector in LCT(6)-542, his flotilla launched and lost several tanks in the high waves. Operating under heavy fire, Frank made several supply trips to the beach. The day after it was secured, there was a memorial service held, complete with an organist. Frank spent the rest of the war stationed in England, where he played trumpet with a local big band while on liberty. He was sent home in August 1945 after the military learned that his father had died; however, it was a mix-up with a different Jack Frank whose father had died, so Frank simply enjoyed a nice visit home. He was stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard until his discharge in April 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe George. George joined the Navy’s V-12 program in December 1942 and entered active duty in July 1943. He graduated from midshipman’s school in November 1944. In March 1945 he boarded LCI-1022, where he prepared menus with the cook and tracked inventory. His LCI was primarily based in Leyte Gulf, near Tacloban, waiting to invade Japan. After the war, he made two trips out of China, one of which was to transport a medical group to Formosa to accept the surrender of Japanese holdouts. George returned home and earned a degree in business. He and his wife graduated from college on the same day, and George attended her ceremony instead of his own.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe George. George joined the Navy’s V-12 program in December 1942 and entered active duty in July 1943. He graduated from midshipman’s school in November 1944. In March 1945 he boarded LCI-1022, where he prepared menus with the cook and tracked inventory. His LCI was primarily based in Leyte Gulf, near Tacloban, waiting to invade Japan. After the war, he made two trips out of China, one of which was to transport a medical group to Formosa to accept the surrender of Japanese holdouts. George returned home and earned a degree in business. He and his wife graduated from college on the same day, and George attended her ceremony instead of his own.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Gillette. Gillette was 10 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked. His father was commander of the shipyard. At a party hosted by Gillette's family in November 1941, he overheard captains discuss the potential of being dragged into the Philippines; none of them suspected an attack at Pearl. His uncle, a senator from Iowa, warned Roosevelt that the Japanese fleet was sailing eastward; he believes the President intentionally withheld this information from Kimmel. Narrowly surviving the attack, Gillette and his mother boarded the first convoy to the mainland along with 2,500 women and children, while Gillette's father stayed behind to oversee ship repairs. Having lived amongst Japanese in Hawaii, his family was shocked by the practice of Japanese-American internment. His father joined the family at Bremerton where he successfully reorganized the mismanaged shipyard and was promoted to admiral. Gillette went on to earn degrees in marine engineering and naval architecture and was commissioned in the Navy in 1952 at the age of 21, following in his father's footsteps and supervising ship repairs.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Gillette. Gillette was 10 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked. His father was commander of the shipyard. At a party hosted by Gillette's family in November 1941, he overheard captains discuss the potential of being dragged into the Philippines; none of them suspected an attack at Pearl. His uncle, a senator from Iowa, warned Roosevelt that the Japanese fleet was sailing eastward; he believes the President intentionally withheld this information from Kimmel. Narrowly surviving the attack, Gillette and his mother boarded the first convoy to the mainland along with 2,500 women and children, while Gillette's father stayed behind to oversee ship repairs. Having lived amongst Japanese in Hawaii, his family was shocked by the practice of Japanese-American internment. His father joined the family at Bremerton where he successfully reorganized the mismanaged shipyard and was promoted to admiral. Gillette went on to earn degrees in marine engineering and naval architecture and was commissioned in the Navy in 1952 at the age of 21, following in his father's footsteps and supervising ship repairs.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lincoln Grahlfs. Grahlfs joined the Navy in October 1942 after working at Grumman. Upon completion of boot camp, quartermaster’s school, and visual communications training, he deployed to the Pacific aboard the USS Undaunted (ATA-199). He towed the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) from Kerama Retto to the States, traveling through a typhoon; after the storm cleared, the tow line parted nine times. After the war, his tug was busy helping ships that overestimated their capabilities in a hurry to get home. He was transferred to the USS ATR-40 for the Bikini atomic bomb testing, where he was 10 miles from the target during the detonations. His salvage unit was ordered to spend more than what was thought to be a safe amount of time aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), without safety equipment, operating pumps to keep it afloat. Grahlfs later based his dissertation on interviews with veterans who had been exposed to nuclear weapons testing; he found that although more than half reported illness due to radiation exposure, the military never recognized their claims. When Grahlfs returned to the States, he was treated for rare symptoms that fascinated …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lincoln Grahlfs. Grahlfs joined the Navy in October 1942 after working at Grumman. Upon completion of boot camp, quartermaster’s school, and visual communications training, he deployed to the Pacific aboard the USS Undaunted (ATA-199). He towed the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) from Kerama Retto to the States, traveling through a typhoon; after the storm cleared, the tow line parted nine times. After the war, his tug was busy helping ships that overestimated their capabilities in a hurry to get home. He was transferred to the USS ATR-40 for the Bikini atomic bomb testing, where he was 10 miles from the target during the detonations. His salvage unit was ordered to spend more than what was thought to be a safe amount of time aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), without safety equipment, operating pumps to keep it afloat. Grahlfs later based his dissertation on interviews with veterans who had been exposed to nuclear weapons testing; he found that although more than half reported illness due to radiation exposure, the military never recognized their claims. When Grahlfs returned to the States, he was treated for rare symptoms that fascinated …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leland Gwin. After Gwin's brother was captured on Corregidor, Gwin vowed to rescue him. In late 1944, when he turned 17, Gwin joined the Navy. Upon completion of amphibious training, he was assigned as an engineer to an LCVP attached to the USS Rockingham (APA-229). While landing troops at Okinawa, he rescued a crew whose landing gear failed and evacuated 150 wounded off a hospital ship that was attacked. Gwin was later assigned to pick up American POWs from Leyte, where he met someone who had been imprisoned with his brother. Gwin learned that although his brother survived the Bataan Death March, he had been worked to death in a coalmine. Gwin spent the next six months transporting soldiers home, making four round trips before by June 1946. He then received orders to Bikini Atoll but was granted leave to see his dying mother and was subsequently discharged. Several of the men who went in his place died soon after from exposure to radiation.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leland Gwin. After Gwin's brother was captured on Corregidor, Gwin vowed to rescue him. In late 1944, when he turned 17, Gwin joined the Navy. Upon completion of amphibious training, he was assigned as an engineer to an LCVP attached to the USS Rockingham (APA-229). While landing troops at Okinawa, he rescued a crew whose landing gear failed and evacuated 150 wounded off a hospital ship that was attacked. Gwin was later assigned to pick up American POWs from Leyte, where he met someone who had been imprisoned with his brother. Gwin learned that although his brother survived the Bataan Death March, he had been worked to death in a coalmine. Gwin spent the next six months transporting soldiers home, making four round trips before by June 1946. He then received orders to Bikini Atoll but was granted leave to see his dying mother and was subsequently discharged. Several of the men who went in his place died soon after from exposure to radiation.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Maroney. Maroney joined the Marine Corps in early 1943. He served as a 20mm gunner aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) through the end of the war. Maroney participated in 12 Naval engagements aboard the Enterprise, including the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaigns, the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Maroney. Maroney joined the Marine Corps in early 1943. He served as a 20mm gunner aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) through the end of the war. Maroney participated in 12 Naval engagements aboard the Enterprise, including the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaigns, the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lester McClanahan. McClanahan joined the Navy in 1944. He was assigned to the USS Algol (AKA-54) in June of 1944 and served as a deck hand and gunner. He provides some detail of the ship and the equipment it carried. They traveled to Eniwetok, Ulithi and Saipan, carrying supplies for troops after the invasions. They were at the invasion of Lingayen Gulf in early 1945, and later at Okinawa. He recalls the kamikaze plane attacks while at Okinawa. They also provided towing services for ships to the Philippines. They traveled to Qingdao, China and he discusses his experiences there. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lester McClanahan. McClanahan joined the Navy in 1944. He was assigned to the USS Algol (AKA-54) in June of 1944 and served as a deck hand and gunner. He provides some detail of the ship and the equipment it carried. They traveled to Eniwetok, Ulithi and Saipan, carrying supplies for troops after the invasions. They were at the invasion of Lingayen Gulf in early 1945, and later at Okinawa. He recalls the kamikaze plane attacks while at Okinawa. They also provided towing services for ships to the Philippines. They traveled to Qingdao, China and he discusses his experiences there. He was discharged in December of 1945.