The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dorwin Lamkin. Lamkin joined the Navy in 1940. He completed Hospital Corps Training School and served as a corpsman and hospital apprentice aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36), where he was stationed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Nevada was torpedoed and bombed during the surprise attack. Lamkin later served aboard the USS President Jackson (APA-18) and the USS San Francisco (CA-38). In early 1945, he was assigned to a Naval Hospital in the Philippines. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doyle Ebel. Ebel was drafted into the Army Air Forces in March, 1943 and trained at Miami Beach before going to radio operator school in Missouri. He also attended gunnery school before becoming a crewmember on a B-24 and shipping overseas in July 1944. He was assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group at Saipan in October. Ebel recalls an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. He flew 37 combat missions before the war ended and returned to the US in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Ed Spradling. Spradling grauated from high school and went to work for North American Aviation, building B-24s in Grand Prairie, Texas. When he was old enough, he joined the Merchant Marine. After training, he joined a ship in April, 1945 in San Francisco. Spradling discusses life abord a liberty ship and some of his experiences, including a trip to Manila.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edgar Vincent. Vincent was a student at Cal Tech when he enlisted in the Army Air Forces in late 1942 where he went into flight training. He earned his wings and a commission in March, 1944. He was selected to train on a B-29 after training on a B-17. His crew flew to Tinian in December, 1944 where he was assigned to the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group. He flew on the fire bombing mission over Tokyo on 9-10 March. He flew 32 combat missions, some bombing, others minelaying. He flew his last mission on 14 August and returned to the US in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edmond Ward. Ward joined the Army in 1942. He served with the 1st Infantry Division, 18th Infantry Regiment. He participated with the Omaha Beach landing forces during the Invasion of Normandy and served in the Battle of the Bulge. Ward returned to the US and received his discharge in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edmund Russell. Russell joined the Army Air Corps in 1940. He was stationed at Wheeler Field in Hawaii, serving in the mess hall and with a fatigue unit, assisting with ditch digging, garbage hauling and other manual labor. Russell was in Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He later completed Navigator School and served as an A-26 Bombardier/Navigator in India and China, supporting Chinese nationalists. Russell returned to the US in late 1945 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Hahnemann. Hahnemann joined the Navy in December of 1942. He was trained as an aviation machinist and was assigned to USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). Hahnemann describes his duties related to the maintenance of the flight deck arresting gear. He mentions how he was acquainted with George H. W. Bush. Hahnemann gives an overview of some of the actions he was involved in, particularly going through several typhoons and seeing kamikaze attacks. He was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ellsworth Jung. Jung joined the Army Air Corps in November, 1940, became an aircraft mechanic and flight engineer and was at Hickam Field when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In February, Ellsworth was sent to Midway Island with his unit before going to the Solomons. Ellsworth flew on 69 combat missions and describes several of them. Afterwards, he returned to the US and was assigned to a training unit. He was discharged in June, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ervin Larson. Larson was born on 12 February 1923. He joined the Navy in February of 1943. He completed Torpedo School in Norfolk, Virginia learning about surface torpedo maintenance. Larson served as torpedo man with a field torpedo unit on New Hebrides. His job was to take reserve torpedoes apart piece by piece and ensure that each one was in proper running order, then reassemble them. He then transferred to the Treasury Islands in the Solomons. He shares details of serving as a torpedo man aboard PT boats during night cruises off the island. After the war ended, Larson returned to the US and received his discharge.

The National museum of the Pacific War presents an ortal interview with Eugene Ganske. Ganske attempted to join the Navy but wopund up in the Marine Corps instead in May 1944. He trained as an anti-aircraft gunner and eventually was sent to Tinian to guard B-29s. He also deployed to Okinawa after the invasion. After the war, Ganske went to CHina with the First Marine Division.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene N. Fithian. Born in 1925, he joined the Navy in 1943. He describes basic training and living conditions in Great Lakes, Illinois. Following basic training, he was assigned to the Navy Overflow Annex from Treasure Island where he worked in the fleet post office becoming a Mailman, Third Class. He was then assigned to the destroyer, USS Farenholt (DD-491). On the Farenholt, he became a cook and was assigned as a leader on a 20mm and later a 40mm anti-aircraft gun. He shares an anecdote about becoming seasick within two hours after sailing out from San Francisco. He describes screening operations for the landings on Kwajalein and Guam and carrier fleet operations in the Philippine Island area and Peleliu. He comments on the kamikazes, rescuing downed pilots and survivors of damaged or sunken ships, bombarding shore targets and carrier operations in the Sakishima Gunto. He shares a story of taking pictures of the Japanese generals on Okinawa on their way to the peace talks in Manila. After arriving in South Carolina, he was transferred to the USS Caperton (DD-650) prior to its decommissioning. He was discharged from …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Paul. Paul joined the Navy in January of 1943. He served as Fire Controlman aboard the USS Oakland (CL-95). They joined Task Group 50 near Funafuti, and supported amphibious assaults on the Gilbert Islands, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Paul describes his experiences with kamikazes and going through typhoons. Paul returned to the US after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Everett Ike McKay. McKay joined the Navy as a part of the V-7 program. He was commissioned as an ensign in July 1943. McKay was sent to minesweeper school and then assigned to the commissioning crew of the YMS-293. He discusses his duties as the executive officer. McKay also describes the operations, types of mines, and capabilities of the ship. He describes sweeping the invasion approaches. McKay discusses an incident where USS Mount Hood exploded, killing 3 men that he had just been with and severely damaging his ship. He describes going through a major typhoon, losing one engine, and all electric power. McKay also describes the role minesweepers played as a utility ship performing duties such as generating smoke and delivering mail. He was transferred back to the US and sent to demobilization school soon after he became a member of the inactive reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Everett H. Logan. Logan was born 6 March 1921 in Wolcott, Indiana. He was drafted into the Army 1 September 1942. Following basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, he joined the 111th Engineer Battalion of the 36th Infantry Division at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, training in small pontoon bridge deployment and mine clearing. In 1943 the unit landed in Oran, Algeria. Fighting in North Africa had ended, so after some additional training, the unit sailed to Anzio. After landing on the beach, they were pinned down for 3 or 4 days. While in Italy, Logan saw Ernie Pyle, witnessed the destruction of the Abbey of Monte Cassino, and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The 36th advanced as far as Pisa. In August 1944, they were sent to Marseille. They advanced north into France and eventually into Germany. When Germany surrendered, they went back to France where they were shuttled around waiting for a decision whether they would go to the Pacific. Finally they were sent to Holland and transported back to the United States. Logan arrived in the States on 1 October 1945 and was discharged on 5 October …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Floyd Trogdon. Trogdon joined the Army Air Forces in October 1942 and went through the aviation cadet training program to train as a navigator. He earned his commission in December 1943 and reported t oB-24 flight crew duty the following January. He arrived in Italy in April, 1944 and began flying combat missions. Trogdon describes various missions he flew, including one over Ploesti. He flew 50 missions by October and returned to the US to attend an advanced navigation course. Trogdon also underwent pilot training. He graduated as a pilot in October, 1945. He stayed in the Air Force and worked on nuclear weapons systems.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert L. Cook, speaking for his deceased brother Frank E. Cook. Cook served with the National Guard. He was assigned to Panama working as a patrol boat guard. In early 1943, Cook served as Executive Officer aboard PT-170 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 10. While traveling from Panama to Noumea, on 3 August 1943, Frank and his crew were caught in a crossfire with the Japanese and Frank died 5 August.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Lowry. Lowry was drafted into the Coast Guard in August of 1942. He served in the flag semaphore telegraphy system. Additionally, he guarded merchantmen at night. He was transferred to the Baltimore Harbor Coast Guard Office and worked in the Identification Office and as a teletype operator. He also participated in the Navy V-12 program. He completed Midshipman school and served aboard the USS PC-819. Their job was to sweep Dutch Harbor, Alaska for submarines using sonar. He provides detail of the PC-819, and life aboard the ship. His job aboard was Communications Officer, Engineering Officer and later, Executive Officer.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Rancloes. Rancloes was drafted into the Marine Corps in April 1943. Upon completion of pontoon bridging school, he was sent to Camp Pendleton to train officers. His unit, the 7th Service Engineers, was typically split up to provide support where needed. Rancloes landed in the second wave on Saipan, operating heavy machinery. After the island was secured, he managed a lumberyard with an African-American crew, many of whom outranked him. Recognizing the unfairness of that arrangement, he appointed one of the crewmen as a liaison so that they would not have a white corporal giving orders. After bringing supplies to Okinawa, Rancloes stayed there in a sugarcane hut. When his unit became ill from mold toxicity, the village was condemned and burned to the ground. Rancloes suffered from respiratory problems for the rest of his life. Before returning home in 1946, Rancloes's final duty was supervising Japanese laborers in China.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Teagarden. Teagarden joined the Army Air Corps around 1940. He received his wings and commission in February of 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot and flight leader of the 465th Bomb Group, 780th Bomb Squadron. He completed 50 missions from the Pantanella Airfield where he was based in southern Italy. He flew missions over Vienna, Budapest, Munich and the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Lee. Lee was born in Portland, Oregon in Chinatown in 1924. His mother and father moved from China to Oregon in 1918, when his father was hired to work on the railroad from Oregon to California. Lee shares his family history, his experiences growing up in segregated schools and his Japanese friends going to holding camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In March of 1943, Lee joined the Army Reserves. He completed training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1944, Lee completed the Army Specialized Training Program in North Carolina. He later deployed to England to work as a topographer. In late 1944 through the spring of 1945, Lee created maps from aerial photographs for General Patton’s 3rd Army as they advanced through Belgium and Germany. After the war ended, Lee served in Frankfurt, Germany on a Bomb Disposal Squad, returning to the US in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Morgan. Morgan joined the Army in January of 1942. He went to Fort Devens, Massachusetts for basic training. He served with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment as a medic. Morgan tells of the training he received in jump school. After additional training in North Africa, the unit dropped into Sicily. Morgan describes some of the difficulties they encountered. This was followed by a drop at Salerno, Italy. The unit was then sent to England to prepare for Operation Overlord. Morgan describes in detail the equipment carried and the procedures followed by a medic during a jump. The unit then participated in Operation Market Garden, and the horrendous conditions encountered during the Battle of the Bulge. Morgan returned to the US and received his discharge in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Haddad. Haddad shares much about his family history and growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the 1930s. He joined the Army in May of 1944. He trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and served with the 7th Infantry Division as a gunner on a 155mm gun and a 105mm howitzer. In May of 1945, Haddad traveled to Okinawa aboard USS Leon (APA-48), then went ashore via a Higgins boat. He explains his experiences through the battle, ending in June. Haddad and his division traveled to Korea and served with the occupation of Japan, returning to the US in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Mehling. Mehling joined the Army Air Forces in December, 1942 and trained in Miami Beach before going to radio communication school. Mehling was assigned to the 440th Troop Carrier Squadron and trained with airborne units in North Carolina in 1943. He served as a radio operator aboard C-47s. He went overseas in March 1944. He made the trip over Normandy on D-Day and made several flights in the following day delivering troops and supplies. He also made the drop over Belgium during Operation MARKET GARDEN. On one mission late I n1944, he had to bail out of his disabled aircraft and was captured by the Germans and spent time at Stalag 7A. After being liberated, he was discharged in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Riddle. Riddle joined the Navy in March of 1943. He served as a Radarman, completing training in radio design, electronics, communications, and on a magnetic air detection system to locate submarines. Riddle was stationed in Florida, training pilots and other operators in radar systems. He was stationed in the US throughout the duration of the war, receiving a discharge in late 1945.