The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Aristides Phoutrides. Phoutrides joined the Navy in May 1943 and went to quartermaster school after boot camp. He was then assigned to USS Laffey (DD-724) in February, 1944. He recalls bombarding the shore during the Normandy invasion. In late 1944, he went to the Philippines with the Laffey. He recalls escorting carriers during the Iwo Jima invasion. He also recalls being at Okinawa on radar picket duty on 16 April and being attacked by 22 kamikazes and struck by six. They returned to Seattle for repairs and were there when the war ended. Phoutrides was discharged in May 1946 but stayed in the Reserves. He was recalled during the Korean War and given a commission.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Featherstone. Featherstone quit high school in Indiana and joined the Navy after the war started. After boot camp in 1943, Featherstone volunteered for PT boat duty and was shipped overseas immediately. When he got to New Guinea, he was assigned to PT-137 in Squadron 7. Featherstone provides a glimpse of what life and service aboard a PT boat was like in the Southwest Pacific. During the Philippines invasion, Featherstone was rotated back to the US. He was at the PT training center in Rhode Island when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Holland Elrod. Elrod was born in Muleshoe, Texas in 1919 and was raised on a farm. Between semesters at Texas A&M and summer school at Texas Tech, Elrod worked in construction before joining the Marine Corps in September, 1940. He trained in San Diego. He was attached to the newly re-formed 8th Marines in California and shipped out to Samoa after the attack on Pearl Harbor. At Samoa, Elrod received a field commission before going to Guadalcanal in October, 1942. When his unit left Guadalcanal, the went to New Zealand to rest and prepare for Tarawa. When he arrived on the beach at Tarawa, he was in charge of a few 37mm guns. His men hauled those ashore and set them up on the airstrip. After refitting, Elrod invaded Saipan. This time, he was in charge of a group of halftrack armored vehicles. he was wounded on Saipan and evacuated to a hospital on Guadalcanal, where he ran into to Bob Hope. He eventually was shipped back to the US and was teaching in a gunnery school in San Diego when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Seay. Seay joined the Army in 1943 after beginning field artillery training through the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M. Upon completion, he was deployed to the China, Burma, India Theater to assist with opening the Burma Road. There he trained Chinese forces near Kunming on the use of pack artillery. He was then sent to radio school and coded communications so that he could teach this to the Chinese, as well. Although Chinese forces were often woefully underfunded and untrained due to warlords diverting their resources, Seay oversaw one particular guerilla group that was able to retain their funds and become properly trained. From Seay, they learned to harass Japanese troops traversing mountain passes. Seay was then recruited by headquarters to gather intelligence from local sources regarding the whereabouts of Japanese officers. Upon contracting hepatitis, he was sent to a field hospital in Kunming and was transferred to Calcutta as the war came to an end. Seay returned home and was discharged in December 1945, returning to Texas A&M and earning a degree in civil engineering.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Goolsby. Goolsby was born in Winters, Texas on 29 March 1922 and graduated from high school in 1939. Upon joining the Army in 1941, he underwent basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was assigned to the Army Medical Corps and received training as a medical technician. In 1943 he was sent to Louisiana where he was trained in malaria control. After completion of the training he was assigned to an eleven-man Army Malaria Control Unit and sent to Oran, Algeria. He tells of the workings of the unit and how German prisoner were used to dig ditches for drainage of mosquito infested waters. He recalls that the members of the unit did not carry firearms and wore Red Cross arm bands to indicate they were medical personnel. His unit was then sent to Foggia, Italy and he tells of some of his experiences during his eighteen month stay. He returned to the United States during the latter part of 1945 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Hatgil. Hatgil joined the Army Air Forces after working briefly in the defense industry. He received communications training and was assigned to the 505th Bombardment Group. On Tinian, he oversaw the teletype office adjacent to General Curtis LeMay. He recalls seeing the Enola Gay heavily guarded by Marines. Although at the time he was unaware of the atomic bomb, an important message arrived for LeMay, sent to the teletype machines by Colonel Paul Tibbets. Disobeying orders, Hatgil read the message, which was a recap of Tibbets’ instructions, specifically urging him to leave the target area as quickly as possible after dropping his bomb. When the war ended, Hatgil returned home and was discharged. Having spent much of his service decorating planes, sketching portraits, and painting murals in his free time, he enrolled in art school on the G.I. Bill and became a professor of art at the University of Texas. Hatgil kept a scrapbook of his wartime experience, including his artwork and several photos given to him by his unit’s official photographer.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Murray. Murray joined the Army Air Forces. Upon completing flight training at Lubbock, Texas, he graduated as a twin-engine pilot and spent the next year as an instructor. Next, he went overseas to transport supplies in the European Theater. Operating first out of Scotland, he carried anything and everything, from overcoats and tomatoes to gasoline and mail. In the whole of his career, he was only ever taken off one flight, and that was to be a trip to Paris in stormy weather. The pilot that replaced him perished, along with all 16 men aboard, after the engine caught fire. After the war, Murray remained in the service, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Mc Daniel. McDaniel was born in Houston, Texas on 5 September 1923 and graduated from high school in 1941. Upon entering the Marine Corps in 1942, he began flight training and received his wings in 1943. After receiving training as an instructor, he was sent to Hutchinson Naval Training Station in Kansas as a primary flight instructor. He was then sent to Jacksonville, Florida where he began flying the F4U Corsair fighter plane. After several months, he was sent to Danville, Illinois where he received training in carrier landings aboard the USS Wolverine (IX-64). He was in transit to Hawaii when the Japanese surrendered and upon his arrival he was assigned to the Joint Intelligence Corps Pacific Ocean Area and sent to Japan for three months. He remembers some of his experiences while there including meeting the actor Tyrone Power who also was a pilot. McDaniel concludes the interview by telling of his experiences flying helicopters during the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marcus Williams. Williams was born 22 December 1927. He joined the Navy in December of 1945, at the age of 18. He received no formal training, and served as a painter aboard USS Cape Gloucester (CVE-109), and traveled to Hawaii. He was then transferred to a troop carrier, and did not have any duties aboard. Williams then served as Able Seaman on board the Japanese cruiser Sakawa from 20 May through 8 July 1946. He assisted in preparing the vessel for the Bikini atomic experiments. He shares details of the nuclear testing. Williams was then transferred to a yard patrol boat, YP-636, picking up dead fish from the nuclear testing and freezing them. He returned to the US in September. He received his discharge in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Dean. Dean was born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma on 7 September 1924 and graduated from high school in 1942. Upon being drafted in 1943, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for thirteen weeks of basic training. While there he was selected to attend the Army Specialized Training Program at Colorado State College at Fort Collins. Soon after he entered the program, it was discontinued and he joined the 80th Infantry Division and went to Fort Dix, New Jersey. There, the division boarded HMS Queen Mary bound for Scotland. Dean recalls landing at Normandy three weeks after the invasion and describes seeing wreckage and bodies that remained. The division joined the 8th Army and advanced across France. During December 1944 he was hospitalized for three weeks with a severe case of trench foot. Upon being released from the hospital, he was assigned to the 60th US Army Band. The band played during the funeral for General George Patton and he describes the formalities of the funeral. Dean returned to the United States in 1946 and was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Simpson. Simpson joined the Army in December of 1944. After boot camp, he deployed to Saipan where he served on patrol. Simpson participated with the 147th Infantry Regiment through the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he was stationed when the war ended. He returned to the US and received his discharge around early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John M Gurley. Gurley joined the Navy in May of 1943. In early 1944, he completed Submarine School, and served as Yeoman Third Class aboard the USS Sennet (SS-408). Gurley completed four war patrols through Saipan, Japan and Guam. He returned to the US and was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Lynch. Lynch joined the Army in May of 1945. He completed basic training at Fort Hood, Texas in September. He learned how to drive Army trucks, and qualified as a marksman. In October, he was transferred to Fort Ord in California. Lynch shares details of his training, and his travels to and through California. He deployed to Nagasaki, Japan and served with the 32nd Infantry Division occupation forces. He returned to the US and received a discharge in October of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Feddersen. After finishing college in Iowa, Feddersen entered the Army with a ROTC commission in May 1941. He received further infantry training at Fort Benning. In March 1943, he went overseas and was assigned to the 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, which was engaged in combat in New Guinea. He stayed with the same outfit throughout the New Guinea campaign and headed for the Philippines with them. He had a few interactions with General MacArthur. When the war ended, he was at Subic Bay studying the plans for the invasion of Japan. His unit went to Japan for occupation duty at Kure. Feddersen was on hand when the Japanese surrendered their naval academy. He also visited Hiroshima and comments on the destruction. He also relates several other stories about being in occupied Japan before returning home in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Belvin. Belvin joined the Navy in June, 1941 and trained at San Diego. After training and before the war started, he went to machinist school and then was assigned to the USS Dobbin (AD-3). He spent some time in Australia and recalls a submarine attack in Sydney Harbor. After his brother was lost at sea during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Belvin was sent back to the US for reassignment after some home leave. Belvin was discharged in July 1946 and enrolled in the University of Texas where he earned an engineering degree.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon Bowen. Bowen quit school and joined the Navy in August 1944. After training, he went aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) and served as messman and as a 40mm antiaircraft gun loader. He describes his experiences when the ship was bombed in March, 1945 and how he escaped from below decks. Bowen rode the ship back to New York. He was discharged in June, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Freer. Freer joined the Army Air Forces in August, 1942 as a air cadet and went to flight training after basic. He was commissioned and earned his wings in February, 1944. His first assignment was as an instructor. Later in April, he was assigned to a B-17 crew. By July, he was in Bassingbourn, England flying combat missions attached to the 91st Bomb Group, 322nd Bomb Squadron as a co-pilot. He eventually became a pilot without ever really having had training on a B-17. On his 26th mission over Germany, his plane was heavily damaged and Freer had to bail out. Freer was captured and taken to Stalag Luft I, where he was when the war ended. After returning to the US, Freer stayed in the Reserves until 1955.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Pratt Shultz. Shultz left his economics studies at Princeton to join the Marine Corps. Upon completion of officer school and antiaircraft artillery training, he deployed to Tarawa. By the time they arrived, the Japanese had already left the island. Sighting an enemy bomber overhead, it was suggested they take cover in a nearby church. Shultz instead yelled for everyone to disperse, and the church was bombed. His next assignment was liaison to the Army’s 81st Infantry Division for the invasion of Palau. At Angaur, despite having no authority to do so, he directed fire upon certain caves from which enemy fire had been impeding the landing. It was on Angaur that he lost a good friend, an experience that influenced his philosophy when serving as Secretary of State under Ronald Reagan. Similarly, as Secretary of Labor to Richard Nixon, he recalled how naïve and vulnerable natives were when bargaining with Marines. Shultz’s expansive postwar career, beginning after his discharge and subsequent enrollment at MIT, included easing relations with both Japan and China in his capacity as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Louie Robert. Robert joined the Navy in December of 1943. He completed amphibious force training with landing craft, vehicle/personnel (LCVP). In late 1944, early 1945, Robert deployed to Normandy, aboard the USS Trousdale (AKA-79), to serve as amphibious replacement crew. In 1945, he drove a landing craft during the Battle of Okinawa, landing and picking up Marines and supplies on the beach. Robert returned to the US and received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald joined the Army Air Forces and became a bombardier in 1943 and arrived in England later that year. He began flying combat missions over France and Germany. After one mission, Fitzgerald had a meeting with General LeMay about the results of a bomb run. Mostly, Fitzgerald's missions over Europe prior to D-Day were to soften up German defense and industrial capabilities. After completing about 30 combat missions, Fitzgerald rotated back to the US and elected to go to flight school. He was there when the war ended. He then decided to go to college using the G.I. Bill.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hector Mendieta. Mendieta was born in Laredo, Texas in 1924. After graduating from high school in 1941, he attended Texas A & M University until March 1943. When he was inducted into the Army he underwent nine weeks of basic training at Camp Roberts, Texas and was then sent to Camp Abbot, Oregon. In February 1944, he was selected to attend Officers Candidate School. Upon receiving his commission on 14 June 1944 he was sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana where he joined the 1326th Engineer General Service Brigade. The unit, composed primarily of African American soldiers, received training in various types of construction. On 12 February 1945 the regiment left Camp Kilmer, New Jersey for France. After landing at Le Havre, the unit moved to Marville. Mendieta’s unit converted a school into a hospital. Casualties from the 3rd Army arrived before reconstruction was completed. After Germany surrendered, his unit was sent to Mondorf les Bains, Belgium to convert a hotel into a prison for high ranking German officers. He saw Hermann Goering and Karl Doenitz arrive prior to the trials in Nuremburg. Afterward, the unit boarded the USS …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Roby. Roby was born in Nocona, Texas on 17 June 1927. After graduating from high school in Cunningham, Texas he signed up for the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program. Upon entering the program he was sent to Las Cruses, New Mexico for training. The program was terminated shortly thereafter and he was sent to Wichita Falls, Texas for basic training. In 1946, following basic training, he was assigned as a teletype operator with US Army Signal Corps. He was sent to Guam where he supervised the fixed communication facility with a personnel crew of fourteen. He describes the purpose and workings of the radio-teletype unit. While on Guam, it was struck by a typhoon and he describes the storm and its aftermath. War crimes trials were held on Guam during 1946 and Roby attended some of these trials. Returning to the United States in 1947 he became a commissioned officer after attending Officers Candidate School. He concludes the interview by telling of his career in the United States Air Force until his retirement in 1972.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Winn Pinkston. Pinkston was born in Chireno, Texas in 1921. After graduating from high school he attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas for two years. He entered the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1941 and following this training he entered secondary Civilian Pilot Training in which aerobatics were taught. Upon graduating for this course, he accepted a job as an instructor with Coleman Flying School in Coleman, Texas. The school, having a contract with the US government, taught basic flying skills to new cadets. After eighteen months of the job, Pinkston joined the Army Air Forces. After receiving additional training, he was commissioned as a flight officer and sent to Love Field in Dallas, Texas to join the Fifth Ferrying Command. After being involved in various flying activities for eighteen months he was sent to Reno Army Air Field in Nevada for instrument flight training. While in training, Japan surrendered and Pinkston was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lloyd Bailey. Bailey was born in Kansas City, Missouri on 16 February 1922 and graduated from high school in Waco, Texas in 1940. After attending Texas A&M for one year, he enlisted in the Army. He went to Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas for basic training. While there, he was recruited by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents to participate in an internal security program. Following basic entered the Corps of Engineers Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. On 2 February 1943 he was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the 386th Engineer Battalion, an African American unit stationed at Camp Sutton, North Carolina. In 1943, the battalion boarded the SS Louis Pasteur and sailed to Casablanca where they cleaned up the dock area to facilitate unloading cargo. He tells of the unit traveling by rail to Iran. Soon after arriving in Iran the battalion sailed to Naples, Italy. His platoon was sent to Anzio and assigned the task of removing land mines. Three of his men were lost while doing this job. He was assigned to oversee the construction of the largest Butler Building ever …