The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Alfred. Alfred joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He was stationed on Tinian Island, and served as a B-29 navigator with the 6th Bombardment Group. He flew 27 missions over Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Alfred. Alfred joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He was stationed on Tinian Island, and served as a B-29 navigator with the 6th Bombardment Group. He flew 27 missions over Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Andrew Alfred. Alfred was born on 28 July 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen. He served as a navigator with the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29, called Dearly Beloved. In late 1944, they were stationed on Tinian and flew 27 missions over Japan, including Iwo Jima and Tokyo. After the war ended, they dropped supplies to American troops in Japan. Alfred returned to the US and received his discharge on 4 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Andrew Alfred. Alfred was born on 28 July 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen. He served as a navigator with the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29, called Dearly Beloved. In late 1944, they were stationed on Tinian and flew 27 missions over Japan, including Iwo Jima and Tokyo. After the war ended, they dropped supplies to American troops in Japan. Alfred returned to the US and received his discharge on 4 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Archer. Archer entered the Navy in September 1943. He completed basic in Farragut, Idaho and Bremerton, Washington. From Washington he made two trips to Hawaii and the Marshall Islands. He was aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard CV-31, serving as a fireman. He was aboard during the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. He was discharged December 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Archer. Archer entered the Navy in September 1943. He completed basic in Farragut, Idaho and Bremerton, Washington. From Washington he made two trips to Hawaii and the Marshall Islands. He was aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard CV-31, serving as a fireman. He was aboard during the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. He was discharged December 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irma L. Ashenbrenner. Ashenbrenner was born 26 September 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She joined the WAVES in 1943. She attended boot camp at the U.S. Naval Training Center (WR) at Hunter College in the Bronx, New York. While at boot camp she attended radio classes. Following that she was sent for six months for more advanced instruction at the Navy Radio Training School at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. There she learned to copy Morse code. Now a Radioman 3rd Class, she was assigned to the Navy's wireless radio receiving station at Chatham, Massachusetts. There she copied intercepted coded messages from German submarines in the Atlantic. These were then transmitted to Washington, DC to be analyzed. When the war ended, Ashenbrenner was sent first to Seattle and then to San Diego to handle the paperwork involved in discharging Navy personnel. On Christmas Eve 1945 she boarded a train from San Diego to New York. She was discharged from the Navy 27 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irma L. Ashenbrenner. Ashenbrenner was born 26 September 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She joined the WAVES in 1943. She attended boot camp at the U.S. Naval Training Center (WR) at Hunter College in the Bronx, New York. While at boot camp she attended radio classes. Following that she was sent for six months for more advanced instruction at the Navy Radio Training School at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. There she learned to copy Morse code. Now a Radioman 3rd Class, she was assigned to the Navy's wireless radio receiving station at Chatham, Massachusetts. There she copied intercepted coded messages from German submarines in the Atlantic. These were then transmitted to Washington, DC to be analyzed. When the war ended, Ashenbrenner was sent first to Seattle and then to San Diego to handle the paperwork involved in discharging Navy personnel. On Christmas Eve 1945 she boarded a train from San Diego to New York. She was discharged from the Navy 27 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Axworthy. Axworthy was drafted into the Army in April, 1944. He broke his foot in basic training. Once healed, he went overseas and landed on Leyte during the invasion. Because of a high score on an aptitude test, Axworthy was transferred from the infantry to the signal section in MacArthur’s General Headquarters on Leyte. When the war ended, he travelled to Tokyo with GHQ. He recalls an anecdote where he ran into General MacArthur and knocked him over. Axworthy returned to the US and was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Axworthy. Axworthy was drafted into the Army in April, 1944. He broke his foot in basic training. Once healed, he went overseas and landed on Leyte during the invasion. Because of a high score on an aptitude test, Axworthy was transferred from the infantry to the signal section in MacArthur’s General Headquarters on Leyte. When the war ended, he travelled to Tokyo with GHQ. He recalls an anecdote where he ran into General MacArthur and knocked him over. Axworthy returned to the US and was discharged in May 1946.

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 …

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 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Bakel. Bakel had earned a degree in aeronautical engineering in early 1941 and was working at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego when he was called up for active duty in the Army Air Corps. In May, 1942, he was commissioned as an engineering officer and assigned to several bomb groups before going overseas in early 1944. He was attached to the 308th Airdrome Squadron in New Guinea with the responsibility of opening new or captured air bases for use by fighters or bombers. He recalls opening an airfield on Luzon early in 1945 during the invasion of the Philippines. When the war ended, Bakel had enough points to receive a discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Bakel. Bakel had earned a degree in aeronautical engineering in early 1941 and was working at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego when he was called up for active duty in the Army Air Corps. In May, 1942, he was commissioned as an engineering officer and assigned to several bomb groups before going overseas in early 1944. He was attached to the 308th Airdrome Squadron in New Guinea with the responsibility of opening new or captured air bases for use by fighters or bombers. He recalls opening an airfield on Luzon early in 1945 during the invasion of the Philippines. When the war ended, Bakel had enough points to receive a discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Andrew Bardagjy. Bardagjy joined the Army in 1943. He served as a mortarman with the 103rd Infantry Division, 411th Infantry Regiment. He deployed to France in September of 1944. They battled through France, capturing St. Dié, and into Germany by December. Bardagjy was captured by the Germans and placed into a prisoner of war camp near Fallingbostel, where he remained through April of 1945. He shares details of his experiences in the camp. He returned to the US and received his discharge in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Andrew Bardagjy. Bardagjy joined the Army in 1943. He served as a mortarman with the 103rd Infantry Division, 411th Infantry Regiment. He deployed to France in September of 1944. They battled through France, capturing St. Dié, and into Germany by December. Bardagjy was captured by the Germans and placed into a prisoner of war camp near Fallingbostel, where he remained through April of 1945. He shares details of his experiences in the camp. He returned to the US and received his discharge in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Barnhouse. Barnhouse joined the Naval ROTC at the University of Texas in 1940. He graduated and received his commission in 1944 and went aboard the USS Kidd (DD-661) at Espiritu Santo in March. He remained on this destroyer until the war ended. On the ship he was in charge of the deck crew and maintenance. When in battle he served as a gunnery officer overseeing the 20 mm guns aft. He provides details of numerous attacks on their destroyer, fighting off the enemy with the anti-aircraft guns, and protecting the carriers. They were involved in the Borneo campaign, and the battles of Iwo Jima, Leyte Gulf, Guam, Tinian and Saipan. Barnhouse was discharged in February 1946. He earned his Master’s Degree at UT and worked for an airline and later a gas company.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Barnhouse. Barnhouse joined the Naval ROTC at the University of Texas in 1940. He graduated and received his commission in 1944 and went aboard the USS Kidd (DD-661) at Espiritu Santo in March. He remained on this destroyer until the war ended. On the ship he was in charge of the deck crew and maintenance. When in battle he served as a gunnery officer overseeing the 20 mm guns aft. He provides details of numerous attacks on their destroyer, fighting off the enemy with the anti-aircraft guns, and protecting the carriers. They were involved in the Borneo campaign, and the battles of Iwo Jima, Leyte Gulf, Guam, Tinian and Saipan. Barnhouse was discharged in February 1946. He earned his Master’s Degree at UT and worked for an airline and later a gas company.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Beck. Beck was drafted into the Army in September, 1943 and went to basic training in Missouri. From there, he went to a trade school in New York to become an electrician. His first assignment was in the Aleutian Islands at Amchitka where he worked as an electrician rigging wiring and working on poles. He also went to Attu and helped build a landing strip on Shemya Island before returning to the US and being discharged in June 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Beck. Beck was drafted into the Army in September, 1943 and went to basic training in Missouri. From there, he went to a trade school in New York to become an electrician. His first assignment was in the Aleutian Islands at Amchitka where he worked as an electrician rigging wiring and working on poles. He also went to Attu and helped build a landing strip on Shemya Island before returning to the US and being discharged in June 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 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 interview with William Berger. Berger joined the Army in July of 1942. He served with the Service Company of the 377th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division, completing administrative work and ensuring the regiment had adequate supplies. He then served as Warrant Officer Junior Grade, working with ammunitions supplies. Berger later joined the 543rd Field Artillery Battalion, and traveled to Hawaii, conducting routine training. He later traveled to Leyte aboard an LST, supplying ammunition and other supplies to troops, where he was located when the war ended. Berger then served with occupation forces in Sapporo, Japan, working in the Inspector General’s office. He returned to the US and received his discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Berger. Berger joined the Army in July of 1942. He served with the Service Company of the 377th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division, completing administrative work and ensuring the regiment had adequate supplies. He then served as Warrant Officer Junior Grade, working with ammunitions supplies. Berger later joined the 543rd Field Artillery Battalion, and traveled to Hawaii, conducting routine training. He later traveled to Leyte aboard an LST, supplying ammunition and other supplies to troops, where he was located when the war ended. Berger then served with occupation forces in Sapporo, Japan, working in the Inspector General’s office. He returned to the US and received his discharge in February of 1946.