The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles H. Tucker from Orange, California. He discusses volunteering for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and going to basic training in Miami Beach, Florida, then going to Aircraft Armament School in Buckley Field, Colorado, and finally air gunnery school in Fort Myers, Florida. In air gunnery school, Mr. Tucker learned to shoot in B-17 by shooting into the Gulf of Mexico. After gunnery school he was sent to the B-25 crew training at Columbia, South Carolina for 5 months. After Mr. Tucker completed his training, he was transferred to Dacca to a B-25 base and joined the 10th Air Force, the 12th Bomb Group. When he arrived his crew pilots were reassigned, and Mr. Tucker was not able to fly much until he was assigned to a regular crew again. Mr. Tucker was put in the 729th bomb squadron tasked with supporting the British 14th Army against the Japanese forces in Burma. The campaign he was involved in ended in May 1945 with the capture of Rangoon, the main city of Burma and Mr. tucker was in one of the squadron planes that flew over the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edgar Hessek. Hessek joined the Navy in October of 1942. In February of 1943 he was assigned to the American Builder, a commercial ship, as a radio operator. They traveled to South Africa and England delivering war materials. In 1944 he was transferred to the USS Swenning (DE-394). From late 1944 into 1945 they traveled to Casablanca, the Pacific, Guam, Wake Island and Okinawa. He describes a torpedo attack by a submarine on their trip to Guam and witnessing a number of kamikaze attacks. He describes crossing the equator and the Shellback initiation. He was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Garland Picou. Picou was drafted into the United States Army in August of 1954. He was involved in the occupation of Germany and therefore was classified as a World War II veteran. He trained as a medic at Fort Hood, learning battlefield first aid. He was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, 8th Regiment, Headquarters Company, and they were sent to Frankfurt, Germany. He was assigned to work as a communications operator, sending and receiving information from Division Headquarters with teletype and printed messages. His wife joined him while he was in Germany and they traveled during the two years he was stationed there. He describes some of his military and travel experiences while stationed there. He was discharged in 1956.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Leavelle. Leavelle joined the Navy in 1940 after he finished a stint in the Civilian Conservation Corps and high school. After training, Leavelle was assigned to USS Whitney (AD-4). He was aboard the Whitney during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was later injured by a rogue wave and elected to be medically discharged. He went on to be a detective in the Dallas Police Department and was escorting Lee Harvey Oswald when Jack Ruby shot him. Leavelle in the man in the light suit on the right in the famous image depicting the murder.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ehinger. Ehinger was drafted into the Navy in October of 1943. He graduated as Ensign from Supply Corps School in January of 1944, with training in record keeping, payroll and supplies. He was assigned to the USS Lamson (DD-367). They traveled to Hawaii, then to Majuro in the Marshall Islands. From there, they went to Eniwetok and connected with the Seventh Fleet. In December of 1944 the Seventh Fleet traveled to Ormoc Bay, to reinforce the troops remaining on the island after the invasion of Leyte. They were hit by a kamikaze and Ehinger details this event. After repairs in Bremerton, Washington they were sent to Iwo Jima to supply the Marines and where he witnessed the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. From March through August 1945 they traveled the Philippine Sea picking up any pilots that got lost or had to ditch. After the war ended they went to Kyushu to inspect Japanese ships. They returned to San Diego and Ehinger went to Rhode Island in charge of shipping surplus property that was being made available to contractors. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Curtis Whiteway. Whiteway joined the Army in December 1943 and trained at Fort Knox. He was attached to the 99th Infantry Division and landed in France in September of 1944. He recalls a friendly fire incident that reduced his company to 18 men. He also mentions liberating various concentration camps. He had a comrade die in his arms and he shares anecdotes from during the Battle of the Bulge and other combat experiences. He received three Purple Hearts. When the war ended, Whiteway went back to France. His records were misplaced and he was finally sent home and discharged in March, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Scott. Scott joined the Marine Corps in October 1943 and trained at San Diego. In February 1944, he shipped to Hawaii and the 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Tarawa. He was on a 75mm pack howitzer at Saipan and recalls details about the invasion. Scott share several anecdotes from his experiences on Saipan. He was at Okinawa, but his unit remained in reserve without going ashore. He also recalls details about the occupation of Japan, where he remained until the end of the year. Scott returned to the US and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Alldridge. Alldridge joined the Navy in May of 1944. He completed amphibious landing craft training, and served as Coxswain aboard the USS Kenton (APA-122). Alldridge made landings in the Marshall Islands, the Philippines and during the Battle of Okinawa, transporting troops from ship to shore. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leon Faddis. Faddis joined the Navy in December of 1943. He completed Fire Control school and was assigned to the gunnery division aboard the USS Alaska (CB-1). His job aboard was a loader on the 5-inch gun. They assisted with the liberation of the Philippines, and provided support at Iwo Jima, and then on to Okinawa. He provides some detail of each of these experiences. He witnessed the USS Franklin (CV-13) ablaze after it was struck by Japanese bombs, and details how the crew aboard the Alaska assisted. From there they went to Inchon, Korea to assist in liberation. After the war they traveled to Tsingtao, China to assist with repatriation of the Japanese. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Officer. Officer joined the Navy in May of 1944. He completed radar school in Point Loma, California. In April of 1945 he went to the New Hebrides Islands, and served aboard a transport ship as a radar operator. He then traveled to Auckland, New Zealand where he went aboard the submarine chaser USS PC-588. His crew traveled around New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Tulagi and the Marshall Islands looking for submarines. He describes the weaponry aboard the PC-588, and his work on sonar duty. They never found a submarine. After the war was over he assisted with looking for downed men in the Pacific. He describes his initiation as a Shellback. He was discharged as Radar Man 3rd Class in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Dubray. Dubray joined the Navy in June, 1943 and trained in San Diego. Afterwards, he was assigned to USS San Juan (CL-54) in December. He went with the ship to the Marshall Islands and describes his experience crossing he equator. He shares several anecdotes about life aboard the cruiser and some about the surrender and going ashore in Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Doy Davis. Davis begins with an account of growing up in West Virginia. In August, 1943 Davis joined the Navy and trained at Great Lakes as an electrician. He soon arrived in Kodiak, Alaska. He shares anecdotes about being at a base and in charge of maintaining the harbor craft. When the war ended, Davis took his discharge and went to work for AT&T.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Mika. Mika joined the Navy in 1942. He attended aviation metalsmith school in Norman, Oklahoma, repairing airplane parts, including the wings and fuselage, and welding aluminum. In late 1943 he graduated from Aerial Gunnery School in California. He served aboard the USS Santee (CVE-29) beginning March of 1944. They participated in the invasion of Hollandia, Morotai and Guam. Mika’s job aboard the ship was servicing the planes and aviation gas detail. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and he describes an attack by a kamikaze plane and a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. They traveled back to Pearl Harbor for repairs, and then back out to Okinawa. He provides some details of the carrier. They traveled to Wakayama, Japan and picked up American, British and Australian prisoners of war. He was discharged in April of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Doyle Rogers. Rogers joined the Navy in October of 1943. He completed submarine school and served aboard the USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) and the USS Bushnell (AS-15) in the Marshall Islands as part of a relief crew. He later transferred to the USS Sawfish (SS-276) in early 1945 and served as Torpedoman 3rd Class. He ran the bow planes. From January to April of 1946 his crew maintained the Sawfish in Shoemaker, California, and kept it ready to go back out to sea. He was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lois Dishong. Dishong joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in 1943. She worked in accounting in the finance office at Camp Davis, North Carolina. From there she went to dental school at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Then she went to work for a dental laboratory at Camp Blanding, Florida. Dishong was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Burgess. Burgess joined the Army in June of 1943 and went into the Specialized Training Program. Once ASTP was abolished he joined the 87th Infantry Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He was assigned to Company A of the 345th Infantry Regiment. He was also assigned to the weapon’s platoon as the number one gunner of the 60mm mortar squad. He served as squad leader of the 60mm mortar for the duration of the war. His unit went overseas in September of 1944. By December he was in his first battle at Metz, France. He provides detail of his regiment’s activities during this time and capturing several towns near Saarbrucken, Germany. They fought in the Battle of the Bulge and he provides detail of this battle. He returned to the States in July of 1945. Burgess was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Houston Lowe. Lowe finished high school and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in Texas and California before joing the Army Air Corps. He had basic training in the Philippines prior to the Japanese invasion. Lowe was captured on Corregidor and made a prisoner of war. He soon went to Cabanatuan. Lowe recalls several instances of his POW experience in the Philippines. He rode a hell ship to Japan, the Noto Maru, and was close to Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped. When the war ended, Lowe returned to San Francisco.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Longway. Longway joined the Navy in April of 1943. He went to school to learn visual communications, graduating as a Third Class Petty Officer. He served in the Navy Armed Guard as a signalman and communication officer. Longway traveled on Victory and Liberty ships and was aboard five ships that sunk. His ships took supplies for all the invasions in the Western Pacific, including Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, New Guinea, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Sara-Ella Kurth. Kurth was born in October 1928 in Huntsville, Texas. She graduated high school in 1945. She describes hearing the news about the attack on Pearl Harbor, and how this affected her family. She had two first cousins aboard the USS New Orleans (CL/CA-32) who participated in the attack and describes their experiences. She describes how her family bought the savings stamps and bonds at school and participated in drives to raise money. Her family actively collected materials, rationed and had a Victory Garden to help with the efforts. She provides detail of the two German POW camps near Lufkin, Texas. Kurth served in the Central Intelligence Agency, and was shipped to an Air Force camp in Japan, from 1957 through 1960.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Tatum. Tatum joined the Navy in January 1942 and trained at Norfolk. He trained in aerial gunnery and as an airplane mechanic. In 1943, he was assigned to VT-37 and went aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26). One day, a plane crashed on the flight deck, seriously injuring Tatum and blowing him into the water. He stayed with the ship through the Battle of Leyte Gulf before being assigned to advanced mechanic school in Washington State, where he was when the war ended. He mustered out in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Jenkins. Jenkins joined the Army in early 1942 and was mistakenly sent to Australia before he completed basic training. Once there, he was attached to the 35th Fighter Group as an armorer. Jenkins shares several anecdotes about his time in the service in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. Jenkins returned to the US and became an instructor before the war ended. He was discharged in January 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Elmo King. King served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. He joined the Navy in December of 1942. In March of 1943 he served aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43) as a gunner, working with 14-inch guns. His position was rammer man in the main battery, left gun of turret two. He provides description of his job aboard and the weapons themselves. Overall, King participated in ten battles, including the bombardment of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, and the assault and capture of Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Kavieng, New Ireland, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Anguar, Palau Islands, Leyte, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Battle of Suriago Strait. He provides details of these experiences aboard the Tennessee. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Earl Call. Call joined the Army Air Forces in January 1943 and went to weather school in Michigan. His first assignment was to Mitchel Field in New York as a weather observer. He went overseas aboard SS Jeremiah O'Brien (1943) to New Caledonia, then to a weather station on Guadalcanal for one day. Then he went to an island north of Bougainville, Green Island, and was assigned to the weather station there with the 17th Weather Squadron. He also spent a few months on Christmas Island before being assigned to Hickam Field. He was also assigned to Kwajalein. When the war ended, Call was discharged, but joined the Navy in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Howe. Howe joined the Navy in 1943 when he finished high school. He trained as a pharmacist's mate and worked in the Oak Knoll Hospital in Oakland. He then was assigned to a large hospital in Noumea, New Caledonia. Later in the war, he moved up to the Philippines and worked in a clinic in Manila. When the war ended, Howe opted for a discharge.