The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wallace Short. Short entered the Naval Academy in 1920 and upon graduating, went aboard the USS Texas (BB-35). Later, Short joined the Civil Engineer Corps and worked with the Naval Construction Battalions during WWII. He recalls several anecdotes about their work on Manus Island and Okinawa. He describes the destruction caused by typhoons at Okinawa. Short covers several aspects of his career in naval construction after World War II: the US, Spain, Thailand, Western Pacific, etc.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Huddleston Wright. Wright, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the Lost Battalion, concerning his experiences as a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II. Wright discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944-1945), Phet Buri, Thailand (1945), and his liberation. Wright served in the Army through 1956. See Appendix starting on page 138.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marvin Johnston. Johnston served aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) as an electrician’s mate. He discusses his experiences during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands. Ingram’s (interviewer) primary interest in the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57). Ingram interviewed Edwin Riemann on 22 January 1989 about his service aboard USS South Dakota (BB-57) during WWII. Riemann served as a yeoman in the captain’s office before becoming the ship’s bugler. He discusses the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, night action off Guadalcanal and being in the Atlantic for a time.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Carpenter. Carpenter served aboard USS South Dakota (BB-57), going aboard in early 1942. He was assigned to a 20mm gun. He shares several anecdotes about his experiences aboard the ship. He discusses the Battle of Santa Crus Islands and night action of Guadalcanal.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herman Heinrich. Heinrich joined the Navy and was assigned to the USS South Dakota (BB-57) in August 1943. He worked in the lower handling room for the five-inch guns and felt only a shudder when the South Dakota was struck by a bomb at the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Heading toward Okinawa, he recalls an American observation plane being accidentally struck by a projectile from his ship. At Okinawa he witnessed the damage that the destroyers sustained from kamikaze attacks as his ship brought casualties aboard. At Tokyo Bay, his crew shared Admiral Halsey’s disappointment that the surrender ceremony would not be held on the South Dakota. He remembers Halsey as an easy-going leader who liked to mingle with the crew. Heinrich returned home and was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James and John Bowen, Earl Steele, and Don Stoll. The Bowen brothers and Earl Steele share their experiences aboard USS South Dakota (BB-57) during WWII. The brothers served aboard the ship together. They were still aboard when the ship was deployed to the Atlantic. Ingram interviews Don Stoll on 3 December 1989. Stoll served as an engineer on the captain’s gig aboard USS South Dakota. He was aboard from 1943 through 1946. Stoll was injured severely in a bomb blast.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leonard W. Tate. Tate was born in Perry, Oklahoma 16 May 1918. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve while attending Oklahoma State College. After graduation he reported to midshipman’s school at Columbia University. After completing the four month course, Tate was commissioned and reported to the Amphibious Force at Little Creek, Virginia, where he trained as a boat officer of landing craft. He volunteered for the scouts and rangers program and received four months of intense training. In December 1943 the unit boarded a freighter for Bizerte, Tunisia and reported to the Special Operations Group of the Mediterranean Fleet. The commanding officer was Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. He describes several of the missions the unit made into Italy and his participation in planning for Operation Dragoon. Prior to Dragoon, Tate was reassigned to the Amphibious Force as a scout officer and describes his participation in the invasion. Tate was ordered back to the US and comments on situations he encountered during his return. In December 1944, Tate reported to the Chief of Naval Operations and received orders to Kunming, China. He gives a detailed account of his experiences in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a series of interviews with members of the Ream family: John Ream, Sarah Ream Connelly, Katherine Ream Sobeck, and Nora Ream Kuttner. The Ream family members were children when the Japanese occupied the Philippines and they were interned as civilians at Camp John hay in Baguio. They each in turn discuss the arrival of the Japanese and their subsequent experiences as prisoners of the Japanese. At one point, they were moved to Camp Holmes, also in Baguio, prior to going to Bilibid in Manila. They mention visiting other family members at Santo Tomas and each recalls being liberated and their impressions of arriving in the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dr. Clarence Mast. Mast had finished medical school in 1942 before joining the Navy. While serving at Camp Sampson, he treated an outbreak of spinal meningitis. He was then attached as a medical officer to the 112th Naval Construction Battalion and went to Quoddy, Maine before going to Hawaii to serve as a surgeon at Kaneohe. His next station was at Tinian, where his unit built very long runways for B-29 bombers. he was aboard an LST during a typhoon at Okinawa. He was there when the war ended and was discharged the following April.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Snider. Snider joined the Army Air Corps around 1939. He completed flight training, and was assigned to a B-17 with the 7th Bomb Group. They deployed to Honolulu on 6 December 1941, and landed at Hickam Field during the Japanese attack on 7 December. He describes the events of this day, landing amidst explosions and smoke. Once they landed, they jumped into a ditch while being strafed by the Japanese. In January of 1942, they were ordered to continue on to Australia and the Philippines, and he describes flying through the South Pacific. In Del Monte, Mindanao, Snider and his crew picked up General MacArthur, his family and staff and flew them to Alice Springs, Australia. They later flew missions out of Del Monte, bombing a Japanese Navy task force. They flew reconnaissance missions over Guadalcanal, Rabaul, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands during the Guadalcanal Campaign in late 1942. They continued missions through mid-1945, and returned to the US after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gerald Norton and two unknown veterans. The two unknown veterans both served aboard USS South Dakota (BB-57) and share several anecdotes and experiences. They discuss repairs to the ship after the naval battle of Guadalcanal as well as being in the Atlantic. Ingram also interviewed Gerald Norton about his experiences aboard the South Dakota. Norton served as a turret officer in one of the 16-inch turrets. He also discusses the collision with the destroyer USS Mahan (DD-364).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth Olsen, J S Gray and Paul Spain. These men were prisoners of war on the Philippines and share anecdotes of their captivity. Olsen also tells stories from his time in captivity in Japan. Paul Spain shares a story about rescuing an American flag and keeping portions of it throughout his captivity. They also discuss their weight upon being liberated.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenji Yanagiya. Yanagiya served as a warrant officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy and flew over 100 missions. He describes serving as a fighter escort for Admiral Yamamoto when the admiral’s plane was attacked. He observed the bomber carrying the admiral’s staff go down in the ocean and saw the plane carrying Admiral Yamamoto go down into the jungle. Yanagiya also mentions seeing a P-38 trailing smoke. The interviewer states the P-38 was flown by Lieutenant Raymond Hine. Yanagiya tells of the Japanese flight commander reporting the incident to the commanding officer after the attack.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by L E Robinson. Robinson joined the Marine Corps in May 1939 and received basic training in San Diego. After sea school training, he was assigned to Admiral Kimmel’s flag allowance and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). Robinson was at Pearl Harbor as the admiral’s senior orderly during the attack of December 7. After surviving strafing from enemy planes, he headed toward the submarine base dock to help carry the wounded. When he found himself holding a severed leg, he experienced a profound emotional detachment that forever changed him. That day, Robinson began serving as the admiral’s bodyguard. Some hours later, a communications officer entered the admiral’s office and froze, dropping a delayed message to the floor. As Robinson bent to pick it up, his eyes passed over a phrase advising Kimmel to take action for proper precautions. From that point on, Robinson was consumed with paranoia, and he overzealously guarded the admiral. When Nimitz arrived and assumed command, he brought with him an air of businesslike normalcy, and Robinson became his orderly. He notes that both admirals were always courteous and concise under pressure.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ken McCloud. McCloud, known as Tex by the 339th Fighter Squadron, recounts a dogfight that occurred over Rabaul in which he encountered over a dozen Zeros. He shot down one plane before being hit, causing his right engine to catch fire. He landed in the water and deployed his life raft. He was pursued by sharks and fought an albatross to the death. Using a piece of driftwood and his parachute, he fashioned a sail and rode out a storm. McCloud survived by drinking rainwater and eating albatross jerky until he was rescued several days later by a B-24.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Hassenplug. Hassenplug was born 5 May 1921 in Melton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June, 1944. His first assignment was aboard the USS O-7 (SS-68). Then on 29 January 1945 he was ordered to report on board the USS Pintado (SS-387) at Pearl Harbor. He served on the boat for six months during which time it was on two combat patrols. Hassenplug recalls the experience of picking up crew members of a downed B-29 off the coast of Japan. [The fairwater from the Pintado is on display at The National Museum of the Pacific War]

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Albert Montague. Montague enlisted in the Navy in 1941. He shares his story while at the Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed during the attack on 7 December 1941. After the initial attack he worked with a base diving buoy to rescue the servicemen aboard the capsized USS Oklahoma (BB-37). They assisted many of the survivors of the damaged battleships. He shares his observations of the damage to the ships and the island overall. He completed signal school at the base and served as Signalman 3rd Class. He was later transferred to the USS Stingray (SS-186), and served throughout the Pacific and at the Aleutians. They traveled to Huizhou, China to lay mines in the harbor. They continued on to the Solomon Islands where he describes an attack on their sub by a US Marine bomber. Montague provides details of their numerous war patrols, the attacks they made on various Japanese fleets and consequent attacks made upon their sub. He was discharged in December of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Irvin Strobing. Strobing joined the Army Air Corps in July of 1939. He completed Army Signal School at Fort Monmouth and worked as a radio operator. He traveled to Manila, Philippines in May of 1940 and joined the 10th Signal Service Company. He shares his experiences as an apprentice, working and general life in the Philippines. Following the surrender on Bataan, Corregidor became the focus of Japanese forces. Strobing had an operating position in one of Corregidor’s network of tunnels. He speaks on Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright surrendering the Corregidor garrison to the Japanese on 6 May 1942. Strobing provides vivid recollections of his experiences through his capture and imprisonment at Bilibid and later Cabanatuan. Strobing shares details of his time in prison, the living and food accommodations, work, illness, death, interactions with the Japanese guards and their liberation from the camp. He rejoined his family in the States in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cecil King. King joined the Navy shortly after graduating from high school in 1934. After training in San Diego, King was assigned to the USS Portland (CA-33). He met President Roosevelt aboard the Portland during a fishing trip. He then volunteered for yeoman duty at the Panama Canal Zone in 1935. While there, he met Admiral John S. McCain. He re-enlisted in 1938 and was assigned to the USS Davis (DD-395). He stayed aboard for a short time patrolling the Outer Banks before transferring to the USS Warrington (DD-383). He served aboard her with Chester Nimitz, Jr. King volunteered for China duty and was assigned to the USS Augusta (CA-31). While on Asiatic Station, King mentions going to Shanghai on liberty. He served aboard the USS Houston (CA-30) prior to the outbreak of WWII. He was sick with dengue fever in Manila when the Japanese attacked the naval base at Cavite. King managed to escape from Corregidor aboard the USS Peary (DD-226) and debarked in Darwin, Australia. He eventually made it to Java before pulling out on the USS Sturgeon (SS-187) for Perth. King finally made it to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Douglas Cloakey. Cloakey joined the Marine Corps in October of 1940. He served with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. In 1941, they traveled to Iceland where they supplemented British troops to defend against a German attack on the island. In the fall of 1942, Cloakey deployed to Samoa and was assigned to the 3rd Raider Battalion. He participated in the Solomon Islands Campaign in 1943, and shares anecdotes of him and his fellow servicemen.

Transcript of an oral monologue with Hal Lamar. He reflects on Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz during his time serving as the Admiral's personal aide and secretary. He describes Nimitz's character and abilities as a leader. Lamar shares anecdotes about visiting wounded men and awarding Purple Heart medals, other officers coming to call, recreating, visiting Tarawa ,and activities at the new headquarters on Guam.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alton Warner about his experiences leading up to and during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Forrest Biard. Biard graduated from the Naval Academy in 1934. From 1939 through September 1941, he completed full immersion in Japanese language and culture training in Tokyo. Biard was a cryptologic linguist, serving in all three Navy codebreaking units during World War II. In September, Biard was stationed at Pearl Harbor as a senior linguist for Station HYPO, the codebreaking unit at Pearl Harbor where he served as a language officer until August 1943. From February to May 1942, he was assigned to USS Yorktown (CV-5) as the radio intelligence officer under Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. Biard’s translation and decryption work on JN-25 contributed to Allied efforts in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. From August to October 1943, he was sent to the codebreaking unit OP-20-G in Washington, also known as Station Negat. From November 1943 to April 1945, he was sent to the Station Cast codebreaking unit at Melbourne, Australia. While in Melbourne he deployed on several ships operating in the South Pacific. He worked in Melbourne to decrypt and translate captured Japanese Army code books for Douglas MacArthur, then used to accelerate the island-hopping …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Voris Riley. He discusses his time working as a civilian at the POW camp Barkley and the interactions he had with the German prisoners stationed there.