The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carl Renfroe. Renfroe volunteered for service in the Navy in December 1942. After earning a commission, he served aboard the USS Electra (AKA-4) during the invasion of the Marshall Islands followed by the invasion of Saipan. He was transferred to the USS Rockingham (APA-229), where he served as navigator during the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. He was discharged from the Navy in 1947 and resumed his career in education administration.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gerald Miller. Miller provides some background of his family history. He joined the Navy in 1936 and graduated from the Naval Academy in December of 1941. By January 1942 he was in the Pacific aboard the USS Richmond (CL-9), escorting troopships from Panama, through Bora-Bora and to Tongatabu. In December 1942 they were sent to the Aleutian Islands, participating in shore bombardments of Attu and Kiska. He discusses the weapons aboard the Richmond and some of its general characteristics. They also participated in the action off Komandorski Islands in March of 1943. He also traveled throughout the Atlantic and went to Europe. In early 1944 he participated in shore bombardments of Paramushir, Russia. From April 1944 to 1945 Miller completed flight school and discusses some of his training experiences. He continued on in the Navy, participating in the Korean War, flying an F9F2 and an F9F5, and provides detail of this experience. He is a former commander of the Navy’s Second and Sixth Fleets. Additionally, he was a Vice Admiral and his last assignment was Deputy Director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff. He retired from the Navy …

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with John Fitch. Fitch begins with a summary of the naval career of his father, Admiral Aubrey Fitch. Fitch joined the Navy in early 1942. He was assigned to the USS Wasp (CV-7) just before it sank, then to the USS Hornet (CV-8) just before it sank. He was finally assigned to CASU-3 and sent to Guadalcanal. He reflects on what it was like for him in the service while having a high-ranking father. In April, 1943, Fitch transferred aboard the USS Nicholas (DD-449). Fitch shares several anecdotes of his experiences aboard the Nicholas while engaged in the fight around the Solomon Islands and in the Slot. During the Battle of Kula Gulf, Fitch went aboard a whaleboat and rescued survivors from the USS Helena (CL-50). Fitch attended a gunnery school at Noumea before reporting aboard the USS La Vallette (DD-448) in October 1943. He describes being at the Marshall Islands invasion. In July 1944 Fitch returned to the US and put the USS Benner (DD-807) into commission. He recalls battling kamikazes while aboard the Benner on station off the coast of Japan toward the end of the war. Fitch …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lewis Walker. Walker was commissioned in January of 1942 from the Midshipman School at Northwestern University in Chicago. He served a total of 4 years with the Small Ship Navy. He describes how these small ships, including submarine chasers and patrol craft served the war effort. In the Pacific, Walker commanded the USS SC-1272, and he describes its function, equipment and participation in the war. They traveled to Iwo Jima, Leyte, Okinawa, the Philippines, Saipan and Pearl Harbor. He describes a number of their missions, including dodging attacks from torpedoes and airplanes, and escorting a group of damaged ships from Okinawa to Saipan. They were the first American ship to enter Nakagusuku Bay searching for midget submarines. He describes their maneuvers during a typhoon. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marmaduke Bayne. Bayne received his commission in the Navy Reserve after finishing university in 1942. His first assignment was aboard the USS YP-429 before going aboard USS YP-61 as the executive officer. Then, he went for submarine training before going aboard the USS Becuna (SS-319) and making three war patrols in the Pacific with her. Toward the end of the war, he served aboard the USS Bergall (SS-320). After the war, Bayne applied for the Regular Navy and continued to serve aboard and around submarines. He retired as a vice admiral in 1977.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Gowen. Gowen joined the Merchant Marine in 1934. He trained aboard the USS Annapolis (PG-10) for two years. He graduated from the training program in 1937 as an engineer, then worked aboard a ship delivering oil as third assistant engineer. From 1940 to 1942 he continued working in his same role on the USS Santee (CVE-29). From there he went to Bath, Maine to work as an assistant engineering officer aboard USS Chevalier (DD-451). He went into the Battle of Vella Lavella in 1943 on the Chevalier and provides details of their travels from Maine to the Solomon Islands. He describes the events of the Chevalier being sunk during this battle. In 1944 Gowen went on to be an engineering officer of another destroyer and participated in the Marianas Campaign. In 1951 Gowen was selected to command the USS Ingersoll (DD-652) in the Mediterranean. In 1958 he attended the Naval War College and was made commanding officer of the USS Aludra (AF-55). He then took command, as a captain, of the Navy’s portion of testing atomic weapons in the Pacific area and provides details of this experience. He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edmund Thomassen. Thomassen entered the Merchant Marine Academy in October, 1941 and completed his education in April, 1943. When Thomassen was assigned to the USS Sheridan (APA-51), Eddie Albert was one of his shipmates. He went to New Zealand and embarked Marines ahead of the Tarawa invasion and discusses the practice landings. At Tarawa, he delivered Marines to the shore in a small landing craft. He also delivered Marines to Roi. He spent days hauling supplies in and mounded out at Saipan. In early 1945, Thomassen put the USS Dutchess (APA-98) into commission. He went to the Philippines and Okinawa aboard the Dutchess, serving as an engineering officer. When the Korean War started, he was assigned to the USS Thuban (AKA-19) and made the landing at Inchon. He was aboard the USS Randall (APA-224) while the movie Away All Boats was being filmed. He also did anti-submarine patrolling in the Atlantic in the late 1950s, early 1960s. He retired in 1965.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Schley. Schley enlisted in the Naval Reserve in August of 1940. He was assigned to 5 destroys and served as skipper on 3 of these. He was commissioned in March of 1941 and sent to the USS Rhind (DD-404), serving as assistant engineer. He describes their supporting the British war effort. They traveled to Bermuda maintaining a destroyer tender, providing convoy escort, carrier screening and anti-submarine warfare services. They joined a Task Force commanded by the British and operating out of Scapa Flow. They moved up the Norwegian coast to Murmansk battling German bombers, torpedo planes and submarines. He describes an encounter with the German battleship Tirpitz. He provides narrative details of the sinking of HMS Punjabi. In August of 1942 they traveled to the North African landings with his destroyer division. They provided support in the advance up to Italy. By early 1944 Schley was sent to the Pacific as executive officer of the USS Stringham (APD-6). He later became the commanding officer of this ship. They escorted the main force to the Palau Islands. He describes the Pearl Harbor West Loch explosion. He became a lieutenant …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E. B. Potter. Potter was attached to the Intelligence Section of the 14th Naval District in Oahu during World War II. He graduated with an English degree from the University of Richmond in 1929. He completed an advanced degree in English at the University of Chicago, and during this time the war broke out in Europe. He applied for and received a commission in the Navy. Potter was sent to the Naval Academy as a reservist to teach college-level European and naval history. After 7 December 1941 he went to communications school. From there he went to Pearl Harbor in November of 1943. Potter worked in the Registered Publications Issuing Office (RPIO), distributing codes and ciphers to ships of the fleet. He provides a vivid description of his work. Potter became second-in-command of RPIO. He talks some of Commander Joseph Rochefort’s operation and code breaking. He discusses briefly working on the biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, and some of Admiral Bill Halsey’s actions during the war. Potter was later assigned as executive officer to the 14th Naval District and provides stories of his experiences. In 1945 he returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Beardsley. Beardsley provides two interviews, one in 1990 and the other in 1998. Both focus on his career in the Navy. Beardsley joined the Navy in 1941 and earned a commission in January 1942. He served aboard the USS Big Horn (AO-45) for a while before commanding USS PC-1140 in 1944. After further anti-submarine warfare training, Beardsley commanded USS PCE(R)-858. He was on his way to the invasion of Japan when the war ended. He was discharged in 1946, but stayed in the reserves until 1964.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Powers. Powers was born on 1 August 1925 and graduated from high school in 1943. Upon entering the Army on 13 December 1943 he was sent to Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida for five weeks of basic training. In May 1944, he boarded the SS Extavia (1941) bound for Buna Bay, New Guinea. Upon his arrival he was assigned to LCM-513 with the primary function being off-loading Liberty ships. Four months later he was sent to the Philippines where he remained until Japan surrendered. He was then sent to Wakayama, Japan. He returned to the United States aboard the USS General M C Meigs (AP-116) during January 1946 and was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Peake. Peake joined the Marine Corps in 1943. After boot camp he went to Camp Tarawa in Hawaii, where he joined the 5th Marine Division, 27th Regiment. In early 1945 they left Hawaii on an LST and traveled to the Marshall Islands, forming up their convoy to invade Iwo Jima. They were involved at Iwo Jima when the preliminary bombardment took place. Peake provides vivid detail of what ensued when they landed. They were a part of the shore party, unloading supplies and equipment and moving them along the beach. Supplies included ammunition and food. He describes the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi. He traveled back to Hawaii in April of 1945. Additionally, after the war, Peake was one of the first group of occupation forces to enter Japan, and he provides details of his experiences there. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Michelony. Michelony joined the Marine Corps right after finishing high school in 1938. After training and being joined to the 5th Marines, he went aboard the USS Arkansas (BB-33). Once the war started, Michelony went to first sergeant school. Once he got overseas, he was assigned to the 6th Marine Regiment and joined them in New Zealand. When the division arrived at Tarawa, Michelony's unit was in reserve and went ashore on the evening of D+1. After leaving Tarawa, the unit went to Hawaii for more training and a refit. Then, they assaulted Saipan. Michelony relates more combat experiences. He also fought on Tinian. Michelony participated in the mock landing at Okinawa on D-Day, but never went ashore. Instead, he returned to Saipan and then attended Officer Candidate School at Quantico. When the war ended, his OCS class was cancelled and Michelony reverted back to master sergeant and became a recruiter in Wisconsin. When the war in Korea started, Michelony volunteered to go. He landed with the 1st Marines at Inchon, liberated Seoul and was at the Chosin Reservoir. Michelony retired from the Marine Corps in 1958 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lyle Specht. Specht signed up for the Marine Corps in the Spring of 1941, while attending Oregon State College. He graduated from the candidate’s class. He was sent to a recruit depot in San Diego on an 81mm mortar platoon in a weapons company. In the Fall of 1942 he joined the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. They traveled to New Zealand and he provide some detail of their travels there and of the New Zealanders. From there they traveled to Guadalcanal, relieving the 8th Marines. Specht vividly describes his experiences securing this island. They traveled to Hawaii, where they reorganized the battalion and did away with the weapons company and assigned the machine gun platoons to the various infantry companies. He traveled to Okinawa with four Army divisions and 3 Marine divisions and describes his experiences through the Battle of Okinawa and being on Sugarloaf Hill.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Baine Kerr. Kerr was born in Rusk, Texas on 24 August 1919 and entered law school upon graduation from the University of Texas in March 1939. While in law school, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. In April 1942 he was called to active duty and attended officer training at Quantico, Virginia. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines located at Camp Elliott. He recalls several anecdotes concerning his time in New Zealand. In December 1942 his regiment arrived on Guadalcanal. His regiment moved across the island to clear out the remaining Japanese. Kerr was shot in the leg in an ambush and was evacuated to a field hospital in Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. Next he was transferred to a hospital in Auckland, New Zealand and contracted malaria, which extended his stay for three months. Upon release, Kerr remained in New Zealand serving as the executive officer of a company conducting amphibious training with rubber boats. In late November 1943, his unit went to Tarawa and landed on Betio Island on D+1. Kerr recalls his battalion’s advance across the southern portion of the island and an …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gordon D. Gayle. Gayle was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma 13 September 1917. After graduating from high school in 1934 he entered West Point 18 July 1935. Upon graduating in 1939 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He then went to a basic school for newly commissioned officers at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Upon completing the course he was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia. Their training involved making amphibious landings at Guantanamo, Cuba. On 7 December 1941 he was promoted to company commander (M Company). On 7 August 1942 he landed on Guadalcanal as the 3rd Battalion operations officer. He describes the action and errors made by the Japanese commanders. Gayle remained with his unit in Melbourne, Australia where they regrouped, received replacements and retrained for nine months. In December 1943, Gayle made a landing at Cape Gloucester, New Britain with his unit. Six days after landing, Gayle was made commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. He describes combat situations and comments on the effect torrential rains had on the men and equipment. Gayle went to Pavuvu and began …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Michael Ryan. Ryan joined the Marine Corps in 1940. He went to Iceland and served as a platoon commander. Afterwards, he describes going ashore at Tarawa as a company commander. Once ashore, due to the disarray, Ryan assumed command, until he could confirm that an officer from battalion or regimental headquarters had arrived. Ryan also went to Saipan and Tinian. He later served in Korea as an assistant division commander and as the First Marine Division commander in Vietnam.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Salter. Salter was born 27 February 1917. After graduating from high school, he attended Texas A&M University. He participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program while at A&M and received his pilot’s license. Upon enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940, he was sent to Santa Maria, California to primary flying school, then to basic flight school at Moffett Field. He completed advanced training at Stockton, California, receiving his commission 15 March 1941. He mentions the various planes flown in each phase of training. After graduation he reported to the 73rd Bomb Squadron at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska and began flying B-18 bombers. In early 1942 the B-18s were replaced with B-26 bombers. Salter discusses characteristics of the B-26 that contributed to early crashes leading to the nickname Widowmaker for the B-26. He moved three of the squadrons planes to Adak and discusses bombing missions against Japanese shipping. Salter recalls being wounded by flak and losing his navigator to wounds. After two months in the hospital, Salter returned to Adak in February 1943 and assumed command of the 77th Bomb Group, which had B-25s. During July …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leslie Bray. After several attempts to get into the Army Air Corps flying cadet program, Bray finally succeeded in late 1941 and started flight school in Coleman, Texas. He earned hi swings and commission in October, 1942. He ended up learning to fly C-47 cargo planes and serving as an operations officer for the 10th Troop Carrier Group. In June, 1944, Bray was selected to command the newly-formed 16th Combat Cargo Squadron in New York. They went overseas in November, 1944 to India to assist the British 14th Army in Burma. Bray shares several anecdotes about his time in India. He also flew missions carrying fuel drums over the Himalaya Mountains (the Hump) toward the end of the war. Bray returned to the US in late December, 1945 and elected to stay on active duty. He shares anecdotes about the rest of his career in the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frederick Holland. Holland was drafted in April 1942 into the Army. From there, he applied for a transfer to the Army Air Forces and was accepted. He attended officer candidate school and earned a commission in early 1943. Then, he was flown to India and worked in Calcutta seeing that equipment and supplies were loaded and flown to other bases in India. Holland developed a conveyor mechanism that assisted in loading cargo onto planes while overseas. He returned to the US and was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Sinks. Sink was in the Naval Reserve when called up and then trained at Corpus Christi as a meteorologist. He volunteered for duty in China, arriving Chungking in 1944. Sinks eventually headed into the country to establish a weather station in Fujian Province and train Chinese guerrillas. Sinks shares several anecdotes about his time in China. When the war ended, he went to Shanghai before heading back to the US in November.

The National museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Allen Stafford. Stafford enlisted in the Army in January 1941. Once the war got started, Stafford found himself as an infantry instructor in Brownsville, Texas. He went overseas with the 124th Cavalry Regiment in 1943 to India for training before being deployed to Burma. He relates an anecdote about driving 500 mules from the docks at Bombay to the 124th encampment 18 miles inland. Stafford also reads excerpts from his personal journal and discusses the raid on the airport at Myitkyina. Later in the campaign, Stafford was wounded. After evacuation and stays in hospitals in India, he returned to New York in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Olson. Olson was born in Leavenworth, Kansas on 27 November 1917. His father was a Norwegian who immigrated to the United Sates and began a career as an Army officer. Olson entered West Point Military Academy in July 1935 and upon graduation he was sent to the Philippines as an officer with the 57th Infantry. He recalls that during October 1941 orders were received that all military dependents were to be evacuated. Olson does a masterful job in describing the 1941 Japanese attack on the Philippines, his capture, imprisonment and living conditions he endured until his release in 1945. He concludes the narrative by telling of his various military assignments, including a tour in Vietnam, until his retirement in 1967.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with William Gill. Gill went to Fort Benning for Officer Candidate School in early 1942, and then was assigned to the 98th Infantry Division. He traveled to Hawaii with them and continued training for the invasion of Japan. Instead of active combat, Gill went with the 98th to occupy Japan after the war ended. He ended up gathering evidence against war criminals for prosecutors. He provides some insight in the treason case against John David Provo. He also investigated air crashes while on occupation duty. Gill returned to the US in 1948 and was discharged.