Transcript of an oral monologue by John A. Hugghins. Hugghins finished high school in Bryan, Texas in May, 1041, and went to Baylor University that fall on a football scholarship. He joined the Navy and was called to active duty in July, 1943. In the meantime, he stayed in school. Once he received the call, he reported to stations in Mississippi and New York for training. When he finished midshipman school in Plattsburgh, New York, he was commissioned an ensign in June, 1944. He immediately reported to Charleston, South Carolina, where LSM-152 was under construciton. Before long, he was made gunnery and supply officer assigned to USS LSM-201, which became his home for the duration of the war. Aboard USS LSM-201, Hugghins passed through the Panama Canal on the way to Pearl Harbor, where tanks were loaded aboard the vessel for transport to Iwo Jima. Hugghins speaks about his first impression of Iwo Jima, the naval bombardment prior to the invasion and making a landing there. He also discusses the flag-raising and what it felt like to witness that. Hugghins visited the island one day and got a tour from a Marine in a jeep. He also visited the Marine …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond F. Higgins. Higgins joined the Navy in February 1941 as a commissioned officer. He trained with the Marines at Quantico and then with the Medical Corps at Paris Island. He also trained in tropical and aviation medicine and learned to fly N3N's at Pensacola. Higgins was transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor. He then transferred to islands in the southwest Pacific. He was in Fleet Air Wing 101, a flight patrol squadron based out of Australia. He returned to the United States for leave in 1944. He then is assigned to the USS Ranger (CV-4) and leaves from San Diego to the sea for training. After V-J Day, the Ranger went to New Orleans and then Norfolk. He remained in service until 1947.

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 oral interview with Joe Triolo. Triolo joined the US Navy 9 December 1937 and served in China from 1938 to 1940. Upon returning to the United States he was assigned to the USS Tangier (AV-8), still under construction. While waiting for the ship to launch, he was temporarily assigned to Tiburon, California where mine nets were made. Once the Tangier was put to sea they proceeded to Pearl Harbor. Triolo tells of the attack by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941 and recalls seeing the faces of some Japanese pilots as he fired at them with a machine gun. He describes seeing the USS Monahan (DD-354) depth charging a Japanese two man submarine that was sighted while guns on the Tangier were also firing at the submarine. Seven days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Tangier set sail for Wake Island with US Marines and supplies on board. Before reaching Wake Island, the ship was diverted to Midway Island to assist in the evacuation of personnel. He tells of Admiral John S. McCain, Sr. using the Tangier (AV-8) as the command ship a task force on one occasion.

Transcript of an oral monologue by John A. Hugghins. Hugghins finished high school in Bryan, Texas in May, 1041, and went to Baylor University that fall on a football scholarship. He joined the Navy and was called to active duty in July, 1943. In the meantime, he stayed in school. Once he received the call, he reported to stations in Mississippi and New York for training. When he finished midshipman school in Plattsburgh, New York, he was commissioned an ensign in June, 1944. He immediately reported to Charleston, South Carolina, where LSM-152 was under construciton. Before long, he was made gunnery and supply officer assigned to USS LSM-201, which became his home for the duration of the war. Aboard USS LSM-201, Hugghins passed through the Panama Canal on the way to Pearl Harbor, where tanks were loaded aboard the vessel for transport to Iwo Jima. Hugghins speaks about his first impression of Iwo Jima, the naval bombardment prior to the invasion and making a landing there. He also discusses the flag-raising and what it felt like to witness that. Hugghins visited the island one day and got a tour from a Marine in a jeep. He also visited the Marine …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond F. Higgins. Higgins joined the Navy in February 1941 as a commissioned officer. He trained with the Marines at Quantico and then with the Medical Corps at Paris Island. He also trained in tropical and aviation medicine and learned to fly N3N's at Pensacola. Higgins was transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor. He then transferred to islands in the southwest Pacific. He was in Fleet Air Wing 101, a flight patrol squadron based out of Australia. He returned to the United States for leave in 1944. He then is assigned to the USS Ranger (CV-4) and leaves from San Diego to the sea for training. After V-J Day, the Ranger went to New Orleans and then Norfolk. He remained in service until 1947.