The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with J. Lloyd Abbot. Abbot received a commission in the Navy in 1939 and served two months aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) before being tasked to bring an old destroyer, the USS Gilmer (DD-233), out of mothballs. He stayed on it for a while before going to flight school in Pensacola. He earned his wings in November, 1941. Due to some accidents and illnesses, Abbot was disallowed to fly from carriers. He was assigned to shore-based anti-submarine patrol squadron, VS-1D-14, in December 1942. In April 1943, the squadron was divided into two and Abbot was placed in command of VS-66 on Wallis Island. At the end of 1943, his squadron inherited some SBD dive bombers and they moved to a new base on Tarawa. In March 1944. Abbot was assigned to the staff of the Chief of Naval Air Training at Pensacola. He was there when the war ended. After the war, Abbot commanded VF-41 aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42). Throughout his career, he served as the operation officer aboard carriers, worked at the Pentagon, was commander of the Antarctic mission and commander of a carrier division …

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with J. Lloyd Abbot. Abbot received a commission in the Navy in 1939 and served two months aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) before being tasked to bring an old destroyer, the USS Gilmer (DD-233), out of mothballs. He stayed on it for a while before going to flight school in Pensacola. He earned his wings in November, 1941. Due to some accidents and illnesses, Abbot was disallowed to fly from carriers. He was assigned to shore-based anti-submarine patrol squadron, VS-1D-14, in December 1942. In April 1943, the squadron was divided into two and Abbot was placed in command of VS-66 on Wallis Island. At the end of 1943, his squadron inherited some SBD dive bombers and they moved to a new base on Tarawa. In March 1944. Abbot was assigned to the staff of the Chief of Naval Air Training at Pensacola. He was there when the war ended. After the war, Abbot commanded VF-41 aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42). Throughout his career, he served as the operation officer aboard carriers, worked at the Pentagon, was commander of the Antarctic mission and commander of a carrier division …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Zenji Abe. Zenji was born in Honshu on 18 August 1916 and graduated from the Japanese Naval Academy in March 1937. He received a year of training on various combat vessels as a midshipman. In March 1938 he was promoted to ensign and assigned to the destroyer Uzuki. In August he was sent to flight school and became a dive bomber pilot. After serving aboard the Soryu, he was transferred to the Akagi as a squadron leader of Val dive bombers. He was a squadron leader in the second wave of dive bombers assigned to attack the American carriers at Pearl Harbor. Since the carriers were absent, his squadron attacked battleships instead. His next combat action was bombing Darwin, Australia in February 1942. He also recalls sinking British heavy cruisers HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall, as well as the carrier HMS Hermes, in the Indian Ocean in April 1942. Flying from the Junyo in June, he attacked Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians. He transferred next to the carrier Hiyo. He was aboard until she broke down and Zenji’s squadron was transferred ashore to southern Bougainville Island. From Bougainville …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Akers. Akers joined the Navy I n1944 and trained at San Diego. After training he went to an air station in California before being assigned to CASU 53 and going to Guam. From there, Akers went to a seaplane base on Saipan aboard the USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). On Saipan, he serviced aircraft by refueling and rearming, etc. Akers was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eddie Albert. Albert was born in Rock Island, Illinois on 22 April 1908 and joined the Navy in 1942. Following officer training at Cornell University, he was shipped to the South Pacific. Albert recalls spending a night in November 1943 with Lieutenant Colonel Evans Fordyce Carlson (of Carlson’s Raiders fame) in a hole during the Battle of Tarawa. After the battle he relates that he was called to Washington, DC for duties relating to public relations and was sent around the United States selling war bonds. He recalls that by the end of the war he also had produced at least six war-related training films.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eddie Albert. Albert was born in Rock Island, Illinois on 22 April 1908 and joined the Navy in 1942. Following officer training at Cornell University, he was shipped to the South Pacific. Albert recalls spending a night in November 1943 with Lieutenant Colonel Evans Fordyce Carlson (of Carlson’s Raiders fame) in a hole during the Battle of Tarawa. After the battle he relates that he was called to Washington, DC for duties relating to public relations and was sent around the United States selling war bonds. He recalls that by the end of the war he also had produced at least six war-related training films.

Interview with Mary Steele Leon, a secretary for the U. S. Navy during and after World War II. She joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) and was trained as a secretary. Her first assignment was in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during World War II. The CNO at the time was Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King. After the war, she served as personal secretary for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz while he was CNO. She was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Martin Allday. Allday was drafted into the Army in August, 1944. On 1 May 1945, he landed on Okinawa as a replacement in the 96th Infantry Division. Allday describes his experiences in combat at Okinawa. Allday was wounded on 11 May and returned to duty the day the island was declared secure. When the war ended, Allday was transferred to the 81st Infantry Division and went to the Philippines. Allday returned to the US in September, 1946 and enrolled in college.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Amstutz. Amstutz joined the Army Reserve (Student Training Corps) while in college at the University of Tulsa. On May 8, 1943 he was inducted and went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for processing and then to Camp Maxie, Paris, Texas for three months basic training. The Army sent him back to school at the University of Oklahoma where he finished one semester. From there, he went to Camp Claiborne in Louisiana where they were trained to lay pipelines, maintain and repair engines, construct tanks, maintain pumps, etc. Amstutz's unit was put aboard a train, shipped to Oakland, California and put aboard a Liberty ship which sailed for Milne Bay, New Guinea; this was August/September 1944. He provides a nice description of the environment aboard ship for the 18 days it took to get to New Guinea. From there, they moved to Ora Bay and started unloading their equipment at Buna where major battles had already taken place. In Buna, they went inland, built a little dam on a river, laid suction pipe down into it, set up some pumps, and laid pipeline back to the docks; filling up …

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Rogers Aston. Aston joined the Navy in July 1942 and was assigned to USS LST-446 as a gunnery officer. They delivered trucks to Guadalcanal on his first cruise. He recalls a time USS LST-446 came alongside the USS Kanawah (AO-01) to help fight its fires after it was hit. Aston relates several anecdotes about operating an LST in the Solomon Islands. He recalls meeting Admiral Nimitz one day at Pearl Harbor. He also remembers hauling Japanese prisoners of war in the Solomons. When the war ended, Aston elected to be discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barry Atkins. In 1928, Atkins was appointed to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1932 and was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43). He was aboard at Long Beach, California during the 1933 earthquake. After that, he was transferred to the USS New Mexico (BB-40). his next assignment took him aboard the USS Mahan (DD-364). In 1941, Atkins was assigned to the USS Parrott (DD-218) in Manila Bay. He was aboard the Parrott during the Battle of Balikpapan in January 1942. When Atkins returned to the US in August, 1942, he was assigned as commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 8 and sent to New Caledonia that November. His squadron became operational in New Guinea in December. He recalls setting up the PT base at the Morobe River and several patrols and encounters with Japanese shipping. In late 1943, Atkins returned to the US and asked for a destroyer. In October 1944, Atkins was given command of the USS Melvin (DD-680) at Manus Island. From there, the Melvin escorted the Leyte landing forces to the Philippines, then took up station guarding the Surigao Strait. He made a torpedo …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barry Atkins. In 1928, Atkins was appointed to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1932 and was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43). He was aboard at Long Beach, California during the 1933 earthquake. After that, he was transferred to the USS New Mexico (BB-40). his next assignment took him aboard the USS Mahan (DD-364). In 1941, Atkins was assigned to the USS Parrott (DD-218) in Manila Bay. He was aboard the Parrott during the Battle of Balikpapan in January 1942. When Atkins returned to the US in August, 1942, he was assigned as commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 8 and sent to New Caledonia that November. His squadron became operational in New Guinea in December. He recalls setting up the PT base at the Morobe River and several patrols and encounters with Japanese shipping. In late 1943, Atkins returned to the US and asked for a destroyer. In October 1944, Atkins was given command of the USS Melvin (DD-680) at Manus Island. From there, the Melvin escorted the Leyte landing forces to the Philippines, then took up station guarding the Surigao Strait. He made a torpedo …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Bailey. Bailey was a crew chief with the Flying Tigers. He recalls that many of the mechanics in his crew were not well trained when they arrived, but they learned from him quickly. He describes the dangers presented by various landing gears. He discusses the personal lives of the crew, staff, and pilots, both during the war and after.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Bailey. Bailey was a crew chief with the Flying Tigers. He recalls that many of the mechanics in his crew were not well trained when they arrived, but they learned from him quickly. He describes the dangers presented by various landing gears. He discusses the personal lives of the crew, staff, and pilots, both during the war and after.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jean Balch. Balch was born in Abilene, Texas and was attending Hardin-Simmons University in 1941. On 8 December, he volunteered for duty in the Navy, but was too young. He joined later that spring. He trained as a radioman and gunner before being assigned the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in the fall of 1944. Balch mentions striking targets in the Philippines and on Formosa in late 1944. On one bombing mission over Hong Kong, China, the plane Balch was in was hit, forcing him to bail out. He landed among some Chinese civilians. In a short time, Balch was captured by Japanese soldiers. After several days, he was transported to Ofuna. Balch recalls several anecdotes about life as a prisoner of war in Japan. He mentions other POWs and tells stories about various guards. When the war ended, Balch was placed aboard the hospital ship USS Benevolence (AH-13). After the war, Balch returned to Tokyo to testify at the war crime trials.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jean Balch. Balch was born in Abilene, Texas and was attending Hardin-Simmons University in 1941. On 8 December, he volunteered for duty in the Navy, but was too young. He joined later that spring. He trained as a radioman and gunner before being assigned the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in the fall of 1944. Balch mentions striking targets in the Philippines and on Formosa in late 1944. On one bombing mission over Hong Kong, China, the plane Balch was in was hit, forcing him to bail out. He landed among some Chinese civilians. In a short time, Balch was captured by Japanese soldiers. After several days, he was transported to Ofuna. Balch recalls several anecdotes about life as a prisoner of war in Japan. He mentions other POWs and tells stories about various guards. When the war ended, Balch was placed aboard the hospital ship USS Benevolence (AH-13). After the war, Balch returned to Tokyo to testify at the war crime trials.

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 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 interview with Frederick Binder. Binder joined the Navy and went to Notre Dame for Midshipman School. Upon completion, he then went to PT boat school in Rhode Island. After training, he was assigned to Motor Torpedo Squadron 27. Before reaching the Pacific in late 1943, he had some duty in Panama. Binder served as the executive officer in his squadron and recalls operating against Japanese barges around Bougainville and Choiseul. He was also stationed at the Palau Islands for a while before going to the Philippines. He was then the commander of PT-375 and recalls fighting a Japanese PT boat off Luzon. He also helped paratroopers at Corregidor. When the war ended, Binder elected to be discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Blaz. Blaz was born on Guam in 1928 and recalls aspects of his education on the island prior to World War II. He then recounts the arrival of the Japanese forces in December, 1941 and how they treated the Chamorro people. His family fled Agana to some property in the hills outside of town and raised crops during the war years. Blaz was recruited to help build and maintain airfields for the Japanese. He describes his life on GUma during WWII and then recalls the return of the Americans and being liberated. In 1947, Blaz went to Notre Dame University and then joined the Marine Corps in 1951, retiring in 1980.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gregorio Borja. Borja lived a tranquil life under American governance in Sumay until the Japanese invaded. Borja’s family home was seized and occupied for over a year. Natives' travel was restricted and Borja was treated harshly in school. His father and brother were forced into labor, and his brother along with several of his family and friends were killed in the Fena Massacre. Other relatives of Borja were taken to Japan as prisoners. Borja and his surviving family members were placed in a concentration camp in Manenggon, with little food or water, but were soon liberated by the 77th Infantry Division. With their homes destroyed during the preceding bombardment, they were relocated to the new village of Santa Rita. Under post-war military rule, Borja lived a happy life.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gregorio Borja. Borja lived a tranquil life under American governance in Sumay until the Japanese invaded. Borja’s family home was seized and occupied for over a year. Natives' travel was restricted and Borja was treated harshly in school. His father and brother were forced into labor, and his brother along with several of his family and friends were killed in the Fena Massacre. Other relatives of Borja were taken to Japan as prisoners. Borja and his surviving family members were placed in a concentration camp in Manenggon, with little food or water, but were soon liberated by the 77th Infantry Division. With their homes destroyed during the preceding bombardment, they were relocated to the new village of Santa Rita. Under post-war military rule, Borja lived a happy life.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alpha Bowser. Bowser earned a commission through the Naval Academy in 1932. He went to sea aboard the USS Texas (BB-35). Afterwards, he went to artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Bowser recalls a detail where he accompanied President Roosevelt to Georgia. When World War II started, Bowser was assigned to the 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as an artillery officer. He describes the landing he made during the invasion of Guam. He also was in a quiet sector at Iwo Jima. When the war ended, Bowser worked to demobilize the Marine Corps. He also served in Korea planning the Inchon landing. He also worked with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, commanded at Camp Lejeune and commanded the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic before retiring in 1967.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Braden. Braden was called to active duty in the Army Air Forces from his university’s ROTC program in February 1943 and went to Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. He trained to be a navigator. In January 1945, he flew to Saipan and joined the 870th Bomb Squadron, 497th Bomb Group. He flew combat missions against the home islands of Japan and comments on the initial poor results. He also describes an incident in which they had to ditch their plane in the ocean. He also mentions the low altitude incendiary attacks on Tokyo. Braden returned to the US and was discharged in September, 1945.