Resource Type

Oral History Interview with Charlie Adams, February 17, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charlie Adams, February 17, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charlie Adams. Adams enlisted in the Marine Corps in March, 1943 and after training was assigned to the Fifth Marine Division. He landed late on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima. He remained there for 36 days. He served as a radio operator and describes much of the combat conditions he encountered on the island as well as some of the Japanese tactics. He was one of 13 of his original company of 248 men to walk off Iwo Jima unhurt. Adams also describes some of his experiences in Nagasaki, Japan during the occupation. He returned to the US and was discharged in March, 1946.
Date: February 17, 2005
Creator: Adams, Charlie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Joedy Adams, December 5, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Joedy Adams, December 5, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joedy Adams. The daughter of Naval aviator Joseph Cronin, 12-year-old Adams lived on Kaneohe Naval Air Station in 1941. On 7 December 1941, the drone of Japanese planes shook her family home. When her father left and reported to base, Adams and her mother fled to Honolulu. Their Japanese maid had gone missing earlier that morning; she was later found to be a spy. While Adams was en route to Honolulu, she saw a Japanese plane strafe and kill two men. Eventually, her car came under fire. Arriving safely in Honolulu, Adams had no communication with her father for 10 days, until he finally sent a driver to bring her to Pearl Harbor. As school was temporarily closed, due to the emergency situation, Adams worked in the servicemen’s commissary until she and her mother could fly back to the States. Adams’ father remained at his post and was aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) during the surrender. By the time he retired from service, he had attained the rank of rear admiral.
Date: December 5, 2008
Creator: Adams, Joedy
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Adams, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Adams, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Adams. Adams enlisted in the Marines Corps Officer’s Procurement Program in March 1942. He went into a V-12 detachment in July 1943, and was sent to Notre Dame University. From there he went to Quantico, then into OCS, then to New River, North Carolina where he was in the 67th Replacement Battalion. This battalion served as guards on a train transporting prisoners from Portsmouth Naval Prison to California, then on a ship to Pearl Harbor. Adams was placed in a 60mm mortar platoon. His first action was Iwo Jima. He landed in the fifth wave. He worked with the mortars, carried out many wounded men, and carried ammo. Adams describes the terrain on Iwo Jima. He talks at length about his 27 days on Iwo. After Iwo he went to Maui and upon being discharged, Adams became a self-employed farmer, married and raised 11 children.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Adams, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Marion Adams, April 10, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Marion Adams, April 10, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marion Adams. Adams was drafted into the Army in July of 1941. He served in the 43rd Engineer Construction Battalion, building roads, hospitals and kitchens. In 1942 he traveled to Australia, where he helped build three airstrips. They traveled to Oro Bay, Papua New Guinea, building railroads and airstrips. Adams was also trained as a medic, serving in the First Aid station. He provides details of both work experiences in engineering and building and assisting the sick and injured. He recalls helping the many wounded in Manila, as well as delivering supplies to the prison camps. He was discharged in June of 1945.
Date: April 10, 2009
Creator: Adams, Marion
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Warren S. Adams II, September 18, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Warren S. Adams II, September 18, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Warren S. Adams II. The day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Adams set aside his law career and joined the Marine Corps. Adams began his Marine career as an instructor, but wished for another assignment. He ended up on Saipan and describes his experiences there.
Date: September 18, 2002
Creator: Adams, Warren S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bob Addobate, May 18, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bob Addobate, May 18, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Addobate. Addobate joined the Navy in June of 1941. Beginning in August, he served as a Signalman Second-Class aboard the USS Solace (AH-5), arriving in Pearl Harbor in October. They were docked in the Harbor when the Japanese attacked. From March to August of 1942 they traveled through the Pacific to Australia, and discharged patients. From August of 1942 through May of 1943, they cared for fleet casualties and servicemen wounded in the island campaigns. From June through August, they operated as a station hospital at Noumea, New Caledonia. In April of 1945, during a typhoon, Addobate had his leg crushed by a crane, which had to be amputated. He returned to the US and was medically discharged in January of 1946.
Date: May 18, 2001
Creator: Addobate, Bob
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Christine Adler, February 1, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Christine Adler, February 1, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Christine Adler. Adler was born in New York City in 1931 to Filipino and American parents. She tells of living in an orphanage until 1938 at which time she went to the Philippines to live with her father. Upon arriving in the Philippines she attended private schools. She recalls December 1941 when she was awakened by the sound of tanks and Japanese soldiers entering homes and taking anything of value. As her father worked with a guerilla group they left their home. Adler tells of fleeing with no shoes, few clothes and very little personal belongings and moving place to place to avoid detection. She recounts an incident where Japanese soldiers picked her up and took her to Fort Santiago. She and her father were later released. She describes seeing piles of bodies and witnessing torture being done by the Japanese during the occupation and of seeing the fires as Manila was set ablaze. She tells of the joy felt by the population upon seeing the American tanks and soldiers roll into the city and of the return of her and her father to the United States aboard …
Date: February 1, 2002
Creator: Adler, Christine
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Chester Ahr, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Chester Ahr, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester Ahr. Ahr joined the Marine Corps in December, 1941. He trained in San Diego and shipped overseas in October, 1942 to Guadalcanal where he was attached to a base services unit, which assisted the Seabees and Army engineers in construction projects. He also was in the invasion of Guam, where he was wounded and evacuated. Once he returned to his unit, Ahr got very sick and missed the invasion of Iwo Jima. Shortly afterwards, he was discharged.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Ahr, Chester
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Ahr, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Ahr, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Ahr. Ahr joined the Marine Corps at 16 years old in November, 1942. He lied about his age. After training, he went overseas and was assigned to the 9th Marine Regiment. He arrived in time for the invasion of Guam. Ahr also was at Iwo Jima and shares several impressions and anecdotes of the battle.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Ahr, James P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Arthur Aicklen, September 12, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Arthur Aicklen, September 12, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral history with Arthur Aicklen. Aicklen joined the Navy in 1940. He served as a machinist. He was also stationed on Padre Island, Texas before being assigned to a fleet oiler, the USS Taluga (AO-62). They transited the Panama Canal on their way to Honolulu and other points in the Pacific. When the war ended, Aicklen visited Yokahama during the occupation. He also describes the kamikaze attack off Okinawa.
Date: September 12, 2002
Creator: Aicklen, Arthur
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Merle Ainley, September 26, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Merle Ainley, September 26, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Merle Ainley. Ainley joined the Navy in September of 1944. He completed Radar School in Hawaii, and served as a Radar Specialist and navigator aboard USS Finch (DE-328). They traveled to Guam, Leyte and maneuvered along the China Coast, with a carrier task force. They transported prisoners-of-war from Taiwan and Formosa to Manila. They traveled to Saipan and completed occupation duty in Hong Kong, completing air sea rescue and charting harbors. He returned to the US and was discharged in June of 1946.
Date: September 26, 2003
Creator: Ainley, Merle
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Doug Aitken, September 16, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Doug Aitken, September 16, 2005

Transcript of an oral interview with Doug Aitken. When the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, Aitken was nineteen and in college in California. He remained in college, earned his degree and was commissioned an ensign upon finishing school in 1944. He then went to radar school and trained for a position in the combat information center (CIC) of a destroyer. He soon reported aboard the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) in San Diego and headed for the Pacific. Soon, the Hadley was escorting other ships to Okinawa fo rthe invasion. Once there, the Hadley went on picket duty north of Okinawa on the lookout for kamikazes. Aitken describes a day in which the Hadley and other destroyers on picket station #15 off Okinawa were attacked by approximately 150 kamikazes in less than two hours. His battle station was inside the CIC. He also describes the Hadley being struck by three kamikazes and the crew abandoning ship. The Hadley was taken under tow to Kerama Retto for repairs, where she tied up alongside the USS Aaron Ward (DM-34), which had also been struck by numerous kamikazes. After repairs, the Hadley was towed to San Francisco. The war ended while she was …
Date: September 16, 2005
Creator: Aitken, Doug
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Harry Akune, September 21, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Harry Akune, September 21, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Akune. Akune was born in Turlock, California. He served as a translator and interrogator for the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Service in the Pacific Theater. The Akune family had 4 brothers, all of whom served in World War II, though two served with the U.S. and two served with Japan. Upon their mother???s death in 1933, the brothers and their father moved to Japan to live with relatives. Once old enough, Harry Akune and his brother Ken returned to California to work. Shortly thereafter, the war started. In 1942 Harry and Ken were relocated to an internment camp in Colorado, where they were recruited by the U.S. Army, using their Japanese language to provide translations, question Japanese prisoners and create propaganda used to encourage opposing forces to surrender. Harry was assigned to the 33rd Infantry Division, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He traveled to New Guinea, Leyte, Corregidor and Mindoro in the Philiippines. Unbeknownst to Harry and Ken, their younger brothers Saburo and Shiro were serving in the war for Imperial Japan. Harry was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: September 21, 2008
Creator: Akune, Harry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Kenneth Alberding, June 2, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Kenneth Alberding, June 2, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Alberding. Alberding joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He completed navigation training, and also worked in the photo lab printing publicity photos of cadets. He completed radio school in April of 1944 in Traux Field, Madison, Wisconsin. He worked in the Headquarters unit, 456th Squadron, as a radio mechanic on B-29s. He remained in the US throughout the war and was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: June 2, 2004
Creator: Alberding, Kenneth
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Frank Albert, September 21, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Frank Albert, September 21, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Albert. Albert joined the Navy in 1941. Growing up in poverty with 12 siblings, enlisting was a way to ensure three square meals a day and to finally have his own bed. Albert was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) as a shipfitter, involved in routine maintenance and damage control. As such, he was appreciated by many people and often repaid with alcohol, which he would share with others before stowing the remainder inside the ship’s walls, welding the makeshift cubby shut each time. At Pearl Harbor, he conducted shore patrol and once broke up an altercation involving his own brother. The two of them, along with about 15 other pairs of brothers, worked together on the Enterprise, in the early days. Albert encountered many dangerous events, particularly surviving a weeklong typhoon, and watching from the crow’s nest as a kamikaze approached and blew out the number two elevator. In the aftermath, part of his duties in damage control included administering morphine to the wounded. Albert was discharged shortly before the war ended, having spent four years in the service. For a time thereafter, he suffered from …
Date: September 21, 2007
Creator: Albert,Frank
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Alden, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Alden, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Alden. Alden had just finished Marine Corps boot training in San Diego when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He began clerking in the recruit depot office in San Diego shortly after the war started because he could type. In 1944, Alden was assigned to Company A, 27th Marines at Camp Pendleton. He was in the first wave to land on Iwo Jima. He was wounded and evacuated to USS Pinkney (APH-2), which, when it was full a few days later, shaped course for Guam, the Hawaii. Once recovered, Alden went to Saipan to serve in a military police unit in May, 1945. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945. While attending Southern Methodist University, Alden participated in the Air Force ROTC and took a commission upon graduating. He worked as a procurement officer all over the world retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Alden, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Alden, September 20, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Alden, September 20, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Alden. Alden was born in San Diego, California on 23 October 1921. While attending Cornell University he entered the US Navy V-7 Program. Upon graduating from Cornell he was ordered to attend Midshipman School at Columbia University. While there he was hospitalized for an extended period of time. Later, Alden was ordered to Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame University. Upon graduating in September 1943, he was sent to Diesel school at Cornell University. When he completed the course, he was selected for the Submarine Service and reported to the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut. Alden received training aboard the USS Pike (SS-173) and the USS Cachalot (SS-170) before being assigned as communications officer on the USS Lamprey (SS-372). During January 1945 the boat arrived in Saipan where they began patrol duties. He describes encounters with Chinese junks during these patrols. During their third patrol they were notified the Japanese surrendered and they returned to Subic Bay. The USS Lamprey was then ordered to return to the United States where it was placed into the mothball fleet. Alden concludes the interview by telling of his various assignments …
Date: September 20, 2009
Creator: Alden, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Joel D. Alderson, April 10, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Joel D. Alderson, April 10, 2007

Transcript of an oral interview with Joel Alderson and his wife Nila. He discusses going to boot camp in Texas, shipping off to France in early 1945 and working as an engineer, constructing bridges and demolishing German fortifications for the Army as it made it's way through Germany, blowing up Hilter's bunker in Salzburg, Austria and using bulldozers to cover piles of dead Jews the Germans left in the open (likely at Dachau). He ancedotes about meeting Eisenhower, carrying fuel up to Patton's limo when it ran out of gas, seeing Bob Hope, soldiers getting poisoned from confiscated alcohol, and getting met by his family and the town sheriff when he came home after the war.
Date: April 10, 2007
Creator: Alderson, Joel D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Nila Jackson Alderson, April 23, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Nila Jackson Alderson, April 23, 2007

Transcript of an oral interview with Nila Jackson Alderson. Born in 1925, Alderson describes life before and during the war in rural Texas as well as in the town of Burnet, Texas . Her husband, Joe Alderson, served in the military in Europe. They both discuss the mail service during the war. The interview includes information about her parents and siblings.
Date: April 23, 2007
Creator: Alderson, Nila Jackson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Alebis, April 20, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Alebis, April 20, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Alebis. Alebis was born in Detroit, Michigan on 7 February 1926 to immigrant Lithuanian parents. Upon entering the Army Air Forces in May 1944, he was sent to Shepherd Field, Texas for basic training. After three weeks of training he was sent to gunnery school at Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes the training he received as a gunner. Upon completion of gunnery training he was sent to Ellsworth Field, North Dakota where he was assigned to a B-17 bomber crew as right waist gunner. The crew flew a B-17 to Capital Stone, England, arriving on 5 April 1945. Upon arrival Alebis was assigned to the 398th Bomb Group, 605th Bomb Squadron. He flew three bombing missions and describes them from the beginning of the day to the return to base. Following the surrender of Germany the unit began flying survey mission over Europe and he describes the devastation he saw. On 1 June 1945 he returned to the United States and was sent to McDill Field, Florida to begin training as a gunner on a B-29. With the surrender of Japan, his training was curtailed and he …
Date: April 20, 2002
Creator: Alebis, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Zeb Alford, April 13, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Zeb Alford, April 13, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Zeb Alford. Alford joined the Navy V-12 Program in July of 1943. He trained as an engineering officer. He entered the Naval Academy in 1944 and graduated in 1947, providing details of his schooling at the Academy. He served for two years aboard the USS Charles R. Ware (DD-865). He graduated from Submarine School in 1949. Alford retired from the Navy in September of 1973 as a captain.
Date: April 13, 2007
Creator: Alford, Zeb
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Alison, March 7, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Alison, March 7, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Alison. Alsion was born in Florida in 1912 and graduated from the University of Florida. Soon after graduation he was accepted into the Army Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas. After competing primary flight training he moved to Kelly Field, Texas for advanced training and was selected to fly fighters. Upon receiving his wings in 1937 he was ordered to report to Langley Field, Virginia where he was assigned to the 8th Pursuit Group flying the PB2A pursuit plane. In 1940 the group moved to Mitchell, Field, New York and the 57th Pursuit Group was formed. Alison was named squadron commander of the 66th Pursuit Squadron. He was directed to demonstrate the Curtis P-40 fighter to General Claire Chennault and a group of Chinese generals. He describes his flight demonstration and the obvious satisfaction of shown by all concerned. In April 1941, he went to England with the Hubert Zemke to assist the Royal Air Force in the integration of the P-40 into the RAF. While there, he was selected to accompany American Ambassador Harry Hopkins as a military attaché of the US Embassy in Moscow. He …
Date: March 7, 2004
Creator: Alison, John R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles Allen, October 9, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charles Allen, October 9, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Allen. Mr Allen went into the Marine Corps in September 1942, took boot camp in San Diego, and then was stationed in Santa Anna at the lighter-than-air base as a guard. In September 1943, he was sent to Noumea, New Caledonia and from there to New Guinea where he was put in the First Marine Division, HQ Company, 1st Battalion. His first introduction to combat was when they landed on the southern tip of New Britain. Allen provides a good description of the fighting and the conditions on New Britain; they were wet and in the swamps. It took them about four months to go through New Britain. They had a brief respite on Johnson Islands before they landed on Peleliu. Allen talks about shooting their 75mm guns, point-blank at the steel and concrete doors the Japanese had built. He states that Peleliu was real rough. After going to a camp on Pavuvu, they went to Okinawa. He describes the day that Lt Gen Buckner was killed, by a sniper. Allen also talks about the Japanese using women and children as shields. He states that Ernie Pyle …
Date: October 9, 2004
Creator: Allen, Charles E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Preston Allen, April 4, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Preston Allen, April 4, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Preston Allen. Allen was born in Columbus, Indiana on 6 January 1926. Upon enlisting in the Navy, he went to Great Lakes Naval Training Station for boot training. After graduation, he was assigned to the USS New York (BB-34). He made several trips across the Atlantic aboard the New York before requesting submarine duty. He then went to submarine school in New London, Connecticut. From there he attended diesel school at Groton, Connecticut. Upon graduating as a motor machinist, he was assigned to the USS Perch (SS-313). After conducting sea trials the boat departed to Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal. On their first patrol they sunk a Japanese tanker and were subjected to depth charge attack by destroyers. The next day they sank a Japanese patrol boat with gun fire. On their second patrol one of their main engines required major repairs. The engine room crew worked seventy-two hours straight to get it repaired. As the boat returned to Midway, a PBY dropped a bomb inflicting no to the boat. Allen suffered a ruptured eardrum from the explosion. After the Perch returned to Pearl Harbor, Allen was …
Date: April 4, 2003
Creator: Allen, Preston
System: The Portal to Texas History