The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lois Kerimis. Kerimis graduated from Rawlins College in Winter Park, Florida in 1938, at 21 years old, with a Bachelors in Foreign Languages. She and her family were moved by the YMCA to Honolulu, where she taught at the Punahou Academy and her father was the Activities Director of the Army and Navy YMCA. She shares experiences of their life living and touring the island before the war, where her family fed and cared for homesick enlisted men and officers. They were living in Honolulu when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred 7 December 1941. She provides vivid details of this day, including witnessing a bomb dropping in the empty lot across from her home and lights out in the evening. Because Kerimis was fluent in four languages, including German, she was drafted by the Naval Intelligence on 8 December 1941. She served as a civilian employee, working with a Dictaphone interpreting phone calls in German between the Japanese and Germans. Kerimis left Hawaii in 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with Dutch Kooper. Kooper enlisted at the Great Lakes Training Center on November 15, 1938. After training camp, he was sent to Seattle for assignment on the USS Williamson (a four-piper converted into a Seaplane Tender), which operated between Seattle and Alaska. Kooper heard that the USS Houston was going on an Asiatic cruise and wanted volunteers so he volunteered; he was eventually transferred and became a gunners mate. After the start of the war, the Houston was sent to help the Dutch defend Java from the Japanese. He states that they were well trained but had defective ammo. The Houston was sunk on March 1, 1942 in the Sunda Straits after taking multiple torpedo hits. The HMAS Perth was also sunk. Kooper gives a very descriptive account of the Houston's sinking, his swimming and finally reaching shore, his capture by the Japanese and his life as a POW. After being a POW on Java, they transported them up to Singapore and then into Burma to build the railroad there. After 42 months as a Japanese POW, Kooper was liberated on August 29, 1945 by OSS troops. His last POW camp was in Nakhon Pathom, …

Transcript of an oral interview with Dutch Kooper. Kooper enlisted at the Great Lakes Training Center on November 15, 1938. After training camp, he was sent to Seattle for assignment on the USS Williamson (a four-piper converted into a Seaplane Tender), which operated between Seattle and Alaska. Kooper heard that the USS Houston was going on an Asiatic cruise and wanted volunteers so he volunteered; he was eventually transferred and became a gunners mate. After the start of the war, the Houston was sent to help the Dutch defend Java from the Japanese. He states that they were well trained but had defective ammo. The Houston was sunk on March 1, 1942 in the Sunda Straits after taking multiple torpedo hits. The HMAS Perth was also sunk. Kooper gives a very descriptive account of the Houston's sinking, his swimming and finally reaching shore, his capture by the Japanese and his life as a POW. After being a POW on Java, they transported them up to Singapore and then into Burma to build the railroad there. After 42 months as a Japanese POW, Kooper was liberated on August 29, 1945 by OSS troops. His last POW camp was in Nakhon Pathom, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ray Kuhlow. Kuhlow provides a history monologue during the 60th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Kuhlow served 21 years on active duty in the Navy, through World War II and the Korean War. He worked aboard the USS California (BB-44) in forward turret two, and they traveled to the Hawaiian Islands. He describes the maneuvers of the Japanese carriers and planes prior to and on the day of December 7, 1941. His ship pulled into Pearl Harbor on Saturday evening, December 6. Kuhlow explains in detail the events that unfolded that night and into the next day. He provides a description of how the Battleship Oklahoma and the Battleship Arizona were attacked. He also details his crew’s actions aboard the California in response to the Japanese attack on the island. His crew worked for months cleaning and repairing the ship, and in December of 1942 brought the ship back to the States for modernization and repairs. In February of 1943 Kuhlow went back out to the South Pacific aboard the California, participating in many engagements including the Marshalls, the Marianas, and the Philippines. He details their interaction …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ray Kuhlow. Kuhlow provides a history monologue during the 60th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Kuhlow served 21 years on active duty in the Navy, through World War II and the Korean War. He worked aboard the USS California (BB-44) in forward turret two, and they traveled to the Hawaiian Islands. He describes the maneuvers of the Japanese carriers and planes prior to and on the day of December 7, 1941. His ship pulled into Pearl Harbor on Saturday evening, December 6. Kuhlow explains in detail the events that unfolded that night and into the next day. He provides a description of how the Battleship Oklahoma and the Battleship Arizona were attacked. He also details his crew’s actions aboard the California in response to the Japanese attack on the island. His crew worked for months cleaning and repairing the ship, and in December of 1942 brought the ship back to the States for modernization and repairs. In February of 1943 Kuhlow went back out to the South Pacific aboard the California, participating in many engagements including the Marshalls, the Marianas, and the Philippines. He details their interaction …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Walter Lamb. Lamb participated in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s. He joined the Navy around 1940. In April of 1941 he traveled to California for basic training and Ordnance School. He joined Utility Squadron 2 (VJ-2) and traveled aboard the USS Ramapo (AO-12) to the Philippines. On 6 December 1941, they stopped over at Pearl Harbor. Lamb was on the island when the Japanese attacked the next day. He remained on Ford Island until December of 1942, assisting with debris clean up. He served as Ordnanceman aboard an unnamed, in the South Pacific, transporting airplanes and supplies.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Walter Lamb. Lamb participated in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s. He joined the Navy around 1940. In April of 1941 he traveled to California for basic training and Ordnance School. He joined Utility Squadron 2 (VJ-2) and traveled aboard the USS Ramapo (AO-12) to the Philippines. On 6 December 1941, they stopped over at Pearl Harbor. Lamb was on the island when the Japanese attacked the next day. He remained on Ford Island until December of 1942, assisting with debris clean up. He served as Ordnanceman aboard an unnamed, in the South Pacific, transporting airplanes and supplies.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Lane. Lane was attending the University of Texas and tried joining the Marine Corps, but did not pass the physical. He instead opted for the Army, which accepted him. He trained at Fort Custer, Michigan. There he trained as a military policeman and was soon shipped to a prisoner of war camp housing German submarine sailors in New Mexico. After being sent to west coast, Lane boarded a ship and sailed 23 days to New Caledonia, where he was assigned to the Americal Division. From there, Lane went to Guadalcanal in late 1942 and relieved and replaced a Marine unit on the front line. Lane recalls his experiences fighting he Japanese at the Tenaru River on Guadalcanal. He was armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle. Lane also describes some experiences while on R & R in Australia before he headed for Bougainville. After a brief amount of time in the Palau Islands, Lane headed for the invasion of Leyte. Later on, he moved to Luzon and fought in Manila. Lane backtracks and shares some anecdotes about being a personal river for General Douglas MacArthur in Sydney while …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Lane. Lane was attending the University of Texas and tried joining the Marine Corps, but did not pass the physical. He instead opted for the Army, which accepted him. He trained at Fort Custer, Michigan. There he trained as a military policeman and was soon shipped to a prisoner of war camp housing German submarine sailors in New Mexico. After being sent to west coast, Lane boarded a ship and sailed 23 days to New Caledonia, where he was assigned to the Americal Division. From there, Lane went to Guadalcanal in late 1942 and relieved and replaced a Marine unit on the front line. Lane recalls his experiences fighting he Japanese at the Tenaru River on Guadalcanal. He was armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle. Lane also describes some experiences while on R & R in Australia before he headed for Bougainville. After a brief amount of time in the Palau Islands, Lane headed for the invasion of Leyte. Later on, he moved to Luzon and fought in Manila. Lane backtracks and shares some anecdotes about being a personal river for General Douglas MacArthur in Sydney while …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Lawler. Lawler was born in Mount Pleasant, Texas 4 October 1918. Graduating from high school in 1936, he attended business college for two years before being employed in the accounting office of the Fort Worth Poultry and Egg Company. He was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1941 for several months prior to entering the US Army Air Corps cadet training program. Having received flight training at several bases, he completed his advanced training at Brooks Field, Texas and received his wings. His first assignment was as a pilot flying Curtis 0-52 observation planes for the Aerial Observation School at Brooks Field. His next assignment was communications officer and flight officer at Esler Field, Louisiana. He joined the 12th Bomb Group, 82nd Squadron in Sicily during which he flew eight combat missions. He describes the armament of a B-25G bomber and tells of the stress created on the aircraft when using the 77mm nose cannon. In early 1944 the unit was sent to India and attached to the British Tactical Air Command. He discusses various missions flown and tells of pioneering the use of napalm …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Lawler. Lawler was born in Mount Pleasant, Texas 4 October 1918. Graduating from high school in 1936, he attended business college for two years before being employed in the accounting office of the Fort Worth Poultry and Egg Company. He was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1941 for several months prior to entering the US Army Air Corps cadet training program. Having received flight training at several bases, he completed his advanced training at Brooks Field, Texas and received his wings. His first assignment was as a pilot flying Curtis 0-52 observation planes for the Aerial Observation School at Brooks Field. His next assignment was communications officer and flight officer at Esler Field, Louisiana. He joined the 12th Bomb Group, 82nd Squadron in Sicily during which he flew eight combat missions. He describes the armament of a B-25G bomber and tells of the stress created on the aircraft when using the 77mm nose cannon. In early 1944 the unit was sent to India and attached to the British Tactical Air Command. He discusses various missions flown and tells of pioneering the use of napalm …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Lent. He was born in Denison, Texas on September 14, 1920 and enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 15, 1941. Upon completing boot camp in San Diego in November, 1941, he was transferred to the Second Marine Division for duties as an Intelligence Specialist. He recalls that in July 1942 he was sent to a small island off Espiritu Santo in the Vanuatu Islands for a secret mission that involved mapping the island for the contingency of installing an air strip. He recalls his next experience during the landing of the Second Marine Division at Tarawa, when he spent ten hours under a pier evading Japanese machine gunners before finally reaching the beach and locating his Commanding Officer, Colonel David M. Shoup. He recalls the intensitiy of the firefight and being temporarily knocked uncnscious by a round that hit his helmet. He remembers that he transferred to an Air Observer Squadron, and after training in Honolulu, embarked aboard USS St. Lo (CVE-63) enroute to Saipan. He recalls several kamikaze raids during the transit. He recalls being launched off the carrier, flying over Saipan and landing at …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Lent. He was born in Denison, Texas on September 14, 1920 and enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 15, 1941. Upon completing boot camp in San Diego in November, 1941, he was transferred to the Second Marine Division for duties as an Intelligence Specialist. He recalls that in July 1942 he was sent to a small island off Espiritu Santo in the Vanuatu Islands for a secret mission that involved mapping the island for the contingency of installing an air strip. He recalls his next experience during the landing of the Second Marine Division at Tarawa, when he spent ten hours under a pier evading Japanese machine gunners before finally reaching the beach and locating his Commanding Officer, Colonel David M. Shoup. He recalls the intensitiy of the firefight and being temporarily knocked uncnscious by a round that hit his helmet. He remembers that he transferred to an Air Observer Squadron, and after training in Honolulu, embarked aboard USS St. Lo (CVE-63) enroute to Saipan. He recalls several kamikaze raids during the transit. He recalls being launched off the carrier, flying over Saipan and landing at …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hilton Lockhart. Lockhart joined the Army in February of 1941. He was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division. They traveled to England in early 1944 and participated in the Normandy landings. They moved into Bastogne, Belgium, participating in the Battle of the Bulge in December. Lockhart shares some stories of General Patton. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hilton Lockhart. Lockhart joined the Army in February of 1941. He was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division. They traveled to England in early 1944 and participated in the Normandy landings. They moved into Bastogne, Belgium, participating in the Battle of the Bulge in December. Lockhart shares some stories of General Patton. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lent Logar. Logar was born in Spring Valley, Illinois on 23 July 1920. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army Air Corps and had basic training at Fort Niagara, New York. He was then sent to Decatur, Alabama where he took primary flight training with Southern Aviation. He then went to Lamesa, Texas to a flight school dedicated to liaison flying where they trained in the L-5 Stinson. Upon graduating, he was assigned to the 115th Liaison Squadron and sent to Kunming, China. Upon his arrival in Kunming, he was transferred to the 19th Liaison Squadron. He tells of various experiences working with the Chinese Army and his involvement in the Salween Campaign to open the Burma Road. He relates his experience of transporting a Japanese commander to Taiwan for the signing of a surrender agreement of certain Japanese forces based in China. He also tells of delivering men of the OSS to sites within the jungles of Vietnam.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lent Logar. Logar was born in Spring Valley, Illinois on 23 July 1920. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army Air Corps and had basic training at Fort Niagara, New York. He was then sent to Decatur, Alabama where he took primary flight training with Southern Aviation. He then went to Lamesa, Texas to a flight school dedicated to liaison flying where they trained in the L-5 Stinson. Upon graduating, he was assigned to the 115th Liaison Squadron and sent to Kunming, China. Upon his arrival in Kunming, he was transferred to the 19th Liaison Squadron. He tells of various experiences working with the Chinese Army and his involvement in the Salween Campaign to open the Burma Road. He relates his experience of transporting a Japanese commander to Taiwan for the signing of a surrender agreement of certain Japanese forces based in China. He also tells of delivering men of the OSS to sites within the jungles of Vietnam.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frederick Long. Long joined the Navy in September of 1942. He was trained in airplane engine maintenance and worked on SNJs, SNCs and PBYs. He talks about life aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16). He provides the dates and locations when he was aboard the Lexington during combat, and he describes an incident when the carrier was hit during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Audie Lynch. Lynch was born in Scotland, Arkansas 15 May 1925 and graduated from high school in 1942. He then attended Southeast Missouri State Teachers College where he participated in the Navy’s V-12 college training program. After one year he was sent to the Naval Reserve Midshipman School at Notre Dame University and received his commission four months later. Lynch was then ordered to report aboard the USS Charles Carroll (APA-28) at Norfolk, Virginia. The ship, which carried LCVP and LCM landing craft, sailed to Espiritu Santo where the troops trained and practiced landings prior to the invasion of Okinawa. He recalls participating in the invasion as the boat officer of a LCVP and had Ernie Pyle as a passenger. After the surrender of Japan, he made five trips to the Philippines, China and Japan ferrying troops back to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Audie Lynch. Lynch was born in Scotland, Arkansas 15 May 1925 and graduated from high school in 1942. He then attended Southeast Missouri State Teachers College where he participated in the Navy’s V-12 college training program. After one year he was sent to the Naval Reserve Midshipman School at Notre Dame University and received his commission four months later. Lynch was then ordered to report aboard the USS Charles Carroll (APA-28) at Norfolk, Virginia. The ship, which carried LCVP and LCM landing craft, sailed to Espiritu Santo where the troops trained and practiced landings prior to the invasion of Okinawa. He recalls participating in the invasion as the boat officer of a LCVP and had Ernie Pyle as a passenger. After the surrender of Japan, he made five trips to the Philippines, China and Japan ferrying troops back to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gilbert Martin and Paul McKay. McKay joined the Navy in February of 1940. Martin joined the Navy in May of 1940. They both completed boot camp in Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia and served aboard the USS Hornet (CV-8). Both men served with Air Group 8, McKay assigned to the scouting squadron and Martin assigned to the torpedo squadron. They recall hearing about the attack on Pearl Harbor while at the Naval Air Station. They describe the various planes on the carrier, including the Douglas SBD Dauntless and TBD Devastator. In April of 1942 they traveled with the USS Enterprise (CV-6), and participated in the Doolittle Raid. Through October they participated in the Battle of Midway, the Solomon Islands campaign and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, where the Hornet sank. Both men share their experiences aboard the Hornet and through these fateful battles.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gilbert Martin and Paul McKay. McKay joined the Navy in February of 1940. Martin joined the Navy in May of 1940. They both completed boot camp in Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia and served aboard the USS Hornet (CV-8). Both men served with Air Group 8, McKay assigned to the scouting squadron and Martin assigned to the torpedo squadron. They recall hearing about the attack on Pearl Harbor while at the Naval Air Station. They describe the various planes on the carrier, including the Douglas SBD Dauntless and TBD Devastator. In April of 1942 they traveled with the USS Enterprise (CV-6), and participated in the Doolittle Raid. Through October they participated in the Battle of Midway, the Solomon Islands campaign and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, where the Hornet sank. Both men share their experiences aboard the Hornet and through these fateful battles.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ludwig Matzat. Matzat joined the Army in 1944. In January of 1945 he joined the 128th Regiment, Company B, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Division, at New Guinea as a replacement. Matzat served as a rifleman. His outfit also participated in the Battle of Luzon, moving the Japanese back into the Caraballo Mountains. He shares details of his combat experiences, being the sole survivor on one mission, and receiving a shell fragment wound to his back. Matzat was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ludwig Matzat. Matzat joined the Army in 1944. In January of 1945 he joined the 128th Regiment, Company B, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Division, at New Guinea as a replacement. Matzat served as a rifleman. His outfit also participated in the Battle of Luzon, moving the Japanese back into the Caraballo Mountains. He shares details of his combat experiences, being the sole survivor on one mission, and receiving a shell fragment wound to his back. Matzat was discharged in April of 1946.