The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Botard. Botard was born on a Texas ranch 28 December 1916. Graduating from high school in 1935, he attended Texas A&M University. He was called to active duty in February 1942, reporting to the Army’s 4th Calvary at Manhattan, Kansas where he received intensive training with horses. He was then sent to Fort Meade, South Dakota where his unit began training with vehicles. After spending six months training in the desert at Blithe, California the unit was sent to Camp Maxey at Paris, Texas. Here they prepared for overseas duty. Botard was placed in charge of D company and he describes the type of equipment the unit had. Departing the US in a large escorted convoy, they arrived in Portsmouth, England and began preparation for the invasion of Normandy. Botard landed at Utah Beach on 7 June 1944 and describes the problems getting the tanks and other equipment ashore. He describes in detail the battles in which he was involved and the difficulties presented by the hedgerows in the movement of his tanks. He recounts an incident where his column of tanks was proceeding down a road …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Elder. Elder joined the Army in 1941. He was assigned to the Headquarters Section in Corregidor, Philippines, where he was present on 8 December 1941. Elder participated in the Battle of Bataan. Once captured by the Japanese, he was taken to Bilibid Prison in Manila, and later to the Cabanatuan prison camp. He remained imprisoned until their liberation in September of 1945. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Brasell. Brasell joined the Army in November 1940 and went directly to Hawaii for training. He watched the attack on Pearl Harbor from the Punch Bowl on Oahu. His duty included delivering ammunition to various installation guard posts in the hills around Pearl Harbor. He had some contact with Ensign Sakamaki at Fort Shafter after his capture. In December, 1942, he landed on Guadalcanal. Brasell served as a machine gunner protecting the area around Henderson Field. He also invaded New Georgia. He also landed with his unit on Luzon in January 1945. Brasell rotated back to the US in June, 1945 and received his discharge at then end of that month.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Steve Weiner. Weiner graduated from high school in 1935 and attended UCLA for a period of time before graduated from the University of Pittsburg. He entered the cadet training program in 1940 and was sent to Randolph Field in San Antonio. Upon washing out of the program, he was assigned to the 86th Observation Squadron as communications officer at Bellows Field, Hawaii. He recalls 7 December 1941 when a B-17 bomber crash landed on Bellow Field and being told by the crewmembers that they had been attacked. Later his group was strafed by Japanese planes. They were told to draw weapons and prepare for invasion by land forces. He tells of Corporal David Akui bringing the commander of a Japanese midget submarine (HA-19) to him as a captive. He describes in detail the appearance of the commander, Kazuo Sakamaki, and his interaction with him before turning him over to higher authorities. He relates how he communicated with Sakamaki after the war and of meeting him in 1991. [HA-19 is on display at The National Museum of the Pacific War.] In late 1941, Weiner was assigned as officer in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred Bisili. Bisili was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in December of 1923. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bisili, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Jimmy Bennett’s oral history, a native friend of Bisili, who participated with him during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Mesko. Mesko joined the Marine Corps in June of 1935. He completed Officers Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, graduating as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment of the Fleet Marine Force. Mesko traveled aboard USS Wisconsin (BB-64), and participated in the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended, and retired as lieutenant colonel in January of 1965.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Botard. Botard was born on a Texas ranch 28 December 1916. Graduating from high school in 1935, he attended Texas A&M University. He was called to active duty in February 1942, reporting to the Army’s 4th Calvary at Manhattan, Kansas where he received intensive training with horses. He was then sent to Fort Meade, South Dakota where his unit began training with vehicles. After spending six months training in the desert at Blithe, California the unit was sent to Camp Maxey at Paris, Texas. Here they prepared for overseas duty. Botard was placed in charge of D company and he describes the type of equipment the unit had. Departing the US in a large escorted convoy, they arrived in Portsmouth, England and began preparation for the invasion of Normandy. Botard landed at Utah Beach on 7 June 1944 and describes the problems getting the tanks and other equipment ashore. He describes in detail the battles in which he was involved and the difficulties presented by the hedgerows in the movement of his tanks. He recounts an incident where his column of tanks was proceeding down a road …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Brasell. Brasell joined the Army in November 1940 and went directly to Hawaii for training. He watched the attack on Pearl Harbor from the Punch Bowl on Oahu. His duty included delivering ammunition to various installation guard posts in the hills around Pearl Harbor. He had some contact with Ensign Sakamaki at Fort Shafter after his capture. In December, 1942, he landed on Guadalcanal. Brasell served as a machine gunner protecting the area around Henderson Field. He also invaded New Georgia. He also landed with his unit on Luzon in January 1945. Brasell rotated back to the US in June, 1945 and received his discharge at then end of that month.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred Bisili. Bisili was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in December of 1923. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bisili, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Jimmy Bennett’s oral history, a native friend of Bisili, who participated with him during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Mesko. Mesko joined the Marine Corps in June of 1935. He completed Officers Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, graduating as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment of the Fleet Marine Force. Mesko traveled aboard USS Wisconsin (BB-64), and participated in the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended, and retired as lieutenant colonel in January of 1965.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Steve Weiner. Weiner graduated from high school in 1935 and attended UCLA for a period of time before graduated from the University of Pittsburg. He entered the cadet training program in 1940 and was sent to Randolph Field in San Antonio. Upon washing out of the program, he was assigned to the 86th Observation Squadron as communications officer at Bellows Field, Hawaii. He recalls 7 December 1941 when a B-17 bomber crash landed on Bellow Field and being told by the crewmembers that they had been attacked. Later his group was strafed by Japanese planes. They were told to draw weapons and prepare for invasion by land forces. He tells of Corporal David Akui bringing the commander of a Japanese midget submarine (HA-19) to him as a captive. He describes in detail the appearance of the commander, Kazuo Sakamaki, and his interaction with him before turning him over to higher authorities. He relates how he communicated with Sakamaki after the war and of meeting him in 1991. [HA-19 is on display at The National Museum of the Pacific War.] In late 1941, Weiner was assigned as officer in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Elder. Elder joined the Army in 1941. He was assigned to the Headquarters Section in Corregidor, Philippines, where he was present on 8 December 1941. Elder participated in the Battle of Bataan. Once captured by the Japanese, he was taken to Bilibid Prison in Manila, and later to the Cabanatuan prison camp. He remained imprisoned until their liberation in September of 1945. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.