The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Horace H. Cook. Cook was born in San Antonio, Texas 12 February 1918 and graduated from Texas A & I University in Kingsville in 1939. Drafted into the US Army in July 1942 he was sent to Camp Barkley, Texas where he trained as a medic for five weeks before being assigned to the Medical Training Replacement Center located there. He recalls that, while there, he worked with Lew Ayers a noted radio and movie personality. In 1943 he was sent to Ohio State University for nine months of Spanish language training. In 1944 he was assigned to the Signal Corps and trained as a telephone lineman for seven months. Upon completion of the training he went to Camp Crowder, Missouri where he became a company clerk. He then became an administrative assistant in Philadelphia until his discharge 6 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Horace H. Cook. Cook was born in San Antonio, Texas 12 February 1918 and graduated from Texas A & I University in Kingsville in 1939. Drafted into the US Army in July 1942 he was sent to Camp Barkley, Texas where he trained as a medic for five weeks before being assigned to the Medical Training Replacement Center located there. He recalls that, while there, he worked with Lew Ayers a noted radio and movie personality. In 1943 he was sent to Ohio State University for nine months of Spanish language training. In 1944 he was assigned to the Signal Corps and trained as a telephone lineman for seven months. Upon completion of the training he went to Camp Crowder, Missouri where he became a company clerk. He then became an administrative assistant in Philadelphia until his discharge 6 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Ellis. Ellis was born 17 December 1917 in Chillicothe, Ohio. After graduating from high school in 1935, he attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. While there he joined the Marine Corps Reserve and entered into platoon leader classes. Upon graduating from college in 1939, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and went to Philadelphia for advanced courses. Upon completion, he reported to San Diego where he was assigned as battalion communications officer for the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. During October 1941, he attended the battalion regimental communications officer course at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1942 he went to American Samoa aboard the USS Zeilin (APA-3). In January 1944 he was ordered to return to Camp Pendleton to establish and command the 3rd Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO). On 10 April 1944 the unit boarded the USS Algorab (AKA-8) and sailed for Guadalcanal, where they began training for the invasion of Guam. The day after going ashore during the invasion of Guam, Ellis was wounded by shell fragments. He returned after being treated aboard an LST offshore. After Guam was secured the unit began preparing for the invasion …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Ellis. Ellis was born 17 December 1917 in Chillicothe, Ohio. After graduating from high school in 1935, he attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. While there he joined the Marine Corps Reserve and entered into platoon leader classes. Upon graduating from college in 1939, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and went to Philadelphia for advanced courses. Upon completion, he reported to San Diego where he was assigned as battalion communications officer for the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. During October 1941, he attended the battalion regimental communications officer course at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1942 he went to American Samoa aboard the USS Zeilin (APA-3). In January 1944 he was ordered to return to Camp Pendleton to establish and command the 3rd Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO). On 10 April 1944 the unit boarded the USS Algorab (AKA-8) and sailed for Guadalcanal, where they began training for the invasion of Guam. The day after going ashore during the invasion of Guam, Ellis was wounded by shell fragments. He returned after being treated aboard an LST offshore. After Guam was secured the unit began preparing for the invasion …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R. Paul Kelly. Kelley was born in Irving, Texas on 21 June 1934. In 1951 he volunteered to join the Navy. After 12 weeks of boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS LST-887 in Yokosuka, Japan. He spent several months in the Korean theater before being reassigned to LCU-588 in Coronado, California. Sea duty in Korea resumed on the LCU-1273, USS Comstock (LSD-19), and USS Begor (APD-127). He then spent 3 years at the Supply Center in Yokosuka, rated as a yeoman. His next duty was at the 6th Naval District Charleston, the Naval Air Station Guam, went back to sea, then to the 12th Naval District in San Francisco. By now a chief petty officer, one of his duties there was Admiral Nimitz's writer or personal secretary. Most of this work took place in the admiral's home. Kelley relates what a quiet, humble, pleasant man Nimitz was. Kelley then was assigned to the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), was Master Chief of the Command at Mare Island Shipyard, spent 2 years with US Naval Forces Europe in London, and finished his career at the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R. Paul Kelly. Kelley was born in Irving, Texas on 21 June 1934. In 1951 he volunteered to join the Navy. After 12 weeks of boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS LST-887 in Yokosuka, Japan. He spent several months in the Korean theater before being reassigned to LCU-588 in Coronado, California. Sea duty in Korea resumed on the LCU-1273, USS Comstock (LSD-19), and USS Begor (APD-127). He then spent 3 years at the Supply Center in Yokosuka, rated as a yeoman. His next duty was at the 6th Naval District Charleston, the Naval Air Station Guam, went back to sea, then to the 12th Naval District in San Francisco. By now a chief petty officer, one of his duties there was Admiral Nimitz's writer or personal secretary. Most of this work took place in the admiral's home. Kelley relates what a quiet, humble, pleasant man Nimitz was. Kelley then was assigned to the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), was Master Chief of the Command at Mare Island Shipyard, spent 2 years with US Naval Forces Europe in London, and finished his career at the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wilburn Laas. Laas joined the Navy in April of 1944. He provides details of his boot camp in San Diego. He completed submarine school, and provides details of his training. Beginning in late 1944 Laas served aboard USS Aegir (AS-23), a sub tender, in Midway with Submarine Squadron 45, Division 292. They provided refitting and tender services to Submarine Squadron 24, including diving to string degaussing cables around the subs and clean barnacles from the sonar equipment. Laas provides vivid details of his experience through a severe typhoon on the way to Subic Bay. He was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wilburn Laas. Laas joined the Navy in April of 1944. He provides details of his boot camp in San Diego. He completed submarine school, and provides details of his training. Beginning in late 1944 Laas served aboard USS Aegir (AS-23), a sub tender, in Midway with Submarine Squadron 45, Division 292. They provided refitting and tender services to Submarine Squadron 24, including diving to string degaussing cables around the subs and clean barnacles from the sonar equipment. Laas provides vivid details of his experience through a severe typhoon on the way to Subic Bay. He was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth R. Olin. Olin was drafted into the Army as a Combat Medic in 1945 and completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was preparing to ship out to Europe when Germany surrendered, and was sent to Bushnell General Military Hospital in Brigham City, Utah, instead. The hospital specialized in plastic and maxillofacial surgery, treating amputees, tropical diseases, psychiatric problems, and trained medical staff to go overseas. Olin counseled the amputees and psychiatric cases that were being discharged to veterans’ hospitals and to their homes. There was a prisoner of war camp established near the Bushnell Hospital for German and Italian prisoners of war, some of whom were taken to work in the hospital under the close supervision of hospital personnel. Olin recalls conversations with a young German POW. He was discharged in 1949.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cornelius D. Wiens. Wiens grew up in Montana and Kansas and was drafted into the Army in 1944. After completing training, he departed about the Sea Snipe for the Philippines. His first landing was at Leyte, where he remained fighting for three months. He describes coming to land on the small landing craft. From Leyte he went to Negros, then Masbate, and finally Mindanao. He describes the Japanese soldiers who were unwilling to surrender. After Japan's surrender he also spent time in Korea as a radio operator.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cornelius D. Wiens. Wiens grew up in Montana and Kansas and was drafted into the Army in 1944. After completing training, he departed about the Sea Snipe for the Philippines. His first landing was at Leyte, where he remained fighting for three months. He describes coming to land on the small landing craft. From Leyte he went to Negros, then Masbate, and finally Mindanao. He describes the Japanese soldiers who were unwilling to surrender. After Japan's surrender he also spent time in Korea as a radio operator.