Interview with Buck Gibson of Waco, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War Two. The interview includes some of Strauss' background before and after the war as well as his personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of his training, life in the Navy, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and what happened after he was rescued.

Interview with Melvin Harmon, a paratrooper during World War II. He discusses his paratrooper training and his time on Guadalcanal, Bougainville and other battles in the Solomon Islands. He also contracted malaria.

Interview with Buck Gibson of Waco, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War Two. The interview includes some of Mr. Gibson's background before and after the war as well as his personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of his training, life in the Navy, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and what happened after he was rescued.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edwin Lee. Lee graduated from the Naval Academy in 1934. He served two years aboard USS New Orleans (CA-32). He received his wings in November of 1937. In May of 1938, Lee was assigned as an aviator aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). He conducted observation missions, searching for submarines. In June of 1940, he was ordered to the Navy post graduate school, completing a course in aeronautical engineering, graduating in June of 1943. He oversaw the commissioning of the escort carriers (CVEs) in Astoria, Oregon. In early 1944, Lee rejoined the Enterprise, and assisted in striking the Japanese naval base at Truk. He later served aboard USS Marcus Island (CVE-77), participating in the Okinawa Campaign. After the war ended, Lee continued his service at Annapolis, and retired in July of 1964.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Wright. Wright was born on a ranch in Nebraska in 1921. He participated in the Civilian Pilot Training program while attending the University of Missouri and quit school to join the Navy on 1 June 1941. He was undergoing flight training at Pensacola when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Soon thereafter, he had his final check flight with Joe Foss, who was awarded the Medal of Honor. Upon graduation, Wright became a flight instructor at Pensacola. After a period of time he received orders to undergo B-24 flight training. He was eventually relieved of B-24 duties and was assigned as a carrier pilot and trained in using rockets. He was involved in combat at Guadalcanal and Peleliu. He recalls three instances where his plane was damaged and explains the procedure for disposing of severely damaged aircraft. He describes the effect of extremely high angle dives on both the crew and the plane. Wright describes an on board landing accident in which he was injured resulting in hospitalization at Noumea, New Caledonia. He spent eight months recovering from the injury. He also tells of sinking three Japanese ships …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Higgins. Higgins joined the Army in August of 1940. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment. He participated in the battles of Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa. His job was to ensure that supplies were delivered on the beach within an hour of the beach landings. Higgins continued his service in the military, retiring in 1973 with rank of lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Preston Holcomb. Holcomb joined the Navy in May of 1938. In 1939, Holcomb volunteered for the Asiatic Fleet and was assigned aboard USS Tulsa (PG-22), conducting patrols along the South China Sea. In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, they traveled to Manila, Philippines, completing mine patrol. In early 1942 their crew was asked to reinforce the Dutch Army in defending Java from the Japanese. Their ship provided escort and rescue missions in the Pacific. Holcomb traveled to Fremantle, Australia, where the ship was refitted and served as a convoy escort. In mid-1942, they joined the defense of New Guinea. In early 1944, Holcomb transferred to USS Tinsman (DE-589). They escorted a convoy to Leyte in late 1944 through early 1945. He returned to the US, though continued his service for 20 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George De Laughter. De Laughter joined the Army in 1942. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Regiment. He worked as a supply officer. He participated in the battles of Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Whitehair. Whitehair joined the Navy in March of 1945. He served as a Storekeeper and deck hand aboard a Landing Ship Medium, traveling to Johnston Island, Midway and Kwajalein. They decommissioned the ship Manus Island and then stationed Whitehair on Guam. He completed duty at Pearl Harbor. He was sent back to the US and discharged in 1948. Whitehair re-enlisted in the Navy and retired in August of 1966.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth W. Prescott. Prescott was born 9 August 1920 in Jackson, Michigan. Upon graduating from midshipman’s school at Northwestern University in December 1942, Prescott volunteered to serve with a PT boat squadron. He was sent to Melville, Rhode Island for training. When complete, went to Tulagi and was assigned as executive officer aboard PT Boat 61. Commenting on the construction of a PT boat he also discusses the armament and number of crewmen and the responsibilities of each. He reminisces about his friendship with John F. Kennedy and comments on several experiences he had with him. Recalling the PT boat tender, USS Jamestown (APG-3), he tells of the services it provided to the PT squadrons in the area. Prescott was later made executive officer of the Jamestown.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Muller. Muller was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1924. Upon joining the Army Air Corps in 1942, he was sent to radio school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was then sent to Savannah, Georgia where he trained for one year as a member of the 92nd Airdrome Squadron. He then went to Pittsburg, California where he boarded the USAT Klipfontein bound for Lae, New Guinea. He then went to Nadzab, where he joined the 34th Bomb Group, 300th Bomb Squadron as the radio operator/gunner on a B-25. He tells of the various locations they were based and describes some of the thirty-seven missions he flew. He recalls a bombing mission over Indochina where flak from Japanese antiaircraft created a fire aboard his plane resulting in a crash landing in the sea. The pilot did not survive the crash and the co-pilot disappeared in the water wearing his life vest. Muller had been burned, the navigator had a back injury and the engineer was severely burned. On 3 April 1945, they were picked up by a Japanese patrol boat and taken to Samah, Hainan Island, China where …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Wolfe. Wolfe joined the Army in 1939. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Regiment. He served as a commanding officer and participated in the battles of Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte and Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Johnson. Johnson was born in Dallas, Texas 9 April 1918. He was attending Washington University in St. Louis when he was drafted into the US Army. After serving for nine months he received a hardship discharge. Soon after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, he joined the Navy. Johnson tells of the pilot training he received at Murray, Kentucky prior to washing out of the program. He then went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for electrician’s school. In January 1944 he went by troop ship to the naval base at Ulithi. There, he was assigned to the USS Raby (DE-698) as a radioman. When at general quarters, Johnson was on the bridge with the ship’s captain as the captain’s talker. After the surrender of Japan the ship returned to San Pedro, California and Johnson was discharged December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Reynolds. Reynolds was drafted into the Army in January 1946 and received basic training at Fort Bliss. Basic was only six weeks long at that point, and Reynolds was happy to have the opportunity to relieve anyone who had served on the front lines. He recalls that his commanding officers weren’t very kind and seemed to be having difficulty readjusting to life after the war. He received nine months of training in handling 90-millimeter antiaircraft guns and was discharged later that year. He joined a refrigeration company as an assembly lineman and worked his way into quality control and engineering, finishing 47 years later as a laboratory manager. Reynolds feels that the artillery training he received prepared him well for the technical demands of his job.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Earl Smith. Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 20 April 1923. Joining the Navy soon after graduation in 1941, he completed boot training at San Diego. Upon graduating from fire control school, he reported aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43) at Pearl Harbor. He experienced the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and retrieved bodies in the aftermath. He was assigned to the USS Hornet (CV-8). After the Hornet sank, Smith was transferred to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) in June 1943. The Saratoga returned to the United States for repairs after being damaged by Japanese torpedoes and Smith received orders to report aboard the USS Hancock (CV-19). In November 1944, the Hancock was hit by a kamikaze and Smith was wounded. After being hospitalized in Hawaii for a short period of time, he was sent to the Naval Hospital at Norman, Oklahoma. He also shares various experiences he had following World War II. Smith retired in 1968 after twenty-seven years of active service.

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 Jetty Cook. Cook enlisted in the Army Air Corps in the aviation cadet program soon after his 18th birthday in 1942. They promised him that if he enlisted he would not be called to active duty until after he finished high school; this didn't turn out to be the case. He was sent to aviation cadet training in California but 'washed out' because of poor eyesight. He still wanted to fly so they said he could be a gunner. After B-17 flight mechanic school in Amarillo, Texas he was sent to aerial gunnery school in Kingman, Arizona, finishing just before Christmas 1943. Afterwards, he went to MacDill Army Airfield for two months of combat crew training. This is where the B-17 crews were formed up. He was selected by the pilot of this aircraft to be the flight engineer and top turret gunner. From there, the crew went to Hunter Army Airfiled, picked up a brand new B-17 out of the factory and received orders to deploy to Bangor, Maine. After arriving at a RAF base in Northern Ireland (after a grueling flight across the North Atlantic) their …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Buck Gibson. Gibson enlisted in the Navy and once he finished boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis where he was a loader on a 20mm gun. He first sailed for the Aleutian Islands, then to Tarawa for the invasion. When the island was secure, he went ashore with Admiral Raymond Spruance. He desribes the kamekazi attack on Indianapolis during the Okinawa campaign, then the torpedo attack after leaving Tinian. He spent five days in the water before being rescued, then some time in the hospital after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Dahlstrom. Dahlstrom was born in Austin, Texas on 10 February 1926 and graduated from high school in 1943. Soon after, he joined the Navy and had boot training at San Diego. Upon completion of basic training he reported aboard the USS Mississippi (BB-41) and was assigned to a 5 inch deck gun crew. He was aboard ship bombarding Makin Island and saw the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) sink. The following day an explosion occurred aboard the Mississippi, killing over thirty men. After repairs at Pearl Harbor they proceeded to Kwajalein to provide support for the invasion. Dahlstrom also saw action at Peleliu, Manus Island, Leyte Gulf and Surigao Straits. He also recalls the battle of the Lingayen Gulf during which the ship was hit by a kamikaze. After more repairs at Pearl Harbor they proceeded to Okinawa where they were continually harassed by kamikazes and Japanese Baca bombs. The Mississippi was again struck by a suicide plane and proceeded to Leyte Gulf where it was placed in dry-dock for repairs. Upon completion of the repairs the ship proceeded to Tokyo Bay and was present when Japan surrendered. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ned Simes. Simes joined the Marine Corps in March of 1942. He completed Radio Operators School, and served with 2nd Tank Battalion in light tanks. In October, they deployed to New Zealand and New Caledonia. In 1943 they landed on Saipan. While stationed there, Simes transferred to the artillery battalion, assisting with road construction, and continued to serve as a radio operator at headquarters. He returned to the US in July of 1945, and was in a victory parade tour in Houston, Texas. Simes was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Nilo Inciardi. Inciardi joined the Army Air Corps in January of 1941. He served as a P-40 pilot with the 67th Fighter Squadron. He received his commission in October of 1941. They flew patrol missions over New Caledonia. In the fall of 1942, they participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign, dive bombing and strafing. He returned to the US in April of 1943, and prepared to go to Europe. Inciardi joined the 366th Fighter Squadron and arrived in England in October of 1943. He does not speak of his experiences in Europe. Inciardi returned home and was discharged in late 1945. He remained in the Reserves and was recalled for active duty in the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hanger. Hanger was born 15 May 1919 and enlisted in 1942. He was ordered to Lowery Field, Colorado to attend armament school. Upon completion of his training, he went aboard the USS Rochambeau (AP-63) and sailed to New Caledonia where he was assigned to the 339th Fighter Squadron. Operation Vengeance occurred while he was with the squadron and he recalls the success of the mission and of personally knowing some of those who participated. One of his duties was assistant mess officer. During his time on New Caledonia he underwent navigator training. Returning to the United States in November 1943 he began pilot training. He tells of the various bases to which he was assigned and of piloting B-24’s in conjunction with the training of radar students. He was discharged September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Melvin Harmon. He discusses becoming a paratrooper, his time on Guadalcanal, Bougainville and other battles in the Solomon Islands and getting malaria.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George T. Chandler. Chandler was born in Wichita, Kansas on 1 February 1921. Attending Wichita State University, he joined the US Army Aviation Cadet Program November, 1941. He describes his training in various aircraft and graduation from fighter training. In July 1943 he reported to the 347th fighter group on Guadalcanal flying P-38 fighters. In a well narrated tale, he describes various incidents of individual aerial combat missions during which he shot down five enemy aircraft thus qualifying him as a Fighter Ace.