The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Fournier. Fournier joined the Navy in March of 1944. He completed Diesel School and other mechanical engineering schools the Navy offered. He completed boot camp at Great Lakes. He served aboard the USS Surfbird (AM-383) as a Fireman and First-Class Diesel Specialist, beginning November of 1944. He provides details of the minesweeper, various mine-types and life aboard the ship. They traveled with their sister ship, the USS Toucan (AM-387). Throughout 1945 they completed 85 mine sweeps of the East China Sea and around Japan. They returned to the U.S. in April of 1946 and in June the ship was decommissioned and Fournier was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Fournier. Fournier joined the Navy in March of 1944. He completed Diesel School and other mechanical engineering schools the Navy offered. He completed boot camp at Great Lakes. He served aboard the USS Surfbird (AM-383) as a Fireman and First-Class Diesel Specialist, beginning November of 1944. He provides details of the minesweeper, various mine-types and life aboard the ship. They traveled with their sister ship, the USS Toucan (AM-387). Throughout 1945 they completed 85 mine sweeps of the East China Sea and around Japan. They returned to the U.S. in April of 1946 and in June the ship was decommissioned and Fournier was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Tolliver. Tolliver was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on 8 June 1921. Upon entering the Navy in April 1943 he was trained as a machinist mate. After undergoing submariner training at New London, Connecticut, he was sent to sonar school at San Diego. Upon completion of the training he was assigned to the USS Trutta (SS-421), which sailed to Guam. He describes the living conditions aboard a submarine. Recalling specific instances, he tells of the boat intercepting small supply ships, which they sank with their deck gun. Tolliver also remembers the Trutta being on submarine lifeguard duty off the coast of Japan and picking up a downed P-51 pilot who survived a typhoon in a small life raft. Soon after the surrender of Japan, the Trutta returned to the United States and Tolliver was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Tolliver. Tolliver was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on 8 June 1921. Upon entering the Navy in April 1943 he was trained as a machinist mate. After undergoing submariner training at New London, Connecticut, he was sent to sonar school at San Diego. Upon completion of the training he was assigned to the USS Trutta (SS-421), which sailed to Guam. He describes the living conditions aboard a submarine. Recalling specific instances, he tells of the boat intercepting small supply ships, which they sank with their deck gun. Tolliver also remembers the Trutta being on submarine lifeguard duty off the coast of Japan and picking up a downed P-51 pilot who survived a typhoon in a small life raft. Soon after the surrender of Japan, the Trutta returned to the United States and Tolliver was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Giroski. Giroski was born Luplow, Pennsylvania in 1922 and graduated from high school in 1940. Joining the Army Air Forces 28 February 1943 he was sent to Miami, Florida for basic training. He qualified for flight training, but washed out due to a medical condition. Giroski was approved for flying status, however and went to Harlingen, Texas for gunnery training. He was then selected for radar training and went to Clovis, New Mexico and Harvard, Nebraska for training and practical application in B-17s and B-24s. His crew went to Kearney, Nebraska where they picked up a new B-29, which they flew for several weeks on shakedown missions to insure that all equipment was performing adequately. On 24 December 1944 they left March Field, California for Tinian with stopovers in Hawaii and Kwajalein. After their arrival they flew practice missions over Iwo Jima and Truk. Giroski flew thirty-three missions and recalls his first mission, a fire bombing over Kobe during which seven aircraft were lost. General Curtis LeMay flew with his crew on five occasions and complimented their abilities. He recalls one incident during which their B-29 flipped …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Giroski. Giroski was born Luplow, Pennsylvania in 1922 and graduated from high school in 1940. Joining the Army Air Forces 28 February 1943 he was sent to Miami, Florida for basic training. He qualified for flight training, but washed out due to a medical condition. Giroski was approved for flying status, however and went to Harlingen, Texas for gunnery training. He was then selected for radar training and went to Clovis, New Mexico and Harvard, Nebraska for training and practical application in B-17s and B-24s. His crew went to Kearney, Nebraska where they picked up a new B-29, which they flew for several weeks on shakedown missions to insure that all equipment was performing adequately. On 24 December 1944 they left March Field, California for Tinian with stopovers in Hawaii and Kwajalein. After their arrival they flew practice missions over Iwo Jima and Truk. Giroski flew thirty-three missions and recalls his first mission, a fire bombing over Kobe during which seven aircraft were lost. General Curtis LeMay flew with his crew on five occasions and complimented their abilities. He recalls one incident during which their B-29 flipped …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Karl F. Eichhorn. Eichhorn joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed armament school, learning how to troubleshoot and repair machine guns, cannons, airplane bomb racks and gun turrets. He was assigned to the 726th Bomb Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. He served as a ground crewman. In December of 1943 he traveled to North Africa. He describes in detail his trip over and accommodations aboard a liberty ship. They landed in Oran, and Eichhorn elaborates on his experiences traveling through and staying in the city. In January 1944 he traveled to an airfield in Gioia del Colle, Italy. They unloaded planes coming in, loaded live bombs onto them and refilled machine gun ammunition boxes. Eichhorn describes in great detail his living and working experiences in Italy. They moved to another field in Castelluccio de Sauri. From there, they bombed northern Italy, Austria, Germany and generally southeast Europe. The group he worked with flew a total of 245 missions from January of 1945 to April of 1945. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Karl F. Eichhorn. Eichhorn joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed armament school, learning how to troubleshoot and repair machine guns, cannons, airplane bomb racks and gun turrets. He was assigned to the 726th Bomb Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. He served as a ground crewman. In December of 1943 he traveled to North Africa. He describes in detail his trip over and accommodations aboard a liberty ship. They landed in Oran, and Eichhorn elaborates on his experiences traveling through and staying in the city. In January 1944 he traveled to an airfield in Gioia del Colle, Italy. They unloaded planes coming in, loaded live bombs onto them and refilled machine gun ammunition boxes. Eichhorn describes in great detail his living and working experiences in Italy. They moved to another field in Castelluccio de Sauri. From there, they bombed northern Italy, Austria, Germany and generally southeast Europe. The group he worked with flew a total of 245 missions from January of 1945 to April of 1945. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymundo Martinez. Martinez was drafted in the Army in November of 1941. He served as a Technical Sergeant in the 807th Engineer Battalion for four years. From 1942 to 1944 Martinez was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. During this time, he recalls much combat, casualties, preparing graves for fallen soldiers and a Japanese plane being gunned down during a dog fight. He was then assigned to Hawaii and provides some details of life on the island. From May to September of 1945 his unit served on Okinawa, which he provides vivid details of his experiences. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymundo Martinez. Martinez was drafted in the Army in November of 1941. He served as a Technical Sergeant in the 807th Engineer Battalion for four years. From 1942 to 1944 Martinez was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. During this time, he recalls much combat, casualties, preparing graves for fallen soldiers and a Japanese plane being gunned down during a dog fight. He was then assigned to Hawaii and provides some details of life on the island. From May to September of 1945 his unit served on Okinawa, which he provides vivid details of his experiences. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willard Frank. Frank joined the Navy in July of 1943. He deployed to Waimanalo in Hawaii to an Amphibious Training base. Frank served as an engineer on an LCVP, ferrying supplies from shore to ships. In 1944, he served aboard USS Lindenwald (LSD-6), participating in the invasions of the Marshall Islands, Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willard Frank. Frank joined the Navy in July of 1943. He deployed to Waimanalo in Hawaii to an Amphibious Training base. Frank served as an engineer on an LCVP, ferrying supplies from shore to ships. In 1944, he served aboard USS Lindenwald (LSD-6), participating in the invasions of the Marshall Islands, Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John E. Miller. Miller was born in Pulaski, Indiana 18 January 1918. He worked in his father’s general store until he was drafted into the Army. He was sent to Camp Forest, Tennessee for basic training after which he was assigned to the 80th Signal Company in the 80th Infantry Division. After completing a radio course in November 1942 he was sent to Ft. Riley, Kansas where he worked in the message center as a messenger. The division then went to Camp Laguna, Arizona and did advanced training until June 1944 when they moved to Fort Dix, New Jersey and boarded HMS Queen Mary on 6 July. Soon after arriving in England, Miller went to France, landing at Utah Beach. As a designated messenger he had a personal jeep and an armed guard. Miller drove over 40,000 miles while in Europe. He tells of being present at a conference attended by generals Eisenhower, Patton and Montgomery and comments on the unforgettable experience of seeing stacks of hundreds of corpses in one of the concentration camps. He was discharged on 7 November 1945 after returning to the United States …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John E. Miller. Miller was born in Pulaski, Indiana 18 January 1918. He worked in his father’s general store until he was drafted into the Army. He was sent to Camp Forest, Tennessee for basic training after which he was assigned to the 80th Signal Company in the 80th Infantry Division. After completing a radio course in November 1942 he was sent to Ft. Riley, Kansas where he worked in the message center as a messenger. The division then went to Camp Laguna, Arizona and did advanced training until June 1944 when they moved to Fort Dix, New Jersey and boarded HMS Queen Mary on 6 July. Soon after arriving in England, Miller went to France, landing at Utah Beach. As a designated messenger he had a personal jeep and an armed guard. Miller drove over 40,000 miles while in Europe. He tells of being present at a conference attended by generals Eisenhower, Patton and Montgomery and comments on the unforgettable experience of seeing stacks of hundreds of corpses in one of the concentration camps. He was discharged on 7 November 1945 after returning to the United States …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tim Ashcraft. Ashcraft joined the Army in October of 1943. He was assigned to the Medical Department. He worked at Ashford General Hospital in West Virginia. He traveled to Europe in 1944, including Germany and France. He was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tim Ashcraft. Ashcraft joined the Army in October of 1943. He was assigned to the Medical Department. He worked at Ashford General Hospital in West Virginia. He traveled to Europe in 1944, including Germany and France. He was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George William Ogden. Ogden joined the Navy in February of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School, and trained with amphibious landing vehicles. Beginning in early 1943, he served as a Communications Officer aboard the USS LST-172. They traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Bora Bora, Samoa, New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. They assisted the Marines in preparation for the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended, and was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George William Ogden. Ogden joined the Navy in February of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School, and trained with amphibious landing vehicles. Beginning in early 1943, he served as a Communications Officer aboard the USS LST-172. They traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Bora Bora, Samoa, New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. They assisted the Marines in preparation for the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended, and was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George W Denby. Denby joined the Navy and earned his wings in December 1943 at Corpus Christi. He was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), flying a Grumman F4F Wildcat. At the Battle of the Philippine Sea he was knocked unconscious after being struck by an 18-inch shell. When he regained consciousness, he fired on his target and returned to the Enterprise. The next day, he was wounded in a dogfight with seven Zeroes. He jumped from his plane at 30,000 feet and broke his back when deploying his parachute. Zeroes continued firing on him as he hit the water, and his life jacket was full of holes. He swam for eight hours, bleeding severely and unable to move one of his legs. He was attacked by a shark but was eventually rescued and returned to the Enterprise. He finished his tour of duty with a total of 57 combat missions. While at Ulithi on R&R, he rubbed elbows with well-known fighter aces. For some time after the war, Denby was skittish while flying. But he flew combat missions in the Korean War and retired as a commander …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George W Denby. Denby joined the Navy and earned his wings in December 1943 at Corpus Christi. He was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), flying a Grumman F4F Wildcat. At the Battle of the Philippine Sea he was knocked unconscious after being struck by an 18-inch shell. When he regained consciousness, he fired on his target and returned to the Enterprise. The next day, he was wounded in a dogfight with seven Zeroes. He jumped from his plane at 30,000 feet and broke his back when deploying his parachute. Zeroes continued firing on him as he hit the water, and his life jacket was full of holes. He swam for eight hours, bleeding severely and unable to move one of his legs. He was attacked by a shark but was eventually rescued and returned to the Enterprise. He finished his tour of duty with a total of 57 combat missions. While at Ulithi on R&R, he rubbed elbows with well-known fighter aces. For some time after the war, Denby was skittish while flying. But he flew combat missions in the Korean War and retired as a commander …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Smith. Smith participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program before entering the Army Air Corps in late 1942. He graduated from flight school in August 1943. Smith was assigned to a B-24 crew and headed for North Africa in December 1943. From there, Smith went on bombing missions over Italy, Romania, etc. flying with the Fifteenth Air Force. After finishing combat missions, Smith ferried a B-24 back to San Antonio, his home in 1944. He then served as a flight instructor in Arizona until he got out of the service in October, 1945. He stayed in the Reserves and served briefly in Korea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Smith. Smith participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program before entering the Army Air Corps in late 1942. He graduated from flight school in August 1943. Smith was assigned to a B-24 crew and headed for North Africa in December 1943. From there, Smith went on bombing missions over Italy, Romania, etc. flying with the Fifteenth Air Force. After finishing combat missions, Smith ferried a B-24 back to San Antonio, his home in 1944. He then served as a flight instructor in Arizona until he got out of the service in October, 1945. He stayed in the Reserves and served briefly in Korea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Bast. Bast joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed courses in seamanship, gunnery, navigation, and attended the Submarine Chaser Training Center in Miami. He was assigned to the USS Anoka (PC-571), of which he was a plank owner. He provides some details of this patrol craft. They were assigned to Port Townsend, Washington protecting the Bremerton Naval Base from enemy submarines. From the fall of 1942 to April of 1943 they were stationed in Alaska, participating in the Aleutian Island Campaigns. In January of 1944 he was assigned as Commanding Officer of the USS LST-677, which was converted into a supply ship and named the USS Yolo (APB-43). In April of 1945 they traveled with a convoy to Okinawa and provided supplies to hundreds of ships in the Philippine Sea. Bast describes the process of supplying these ships. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Bast. Bast joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed courses in seamanship, gunnery, navigation, and attended the Submarine Chaser Training Center in Miami. He was assigned to the USS Anoka (PC-571), of which he was a plank owner. He provides some details of this patrol craft. They were assigned to Port Townsend, Washington protecting the Bremerton Naval Base from enemy submarines. From the fall of 1942 to April of 1943 they were stationed in Alaska, participating in the Aleutian Island Campaigns. In January of 1944 he was assigned as Commanding Officer of the USS LST-677, which was converted into a supply ship and named the USS Yolo (APB-43). In April of 1945 they traveled with a convoy to Okinawa and provided supplies to hundreds of ships in the Philippine Sea. Bast describes the process of supplying these ships. He was discharged in November of 1945.