The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lyle Tennis. Tennis joined the Naval Reserve while attending college. He graduated in March of 1944, and then completed Officer Training School at Plattsburg, New York in June of 1944. Tennis served in the Navy aboard the USS LSM(R)-190. He provides detail of his travels through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific. He and his crew participated in the invasion of Okinawa, and Tennis describes his experiences, including launching 480 5-inch rockets against Japanese shore defenses. He was aboard the ship when it was hit and sunk by a Japanese kamikaze. He provides details of this event, for which he received the Navy Cross. He continued to serve in the Reserves until 1970 when he retired as a commander.

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 interview with Murphy Williams. Williams recalls details about his ancestors in North Carolina prior to discussing his education. Williams went to seminary in the fall of 1941. He finished seminary in May 1944 and then entered the Navy as a chaplain. One of his first duty assignments was visitations to parents who had lost sons in the war. Another assignment took him to a Navy air facility in Groton, Connecticut. In July, 1945, Williams was assigned to Tinian and remarks on the activity there leading up to the atomic attacks; he also recalls using CBs to build a chapel. After the war, Williams’ wife moved to Tinian and then Saipan when dependents were allowed. When they returned to the US, Williams elected for a discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Taylor. In 1941, after Taylor graduated from high school at 17, he entered a trade school to learn airplane mechanics because his mother would not allow him to go into the military. Taylor tried to get into the Navy, but was not accepted for service due to his having Bright's disease. Instead. when he finished trade school, he went to work for Pan American Airways. Pan Am sent him to Pearl Harbor to work on the Clipper ships Pan Am used for contract work with the Navy. Pan Am hauled mail and freight for the Navy to various islands in the Pacific during the war. Taylor eventually got into the Navy Reserve while working for Pan Am at Pearl Harbor in 1943. When the war ended, Taylor got out of the Navy and went to work for private airlines before joining the US Air Force in 1949. After flight training, Taylor became an instructor at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Taylor served in an Air Defense Command unit.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Perry Camp. Camp spent a year in Honolulu working as a high scaler, scaling cliffs and building ammunition dumps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Camp was then drafted into the Navy in 1943. He was trained as a gunner’s mate and completed schooling for electrical and hydraulics. He served as an instructor on the 5-inch guns. His position was fuse center and sight center. He discusses his position on his ship and provides detail of the weapons. He describes witnessing the commissioning of the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) in November of 1944. He worked aboard the destroyer preparing it for the sea. They shipped out of San Diego in February of 1945. They participated in the Battle of Okinawa. Camp describes this experience, including the ship being hit by a Kamikaze plane. Camp was discharged sometime after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ari Phoutrides. Phoutrides joined the Navy in 1942. He completed Quartermaster School, and was assigned to the USS Laffey (DD-724) in February of 1944. His job aboard was overseeing supplies and ammunition. His battle station was on the bridge. They participated in the invasion of France, taking Landing Craft, Infantry to Utah Beach in June of 1944. Beginning April of 1945, they participated in the Battle of Okinawa, where the Laffey overcame unrelenting kamikaze air attacks. Phoutrides provides vivid details of these experiences. He served aboard the ship until his discharge in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leo Itz. Itz was given a one-year exemption in order to help his father on the farm before he was drafted into the Army in March 1945. He was trained in demolitions at Fort Lewis and sent to Luzon to join the 395th Infantry Regiment. Before shipping out to the Philippines, he was assigned to work at Del Monte Foods in California, due to the labor shortage. During his voyage overseas, the war ended. Itz was tasked with guarding an ammunition dump outside of Clark Field. Armed only with an unloaded rifle, he came under fire when Japanese holdouts were raiding the dump. He returned safely to his bunk, only to discover a putrid smell. In the ground beneath him was a shallow grave. In August 1945, Itz was granted a dependency discharge upon learning that his father had suffered a heart attack. He returned to the States in December.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon E. Tucker. Born in 1919, he joined the Coast Guard in July 1942. He served on Galveston Island, Texas where he was a motor machinist. He was transferred to New York where he was assigned to the USS Might, an escort ship operating between New York to Cuba. As a Machinist Mate, he was in charge of the engine room. He describes the living conditions on the ship. He and his wife, Ethel Tucker, discuss life and entertainment in New York City. He shares anecdotes about ?the black gang? and food in the engine room; a general quarters drill; a near-collision with an ammunition building; assisting with an impromptu appendectomy at sea; and experiencing a storm en route from Cuba to New York. After twenty escort trips, he was transferred back to Galveston Island. He relates stories about a German submarine near New Jersey; a Japanese submarine on Bolivar Peninsula, Texas; and four German soldiers coming ashore in Galveston, Texas. He also describes rescuing stranded civilians during a hurricane. He was discharged in 1945. The interview also contains information about his parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Andrew Firm. Firm joined the Navy in June 1942 and only received 28 days of training before boarding the light cruiser USS Montpelier (CL-57). As a gunner’s mate, his first duty was greasing the guns while the Montpelier patrolled The Slot around Guadalcanal. During island bombardments, he added special tips to shells that would clear trees from the beachheads. In the blazing heat of the Marianas, he was stunned to see a warmly dressed Japanese corpse float by. Returning home in September 1944, Firm transferred to the USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-107), where he maintained a quad-40mm and a 5-inch gun. At the end of the war, he sailed to Okinawa and Tokyo Bay, ultimately leaving the service with six battle stars and a Good Conduct Medal.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Archie Norman. Norman was drafted into the Army soon after high school. He was sent to the 32nd Infantry Division and traveled to New Guinea. Norman then took part in battle for Leyte and describes surviving a nearby explosion and a time when he shot a Japanese soldier. He also discusses how he was wounded when a rifle was accidently discharged in camp. Norman describes his treatment and evacuation back to the US. He was discharged after his recovery in December 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe Mason. Mason entered the Navy in September of 1944. He completed storekeeper school at Samson, New York. He trained and served on a PT boat throughout the war. They traveled to Samar, Philippines on 1 September 1945, which he describes his experiences. He was stationed at PT Base 17. The war was over by the time he traveled overseas. He discusses his time in Samar and witnessed the burning of the PT boats. He traveled to other Philippine Islands and was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wesley Plummer. Plummer joined the Marine Corps in February 1943 and trained at San Diego. After boot training, he volunteered for the Marine paratroopers and trained at Camp Gillespie. Then he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Parachute Battalion and went to Guadalcanal and Vella Lavella before landing on Bougainville in December, 1943. Plummer details some of his experiences in the jungle at Bougainville. He returned to the US for some leave before being assigned to H Company, 28th marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. From there, he went to Iwo Jima, landing on D-day, and recalls a lot of details about operating there. Plummer was eventually wounded on 24 March and evacuated. Plummer had enough points to opt for discharge and spent only a few weeks in Japan before returning to the US. He was discharged in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvin Kendzora. Kendzora enlisted in the Army Air Forces in April 1944 and trained at Sheppard Field in Texas. After basic training, he qualified to train as a radio operator. He departed for overseas in May 1945. He stopped at New Guinea for a month or two before heading for Leyte in the Philippines. He was attached to a headquarters squadron in the Fifth Air Force and was there when the war ended. He was tasked with hauling supplies to Japan and recalls some details of his experiences in Japan. He also managed to travel some in Shanghai as well as Korea. He shares several anecdotes about his experiences overseas and was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Sally Morgan. Morgan was born in Tientsin, China. Her father was in the 15th Infantry, stationed in China in the 1920s when he met Sally’s mother. He died of tuberculosis when Sally was 3 months old. At 11 years old, her mother attempted sending her and her two brothers to the US to escape the Japanese occupation of China. The children only traveled as far as Manila before the Japanese invaded the Philippines. Sally and her brothers were imprisoned in the Santo Tomas Internment Camp and later, the Los Baños Internment Camp until their liberation in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alva Hudson. Hudson joined the Navy in January of 1942. He served in the Armed Guard, using the 20mm gun aboard the tanker SS John Archibald. They transported oil to Halifax, Nova Scotia, across the North Atlantic to Glasgow, Scotland. They traveled with a convoy of around 40 ships. Beginning November of 1943 Hudson served as a gunner on the 40mm gun aboard the USS New Jersey (BB-62). They traveled to Ellice Island. They participated in battles at Majuro Island, Palau, Saipan, Okinawa, Formosa and the Philippine Islands. Hudson completed 36 months sea duty and provides vivid details of his experiences aboard the ships and in the battles. He was discharged in January 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 Frank Mace. Mace was born in Carseland, Alberta, Canada on 27 May 1917 and graduated from high school in Washington 1937. In 1940, he joined Morrison-Knudsen, Inc. as a construction worker and group chaplain on Wake Island arriving on 9 January 1941. He began constructing runways and buildings. Mace tells of the Japanese invasion of the island, of the combat and of the casualties taken prior to surrender. He tells of the starvation and inhumane treatment while a captive. He describes the manufacturing process and the method of sabotage that the slave laborers employed while working in an Osaka, Japan shipyard and also of disrupting production while working in an iron smelting plant. He relates how a plane dropped a message that the war was over and how food and supplies were dropped by air. Upon liberation, he was put on board the USS Rescue (AH-18) and taken to Letterman General Hospital for recovery.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Trimmer. Trimmer was born in Cumberland, Maryland 18 September 1918. Joining the Navy in 1940, he initially trained at Norfolk, Virginia, and then went aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as an electrician. He describes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and recalls sixty-two of his shipmates died. After repairs in California, the Pennsylvania participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal. In July 1942, Trimmer reported to a gyro and battery school. In December, 1943, he went aboard the submarine S-37 stationed at San Diego. One year later he was transferred to the USS Redfish (SS-395) at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In July 1944 the Redfish departed Pearl Harbor for its first war patrol. By October 1944, they sank five Japanese ships. Only later were they notified that one of the ships carried 250 Australian prisoners of war. On the next patrol, the Redfish was accompanied by two sister boats that located and sank seven ships in a convoy. The Redfish was credited with sinking a transport. While in the Sea of Japan, in December 1944, they joined forces with the USS Sea Devil (SS-400) and damaged the Japanese carrier …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Lindberg. Lindberg joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He joined Carlson’s Raiders. In the spring and summer, they traveled through Midway, Fiji and New Caledonia. In November they conducted the Long Patrol on Guadalcanal, traveling through the jungle to Henderson Field, engrossed in combat with the Japanese and destroying enemy camps and equipment. They participated in the Bougainville Campaign in November of 1943. In February of 1944 Lindberg served with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division. They participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima and were part of the First Flag Raising on the island. He received a Purple Heart and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Raymond. Raymond joined the Navy in 1940. He was sent to the USS New York (BB-34) where he started as a deck seaman and became a quartermaster. Raymond describes the duties of a quartermaster in the Navy. He was then sent to the USS Biloxi (CL-80) and took part in the commissioning. Raymond went to the Pacific and describes the types of missions the Biloxi performed and the armament of the ship. He discusses his ship being hit by a kamikaze off Okinawa and how the repairs were made. Raymond also describes the refueling process and how the lack of fuel contributed to the loss of a destroyer during a typhoon. Raymond mentions seeing the damage at Nagasaki and evacuating POWs. He retired from the Navy in 1960.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gordon Whymark. Whymark begins with discussing witnessing the Battle for Britain as he was a teenager living in a rural community outside London. When he was seventeen, he joined the Royal Marines and trained at Chatham in 1943. After training, he boarded a ship bound for Sri Lanka and more training. Upon completion of jungle training in Sri Lanka, Whymark was assigned to HMS Illustrious, an aircraft carrier assigned to raiding the Japanese installations on Java and Sumatra. In 1944, Illustrious joined the US Navy Task Force 57 and attacked targets on Formosa and Okinawa. Whymark describes the kamikaze attack on Illustrious that he witnessed. Whymark was reassigned from Illustrious to HMS Swiftsure (08), a cruiser. When the war ended, Whymark went to Hong Kong and Shanghai aboard Swiftsure. He also shares stories about the time he spent on occupation duty at the British Embassy in Tokyo after the war ended.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Roy McIlvain. McIlvain describes his experiences growing up in Kansas during the Great Depression. McIlvain joined the Army in January 1943. Instead of training, he joined a searchlight outfit in Washington DC. He was eventually attached to the 76th Infantry Division and traveled to England with them. He shares several anecdotes from his time in the infantry in France, Belgium and Germany. McIlvain carried a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) and was wounded in February 1945. McIlvain shares several anecdotes about his experiences in WWII.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur E. Kelly. Kelly was born 4 March 1920 in Duluth, Minnesota. Graduating from Duluth Denfield High School in May 1939 he attended Duluth Junior College for two years. To supplement his income, he joined the Minnesota National Guard. While in college he received his pilot certification through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. His National Guard unit was called to active duty and went to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. While there, he was accepted as a flying cadet and sent to Kelly Field, Texas for pilot training. He received his wings and commission in October 1942. He was sent to Harlingen Air Base, Texas and flew various planes with men learning to fire machine guns from aircraft. He then went to Smyrna, Tennessee for training in B-24 bombers. Upon completion of his training he returned to Harlingen and flew with other aerial gunner trainees. After six months, he went to Alabama for pilot training in B-29 bombers. He completed the training in March 1945 and was assigned as an aircraft commander. After receiving a crew, they flew to Saipan and were assigned to the 498th Bomb Group, 873rd Bomb …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Carpenter. Carpenter joined the Army in March of 1942. He joined the Fort Benjamin Harrison Band and completed a war bond sales tour around Indiana. Carpenter served as a warrant officer for four years. During this time, he directed Army Air Forces concerts, marching and dance bands from Pampa, Texas, to Calcutta, India, and Shanghai, China. He was the commander of the 685th Army Air Forces Band and was attached to the 14th Air Force. Carpenter returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.