Transcript of an oral interview with Robert Loren Van Ausdall. While a student at Miami University in Ohio, Van Ausdall applied and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program and sent to Love Field in Dallas in 1940. He received more advanced training in San Antonio and on Long Island before going to Norfolk, Virginia. There, his squadron of P-40s was loaded aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7). The squadron was shipped to Iceland where they were based for the next year conducting anti-submarine patrols in the North Atlantic. Van Ausdall speaks about being stationed in and living in Iceland. From Iceland, Van Ausdall was stationed in Sarasota, Florida where he trained pilots in aerial gunnery. After that assigment, he was ordered to India to train Chinese pilots. Eventually, Van Ausdall made it over the Himalaya Mountains into China to fight the Japanese. He was still flying P-40 fighter planes at the time and discusses operations against the Japanese. In April, 1945, after 81 combat missions in China, Van Ausdall returned home t oattend the Command and General Staff School at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. When the war ended, the Air Force sent Van Ausdall to Cornell UNiversity for a …

Transcript of an oral interview with Robert Loren Van Ausdall. While a student at Miami University in Ohio, Van Ausdall applied and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program and sent to Love Field in Dallas in 1940. He received more advanced training in San Antonio and on Long Island before going to Norfolk, Virginia. There, his squadron of P-40s was loaded aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7). The squadron was shipped to Iceland where they were based for the next year conducting anti-submarine patrols in the North Atlantic. Van Ausdall speaks about being stationed in and living in Iceland. From Iceland, Van Ausdall was stationed in Sarasota, Florida where he trained pilots in aerial gunnery. After that assigment, he was ordered to India to train Chinese pilots. Eventually, Van Ausdall made it over the Himalaya Mountains into China to fight the Japanese. He was still flying P-40 fighter planes at the time and discusses operations against the Japanese. In April, 1945, after 81 combat missions in China, Van Ausdall returned home t oattend the Command and General Staff School at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. When the war ended, the Air Force sent Van Ausdall to Cornell UNiversity for a …

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 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 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 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 oral interview with Rickie Feuille. Feuille left the University of Texas Law School the day after Pearl Harbor and enlisted in the Army soon thereafter. After serving for about five months with the Signal Corps in Arizona, he was sent to Air Corps OCS in Miami, Florida and commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduation. His first assignment was with an Air Corps service outfit in Pendleton, Oregon. Within a few months, he was sent to Thermal, California to the 13th Air Service Group. The Group went to Hawaii for jungle training and was split into two groups; Feuille was assigned to the 386th Air Service Group. The 386th went aboard a ship in early January 1945, headed for Iwo Jima but stopped in Saipan first; which was were the invasion fleet was staged. His ship was hit by a kamikaze while in the harbor at Saipan. His unit was put on another ship and they stayed off the beach until February 23rd when Feuille led an advance party of his group to the beach. He saw the famous flag raising and describes seeing bodies everywhere as well as wrecked vehicles; …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rickie Feuille. Feuille left the University of Texas Law School the day after Pearl Harbor and enlisted in the Army soon thereafter. After serving for about five months with the Signal Corps in Arizona, he was sent to Air Corps OCS in Miami, Florida and commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduation. His first assignment was with an Air Corps service outfit in Pendleton, Oregon. Within a few months, he was sent to Thermal, California to the 13th Air Service Group. The Group went to Hawaii for jungle training and was split into two groups; Feuille was assigned to the 386th Air Service Group. The 386th went aboard a ship in early January 1945, headed for Iwo Jima but stopped in Saipan first; which was were the invasion fleet was staged. His ship was hit by a kamikaze while in the harbor at Saipan. His unit was put on another ship and they stayed off the beach until February 23rd when Feuille led an advance party of his group to the beach. He saw the famous flag raising and describes seeing bodies everywhere as well as wrecked vehicles; …

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 George Gibbons. Gibbons completed infantry training in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M his freshman and sophomore years of college. In January of 1943 he gave up his exemption for college and volunteered for the Army. He completed the Army Special Training Program, and volunteered for the paratroopers. Gibbons completed jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He also completed Demolition School. He traveled with replacement paratroopers to England in April of 1944, and joined the 82nd Airborne Division. He participated in the Normandy landings in June, Operation Market Garden in August and the Battle of the Bulge in December. He shares details of his combat experiences. After the war ended, he remained in Germany on guard duty, and completed college courses in England and France. He returned home and was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Gibbons. Gibbons completed infantry training in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M his freshman and sophomore years of college. In January of 1943 he gave up his exemption for college and volunteered for the Army. He completed the Army Special Training Program, and volunteered for the paratroopers. Gibbons completed jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He also completed Demolition School. He traveled with replacement paratroopers to England in April of 1944, and joined the 82nd Airborne Division. He participated in the Normandy landings in June, Operation Market Garden in August and the Battle of the Bulge in December. He shares details of his combat experiences. After the war ended, he remained in Germany on guard duty, and completed college courses in England and France. He returned home and was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Guthrie. Guthrie joined the Army in September of 1940. He graduated from Parachute School in the spring of 1941. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Guthrie participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Guthrie. Guthrie joined the Army in September of 1940. He graduated from Parachute School in the spring of 1941. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Guthrie participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill McDonald. McDonald joined the Army in mid-1943. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, McDonald participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill McDonald. McDonald joined the Army in mid-1943. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, McDonald participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Bartlett. Bartlett was drafted March 3, 1943 and went to Camp Roberts for basic infantry training. From there he went to Fort Benning, Georgia for parachute training. Eventually, they were shipped to Brisbane, Australia and after some additional training in Australia they were shipped to Port Moresby, New Guinea to join the 503rd Regimental Combat Team (RCT). The 503rd jumped (from C-47s) onto Corregidor but there were so many causalities that many went in by boat. Bartlett's one combat jump was onto Corregidor. Before Corregidor, the 503rd RCT went onto Mindoro Island by sea. After Corregidor, they went to Negros Island, Philippines as regular infantry. They were there, moving around into different areas, until the war ended. Bartlett describes the Japanese surrendering on the island at the end of the war. He came home in December 1945 and was discharged on Christmas Day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Bartlett. Bartlett was drafted March 3, 1943 and went to Camp Roberts for basic infantry training. From there he went to Fort Benning, Georgia for parachute training. Eventually, they were shipped to Brisbane, Australia and after some additional training in Australia they were shipped to Port Moresby, New Guinea to join the 503rd Regimental Combat Team (RCT). The 503rd jumped (from C-47s) onto Corregidor but there were so many causalities that many went in by boat. Bartlett's one combat jump was onto Corregidor. Before Corregidor, the 503rd RCT went onto Mindoro Island by sea. After Corregidor, they went to Negros Island, Philippines as regular infantry. They were there, moving around into different areas, until the war ended. Bartlett describes the Japanese surrendering on the island at the end of the war. He came home in December 1945 and was discharged on Christmas Day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R.E. Broadwell. Broadwell was born in Hamlin, Texas in 1921. In 1938 he joined the National Guard and was discharged in August 1941. In February 1942 he joined the US Army and was sent directly to jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduating, he reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he was assigned to the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In October, 1942, the regiment boarded the SS Poelau Laut for a forty-two day voyage to Australia. Upon arriving at their base in Gordonvale, they began advanced training and made practice jumps. On 5 September 1943 the battalion made a parachute assault on Nadzab, New Guinea. After three weeks at Nadzab, the battalion went overland to Lae, New Guinea to assist the 25th Infantry in clearing the area of Japanese forces. In July 1944, the regiment made a combat jump at Noemfoor, New Guinea. Broadwell describes a number of combat situations and was wounded by a sniper. After recovering, he rejoined his battalion and saw action on Mindoro, Philippines. Upon returning to the United States, he became a jump master at Fort Benning and remained at this …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R.E. Broadwell. Broadwell was born in Hamlin, Texas in 1921. In 1938 he joined the National Guard and was discharged in August 1941. In February 1942 he joined the US Army and was sent directly to jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduating, he reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he was assigned to the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In October, 1942, the regiment boarded the SS Poelau Laut for a forty-two day voyage to Australia. Upon arriving at their base in Gordonvale, they began advanced training and made practice jumps. On 5 September 1943 the battalion made a parachute assault on Nadzab, New Guinea. After three weeks at Nadzab, the battalion went overland to Lae, New Guinea to assist the 25th Infantry in clearing the area of Japanese forces. In July 1944, the regiment made a combat jump at Noemfoor, New Guinea. Broadwell describes a number of combat situations and was wounded by a sniper. After recovering, he rejoined his battalion and saw action on Mindoro, Philippines. Upon returning to the United States, he became a jump master at Fort Benning and remained at this …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tony Serria. Sierra was born in a village in Mexico on 17 January 1924. At eight years of age he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. In 1942, while in high school, he volunteered for the Army. After completing basic training, he trained as a paratrooper at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon arriving in Australia, he joined the 503rd Parachute Infantry, D Company, 2nd Battalion as an ammunition carrier in a machinegun squad. Several weeks later the unit made an amphibious landing at Hollandia, New Guinea where they provided security for General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters. He recalls amphibious landings the unit made on Noemfoor, Leyte, Mindoro and the parachute jump they made on Corregidor. Serria graphically describes moments of combat, including a Japanese banzai attack, which resulted in heavy American casualties and numerous enemy dead. The Corregidor campaign was followed by six months of combat on Negros Island during which time Japan surrendered. He tells of the Negros Island Japanese being put into a crudely constructed prison camp until they were returned to Japan. Sierra returned to the United States on 24 December 1945 and was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tony Serria. Sierra was born in a village in Mexico on 17 January 1924. At eight years of age he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. In 1942, while in high school, he volunteered for the Army. After completing basic training, he trained as a paratrooper at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon arriving in Australia, he joined the 503rd Parachute Infantry, D Company, 2nd Battalion as an ammunition carrier in a machinegun squad. Several weeks later the unit made an amphibious landing at Hollandia, New Guinea where they provided security for General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters. He recalls amphibious landings the unit made on Noemfoor, Leyte, Mindoro and the parachute jump they made on Corregidor. Serria graphically describes moments of combat, including a Japanese banzai attack, which resulted in heavy American casualties and numerous enemy dead. The Corregidor campaign was followed by six months of combat on Negros Island during which time Japan surrendered. He tells of the Negros Island Japanese being put into a crudely constructed prison camp until they were returned to Japan. Sierra returned to the United States on 24 December 1945 and was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Calhoun. Born in 1922, he joined the Army Air Corps when he was 18 years old. He completed armament school, where he received Bendix power turret training, before volunteering for Army paratroop training. In January 1944, after completing parachute school and Officer Candidate School (OCS), he joined Company F, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment in Port Moresby. He describes activities in Hollandia and Wewak. He also describes actions on Noemfoor, including an incident in which he was wounded. Upon his recovery, he returned to his platoon. They were sent to Leyte as well as Mindoro. At Mindoro, they were subjected to intense shelling by Japanese naval forces. He provides a detailed account of his experiences during the retaking of the fortress on Corregidor Island including parachuting from the airplane to Topside and battling the Japanese on the island at Wheeler Battery, Smith Battery, Grubbs Battery, and Way Battery. He recounts the actions of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Lloyd G. McCarter. After Corregidor, he participated in operations to destroy Japanese positions on Negros and Murcia as well as to operate a patrol base out of the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Calhoun. Born in 1922, he joined the Army Air Corps when he was 18 years old. He completed armament school, where he received Bendix power turret training, before volunteering for Army paratroop training. In January 1944, after completing parachute school and Officer Candidate School (OCS), he joined Company F, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment in Port Moresby. He describes activities in Hollandia and Wewak. He also describes actions on Noemfoor, including an incident in which he was wounded. Upon his recovery, he returned to his platoon. They were sent to Leyte as well as Mindoro. At Mindoro, they were subjected to intense shelling by Japanese naval forces. He provides a detailed account of his experiences during the retaking of the fortress on Corregidor Island including parachuting from the airplane to Topside and battling the Japanese on the island at Wheeler Battery, Smith Battery, Grubbs Battery, and Way Battery. He recounts the actions of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Lloyd G. McCarter. After Corregidor, he participated in operations to destroy Japanese positions on Negros and Murcia as well as to operate a patrol base out of 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 …