The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Geoffrey Fiskin. When Fiskin first tried to enlist in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he was ordered to return to his farm, an essential duty at the time. He was accepted to the RNZAF on his second attempt and was assigned to the No. 205 Squadron, a flying boat squadron stationed in Singapore. He and other RNZAF personnel were then transferred to the RAF No. 243 Squadron, seeing their first action just one day after Pearl Harbor. Fiskin struck a Japanese Ki-27 which then exploded beneath his plane, causing Fiskin to fall into a tailspin for 5,000 feet. He survived that event only to later be shelled and wounded. He was erroneously reported missing and believed killed, which he learned while speaking to his mother by phone. Fiskin, though on crutches and with steel lodged in his hip, continued to fly. In March 1942 he joined the No. 14 Squadron as a P-40 pilot. In bad weather off New Caledonia, the whole unit made a sea landing and abandoned their planes. He later discovered on Guadalcanal that American troops had found his aircraft and salvaged it; he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edwin LeBreton. LeBreton was born in Louisiana and was in the Army National Guard stationed in Texas when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served in an engineering outfit before entering military intelligence. After the war, LeBreton was sent to an engineer depot in Japan. After leaving Japan, he was stationed in France at another supply depot.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Luken. Luken describes life growing up during the Great Depression. He joined the Navy in September of 1942. He completed Radio School in the spring of 1943 and worked as both a radioman and storekeeper. He served aboard USS LST-483 beginning May of 1943 through December of 1945. Luken provides details of his time aboard the ship and his participation during landings and invasions in Alaska, Saipan, Tinian and the Philippines. He served as a pointer on a 20mm gun. He was discharged as 2nd Class Storekeeper in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Tinney. Tinney joined the Navy in June of 1943. In October he was assigned to the USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) and traveled to the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Yap, Truk, Okinawa, Australia, the Caroline Islands, the Admiralty Islands and the Philippine Islands. He worked in the black gang as a fireman, firing boilers. He provides details of his work, which he remained in for the 25 months he served aboard the Ralph Talbot. He also worked as a hot shell man on the number four 5-inch gun. While in Okinawa the Ralph Talbot was hit by a kamikaze. It also picked up 24 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) survivors and they shot down 26 planes including 4 kamikazes. Tinney provides details of these events and his involvement. He was discharged 26 November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Holtzman. Holtzman joined the NROTC at Northwestern and graduated in February 1944 with a degree in chemistry and a commission in the Navy. He then boarded the USS Iowa (BB-61) as an antiaircraft gunnery officer. After performing an intense but brief shore bombardment at Iwo Jima, he watched the invasion. At Okinawa, the Iowa unleashed tremendous fire power on kamikazes, almost running out of ammunition. An enemy plane broke through the curtain and nearly struck the Iowa before it was finally pulverized, falling to the ship as a pile of flaming debris. As with other gunnery officers, Holtzman lost his hearing, having spent so much time beside the guns, and was reassigned to communications as a coding officer. Receiving top-secret messages, he inferred the war would soon end and that something big would end it. After the bomb was dropped, Holtzman watched the signing of the peace treaty and went to conduct reconnaissance at Yokosuka. He traveled to Tokyo, which had been completely leveled. After returning home and being discharged into the Reserves in June 1946, Holtzman joined the Air Force as a researcher, studying the factors …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lefteris Lavrakas. Lavrakas graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in May of 1942. From 1942 to 1949 Lavrakas served aboard four operational units on sea duty, including service in the Atlantic, Caribbean, North Africa, Mediterranean and Pacific during World War II and in post-war occupation duty. Lavrakas was Assistant Gunnery Officer and Officer of the Deck aboard the USS Eberle (DD-430), escorting convoys to England and participating in the invasions of North Africa and Anzio. He later served as Assistant Gunnery Officer aboard the USS Aaron Ward (DM-34), where they were hit with kamikaze planes while on picket duty at Okinawa. He continued his career with the Navy and retired in 1970 at the rank of captain. He was awarded 2 Bronze Stars.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Elbert L. Buegeler. Buegeler was born in New Ulm, Texas 18 May 1918. He quit school after the 7th grade and worked for his father. Drafted in 1940, he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for basic training. Upon completing basic, he was sent to the Mojave Desert and assigned to a reconnaissance company in the 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. After additional training a Camp Pickett, Virginia and Indian Gap, Pennsylvania the battalion boarded a ship and went by convoy to England. Landing on Omaha Beach several days after the initial invasion of France, they were attached to the 3rd Armored Division. Buegeler discusses his activities in a recon unit consisting of a jeep, a driver, an observer and a gunner. He recalls one occasion when four German soldiers surrendered and others continued to join the group until there were thirty prisoners. On 30 March 1944, Buegler was shot in the back by a sniper. He describes his wound and the surgeries he had in Scotland. After spending a month in hospital in Scotland he was flown to the Army Hospital in Temple, Texas. After nine months of recovery …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Candelori. Candelori joined the Navy in June of 1943. He served as Radioman Third Class and had additional training in amphibious landings. He traveled to Hawaii in April of 1944, training and working on the island. In February of 1945 he was assigned to USS LST-646 and participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, working as radio operator and delivering supplies to the troops on the island. Candelori returned to the US in December of 1945 and was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stephen Carlson. Carlson joined the Navy in 1941. He attended the US Naval Reserve Midshipman’s School and was commissioned in November of 1942, and traveled to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In December he went aboard the USS Mississippi (BB-41). They supported the liberation of the Aleutian Islands in May of 1943. In November, they bombarded Makin. In September of 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, they assisted in defeating the Japanese Southern Force at Surigao Strait. They supported the Lingayen Gulf landings in January of 1945 and the Invasion of Okinawa in May. Carlson was still aboard the Mississippi while docked in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the surrender documents in September. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Hanley. Hanley joined the Navy in April of 1942. He trained as a storekeeper and completed midshipman’s school at Navy Pier in Chicago. In December of 1944 he was transferred to Hawaii and served on the CINCPAC staff of Admiral Chester Nimitz. He traveled to Guam in early 1945, working as head over all the stores. He shares a number of anecdotes of his encounters with Nimitz. His discharge was around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Burman Stewart. Stewart joined the Navy in February of 1944. Beginning in May, he served as a seaman aboard the SS Sea Runner (1944), a passenger and cargo ship. In June they transported supplies and Seabees for the Battle of Saipan, going ashore by tank landing ships. Stewart operated the cranes to lower and raise the boats into the water. Stewart and his shipmates served on the island of Hawaii until January of 1945, then they transported the 12th Service Marine Division to the Battle of Iwo Jima. In April they delivered a group of soldiers from Guam to the Battle of Okinawa. In June they transferred back to Hawaii, where Stewart served on the island until his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John E. Underwood. Underwood grew up on a farm in Georgia and volunteered for service in the US Navy when he was 15 years old in 1941. His mother signed for him and then he went to boot camp in Virginia. Upon completing training, Underwood was assigned VF-42 aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and assisted the airplane mechanics. Underwood discusses being aboard the Yorktown in May, 1942, during the Battle ofthe Coral Sea and witnessing the USS Lexington (CV-2) sink. Underwood also discusses making repairs in time to participate in the Battle of Midway in June, 1942. Underwood discusses the attack on the Yorktown that disabled the ship, and he describes abandoning her, but not before rescuing the contents of his locker, which included his watch, ring and poker winnings. He was soon rescued by a destroyer crewman. Once he returned to Hawaii, he stayed on in the office of the Commander, Air Force Pacific Fleet for the duration of the war and served as a driver for Admiral Forrest Sherman at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, until he was transferred to Washington, DC. Underwood discusses getting out of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William McAnany. McAnany joined the Navy in October of 1938. He completed Hospital Corps and X-Ray Technician School. McAnany worked at naval hospitals in Virginia and Philadelphia. In August of 1941 he was assigned aboard the USS Solace (AH-5) and traveled to Pearl Harbor in October. McAnany was on Ford Island during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he treated wounded soldiers. He continued his service supporting campaigns including the invasion of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Midway. He also treated wounded at Guadalcanal, the Marianas, Peleliu and Okinawa. He then served aboard the hospital ship, USS Samaritan (AH-10). After the war ended, McAnany served in the US and in the Korean War. He was discharged from active duty in May of 1958.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Brunson. Brunson left engineering school to join the Army Air Forces in December 1941, having already completed the CPTP. After basic training at Fairfax Field, he transferred to the Navy. His night fighter training at Quonset Point with VF(N)-75 emphasized navigating without landmarks. He transferred to VF(N)-101 and joined the USS Enterprise (CV-6) at Majuro, making the first strike on Truk. After the USS Intrepid (CV-11) was torpedoed, Brunson was one of just a few Corsair pilots remaining in the fleet, a group known as the Grasshoppers. He supported the Hollandia landing and participated in the Marianas Turkey Shoot. He also escorted seaplanes on search and rescue missions. Although the F4U was fast, due to faulty radar gear he only once got on the enemy’s tail. Brunson was badly injured when his wing caught the edge of the Enterprise. In July 1944 he returned to the States as a night fighter instructor, stationed at Vero Beach. He was discharged into the Reserves in June 1946 and resumed his studies at Kansas State, with a focus on aeronautical engineering. Brunson began a career in flight testing, but when …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Skirvin. Skirvin was born on a farm in Iowa on 26 January 1922. He dropped out of school after the eighth grade to work on the farm. In 1942 he was drafted into the Army and spent six week of infantry basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. He then went to Fort Bliss, Texas where he was assigned to the Troop G, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He recalls training as cavalry with horses until early 1943 when the horses were taken away and the unit became infantry. Trained as a Browning automatic rifle (BAR) operator, he boarded the USAT Maui with an advance detail bound for Brisbane, Australia. Upon their arrival they began four weeks of intensive jungle training. This was followed by four weeks of amphibious training. Skirvin’s unit went to New Guinea and the Admiralties where they were involved in combat. While there, Skirvin developed a severe case of Shingles, which hospitalized him for two weeks. Eventually, his unit boarded the USS La Salle (AGF-3) and landed on Leyte in October 1944. He recounts various experiences while there, including a banzai charge, loss …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Geoffrey Fiskin. When Fiskin first tried to enlist in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he was ordered to return to his farm, an essential duty at the time. He was accepted to the RNZAF on his second attempt and was assigned to the No. 205 Squadron, a flying boat squadron stationed in Singapore. He and other RNZAF personnel were then transferred to the RAF No. 243 Squadron, seeing their first action just one day after Pearl Harbor. Fiskin struck a Japanese Ki-27 which then exploded beneath his plane, causing Fiskin to fall into a tailspin for 5,000 feet. He survived that event only to later be shelled and wounded. He was erroneously reported missing and believed killed, which he learned while speaking to his mother by phone. Fiskin, though on crutches and with steel lodged in his hip, continued to fly. In March 1942 he joined the No. 14 Squadron as a P-40 pilot. In bad weather off New Caledonia, the whole unit made a sea landing and abandoned their planes. He later discovered on Guadalcanal that American troops had found his aircraft and salvaged it; he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edwin LeBreton. LeBreton was born in Louisiana and was in the Army National Guard stationed in Texas when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served in an engineering outfit before entering military intelligence. After the war, LeBreton was sent to an engineer depot in Japan. After leaving Japan, he was stationed in France at another supply depot.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Luken. Luken describes life growing up during the Great Depression. He joined the Navy in September of 1942. He completed Radio School in the spring of 1943 and worked as both a radioman and storekeeper. He served aboard USS LST-483 beginning May of 1943 through December of 1945. Luken provides details of his time aboard the ship and his participation during landings and invasions in Alaska, Saipan, Tinian and the Philippines. He served as a pointer on a 20mm gun. He was discharged as 2nd Class Storekeeper in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Tinney. Tinney joined the Navy in June of 1943. In October he was assigned to the USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) and traveled to the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Yap, Truk, Okinawa, Australia, the Caroline Islands, the Admiralty Islands and the Philippine Islands. He worked in the black gang as a fireman, firing boilers. He provides details of his work, which he remained in for the 25 months he served aboard the Ralph Talbot. He also worked as a hot shell man on the number four 5-inch gun. While in Okinawa the Ralph Talbot was hit by a kamikaze. It also picked up 24 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) survivors and they shot down 26 planes including 4 kamikazes. Tinney provides details of these events and his involvement. He was discharged 26 November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Holtzman. Holtzman joined the NROTC at Northwestern and graduated in February 1944 with a degree in chemistry and a commission in the Navy. He then boarded the USS Iowa (BB-61) as an antiaircraft gunnery officer. After performing an intense but brief shore bombardment at Iwo Jima, he watched the invasion. At Okinawa, the Iowa unleashed tremendous fire power on kamikazes, almost running out of ammunition. An enemy plane broke through the curtain and nearly struck the Iowa before it was finally pulverized, falling to the ship as a pile of flaming debris. As with other gunnery officers, Holtzman lost his hearing, having spent so much time beside the guns, and was reassigned to communications as a coding officer. Receiving top-secret messages, he inferred the war would soon end and that something big would end it. After the bomb was dropped, Holtzman watched the signing of the peace treaty and went to conduct reconnaissance at Yokosuka. He traveled to Tokyo, which had been completely leveled. After returning home and being discharged into the Reserves in June 1946, Holtzman joined the Air Force as a researcher, studying the factors …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lefteris Lavrakas. Lavrakas graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in May of 1942. From 1942 to 1949 Lavrakas served aboard four operational units on sea duty, including service in the Atlantic, Caribbean, North Africa, Mediterranean and Pacific during World War II and in post-war occupation duty. Lavrakas was Assistant Gunnery Officer and Officer of the Deck aboard the USS Eberle (DD-430), escorting convoys to England and participating in the invasions of North Africa and Anzio. He later served as Assistant Gunnery Officer aboard the USS Aaron Ward (DM-34), where they were hit with kamikaze planes while on picket duty at Okinawa. He continued his career with the Navy and retired in 1970 at the rank of captain. He was awarded 2 Bronze Stars.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stephen Carlson. Carlson joined the Navy in 1941. He attended the US Naval Reserve Midshipman’s School and was commissioned in November of 1942, and traveled to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In December he went aboard the USS Mississippi (BB-41). They supported the liberation of the Aleutian Islands in May of 1943. In November, they bombarded Makin. In September of 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, they assisted in defeating the Japanese Southern Force at Surigao Strait. They supported the Lingayen Gulf landings in January of 1945 and the Invasion of Okinawa in May. Carlson was still aboard the Mississippi while docked in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the surrender documents in September. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Elbert L. Buegeler. Buegeler was born in New Ulm, Texas 18 May 1918. He quit school after the 7th grade and worked for his father. Drafted in 1940, he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for basic training. Upon completing basic, he was sent to the Mojave Desert and assigned to a reconnaissance company in the 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. After additional training a Camp Pickett, Virginia and Indian Gap, Pennsylvania the battalion boarded a ship and went by convoy to England. Landing on Omaha Beach several days after the initial invasion of France, they were attached to the 3rd Armored Division. Buegeler discusses his activities in a recon unit consisting of a jeep, a driver, an observer and a gunner. He recalls one occasion when four German soldiers surrendered and others continued to join the group until there were thirty prisoners. On 30 March 1944, Buegler was shot in the back by a sniper. He describes his wound and the surgeries he had in Scotland. After spending a month in hospital in Scotland he was flown to the Army Hospital in Temple, Texas. After nine months of recovery …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Candelori. Candelori joined the Navy in June of 1943. He served as Radioman Third Class and had additional training in amphibious landings. He traveled to Hawaii in April of 1944, training and working on the island. In February of 1945 he was assigned to USS LST-646 and participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, working as radio operator and delivering supplies to the troops on the island. Candelori returned to the US in December of 1945 and was discharged in April of 1946.