The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Adams. Adams enlisted in the Marines Corps Officer’s Procurement Program in March 1942. He went into a V-12 detachment in July 1943, and was sent to Notre Dame University. From there he went to Quantico, then into OCS, then to New River, North Carolina where he was in the 67th Replacement Battalion. This battalion served as guards on a train transporting prisoners from Portsmouth Naval Prison to California, then on a ship to Pearl Harbor. Adams was placed in a 60mm mortar platoon. His first action was Iwo Jima. He landed in the fifth wave. He worked with the mortars, carried out many wounded men, and carried ammo. Adams describes the terrain on Iwo Jima. He talks at length about his 27 days on Iwo. After Iwo he went to Maui and upon being discharged, Adams became a self-employed farmer, married and raised 11 children.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Adams. Adams enlisted in the Marines Corps Officer’s Procurement Program in March 1942. He went into a V-12 detachment in July 1943, and was sent to Notre Dame University. From there he went to Quantico, then into OCS, then to New River, North Carolina where he was in the 67th Replacement Battalion. This battalion served as guards on a train transporting prisoners from Portsmouth Naval Prison to California, then on a ship to Pearl Harbor. Adams was placed in a 60mm mortar platoon. His first action was Iwo Jima. He landed in the fifth wave. He worked with the mortars, carried out many wounded men, and carried ammo. Adams describes the terrain on Iwo Jima. He talks at length about his 27 days on Iwo. After Iwo he went to Maui and upon being discharged, Adams became a self-employed farmer, married and raised 11 children.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester Ahr. Ahr joined the Marine Corps in December, 1941. He trained in San Diego and shipped overseas in October, 1942 to Guadalcanal where he was attached to a base services unit, which assisted the Seabees and Army engineers in construction projects. He also was in the invasion of Guam, where he was wounded and evacuated. Once he returned to his unit, Ahr got very sick and missed the invasion of Iwo Jima. Shortly afterwards, he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester Ahr. Ahr joined the Marine Corps in December, 1941. He trained in San Diego and shipped overseas in October, 1942 to Guadalcanal where he was attached to a base services unit, which assisted the Seabees and Army engineers in construction projects. He also was in the invasion of Guam, where he was wounded and evacuated. Once he returned to his unit, Ahr got very sick and missed the invasion of Iwo Jima. Shortly afterwards, he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Ahr. Ahr joined the Marine Corps at 16 years old in November, 1942. He lied about his age. After training, he went overseas and was assigned to the 9th Marine Regiment. He arrived in time for the invasion of Guam. Ahr also was at Iwo Jima and shares several impressions and anecdotes of the battle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Ahr. Ahr joined the Marine Corps at 16 years old in November, 1942. He lied about his age. After training, he went overseas and was assigned to the 9th Marine Regiment. He arrived in time for the invasion of Guam. Ahr also was at Iwo Jima and shares several impressions and anecdotes of the battle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Alden. Alden had just finished Marine Corps boot training in San Diego when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He began clerking in the recruit depot office in San Diego shortly after the war started because he could type. In 1944, Alden was assigned to Company A, 27th Marines at Camp Pendleton. He was in the first wave to land on Iwo Jima. He was wounded and evacuated to USS Pinkney (APH-2), which, when it was full a few days later, shaped course for Guam, the Hawaii. Once recovered, Alden went to Saipan to serve in a military police unit in May, 1945. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945. While attending Southern Methodist University, Alden participated in the Air Force ROTC and took a commission upon graduating. He worked as a procurement officer all over the world retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Alden. Alden had just finished Marine Corps boot training in San Diego when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He began clerking in the recruit depot office in San Diego shortly after the war started because he could type. In 1944, Alden was assigned to Company A, 27th Marines at Camp Pendleton. He was in the first wave to land on Iwo Jima. He was wounded and evacuated to USS Pinkney (APH-2), which, when it was full a few days later, shaped course for Guam, the Hawaii. Once recovered, Alden went to Saipan to serve in a military police unit in May, 1945. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945. While attending Southern Methodist University, Alden participated in the Air Force ROTC and took a commission upon graduating. He worked as a procurement officer all over the world retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He attended Texas A&M before serving in the Marine Corps. He was in the 28th Replacement Battalion when he was assigned to the 3d Marine Division and deployed to Iwo Jima. He discusses his first impressions of landing on the island. He describes the constructed Japanese defenses on the island and the use of Japanese Nisei interpreters to convince defenders to surrender. He returned to Texas A&M where he was in the Corps of Cadets (ROTC) and accepted his commission in the Army in time to serve in Korea. He eventually earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Texas A&M and a doctorate degree in pathology from Michigan State University. He retired from service in 1976 with the rank of colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Barger. Barger joined the Navy in October 1943 and trained as a motor machinist. He was then assigned to USS LST-716 and went aboard it in Indiana. He rode it down the rivers, through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific. He recalls unloading materials at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He also recalls being caught in the Sea of Japan in a tsunami that grounded his LST miles offshore. He was still aboard when USS LST-716 was handed over to the Chinese in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Barger. Barger joined the Navy in October 1943 and trained as a motor machinist. He was then assigned to USS LST-716 and went aboard it in Indiana. He rode it down the rivers, through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific. He recalls unloading materials at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He also recalls being caught in the Sea of Japan in a tsunami that grounded his LST miles offshore. He was still aboard when USS LST-716 was handed over to the Chinese in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Herbert Brewer. Brewer joined the Marines on 1 July 1942. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Marines began accepting African-Americans for training. Due to concerns of racial problems the Marines built a training camp, Montford Point, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where Brewer trained. He was assigned to the 51st Defense Battalion, fire control section, working with 91mm antiaircraft guns. In 1943 his battalion was sent to a base in the Ellice Islands, now Tuvalu, for 6 months. Brewer was sent back to the U.S. to attend Purdue University, under the Navy’s V-12 education program, to study Civil Engineering. Once the war ended, he opted to take a commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserves, go on inactive duty and complete his degree at Purdue. He followed up with a master’s degree in the same field. He was called back to active duty when the Korean War began and completed Officer Training in Quantico, Virginia. He was assigned to be in command of an Antiaircraft Artillery Unit at Camp Pendleton. He was the first African-American colonel in the Marine Corps. He retired in 1973 as …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Herbert Brewer. Brewer joined the Marines on 1 July 1942. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Marines began accepting African-Americans for training. Due to concerns of racial problems the Marines built a training camp, Montford Point, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where Brewer trained. He was assigned to the 51st Defense Battalion, fire control section, working with 91mm antiaircraft guns. In 1943 his battalion was sent to a base in the Ellice Islands, now Tuvalu, for 6 months. Brewer was sent back to the U.S. to attend Purdue University, under the Navy’s V-12 education program, to study Civil Engineering. Once the war ended, he opted to take a commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserves, go on inactive duty and complete his degree at Purdue. He followed up with a master’s degree in the same field. He was called back to active duty when the Korean War began and completed Officer Training in Quantico, Virginia. He was assigned to be in command of an Antiaircraft Artillery Unit at Camp Pendleton. He was the first African-American colonel in the Marine Corps. He retired in 1973 as …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh managed to enlist in the Marine Corps when he was 15 years old by getting a stranger to sign the parental release documents. After training, he was in Australia demonstrating the Marines Corps' new tale of organization when it was discovered he was only 15 years old. He was returned to the US, but some friendly Marines arranged for him to get a new birthdate and new serial number, thus allowing him to stay in the Marines because he did not want to go home. He was in the assaults at Saipan and Guam, as well as Iwo Jima. He had occupation duty in China and Japan before returning to the US to be a drill instructor. Cavanaugh also served in the Korean War until he was wounded and medically discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh managed to enlist in the Marine Corps when he was 15 years old by getting a stranger to sign the parental release documents. After training, he was in Australia demonstrating the Marines Corps' new tale of organization when it was discovered he was only 15 years old. He was returned to the US, but some friendly Marines arranged for him to get a new birthdate and new serial number, thus allowing him to stay in the Marines because he did not want to go home. He was in the assaults at Saipan and Guam, as well as Iwo Jima. He had occupation duty in China and Japan before returning to the US to be a drill instructor. Cavanaugh also served in the Korean War until he was wounded and medically discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George L. Craig. In 1943, when he was 18, he signed up for service in the Marine Corps in Richmond, Virginia. He had basic training at Parris island, South Carolina. After that, Craig went to Quantico, Virginia to Field Artillery School where he trained as a surveyor. Then, he had more training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before heading to Camp Pendleton, California where he joined the Fifth Marine Division. From there, he went to Hawaii for more advanced training at Camp Tarawa. Then, Craig speaks about landing at and fighting on Iwo Jima. He also talks about occupation duty at Sasebo, Japan when the war ended. Craig returnded home and attended the University of Maryland on the GI Bill and went into public education in Winchester, Virginia until he retired in 1985.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George L. Craig. In 1943, when he was 18, he signed up for service in the Marine Corps in Richmond, Virginia. He had basic training at Parris island, South Carolina. After that, Craig went to Quantico, Virginia to Field Artillery School where he trained as a surveyor. Then, he had more training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before heading to Camp Pendleton, California where he joined the Fifth Marine Division. From there, he went to Hawaii for more advanced training at Camp Tarawa. Then, Craig speaks about landing at and fighting on Iwo Jima. He also talks about occupation duty at Sasebo, Japan when the war ended. Craig returnded home and attended the University of Maryland on the GI Bill and went into public education in Winchester, Virginia until he retired in 1985.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gene F. Dauer. Dauer joined the Marine Corps and trained at San Diego. While on leave after training, he missed returning in time to join his original unit and shipped out later to Hawaii. Eventually, he landed at Iwo Jima on D+4 four days after the initial assault. His duty on Iwo Jima included driving ambulances and working in the field hospital ward. He was on Hilo when the war ended and describes a tsunami on that island after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gene F. Dauer. Dauer joined the Marine Corps and trained at San Diego. While on leave after training, he missed returning in time to join his original unit and shipped out later to Hawaii. Eventually, he landed at Iwo Jima on D+4 four days after the initial assault. His duty on Iwo Jima included driving ambulances and working in the field hospital ward. He was on Hilo when the war ended and describes a tsunami on that island after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leonard Dearing. Dearing joined the Navy at seventeen in 1942. He completed basic training in San Diego and then went to Oklahoma for aviation ordnance school where he also trained as a radar operator. He went on to California where he trained as an aerial gunner. While there he also trained with a Norden bombsight on a PBM as a bombardier. At Kaneohe, their planes received jet assisted take off. He flew patrols for air-sea rescues out of Eniwetok to Wake Island, Ponape, and around Truk. From Saipan, they would fly patrols to make sure the Japanese were not slipping troops back to Japan. He went to Iwo Jima, and from there flew up to Japan looking for ships or anything that might try to counterattack. Dearing was at Iwo Jima for thirty days. He shares several stories of his missions. For five months after the war ended he worked in supply and equipment in Pensacola before being discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leonard Dearing. Dearing joined the Navy at seventeen in 1942. He completed basic training in San Diego and then went to Oklahoma for aviation ordnance school where he also trained as a radar operator. He went on to California where he trained as an aerial gunner. While there he also trained with a Norden bombsight on a PBM as a bombardier. At Kaneohe, their planes received jet assisted take off. He flew patrols for air-sea rescues out of Eniwetok to Wake Island, Ponape, and around Truk. From Saipan, they would fly patrols to make sure the Japanese were not slipping troops back to Japan. He went to Iwo Jima, and from there flew up to Japan looking for ships or anything that might try to counterattack. Dearing was at Iwo Jima for thirty days. He shares several stories of his missions. For five months after the war ended he worked in supply and equipment in Pensacola before being discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Dotson. Dotson joined the Navy at 18 when he finished high school in 1943. He trained at Great Lakes Naval Training Center outside Chicago. From there, he went to Maryland to train in the Navy's Amphibious Forces. Upon completing training, Dotson joined the crew of a brand new Landing Craft, Infantry (USS LCI-471) and headed throught the Panama Canal for the Pacific. Initially, he served as a helmsman while his LCI carried underwater demolition teams (UDT) in support for the invasion of Guam. During the campaign for Guam, USS LCI-471 served as a Japanese prisoner-of-war clearing station. About 100 Japanese POWs came on and off USS LCI-471. After assembling at Ulithi, Dotson sailed with the invasion force to Iwo Jima. USS LCI-471 continued to operate supporting he UDTs prior to the invasion. The Japanese fired on and hit USS LCI-471, causing some damage and killing 11 crewmen. When the UDT completed their tasks prior to the invasion, USS LCI-471 continued on station as a support vessel ferrying supplies to shore, escorting members of the press, and making smoke screens for the fleet. After the battle, Dotson went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Dotson. Dotson joined the Navy at 18 when he finished high school in 1943. He trained at Great Lakes Naval Training Center outside Chicago. From there, he went to Maryland to train in the Navy's Amphibious Forces. Upon completing training, Dotson joined the crew of a brand new Landing Craft, Infantry (USS LCI-471) and headed throught the Panama Canal for the Pacific. Initially, he served as a helmsman while his LCI carried underwater demolition teams (UDT) in support for the invasion of Guam. During the campaign for Guam, USS LCI-471 served as a Japanese prisoner-of-war clearing station. About 100 Japanese POWs came on and off USS LCI-471. After assembling at Ulithi, Dotson sailed with the invasion force to Iwo Jima. USS LCI-471 continued to operate supporting he UDTs prior to the invasion. The Japanese fired on and hit USS LCI-471, causing some damage and killing 11 crewmen. When the UDT completed their tasks prior to the invasion, USS LCI-471 continued on station as a support vessel ferrying supplies to shore, escorting members of the press, and making smoke screens for the fleet. After the battle, Dotson went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Homer G. Ellis. When he finished high school, he enlisted in the Navy and went on active duty in 1944. When he finished training he reported aboard the USS Arkansas (BB-33). Ellis served as a seaman and worked as a powder handler on a gun crew aboard ship. He was present for the invasion of Iwo Jima. He witnessed the flag flying over Mt. Suribachi. From Iwo Jima, the Arckansas also participated in softening up Okinawa. Ellis describes a friendly fire incident, which wounded about 20 sailors aboard Arkansas, when a kamikaze flew between them and the USS New York (BB-34). After the war ended, the Arkansas ferried sevicemen from Pearl Harbor to the West Coast during Operation Magic Carpet. He was discharged and used the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill) to attend Tulane University after the war.