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 oral interview with Fred Faiz. Faiz was raised on a ranch and had good relations with neighboring Japanese-American farmers before the war. In 1939, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, with whom he worked until being drafted into the Army in March 1941. He was assigned to the First Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss. When his unit phased out horse-drawn Howitzers and transitioned to driving jeeps, Faiz was sent to Louisiana, where he trained as a machine-gunner. Faiz saw his first combat in New Guinea and encountered banzai charges in the Admiralty Islands, with Los Negros defended by 10,000 elite Japanese Marines. In the jungle, Faiz and his unit set traps by staging their hammocks with makeshift dummies and watching from afar as Japanese soldiers approached. On Luzon, he participated in the liberation of Santo Tomas and fought inside Manila. Faiz returned home and was discharged in late 1945. Having contracted malaria, he experienced symptoms for another 10 years. Although he felt the war unfairly biased people against Japanese-Americans, he saw hostility towards them eventually subside.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Faiz. Faiz was raised on a ranch and had good relations with neighboring Japanese-American farmers before the war. In 1939, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, with whom he worked until being drafted into the Army in March 1941. He was assigned to the First Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss. When his unit phased out horse-drawn Howitzers and transitioned to driving jeeps, Faiz was sent to Louisiana, where he trained as a machine-gunner. Faiz saw his first combat in New Guinea and encountered banzai charges in the Admiralty Islands, with Los Negros defended by 10,000 elite Japanese Marines. In the jungle, Faiz and his unit set traps by staging their hammocks with makeshift dummies and watching from afar as Japanese soldiers approached. On Luzon, he participated in the liberation of Santo Tomas and fought inside Manila. Faiz returned home and was discharged in late 1945. Having contracted malaria, he experienced symptoms for another 10 years. Although he felt the war unfairly biased people against Japanese-Americans, he saw hostility towards them eventually subside.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harlan Crouse. Crouse joined the Army in October 1944 and trained at Camp Hood. He arrived in Manila in April, 1945 as a replacement in the 1st Cavalry Division to prepare further for the invasion of Japan. In early September, his unit departed for Japan. Crouse shares several anecdotes about his experiences during the occupation. He eventually began serving as troop clerk, and then moved up to battalion sergeant major. Crouse remained in Japan, returning to the US to be discharged in November, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Plantz. Plantz was drafted into the Army in August of 1945. He completed his training in Camp Robinson, Arkansas. He was assigned to the 541st Quartermaster Corps and stationed in France during peace time. He operated the M29 81mm and the M19 60mm mortars. He describes life in France and the state of the buildings after the war. He was discharged in December of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Winfred Hartman. Hartman was drafted into the Army in June 1943. During his basic training in North Carolina, he was selected to be a medic. In January, 1944, he shipped to England where he worked in a replacement depot administering shots and processing paper records. After the Battle of the Bulge, Hartman was sent to join the 359th Regiment, 90th Infantry Division as a medic. He shares several anecdotes about his time in combat dealing with wounded and injured GIs. Hartman's unit was in Czechoslovakia when the war in Europe ended. He started home for the US in late November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Winfred Hartman. Hartman was drafted into the Army in June 1943. During his basic training in North Carolina, he was selected to be a medic. In January, 1944, he shipped to England where he worked in a replacement depot administering shots and processing paper records. After the Battle of the Bulge, Hartman was sent to join the 359th Regiment, 90th Infantry Division as a medic. He shares several anecdotes about his time in combat dealing with wounded and injured GIs. Hartman's unit was in Czechoslovakia when the war in Europe ended. He started home for the US in late November 1945.