The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Varnum. Varnum joined the Navy in May, 1943 and was trained at Farragut, Idaho. After that, he went to the University of Illinois for diesel engine training. From there, Varnum headed for Little Creek, Virginia to amphibious training as a diesel engineer. He was assigned to an LCVP that had rocket attachments on the side and describes his trip across the Atlantic aboard an LST to Scotland, arriving in March 1944. Then they went to Portsmouth to train for the Normandy invasion. In England, Varnum was transferred to a different boat that relayed messages between ships. He travelled across the English Channel to Normandy aboard her. His boat was tied up to the USS Ancon (AGC-4) and he stayed aboard the Ancon until time to perform his message traffic duties. During the invasion of Southern France Varnum was back aboard a rocket boat. His sank. He returned to the US and was assigned to UST LST-1049 at Pittsburgh. He rode it down river to the Gulf of Mexico and took it to San Diego. Once in the Pacific, Varnum went to the Mariana Islands, the Philippines and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Isaac Breedlove. Breedlove joined the Army in 1937 and was sent to Panama for duty at the Canal Zone. He was there two years before being discharged. Breedlove reenlisted in 1939 and was sent to Hawaii. Breedlove was in an infantry company at Schofield Barracks when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He suffered from the mumps, but waited until he was aboard a transport to the Solomon Islands to get treatment. He landed on Guadalcanal with his unit in late November, 1942. While on Guadalcanal, Breedlove received summons to report to his local draft board. His company commander did not let him go. He was also involved in the invasion of Luzon in January 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Austin. Austin was born in Texas and grew up on farms before joining the Texas National Guard. When his unit, the 144th Infantry Regiment, was federalized, he became a member of the 36th Infantry Division. He was training at Camp Bowie, Texas, when he received word Pearl Harbor had been attacked. His unit was detached and went to Fort Lewis, Washington, where it was spread out along the coast watching for a Japanese invasion. Austin eventually went to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He shipped overseas in September 1942. When he arrived in Hawaii, he was attached to the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. After more training in Australia, his unit moved to New Guinea and participated in the Hollandia invasion. After securing airfields, Austin’s unit was transported to Biak. Their next assignment took them to Leyte for the invasion. After the Leyte campaign, Austin went to Luzon and was attached to the 38th Infantry Division. In May, 1945, Austin returned to the US on leave and was discharged later in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Bak. Bak was born in Garfield, New Jersey on 14 March 1923. He joined the US Navy Reserve in 1942 and went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for ten months. He then attended quartermaster school for four months. Upon graduating, he was assigned to the USS Franks (DD-554). The ship was assigned to Division 94 along with the USS Haggard (DD-555), USS Hailey (DD-556) and USS Johnston (DD-557). After training in bombardment, torpedo and depth charge launching, the division went to Pearl Harbor. Bak was involved in the invasions of Tarawa and Kwajalein, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He saw the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) get hit by a Japanese torpedo and recalls escorting the USS Washington (BB-56), damaged in a collision with the USS Indiana (BB-58), back to Pearl Harbor. The Franks was often designated a plane guard ship, assigned to rescue downed pilots. Bak describes the procedure. During the invasion of Okinawa, the Franks collided with the USS New Jersey (BB-62). The Franks’ captain died of injuries suffered during the accident and the ship went to Bremerton, Washington for major repairs. Bak …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doy Duncan. He begins by speaking about finishing high school in Arkansas, looking for work, joining the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), enrolling in junior college, joining the Navy and evetually taking Civilian Pilot Training before being called into the Navy. His battalion commander at Preflight School at Chapel Hill, North Carolina was Gerald R. Ford, the future president. He passed and evetually made it into dive bomber training in Glenview, Illinois where he practiced carrier landings on Lake Michigan. Before shipping out, he was switched to a fighter unit assigned to the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). Duncan speaks of attacking targets on Peleliu with napalm. Next, Duncan describes his actions at the Battle off Samar. He speaks of attacking the ships of the Japanese Fleet pursuing Taffy 3. His plane was damaged and he had to make a water landing. His plane sank too fast for him to retrieve his life raft and he saw sharks beginning to circle. A torpedo bomber flew over and tossed out a life raft for him. Duncan managed managed to paddle to Samar in a few days where he fell in with …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with I.S. Fellner. Fellner joined the Navy in January of 1942. He was trained as a dive bomber pilot and went to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal in 1943. Fellner describes an emergency landing after being hit by flak over Bougainville. He then returned to the US and joined VB-13, attached to the USS Franklin (CV-13). Fellner describes another close call after a collision during a training mission. He discusses flying a photo reconnaissance mission over Peleliu and taking part on missions in support of the landings at Leyte. Fellner participated in an attack on the Japanese fleet at Surigao Straight and describes dive bombing a Japanese ship. He details the process of arming a bomb. Fellner discusses the kamikaze attack that damaged the Franklin. He returned to the US for shore duty and left the service soon after the surrender.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Aubrey Felder. Felder joined the Navy in February of 1943. He completed training and served as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate aboard the USS Wolverine (IX-64), a training ship at Naval Station Great Lakes. Beginning January of 1944 Felder worked aboard the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). They participated in the battles of Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Luzon and the Battle off Samar in the Philippine Sea. Their ship was hit by a kamikaze. Felder returned to the US and was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Goldstein. He gives overviews of background on the battles of Pearl Harbor and Leyete Gulf.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Don Mc Nelly. McNelly was born in Brookville, Ohio on 11 November 1920. After graduating from high school he attended the General Motors Institute, studying to be an engineer. Employed in defense work, he received draft deferments until 1944. During June 1944 he joined the US Navy and received a commission, as he was a graduate engineer. He joined the USS Kyne (DE-744) at Ulithi as a deck and engineer officer. The ship’s mission was to escort convoys and perform anti-submarine duties. During December 1944 the ship was involved in Typhoon Cobra. He describes the terror of being in the typhoon, which sank three other American destroyers. Soon after the Japanese surrender, the Kyne was ordered to Tokyo Bay. McNelly went into Tokyo and saw plenty of destruction. Soon after the signing of the Peace Treaty, the Kyne returned to the United States where it was placed in the Mothball Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida. Mc Nelly was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean Moel. Moel joined the Navy in September of 1943. He became a member of the commissioning crew of USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73). Moel was a crewman on a twin 40mm and describes coming under air attack. He describes in detail the Battle off Samar. Moel details seeing his ship get hit by battleship shells and the damage that resulted. He describes abandoning ship and his time in the water. Moel recalls seeing a Japanese ship pass by with its crewman at attention in an apparent sign of respect. He describes his rescue by an LCI and medical treatment that he received on an LST. Moel was eventually reassigned to a seaplane tender and discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Roy. Roy joined the Navy in 1939. He joined the engineering department on the USS Arkansas (BB-33). Roy practiced amphibious landings using the battleship motor launch alongside early Higgins landing craft. He was then sent to school to become a photographer’s mate. Roy was sent to the USS Yorktown (CV-5) where he operated motion picture cameras and worked in the photo lab. He mentions taking part in photo-reconnaissance missions over the Marshall and Gilbert islands. Roy describes his time on the bridge during the Battle of Coral Sea. He discusses how the captain maneuvered the ship to avoid incoming torpedoes. Roy details how the Yorktown was damaged and evacuated during the Battle of Midway. He describes how he was able to save three tins of film during the ordeal. Roy was then assigned as an instructor at the Naval School of Photography in Pensacola. He was then commissioned as an officer and went on to serve in intelligence and in the reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard W. Roby. Roby was accepted for aviation cadet training and earned his wings at Pensacola in October, 1941. His first assignment was as a flight instructor at Corpus Christi. When Roby was finally assigned to the Fleet, He joined Composite Squadron 10 (United States. Navy. Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10)) aboard the USS Gambier Bay in April, 1944. He mentions combat missions over Guam, Tinian and Saipan. During the invasion of the Philippines, Roby was aboard the Gambier Bay, with Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy 3), in October, 1944. He describes attacking the Japanese Fleet off the coast of Samar. After several runs on the Japanese ships, Roby had to head for the airfield at Tacloban, where he refueld, rearmed and had some engine repairs done. He wasn't able to get back to a carrier for a few days. When he returned, he landed on the USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) and steamed to Pearl Harbor, then San Francisco aboard the USS California (BB-44). From there, he was attached to a squadron in training in Florida. He was finally assigned to a new squadron two days before the war ended. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Yusen. Yusen joined the Navy around 1943. Beginning early 1944, he served as Seaman 2nd Class and worked on the deck force aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). They traveled to Pearl Harbor to complete additional training, then escorted a thirty-ship convoy to the Marshall Islands. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where the ship was badly damaged and sunk. Yusen was one of the surviving crewmembers. He was later transferred to Bremerton Naval Ammunition Depot for a year and half and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thelma Province O'Malley. Born in 1921, she joined the SPARS in 1943 or early1944. She describes her training in Palm Beach, Florida as well as her duties at the Coast Guard Recruiting Station in San Francisco, California. She also talks about sightseeing in San Francisco. The interview also includes information about her parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Maxine Lauderdale Cullison. Cullison speaks of being raised in Harlingen, Texas and meeting her husband, who was training in the Army Air Corps there in 1942. She mentions two brother that served during the war: one aboard the USS Swordfish (SS-193) and one was an engineer building the Alcan Hiaghway. Then she speaks about her husband's service and all the places he was stationed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Maxine Lauderdale Cullison. Cullison speaks of being raised in Harlingen, Texas and meeting her husband, who was training in the Army Air Corps there in 1942. She mentions two brother that served during the war: one aboard the USS Swordfish (SS-193) and one was an engineer building the Alcan Hiaghway. Then she speaks about her husband's service and all the places he was stationed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean Moel. Moel joined the Navy in September of 1943. He became a member of the commissioning crew of USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73). Moel was a crewman on a twin 40mm and describes coming under air attack. He describes in detail the Battle off Samar. Moel details seeing his ship get hit by battleship shells and the damage that resulted. He describes abandoning ship and his time in the water. Moel recalls seeing a Japanese ship pass by with its crewman at attention in an apparent sign of respect. He describes his rescue by an LCI and medical treatment that he received on an LST. Moel was eventually reassigned to a seaplane tender and discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Roy. Roy joined the Navy in 1939. He joined the engineering department on the USS Arkansas (BB-33). Roy practiced amphibious landings using the battleship motor launch alongside early Higgins landing craft. He was then sent to school to become a photographer’s mate. Roy was sent to the USS Yorktown (CV-5) where he operated motion picture cameras and worked in the photo lab. He mentions taking part in photo-reconnaissance missions over the Marshall and Gilbert islands. Roy describes his time on the bridge during the Battle of Coral Sea. He discusses how the captain maneuvered the ship to avoid incoming torpedoes. Roy details how the Yorktown was damaged and evacuated during the Battle of Midway. He describes how he was able to save three tins of film during the ordeal. Roy was then assigned as an instructor at the Naval School of Photography in Pensacola. He was then commissioned as an officer and went on to serve in intelligence and in the reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard W. Roby. Roby was accepted for aviation cadet training and earned his wings at Pensacola in October, 1941. His first assignment was as a flight instructor at Corpus Christi. When Roby was finally assigned to the Fleet, He joined Composite Squadron 10 (United States. Navy. Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10)) aboard the USS Gambier Bay in April, 1944. He mentions combat missions over Guam, Tinian and Saipan. During the invasion of the Philippines, Roby was aboard the Gambier Bay, with Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy 3), in October, 1944. He describes attacking the Japanese Fleet off the coast of Samar. After several runs on the Japanese ships, Roby had to head for the airfield at Tacloban, where he refueld, rearmed and had some engine repairs done. He wasn't able to get back to a carrier for a few days. When he returned, he landed on the USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) and steamed to Pearl Harbor, then San Francisco aboard the USS California (BB-44). From there, he was attached to a squadron in training in Florida. He was finally assigned to a new squadron two days before the war ended. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Yusen. Yusen joined the Navy around 1943. Beginning early 1944, he served as Seaman 2nd Class and worked on the deck force aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). They traveled to Pearl Harbor to complete additional training, then escorted a thirty-ship convoy to the Marshall Islands. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where the ship was badly damaged and sunk. Yusen was one of the surviving crewmembers. He was later transferred to Bremerton Naval Ammunition Depot for a year and half and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thelma Province O'Malley. Born in 1921, she joined the SPARS in 1943 or early1944. She describes her training in Palm Beach, Florida as well as her duties at the Coast Guard Recruiting Station in San Francisco, California. She also talks about sightseeing in San Francisco. The interview also includes information about her parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Austin. Austin was born in Texas and grew up on farms before joining the Texas National Guard. When his unit, the 144th Infantry Regiment, was federalized, he became a member of the 36th Infantry Division. He was training at Camp Bowie, Texas, when he received word Pearl Harbor had been attacked. His unit was detached and went to Fort Lewis, Washington, where it was spread out along the coast watching for a Japanese invasion. Austin eventually went to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He shipped overseas in September 1942. When he arrived in Hawaii, he was attached to the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. After more training in Australia, his unit moved to New Guinea and participated in the Hollandia invasion. After securing airfields, Austin’s unit was transported to Biak. Their next assignment took them to Leyte for the invasion. After the Leyte campaign, Austin went to Luzon and was attached to the 38th Infantry Division. In May, 1945, Austin returned to the US on leave and was discharged later in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Bak. Bak was born in Garfield, New Jersey on 14 March 1923. He joined the US Navy Reserve in 1942 and went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for ten months. He then attended quartermaster school for four months. Upon graduating, he was assigned to the USS Franks (DD-554). The ship was assigned to Division 94 along with the USS Haggard (DD-555), USS Hailey (DD-556) and USS Johnston (DD-557). After training in bombardment, torpedo and depth charge launching, the division went to Pearl Harbor. Bak was involved in the invasions of Tarawa and Kwajalein, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He saw the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) get hit by a Japanese torpedo and recalls escorting the USS Washington (BB-56), damaged in a collision with the USS Indiana (BB-58), back to Pearl Harbor. The Franks was often designated a plane guard ship, assigned to rescue downed pilots. Bak describes the procedure. During the invasion of Okinawa, the Franks collided with the USS New Jersey (BB-62). The Franks’ captain died of injuries suffered during the accident and the ship went to Bremerton, Washington for major repairs. Bak …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doy Duncan. He begins by speaking about finishing high school in Arkansas, looking for work, joining the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), enrolling in junior college, joining the Navy and evetually taking Civilian Pilot Training before being called into the Navy. His battalion commander at Preflight School at Chapel Hill, North Carolina was Gerald R. Ford, the future president. He passed and evetually made it into dive bomber training in Glenview, Illinois where he practiced carrier landings on Lake Michigan. Before shipping out, he was switched to a fighter unit assigned to the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). Duncan speaks of attacking targets on Peleliu with napalm. Next, Duncan describes his actions at the Battle off Samar. He speaks of attacking the ships of the Japanese Fleet pursuing Taffy 3. His plane was damaged and he had to make a water landing. His plane sank too fast for him to retrieve his life raft and he saw sharks beginning to circle. A torpedo bomber flew over and tossed out a life raft for him. Duncan managed managed to paddle to Samar in a few days where he fell in with …