The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Blaise LePre. LePre dropped out of high school and then joined the Navy in 1943. After basic training in New York and an engineering course in Minnesota, LePre headed west to Washington and was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48). He was aboard the ship during the Battle of Surigao Strait. His duty station was in the boiler rooms. After some repairs at a floating drydock, the West Virginia headed for Iwo Jima to bombard. LePre was also present for the bombardments of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. LePre was aboard when a kamikaze struck the West Virginia. He was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Blaise LePre. LePre dropped out of high school and then joined the Navy in 1943. After basic training in New York and an engineering course in Minnesota, LePre headed west to Washington and was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48). He was aboard the ship during the Battle of Surigao Strait. His duty station was in the boiler rooms. After some repairs at a floating drydock, the West Virginia headed for Iwo Jima to bombard. LePre was also present for the bombardments of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. LePre was aboard when a kamikaze struck the West Virginia. He was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tomakazu Kasai. Kasai entered flight training in April, 1942, learning to fly at a field on Hokkaido. When Kasai finished training in November 1943, he was qualified to fly Japanese Zero fighter plane and was asigned to Navy Air Group 263, stationed at Motsuyama City. When Kasai was assigned to the front, he went to Guam. SHortly before the American invasion, he was transferred to Pelelui. At Pelelui, Kasai's task was to intercept American aircraft in the area. Before the Americans invaded the Palaus, Kasai was transferred to Davao, in the Philippines. Kasai was transferred to Air Grpoup 201 and was assigned to bring aircraft back to the Philippines from Japan. During the American invasion of the Philippines, Kasai served as a fighter escort for kamikazes. Kasia indicates the various levels of training the kamikaze pilots received prior to their missions. Kasai was present in Nagasaki Prefecture when the second atomic bomb was dropped. He was stationed at Omura and recalls seeing the mushroom cloud at a distance. After the surrender, Kasai was told simply to go home, which he eventually did. Kasai also recalls ten victories over …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tomakazu Kasai. Kasai entered flight training in April, 1942, learning to fly at a field on Hokkaido. When Kasai finished training in November 1943, he was qualified to fly Japanese Zero fighter plane and was asigned to Navy Air Group 263, stationed at Motsuyama City. When Kasai was assigned to the front, he went to Guam. SHortly before the American invasion, he was transferred to Pelelui. At Pelelui, Kasai's task was to intercept American aircraft in the area. Before the Americans invaded the Palaus, Kasai was transferred to Davao, in the Philippines. Kasai was transferred to Air Grpoup 201 and was assigned to bring aircraft back to the Philippines from Japan. During the American invasion of the Philippines, Kasai served as a fighter escort for kamikazes. Kasia indicates the various levels of training the kamikaze pilots received prior to their missions. Kasai was present in Nagasaki Prefecture when the second atomic bomb was dropped. He was stationed at Omura and recalls seeing the mushroom cloud at a distance. After the surrender, Kasai was told simply to go home, which he eventually did. Kasai also recalls ten victories over …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Binkley. Binkley joined the Navy Seabees in July of 1943. He served as a Seaman 2nd Class. He served with the 581st Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU). They were commissioned at Port Hueneme, California in January of 1944 with personnel from the 123rd Battalion. They shipped out 13 March and traveled to Pearl Harbor. Their unit took over all maintenance and minor construction of the Naval Ammunition Depot. Binkley worked in a number of areas including construction, electrical work, censoring the mail and other postal work. He shares his living and working experiences on the island. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Binkley. Binkley joined the Navy Seabees in July of 1943. He served as a Seaman 2nd Class. He served with the 581st Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU). They were commissioned at Port Hueneme, California in January of 1944 with personnel from the 123rd Battalion. They shipped out 13 March and traveled to Pearl Harbor. Their unit took over all maintenance and minor construction of the Naval Ammunition Depot. Binkley worked in a number of areas including construction, electrical work, censoring the mail and other postal work. He shares his living and working experiences on the island. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Johnson. Johnson joined the Navy in April, 1941. After basic training in San Diego, he was assigned to USS Oklahoma (BB-37). During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Johnson was aboard the Oklahoma and at his battle station in one of the turrets when the ship rolled over. He made it into the water and was rescued by a boat. Soon after, Johnson was assigned to USS Worden (DD-352). He was aboard when the Worden sank in the Aleutians in January 1943. He was then assigned to patrol craft escort duty from Cuba to the Panama Canal. He did that for a year before being assigned to an LST, which transited to the Pacific and was involved in the invasion of the Philippines and Okinawa. Johnson rotated back to the US and was home when the war ended. He was recalled for the Korean War and served aboard an auxiliary transport until 1952.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Perry. Perry joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed armament school, and aerial gunner training. He served as a waist gunner aboard a B-17 with the 96th Bomb Group, 338th Bomb Squadron. They deployed to England, and Perry was shot down in March of 1944 during his fourth mission over Brunswick, Germany. He was contained as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 4 and 6, and liberated in April of 1945. Perry returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Perry. Perry joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed armament school, and aerial gunner training. He served as a waist gunner aboard a B-17 with the 96th Bomb Group, 338th Bomb Squadron. They deployed to England, and Perry was shot down in March of 1944 during his fourth mission over Brunswick, Germany. He was contained as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 4 and 6, and liberated in April of 1945. Perry returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J. M. Taylor. Taylor joined the Army Air Forces in September, 1942 as an aviation cadet. After flight training, he graduated and received his commission in December, 1943. He flew P-40s. He went overseas aboard the USS General H.W. Butner (APA-113) to India. After a while, Taylor flew a P-40 over the Himalaya Mountains to China where he was assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron in September, 1944. Later that fall, Taylor was shot down over a Japanese airfield he was attacking and was captured. After several months, he was transferred to a POW facility near Kiangwan, outside of Shanghai. In May, he was transported to the Japanese home islands. Taylor was around Sapporo when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J. M. Taylor. Taylor joined the Army Air Forces in September, 1942 as an aviation cadet. After flight training, he graduated and received his commission in December, 1943. He flew P-40s. He went overseas aboard the USS General H.W. Butner (APA-113) to India. After a while, Taylor flew a P-40 over the Himalaya Mountains to China where he was assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron in September, 1944. Later that fall, Taylor was shot down over a Japanese airfield he was attacking and was captured. After several months, he was transferred to a POW facility near Kiangwan, outside of Shanghai. In May, he was transported to the Japanese home islands. Taylor was around Sapporo when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Sharp where he discusses his childhood and education. He describes the process of enlisting in the Navy, the training he had to go through to become a pilot and his experiences in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leon Geromanos. Geromanos joined the Army in November of 1940. He graduated from Parachute School in 1942. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Geromanos 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 Leon Geromanos. Geromanos joined the Army in November of 1940. He graduated from Parachute School in 1942. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Geromanos participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in late 1945.