The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Andrew Bofinger. Bofinger joined the Naval Reserves in October of 1941, and was called to active duty on 15 December 1941. He served as Boatswain’s Mate Second Class, and worked on the offshore patrol in sailing vessels searching for Japanese subs. In June of 1943 he received a direct commission as ensign, and was assigned as Skipper aboard the minesweeper, YMS-93. In early 1944 they traveled to Hawaii, then the Marshall Islands conducting patrols, search and rescue missions and maintenance sweeping. In March of 1945 they swept mines on the east coast of Okinawa and rescued crewman from the USS England (DE-635). Bofinger was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Zane Puckett. Puckett joined the Navy in April, 1942. After boot training, he qualified for communications school. Upon graduation, Puckett was assigned aboard USS PC-602. After transiting the Panama Canal, Puckett joined USS YMS-93 as her signalman in August, 1943. At the Marshall Islands, they patrolled for submarines and accidentally damaged their wooden keel. After repairs at Pearl Harbor, YMS-93 headed for Okinawa in time for the invasion. Puckett explains how minesweepers operated. When the war ended, YMS-93 swept waters off the coast of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Burle C. Hawthorn. Hawthorn joined the Navy around 1943. He served as an aviation metalsmith aboard USS Chandeleur (AV-10), a seaplane tender, in the Pacific Theatre. Beginning in early 1944, they transported men, aviation equipment, torpedoes, bombs and other cargo throughout the South Pacific islands. Hawthorn shares stories of taking Marines to Guadalcanal, New Hebrides, and Palau. They provided tender services for several patrol squadrons during the invasions of the Palau Islands, the Philippines, Ulithi, and Okinawa. After the war ended, they traveled to Japan, tending seaplanes taking part in the occupation, returning to the US in late 1945 when Hawthorn was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John G. O’Keefe. He was born in Centralia, Illinois 13 June 1923. After high school he worked for the Illinois Railroad until he was old enough to join the Navy in 1942. After training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, he was assigned to Diesel Service School in Chicago. After six weeks, he went to patrol boat school at Melville, Rhode Island. O’Keefe and several other PT boat replacements, boarded the Robert C. Greene for a 43 day trip to New Hebrides. At Tulagi, he was temporarily assigned to work on PT-107, part of Patrol Boat Squadron 5. He was then assigned to PT-184, in Squadron 11. He recalls the need for one hour rotations by the boat diesel engineers, due to extreme heat in the engine room. He visited a small island and found group picture of Amelia Earhart, a Japanese officer, a missionary and a native boy. Following Navy orders to report any evidence regarding Amelia Earhart, they contacted headquarters. Three days later, a PBY arrived with an officer from Naval Intelligence, who took possession of the picture. After making inquires as to the disposition …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frederick Brown. Brown was born 7 January 1921. In 1942, he was drafted into the US Army and underwent basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was then sent to San Luis Obispo, California for advanced training. Upon completion of the training, his division was sent to New Guinea. He was assigned to the 6th Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Regiment, G Company as a platoon scout and point man. He also recalls a kamikaze attacking a ship he was aboard just prior to landing in the Philippines. Brown witnessed the burial at sea of the seamen killed by the attack. He recalls that the unit was in combat for 112 continuous days. During this time, he contracted malaria and was hospitalized for several weeks. After Japan surrendered, his unit was sent to Korea. He spent three months in Korea before returning to the United States. He was discharged 25 December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Andrew Bofinger. Bofinger joined the Naval Reserves in October of 1941, and was called to active duty on 15 December 1941. He served as Boatswain’s Mate Second Class, and worked on the offshore patrol in sailing vessels searching for Japanese subs. In June of 1943 he received a direct commission as ensign, and was assigned as Skipper aboard the minesweeper, YMS-93. In early 1944 they traveled to Hawaii, then the Marshall Islands conducting patrols, search and rescue missions and maintenance sweeping. In March of 1945 they swept mines on the east coast of Okinawa and rescued crewman from the USS England (DE-635). Bofinger was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Zane Puckett. Puckett joined the Navy in April, 1942. After boot training, he qualified for communications school. Upon graduation, Puckett was assigned aboard USS PC-602. After transiting the Panama Canal, Puckett joined USS YMS-93 as her signalman in August, 1943. At the Marshall Islands, they patrolled for submarines and accidentally damaged their wooden keel. After repairs at Pearl Harbor, YMS-93 headed for Okinawa in time for the invasion. Puckett explains how minesweepers operated. When the war ended, YMS-93 swept waters off the coast of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Burle C. Hawthorn. Hawthorn joined the Navy around 1943. He served as an aviation metalsmith aboard USS Chandeleur (AV-10), a seaplane tender, in the Pacific Theatre. Beginning in early 1944, they transported men, aviation equipment, torpedoes, bombs and other cargo throughout the South Pacific islands. Hawthorn shares stories of taking Marines to Guadalcanal, New Hebrides, and Palau. They provided tender services for several patrol squadrons during the invasions of the Palau Islands, the Philippines, Ulithi, and Okinawa. After the war ended, they traveled to Japan, tending seaplanes taking part in the occupation, returning to the US in late 1945 when Hawthorn was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John G. O’Keefe. He was born in Centralia, Illinois 13 June 1923. After high school he worked for the Illinois Railroad until he was old enough to join the Navy in 1942. After training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, he was assigned to Diesel Service School in Chicago. After six weeks, he went to patrol boat school at Melville, Rhode Island. O’Keefe and several other PT boat replacements, boarded the Robert C. Greene for a 43 day trip to New Hebrides. At Tulagi, he was temporarily assigned to work on PT-107, part of Patrol Boat Squadron 5. He was then assigned to PT-184, in Squadron 11. He recalls the need for one hour rotations by the boat diesel engineers, due to extreme heat in the engine room. He visited a small island and found group picture of Amelia Earhart, a Japanese officer, a missionary and a native boy. Following Navy orders to report any evidence regarding Amelia Earhart, they contacted headquarters. Three days later, a PBY arrived with an officer from Naval Intelligence, who took possession of the picture. After making inquires as to the disposition …