Interview with Arwin Bowden, a marine during World War II. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw, and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment before joining the battle of Saipan. He describes ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made, and the time he had leave.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Orby Ledbetter. Ledbetter joined the Texas Army National Guard in 1937 as a soldier in the Texas 36th Infantry Division, 142nd Infantry Regiment. He provides details of serving in the Texas Guard and remaining with the 36th ID throughout the war. He describes his experiences completing basic training through numerous camps and traveling overseas aboard the SS Argentina. Beginning in April of 1943 Orby served in the North African Campaign and also landed at Salerno, Italy. He was captured by the German Army in September of 1943 and remained a prisoner of war at Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany until April of 1945. Ledbetter provides vivid details of these experiences. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Orby Ledbetter. Ledbetter joined the Texas Army National Guard in 1937 as a soldier in the Texas 36th Infantry Division, 142nd Infantry Regiment. He provides details of serving in the Texas Guard and remaining with the 36th ID throughout the war. He describes his experiences completing basic training through numerous camps and traveling overseas aboard the SS Argentina. Beginning in April of 1943 Orby served in the North African Campaign and also landed at Salerno, Italy. He was captured by the German Army in September of 1943 and remained a prisoner of war at Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany until April of 1945. Ledbetter provides vivid details of these experiences. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arwin Bowden. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment, then joining the battle of Saipan. He ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made and the time he had leave.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arwin Bowden. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment, then joining the battle of Saipan. He ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made and the time he had leave.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Lacouture. Lacouture graduated from the Naval Academy in 1940 and was aboard the USS Blue at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He was still aboard when the Blue sank off Guadalcanal in August, 1942. Lacouture then went to flight school, earning his wings in May 1943. He then served as the executive officer of Fighter Squadron 5 (VF-5) aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). After the war, he remained in the Navy and continued to fly.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill Meyers. Meyers entered the Naval ROTC program at the University of California in 1930. Beginning in 1932, he served two years as Quartermaster aboard the SS Monterey. He returned to college in 1934, received his commission through the NROTC in 1936, and graduated in 1937. In 1940 he served as the Gunnery Officer and Assistant Navigator aboard the USS Aldebaran (AF-10). They transported cargo between the West Coast and the Hawaiian Islands. In 1943 and 1944, Meyers served as Commanding Officer aboard the USS Newman (DE-205), operating in the Atlantic, escorting troop transports to England. He then served aboard USS Ringness (APD-100), transporting landing craft and troops to Guadalcanal and Okinawa. They returned to the US in early 1946 to decommission the ship. Meyers continued his service after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill Meyers. Meyers entered the Naval ROTC program at the University of California in 1930. Beginning in 1932, he served two years as Quartermaster aboard the SS Monterey. He returned to college in 1934, received his commission through the NROTC in 1936, and graduated in 1937. In 1940 he served as the Gunnery Officer and Assistant Navigator aboard the USS Aldebaran (AF-10). They transported cargo between the West Coast and the Hawaiian Islands. In 1943 and 1944, Meyers served as Commanding Officer aboard the USS Newman (DE-205), operating in the Atlantic, escorting troop transports to England. He then served aboard USS Ringness (APD-100), transporting landing craft and troops to Guadalcanal and Okinawa. They returned to the US in early 1946 to decommission the ship. Meyers continued his service after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur Weeks. Weeks joined the Navy in July 1940 and was assigned to the USS San Francisco (CA-38) at Pearl Harbor as a deckhand. His pre-war duty involved working with the catapult for the ship’s observation planes. He later maintained guns and was promoted to third-class gunner’s mate. Weeks saw the first wave of enemy planes while his ship was in dry dock, and he boarded the USS New Orleans (CA-32) to help ready the guns. Having no significant damage, the San Francisco quickly readied for carrier protection duty. In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the ship sank one enemy ship and disabled another, but by the end of the battle the admiral and the highest-ranking officers had been killed, leaving only a lieutenant commander in charge. After returning to Mare Island for repairs, many crewmembers deserted, but Weeks remained until he was sent to gunnery school. He went aboard the USS Marvin H. McIntyre (APA-129) as a gunner’s mate and was eventually promoted to chief. Weeks returned home and was discharged in July 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur Weeks. Weeks joined the Navy in July 1940 and was assigned to the USS San Francisco (CA-38) at Pearl Harbor as a deckhand. His pre-war duty involved working with the catapult for the ship’s observation planes. He later maintained guns and was promoted to third-class gunner’s mate. Weeks saw the first wave of enemy planes while his ship was in dry dock, and he boarded the USS New Orleans (CA-32) to help ready the guns. Having no significant damage, the San Francisco quickly readied for carrier protection duty. In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the ship sank one enemy ship and disabled another, but by the end of the battle the admiral and the highest-ranking officers had been killed, leaving only a lieutenant commander in charge. After returning to Mare Island for repairs, many crewmembers deserted, but Weeks remained until he was sent to gunnery school. He went aboard the USS Marvin H. McIntyre (APA-129) as a gunner’s mate and was eventually promoted to chief. Weeks returned home and was discharged in July 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Taylor. Taylor joined the Navy through the V-5 program and went straight to flight training in December, 1942. He earned his wings and a commission in December 1943 and was sent to the fleet. He landed aboard USS Essex (CV-) and was assigned to VF-15 in June, 1944 and participated in raids against targets in the Philippines, on Formosa and the Palaus. Taylor stayed in combat until November before his air group returned to the US. Taylor reigned his commission after the war and went on to found the Enterprise Rent-A-Car company after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barbara Cameron. Cameron describes her experience on the home front as a child whose older brothers were in the military. Her brother Roger was in the Navy and her brother Victor joined the Coast Guard. Victor wrote home and said that being in the service was much easier than working as a farmhand during the Depression. Cameron’s father worked ten-hour days, seven days a week, making airplane propellers for General Motors. He also tended to his crops and livestock in the mornings, before work. Cameron’s family was shunned by fellow Brethren church members for supporting the military, as her family proudly displayed two stars in their window to represent her two brothers. Both of Cameron’s brothers returned home safely.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barbara Cameron. Cameron describes her experience on the home front as a child whose older brothers were in the military. Her brother Roger was in the Navy and her brother Victor joined the Coast Guard. Victor wrote home and said that being in the service was much easier than working as a farmhand during the Depression. Cameron’s father worked ten-hour days, seven days a week, making airplane propellers for General Motors. He also tended to his crops and livestock in the mornings, before work. Cameron’s family was shunned by fellow Brethren church members for supporting the military, as her family proudly displayed two stars in their window to represent her two brothers. Both of Cameron’s brothers returned home safely.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Guy Stayton. Stayton joined the Navy in December of 1942. He worked as an Electrician’s Mate aboard a Landing Craft Infantry, the USS USS LCI-400. Stayton provides some details of the ship. He worked in the engine room and shares details of his work aboard the ship. They traveled to England, and he shares his experiences there prior to the invasion of France. They served with the first wave participating in the Normandy Invasion. They delivered the 45th Infantry Division into southern France. Stayton contracted Hepatitis with infectious Jaundice and remained in a Naval Hospital for 5 months. He was then sent back to the US. After recovery he was assigned to the USS LST-387 and the war ended shortly thereafter. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Guy Stayton. Stayton joined the Navy in December of 1942. He worked as an Electrician’s Mate aboard a Landing Craft Infantry, the USS USS LCI-400. Stayton provides some details of the ship. He worked in the engine room and shares details of his work aboard the ship. They traveled to England, and he shares his experiences there prior to the invasion of France. They served with the first wave participating in the Normandy Invasion. They delivered the 45th Infantry Division into southern France. Stayton contracted Hepatitis with infectious Jaundice and remained in a Naval Hospital for 5 months. He was then sent back to the US. After recovery he was assigned to the USS LST-387 and the war ended shortly thereafter. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Bartuck. Bartuck joined the Navy in 1937. He served as a coxswain aboard the USS Langley (CV-1) until it was scuttled in February of 1942, running whaleboats, motor launces and 60-foot officers’ boats. He later served aboard the YMS-9 minesweeper. He then served aboard an attack cargo ship and made the invasion in North Africa in late 1942. Beginning August of 1943, he served aboard the USS Cowpens (CVL-25). After the war Bartuck continued his work in the Navy until 1957, completing 20 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Bartuck. Bartuck joined the Navy in 1937. He served as a coxswain aboard the USS Langley (CV-1) until it was scuttled in February of 1942, running whaleboats, motor launces and 60-foot officers’ boats. He later served aboard the YMS-9 minesweeper. He then served aboard an attack cargo ship and made the invasion in North Africa in late 1942. Beginning August of 1943, he served aboard the USS Cowpens (CVL-25). After the war Bartuck continued his work in the Navy until 1957, completing 20 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Krauska. Krauska was born 15 December 1919 in St. Louis, Missouri and attended high school in Cleveland, Missouri. He graduated from the University of St. Louis with a Law degree. He was drafted into the United States Army and assigned to the 329th Infantry at Shelby, Mississippi. After basic training, he was assigned to menial tasks such as kitchen police and guard duty. He was soon selected for the Aviation Cadet Training program and sent to a civilian flying school in Fort Worth, Texas. From there, he went to bombardier school at Midland, Texas. Krauska describes methods used to train bombardiers and the use of the Norden bombsight. Upon completion of this training he was sent to Casper, Wyoming for crew training in a B-24 Liberator. His crew was then sent to Langley Field, Virginia for training in low altitude bombing, which consisted of using radar and performing submarine search missions off of the east coast of the United States. Eventually, the crew picked up a new B-24 and flew it to Hawaii where they were assigned to the 11th Bomb Group, 425th Bomb Squadron. They went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Krauska. Krauska was born 15 December 1919 in St. Louis, Missouri and attended high school in Cleveland, Missouri. He graduated from the University of St. Louis with a Law degree. He was drafted into the United States Army and assigned to the 329th Infantry at Shelby, Mississippi. After basic training, he was assigned to menial tasks such as kitchen police and guard duty. He was soon selected for the Aviation Cadet Training program and sent to a civilian flying school in Fort Worth, Texas. From there, he went to bombardier school at Midland, Texas. Krauska describes methods used to train bombardiers and the use of the Norden bombsight. Upon completion of this training he was sent to Casper, Wyoming for crew training in a B-24 Liberator. His crew was then sent to Langley Field, Virginia for training in low altitude bombing, which consisted of using radar and performing submarine search missions off of the east coast of the United States. Eventually, the crew picked up a new B-24 and flew it to Hawaii where they were assigned to the 11th Bomb Group, 425th Bomb Squadron. They went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bennet Reed. Reed was born in Tom Green County, Texas in 1923. In 1943 he was drafted and entered the Navy. Reed was sent to Keyport, Washington to torpedo school. In September he was sent to Guadalcanal and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 5. In January 1944 Reed was assigned to the USS PT-65 [Editor Note: PT-65 was in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 4, a training unit in Rhode Island]. He relates that the boat drive screws were often damaged and discusses the methods involved in replacing them. Reed also tells of returning to the United States in December 1944 on leave. In March 1945 he was sent to the Philippines. No longer in a PT boat squadron, he worked as a stevedore. He returned to the United States in January 1946 and discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bennet Reed. Reed was born in Tom Green County, Texas in 1923. In 1943 he was drafted and entered the Navy. Reed was sent to Keyport, Washington to torpedo school. In September he was sent to Guadalcanal and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 5. In January 1944 Reed was assigned to the USS PT-65 [Editor Note: PT-65 was in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 4, a training unit in Rhode Island]. He relates that the boat drive screws were often damaged and discusses the methods involved in replacing them. Reed also tells of returning to the United States in December 1944 on leave. In March 1945 he was sent to the Philippines. No longer in a PT boat squadron, he worked as a stevedore. He returned to the United States in January 1946 and discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James N. Clark. Clark was born on 29 October 1914 in Washington Township, Indiana. He tells of growing up during the Depression, which was instrumental in his decision to join the Army in 1933. He tells of the training he received as well as his involvement with the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was discharged in 1936. In 1943, he was drafted into the Army. In 1944, after receiving more training, he traveled to England aboard the RMS Aquitania. Soon after his arrival, he was sent to Europe where he joined the US Army III Corp. He tells of the various assignments he had and of liberating Dachau concentration camp. He returned to the US in 1946 where he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James N. Clark. Clark was born on 29 October 1914 in Washington Township, Indiana. He tells of growing up during the Depression, which was instrumental in his decision to join the Army in 1933. He tells of the training he received as well as his involvement with the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was discharged in 1936. In 1943, he was drafted into the Army. In 1944, after receiving more training, he traveled to England aboard the RMS Aquitania. Soon after his arrival, he was sent to Europe where he joined the US Army III Corp. He tells of the various assignments he had and of liberating Dachau concentration camp. He returned to the US in 1946 where he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Burl Bonnell. Bonnell joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1941. He served as an aircraft mechanic with the 20th Carrier Group. They deployed to Africa in July of 1943, where Bonnell worked as a crew chief in a Ferrying Command. He was discharged in October of 1945.