The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edwin Knight. Knight was drafted into the Army in 1943 and received training in anti-tank warfare. He was assigned to the 43rd Infantry Division, 169th Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, while stationed in New Caledonia, Knight was selected for medic training. In the spring of 1944, he sailed to New Guinea, where he had interactions with natives. To deal with the heat, he lined the inside his helmet with gasoline, which cooled when it evaporated. In January 1945, at Lingayen Gulf, he tried his best to stay silent as a rat crawled into his shirt while Japanese forces marched by. During combat, Knight tended to a wounded soldier who was then shot and killed while receiving treatment. He also treated distressed soldiers who had self-inflicted wounds. Upon returning home, Knight suffered from PTSD but dedicated himself to international charity work, even working in Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edwin Knight. Knight was drafted into the Army in 1943 and received training in anti-tank warfare. He was assigned to the 43rd Infantry Division, 169th Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, while stationed in New Caledonia, Knight was selected for medic training. In the spring of 1944, he sailed to New Guinea, where he had interactions with natives. To deal with the heat, he lined the inside his helmet with gasoline, which cooled when it evaporated. In January 1945, at Lingayen Gulf, he tried his best to stay silent as a rat crawled into his shirt while Japanese forces marched by. During combat, Knight tended to a wounded soldier who was then shot and killed while receiving treatment. He also treated distressed soldiers who had self-inflicted wounds. Upon returning home, Knight suffered from PTSD but dedicated himself to international charity work, even working in Japan.

Transcript of an oral interview with Jack Puryear. Puryear went into the Navy in 1943 and wound up in aerial photography, training at Pensacola, Florida. Upon completing training, Puryear shipped out to Guadalcanal and joined Fleet Aerial Photo Squadron One. He describes photographing Guam, Tinian and Saipan prior to the invasion of the Mariana Islands. He relates a stroy in which Admiral Halsey gave him a ride on Guadalcanal. Puryear tells a story also about photographing the Palau Islands prior to the invasion. His unit was recalled back to the US for refitting, and when they returned to the Pacific Theater of Operations, they were stationed at Guam. Once the airfield at Okinawa was secure, elements of Puryears photo reconnaisance squadron moved there to photograph the main Japanese Islands in advance of the planned invasion. He also tells about flying out of Okinawa ahead of a typhoon and getting caught in it on their way to Guam. Puryear went back to the US in March, 1946 and went into the Naval Reserve. He was commissioned and served as a supply officer and was recalled for the war in Korea. He then went to supply school in New Jersey before serving …

Transcript of an oral interview with Jack Puryear. Puryear went into the Navy in 1943 and wound up in aerial photography, training at Pensacola, Florida. Upon completing training, Puryear shipped out to Guadalcanal and joined Fleet Aerial Photo Squadron One. He describes photographing Guam, Tinian and Saipan prior to the invasion of the Mariana Islands. He relates a stroy in which Admiral Halsey gave him a ride on Guadalcanal. Puryear tells a story also about photographing the Palau Islands prior to the invasion. His unit was recalled back to the US for refitting, and when they returned to the Pacific Theater of Operations, they were stationed at Guam. Once the airfield at Okinawa was secure, elements of Puryears photo reconnaisance squadron moved there to photograph the main Japanese Islands in advance of the planned invasion. He also tells about flying out of Okinawa ahead of a typhoon and getting caught in it on their way to Guam. Puryear went back to the US in March, 1946 and went into the Naval Reserve. He was commissioned and served as a supply officer and was recalled for the war in Korea. He then went to supply school in New Jersey before serving …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Massier. Massier enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program after two years of studying mechanical engineering. He was inducted in June 1943 and expected to finish school at Texas A&M. After basic training however, Massier was assigned to the 99th Infantry Division as a rifleman when the program was cut short. He was unhappy with this arrangement, as many of the officers were not well educated. After learning that he had osteoarthritis and torn ligaments, he was given a noncombat assignment at the Camp Swift medical depot. Sent to Okinawa in 1945, he sought refuge in the bottom of the ship when strafed by enemy planes. Unable to dig trenches on the hard beach, Massier slept on the ground and was frightened as anti-aircraft flak rained down around him. Although the northern part of islands were off limits to military personnel, Massier snuck through and discovered tombs as a well a tea plantation. After the war, Massier survived a major typhoon that destroyed the roof of their medical supply building. He returned home and was discharged in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Massier. Massier enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program after two years of studying mechanical engineering. He was inducted in June 1943 and expected to finish school at Texas A&M. After basic training however, Massier was assigned to the 99th Infantry Division as a rifleman when the program was cut short. He was unhappy with this arrangement, as many of the officers were not well educated. After learning that he had osteoarthritis and torn ligaments, he was given a noncombat assignment at the Camp Swift medical depot. Sent to Okinawa in 1945, he sought refuge in the bottom of the ship when strafed by enemy planes. Unable to dig trenches on the hard beach, Massier slept on the ground and was frightened as anti-aircraft flak rained down around him. Although the northern part of islands were off limits to military personnel, Massier snuck through and discovered tombs as a well a tea plantation. After the war, Massier survived a major typhoon that destroyed the roof of their medical supply building. He returned home and was discharged in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Wareing. Wareing attended the Hawken School as a child, impressing upon him the value of discipline. He later joined the ROTC and the Kentucky National Guard. With war looming, he applied both to the Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force. Accepted by both, he chose the Air Corps, completing flight training in December 1941 as a second lieutenant. After two years as an instructor, he was appointed to oversee curriculum at various flight schools. By that time, he was a captain and he turned down a promotion to major in favor of attending B-29 school. He then joined the 500th Bombardment Group, flying exactly one mission, the final bombardment of Japan, days after the second atomic bomb was dropped. Under antiaircraft fire, Wareing risked being court-martialed to break formation and ensure proper targeting. Following the war, Wareing dropped supplies over POW camps in Formosa and China. When one of his flights was diverted, he came so close to crashing into a mountainside that he caught a leaf in his landing gear. In November 1945 he was discharged in order to see his dying mother. Wareing …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Wareing. Wareing attended the Hawken School as a child, impressing upon him the value of discipline. He later joined the ROTC and the Kentucky National Guard. With war looming, he applied both to the Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force. Accepted by both, he chose the Air Corps, completing flight training in December 1941 as a second lieutenant. After two years as an instructor, he was appointed to oversee curriculum at various flight schools. By that time, he was a captain and he turned down a promotion to major in favor of attending B-29 school. He then joined the 500th Bombardment Group, flying exactly one mission, the final bombardment of Japan, days after the second atomic bomb was dropped. Under antiaircraft fire, Wareing risked being court-martialed to break formation and ensure proper targeting. Following the war, Wareing dropped supplies over POW camps in Formosa and China. When one of his flights was diverted, he came so close to crashing into a mountainside that he caught a leaf in his landing gear. In November 1945 he was discharged in order to see his dying mother. Wareing …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Keifer Marshall. Marshall was born in Temple, Texas in 1926. After attending the University of Texas for one year, he joined the Marine Corps in 1944. After completing basic training in San Diego, he spent six weeks at Camp Pendleton receiving advanced training. He then embarked on the USS Rochambeau (AP-63) with 6,000 other troops in late October 1944. He describes some of his experiences during the transit. He remembers arriving in Guam in December in relief of the 3rd Marine Division. He landed at Iwo Jima a few days after the initial landing in February 1945, as a member of F Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment. Marshall describes the intense fighting over the following three weeks as his company proceeded north up the island. They took heavy casualties and got cut off for 36 hours before being rescued by tanks called in by the one remaining officer in the company. He recalls seeing the iconic flag flying at the top of Mount Suribachi and recalls how it boosted the unit’s morale during the battle. His unit remained on the island for three more weeks cleaning up …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willford Burks. Burks joined the Army around 1942. He was assigned to the 99th Infantry Division. They deployed to England in September of 1944. He participated in the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe Campaigns. Burks returned to the US and was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willford Burks. Burks joined the Army around 1942. He was assigned to the 99th Infantry Division. They deployed to England in September of 1944. He participated in the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe Campaigns. Burks returned to the US and was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Woods. Woods was born on a homestead in Phillips County, Montana into a family of nine children. He comments on family life during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and went to boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois. He was then selected to attend hospital corpsman school and describes the training and medical experience he gained before volunteering for submarine duty. After attending Submarine School and receiving additional medical training he was sent to Pearl Harbor where he went aboard the USS Euryale (AS-22) and went to Guam in August 1945. In September 1945 the ship arrived at Kuri, Japan where the crew assisted in destroying one hundred seventy-five Japanese midget submarines. They proceeded to Sasebo, where they destroyed several aircraft carrier submarines. Woods recalls that five Japanese submarines of various sizes where taken to Pearl Harbor for research purposes. He was aboard the ship at dock and experienced a typhoon in December 1945. Returning to the United States, he was assigned to the USS Ronquil (SS-396). In 1953 he was sent to Korea. There he was assigned as the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Woods. Woods was born on a homestead in Phillips County, Montana into a family of nine children. He comments on family life during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and went to boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois. He was then selected to attend hospital corpsman school and describes the training and medical experience he gained before volunteering for submarine duty. After attending Submarine School and receiving additional medical training he was sent to Pearl Harbor where he went aboard the USS Euryale (AS-22) and went to Guam in August 1945. In September 1945 the ship arrived at Kuri, Japan where the crew assisted in destroying one hundred seventy-five Japanese midget submarines. They proceeded to Sasebo, where they destroyed several aircraft carrier submarines. Woods recalls that five Japanese submarines of various sizes where taken to Pearl Harbor for research purposes. He was aboard the ship at dock and experienced a typhoon in December 1945. Returning to the United States, he was assigned to the USS Ronquil (SS-396). In 1953 he was sent to Korea. There he was assigned as the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William P Gattis. Gattis joined the Navy in May of 1941. Soon after joining, he was assigned to the USS Henderson (AP-1). Upon arriving at Pearl Harbor, Gattis volunteered to join the submarine forces. He was quickly assigned to the USS Sargo (SS-188). They departed Pearl Harbor in October of 1941, arrived in Manila in November, and were there when the Japanese attacked. He was later transferred off the Sargo to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station to complete Chief Commissary Steward School, and was then assigned to the USS Salmon (SS-182). In April of 1945, he was transferred to the USS Stickleback (SS-415). He was discharged in Mary of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William P Gattis. Gattis joined the Navy in May of 1941. Soon after joining, he was assigned to the USS Henderson (AP-1). Upon arriving at Pearl Harbor, Gattis volunteered to join the submarine forces. He was quickly assigned to the USS Sargo (SS-188). They departed Pearl Harbor in October of 1941, arrived in Manila in November, and were there when the Japanese attacked. He was later transferred off the Sargo to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station to complete Chief Commissary Steward School, and was then assigned to the USS Salmon (SS-182). In April of 1945, he was transferred to the USS Stickleback (SS-415). He was discharged in Mary of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Crafford. Crafford was born in Bridgeport, Nebraska in 1919 and graduated from high school in 1937. He was employed at a Consolidated Aircraft plant making B-24 bombers until 1942 at which time he joined the US Army Air Forces. Upon completing his pilot training he was sent to Pueblo, Colorado for crew selection and training. In December 1943 the crew was sent to Herrington, Kansas to pick up a new B-24 which they ultimately named Salty Sal featuring the picture of a (Alberto) Vargas girl as the nose art. Flying from Hawaii they joined the 7th Air Force, 30th Bomb Group at O’Hara Airfield on the island of Abemama. Crafford flew thirteen bombing missions over the heavily fortified island of Truk. Returning to the United States during November 1944, he was attending engineering school at Chanute Field, Illinois when Japan surrendered. He was discharged shortly thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Crafford. Crafford was born in Bridgeport, Nebraska in 1919 and graduated from high school in 1937. He was employed at a Consolidated Aircraft plant making B-24 bombers until 1942 at which time he joined the US Army Air Forces. Upon completing his pilot training he was sent to Pueblo, Colorado for crew selection and training. In December 1943 the crew was sent to Herrington, Kansas to pick up a new B-24 which they ultimately named Salty Sal featuring the picture of a (Alberto) Vargas girl as the nose art. Flying from Hawaii they joined the 7th Air Force, 30th Bomb Group at O’Hara Airfield on the island of Abemama. Crafford flew thirteen bombing missions over the heavily fortified island of Truk. Returning to the United States during November 1944, he was attending engineering school at Chanute Field, Illinois when Japan surrendered. He was discharged shortly thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Duane Howard. Howard was born in Miami, Indiana 30 November 1919. Although married with two children, he was drafted into the Navy in September 1944. After ten week of boot training at The Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois he began three weeks of gunnery training. Upon completion of the training he was assigned to the merchant ship, SS O.B. Martin as a member of the Naval Armed Guard contingent. His job assignment was as a gunner’s mate on a 3 inch deck gun. He tells of the ship joining a convoy of forty ships and delivering their cargo to Calcutta, India. He also comments on visits the ship made to Leyte, Samar and New Guinea. In September 1945 the ship returned to San Francisco with veterans of the war in the Pacific. He was discharged during October 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Duane Howard. Howard was born in Miami, Indiana 30 November 1919. Although married with two children, he was drafted into the Navy in September 1944. After ten week of boot training at The Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois he began three weeks of gunnery training. Upon completion of the training he was assigned to the merchant ship, SS O.B. Martin as a member of the Naval Armed Guard contingent. His job assignment was as a gunner’s mate on a 3 inch deck gun. He tells of the ship joining a convoy of forty ships and delivering their cargo to Calcutta, India. He also comments on visits the ship made to Leyte, Samar and New Guinea. In September 1945 the ship returned to San Francisco with veterans of the war in the Pacific. He was discharged during October 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Walsh. Walsh was born in Wheeler, Indiana on 19 October 1926. He quit high school in 1944 and joined the Navy. He went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois for six weeks of boot training followed by six months of amphibious training and gunnery training at Norfolk, Virginia. Upon completion of the training he went by troop train to Portland, Oregon. In September 1944 he went aboard Landing Craft Support vessel USS LCS(L)(3)-51. He describes the ship’s heavy armaments. In November 1944, Group 7, consisting of Walsh’s LCS and five other sister ships, sailed to Saipan before going to Leyte. They remained at Leyte until 19 February 1945 before participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima. Walsh led the first wave of Marine onto the beach and describes clearing the beach of disabled landing craft. The ship then participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Walsh tells of the ship being on picket duty and being attacked by kamikaze aircraft. Walsh saw the USS Laffey (DD-724) hit by several suicide aircraft while LCS-51 sustained damage caused by debris from a plane they shot down. The …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Walsh. Walsh was born in Wheeler, Indiana on 19 October 1926. He quit high school in 1944 and joined the Navy. He went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois for six weeks of boot training followed by six months of amphibious training and gunnery training at Norfolk, Virginia. Upon completion of the training he went by troop train to Portland, Oregon. In September 1944 he went aboard Landing Craft Support vessel USS LCS(L)(3)-51. He describes the ship’s heavy armaments. In November 1944, Group 7, consisting of Walsh’s LCS and five other sister ships, sailed to Saipan before going to Leyte. They remained at Leyte until 19 February 1945 before participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima. Walsh led the first wave of Marine onto the beach and describes clearing the beach of disabled landing craft. The ship then participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Walsh tells of the ship being on picket duty and being attacked by kamikaze aircraft. Walsh saw the USS Laffey (DD-724) hit by several suicide aircraft while LCS-51 sustained damage caused by debris from a plane they shot down. The …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sydney Pinkston. Pinkston joined the National Guard in the 1930s, before he was old enough, but he was paid in cash and no one asked any questions. After the war started, he joined the Army at Fort Sill. From there he was assigned to a muleskinner outfit at Fort Carson, chosen for his size and strength, hoisting 121-pound Howitzer pieces onto mule’s backs. During the 45-day trip to Port Moresby, Pinkston shoveled manure into the ocean, doing so at night so as to avoid detection by submarines. He arrived with the 6th Ranger Battalion and helped train an Australian pack artillery unit. At times, he encountered the enemy, but he was always able to evade them. While participating in campaigns at Luzon and Leyte, Pinkston contracted malaria and worms, the latter treated by fasting, followed by a meal of porridge and castor oil. When the war ended, Pinkston was sent to Japan on occupation duty. He removed his Sixth Army patch, as Tokyo Rose had dispersed misinformation about them that terrified locals. He returned home and remained in the Army until the 1950s. He then helped to form …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sydney Pinkston. Pinkston joined the National Guard in the 1930s, before he was old enough, but he was paid in cash and no one asked any questions. After the war started, he joined the Army at Fort Sill. From there he was assigned to a muleskinner outfit at Fort Carson, chosen for his size and strength, hoisting 121-pound Howitzer pieces onto mule’s backs. During the 45-day trip to Port Moresby, Pinkston shoveled manure into the ocean, doing so at night so as to avoid detection by submarines. He arrived with the 6th Ranger Battalion and helped train an Australian pack artillery unit. At times, he encountered the enemy, but he was always able to evade them. While participating in campaigns at Luzon and Leyte, Pinkston contracted malaria and worms, the latter treated by fasting, followed by a meal of porridge and castor oil. When the war ended, Pinkston was sent to Japan on occupation duty. He removed his Sixth Army patch, as Tokyo Rose had dispersed misinformation about them that terrified locals. He returned home and remained in the Army until the 1950s. He then helped to form …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Zeb Alford. Alford joined the Navy V-12 Program in July of 1943. He trained as an engineering officer. He entered the Naval Academy in 1944 and graduated in 1947, providing details of his schooling at the Academy. He served for two years aboard the USS Charles R. Ware (DD-865). He graduated from Submarine School in 1949. Alford retired from the Navy in September of 1973 as a captain.