The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth ‘Mudhole’ Merrill. Merrill joined the Marine Corps and trained with Evans Carlson as a Raider. He was on Midway during the battle. In August, 1942, Merrill went with Carlson’s Raiders to raid Makin. Merrill provides several details about his role during the raid. From Makin, the Raiders rested a while before going to Guadalcanal in November, 1942, where Merrill participated in Carlson’s Long Patrol. When the patrol ended, Merrill was admitted to the hospital and returned to the US. Merrill was discharged in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth ‘Mudhole’ Merrill. Merrill joined the Marine Corps and trained with Evans Carlson as a Raider. He was on Midway during the battle. In August, 1942, Merrill went with Carlson’s Raiders to raid Makin. Merrill provides several details about his role during the raid. From Makin, the Raiders rested a while before going to Guadalcanal in November, 1942, where Merrill participated in Carlson’s Long Patrol. When the patrol ended, Merrill was admitted to the hospital and returned to the US. Merrill was discharged in August, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joel C. Schnitz. Born in 1921, he went on active duty in November of 1943. He describes basic training and living conditions at Camp Maxie in Paris, Texas. Following basic training, he was assigned to the 103rd ???Cactus??? Division before deploying overseas from New York Harbor in August of 1944 aboard the USS Monticello. He shares an anecdote about his time on board, seeing Spain and Portugal and his time is Marseilles. As part of the 1st Battalion, 404th Infantry Regiment, he served as a runner from platoon to command post and saw some action around Steige in Southern France. After hospitalization, he left England for home in January and was discharged in El Paso, Texas in February 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joel C. Schnitz. Born in 1921, he went on active duty in November of 1943. He describes basic training and living conditions at Camp Maxie in Paris, Texas. Following basic training, he was assigned to the 103rd ???Cactus??? Division before deploying overseas from New York Harbor in August of 1944 aboard the USS Monticello. He shares an anecdote about his time on board, seeing Spain and Portugal and his time is Marseilles. As part of the 1st Battalion, 404th Infantry Regiment, he served as a runner from platoon to command post and saw some action around Steige in Southern France. After hospitalization, he left England for home in January and was discharged in El Paso, Texas in February 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard, Rick, Smith. Smith was born in El Paso, Texas in October of 1939. His parents were Arden Smith and Winnie Mae Wilson Smith, formerly Hagee. Winnie is the older sister of Michael Hagee, President and CEO of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Arden died in 1945, and Rick’s grandparents came to live with he and his mother. Bob Hagee, Michaels’s father, had property north of Fredericksburg, Texas, close to Boot Ranch today. Rick, Winnie and his grandparents moved to this property around the early 1950s. Rick graduated from high school in 1957, at which time the Nimitz Hotel also served as a bus station. Rick shares numerous stories of Fredericksburg back in the 1950s through the date of this interview, and how the Nimitz Hotel and surrounding property has changed over the years. After retiring from the Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate in 1977, Rick ran his own service station. In 1980, he was hired by Doug Hubbard as the Maintenance Chief for the Admiral Nimitz State Historical Park and Museum, and he recalls their grand opening on November 11, 1983 and meeting General Jimmy Doolittle, General Paul …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard, Rick, Smith. Smith was born in El Paso, Texas in October of 1939. His parents were Arden Smith and Winnie Mae Wilson Smith, formerly Hagee. Winnie is the older sister of Michael Hagee, President and CEO of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Arden died in 1945, and Rick’s grandparents came to live with he and his mother. Bob Hagee, Michaels’s father, had property north of Fredericksburg, Texas, close to Boot Ranch today. Rick, Winnie and his grandparents moved to this property around the early 1950s. Rick graduated from high school in 1957, at which time the Nimitz Hotel also served as a bus station. Rick shares numerous stories of Fredericksburg back in the 1950s through the date of this interview, and how the Nimitz Hotel and surrounding property has changed over the years. After retiring from the Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate in 1977, Rick ran his own service station. In 1980, he was hired by Doug Hubbard as the Maintenance Chief for the Admiral Nimitz State Historical Park and Museum, and he recalls their grand opening on November 11, 1983 and meeting General Jimmy Doolittle, General Paul …