The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Slaten. Slaten joined the Navy at the age of 16 in August 1942. He traveled to New Caledonia as a replacement and joined the crew of the USS Neches (AO-47) in the deck department. Slaten describes standing lookout in the crow’s nest in the Aleutian Islands and the ship running aground in Cold Harbor. He also goes into detail on refueling operations including an incident where a carrier broke away due to a submarine threat. Slaten discusses the Neches hitting a mine off of the coast of California. He also talks about events he witnessed such as the flag raising on Mount Suribachi and kamikazes off of Okinawa. Slaten was also in Tokyo Bay at the time of the surrender. He left the service soon after he returned to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe Kostelnik. Kostelnik joined the Navy in May of 1944. He served as Apprentice Seaman aboard the USS Belet (APD-109) in the Pacific. Kostelnik notes he participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns, transporting the 2nd Division Marine Corps, and received 2 battle stars. After the war ended, they traveled to Tokyo Bay and witnessed the signing of the Peace Treaty. After the signing, he returned to the US and received his discharge in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur O. Spaulding. Spaulding grew up on his father's lemon farm in California and finished high school in 1943. He then enrolled in the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, but enlisted in the Army after a few months. Eventually, Spaulding served in Europe and recalls coming home after Germany surrendered.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Peters. Peters joined the Navy in 1944. He served in the commissary department as a butcher at a Naval Air Base in San Diego. His wife worked as a cook for a children’s nursery at an aircraft factory. He ranked Petty Officer, Third Class, and received his discharge in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth Matthews. Matthews entered the Marine Corps in 1943. He went to Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp. In 1944 he went to Officer Candidates School. He was assigned to the 1st Marines, 1st Division. In April 1945 he was flown into Okinawa, and served as a regimental intelligence officer. His primary job was to take orders from the major and hand them out to the different company commanders. He also fought in combat. He provides some detail of the fighting with the Japanese. After Japan surrendered, he came back to the States. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Slaten. Slaten joined the Navy at the age of 16 in August 1942. He traveled to New Caledonia as a replacement and joined the crew of the USS Neches (AO-47) in the deck department. Slaten describes standing lookout in the crow’s nest in the Aleutian Islands and the ship running aground in Cold Harbor. He also goes into detail on refueling operations including an incident where a carrier broke away due to a submarine threat. Slaten discusses the Neches hitting a mine off of the coast of California. He also talks about events he witnessed such as the flag raising on Mount Suribachi and kamikazes off of Okinawa. Slaten was also in Tokyo Bay at the time of the surrender. He left the service soon after he returned to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe Kostelnik. Kostelnik joined the Navy in May of 1944. He served as Apprentice Seaman aboard the USS Belet (APD-109) in the Pacific. Kostelnik notes he participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns, transporting the 2nd Division Marine Corps, and received 2 battle stars. After the war ended, they traveled to Tokyo Bay and witnessed the signing of the Peace Treaty. After the signing, he returned to the US and received his discharge in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur O. Spaulding. Spaulding grew up on his father's lemon farm in California and finished high school in 1943. He then enrolled in the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, but enlisted in the Army after a few months. Eventually, Spaulding served in Europe and recalls coming home after Germany surrendered.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Peters. Peters joined the Navy in 1944. He served in the commissary department as a butcher at a Naval Air Base in San Diego. His wife worked as a cook for a children’s nursery at an aircraft factory. He ranked Petty Officer, Third Class, and received his discharge in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth Matthews. Matthews entered the Marine Corps in 1943. He went to Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp. In 1944 he went to Officer Candidates School. He was assigned to the 1st Marines, 1st Division. In April 1945 he was flown into Okinawa, and served as a regimental intelligence officer. His primary job was to take orders from the major and hand them out to the different company commanders. He also fought in combat. He provides some detail of the fighting with the Japanese. After Japan surrendered, he came back to the States. He was discharged in late 1945.