The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Martin Allday. Allday was drafted into the Army in August, 1944. On 1 May 1945, he landed on Okinawa as a replacement in the 96th Infantry Division. Allday describes his experiences in combat at Okinawa. Allday was wounded on 11 May and returned to duty the day the island was declared secure. When the war ended, Allday was transferred to the 81st Infantry Division and went to the Philippines. Allday returned to the US in September, 1946 and enrolled in college.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Allen. Mr Allen went into the Marine Corps in September 1942, took boot camp in San Diego, and then was stationed in Santa Anna at the lighter-than-air base as a guard. In September 1943, he was sent to Noumea, New Caledonia and from there to New Guinea where he was put in the First Marine Division, HQ Company, 1st Battalion. His first introduction to combat was when they landed on the southern tip of New Britain. Allen provides a good description of the fighting and the conditions on New Britain; they were wet and in the swamps. It took them about four months to go through New Britain. They had a brief respite on Johnson Islands before they landed on Peleliu. Allen talks about shooting their 75mm guns, point-blank at the steel and concrete doors the Japanese had built. He states that Peleliu was real rough. After going to a camp on Pavuvu, they went to Okinawa. He describes the day that Lt Gen Buckner was killed, by a sniper. Allen also talks about the Japanese using women and children as shields. He states that Ernie Pyle …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Allen. Mr Allen went into the Marine Corps in September 1942, took boot camp in San Diego, and then was stationed in Santa Anna at the lighter-than-air base as a guard. In September 1943, he was sent to Noumea, New Caledonia and from there to New Guinea where he was put in the First Marine Division, HQ Company, 1st Battalion. His first introduction to combat was when they landed on the southern tip of New Britain. Allen provides a good description of the fighting and the conditions on New Britain; they were wet and in the swamps. It took them about four months to go through New Britain. They had a brief respite on Johnson Islands before they landed on Peleliu. Allen talks about shooting their 75mm guns, point-blank at the steel and concrete doors the Japanese had built. He states that Peleliu was real rough. After going to a camp on Pavuvu, they went to Okinawa. He describes the day that Lt Gen Buckner was killed, by a sniper. Allen also talks about the Japanese using women and children as shields. He states that Ernie Pyle …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Amundson. Amundson joined the Navy in September 1942 and received basic training at Great Lakes. Upon completion, he was assigned to an APD at Pearl Harbor that transported Marines throughout the South Pacific. He returned to the States and became a plank holder aboard the USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73). After abandoning ship at the Battle of Samar, he survived 40 hours in the water despite not knowing how to swim. Amundson returned home safely, to the shock of his parents, who believed everyone aboard the Gambier Bay had been lost at sea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carl Amundson. Amundson joined the Navy in September 1942 and received basic training at Great Lakes. Upon completion, he was assigned to an APD at Pearl Harbor that transported Marines throughout the South Pacific. He returned to the States and became a plank holder aboard the USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73). After abandoning ship at the Battle of Samar, he survived 40 hours in the water despite not knowing how to swim. Amundson returned home safely, to the shock of his parents, who believed everyone aboard the Gambier Bay had been lost at sea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roger Anderson. Anderson joined the Army Air Forces in mid-1943. He served as a B-24 gunner. Anderson deployed in June of 1944 to Australia. He completed 42 missions, including over the Palau Islands, the Philippines and throughout the Pacific. He describes his work aboard a B-24. Anderson was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roger Anderson. Anderson joined the Army Air Forces in mid-1943. He served as a B-24 gunner. Anderson deployed in June of 1944 to Australia. He completed 42 missions, including over the Palau Islands, the Philippines and throughout the Pacific. He describes his work aboard a B-24. Anderson was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Theodore Anderson. Anderson was drafted into the Navy in April of 1943. He graduated from the hospital corps in San Diego and worked at Long Beach Naval Hospital. As a hospital corpsman Anderson was assigned to the 13th Marines, 5th Marine Division artillery group H & S Battery in the fall of 1944. They traveled to Saipan in preparation for the Battle of Iwo Jima. Anderson provides details of his experiences at Iwo Jima, including serving as a roaming hospital corpsman on the island, how he was severely wounded by a mortar and witnessed the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Theodore Anderson. Anderson was drafted into the Navy in April of 1943. He graduated from the hospital corps in San Diego and worked at Long Beach Naval Hospital. As a hospital corpsman Anderson was assigned to the 13th Marines, 5th Marine Division artillery group H & S Battery in the fall of 1944. They traveled to Saipan in preparation for the Battle of Iwo Jima. Anderson provides details of his experiences at Iwo Jima, including serving as a roaming hospital corpsman on the island, how he was severely wounded by a mortar and witnessed the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Laverne Arnic. Arnic joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He was assigned to an Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington for two-and-a-half years and served as a guard. Around mid-1944 Arnic was sent overseas to the Pacific. He did not participate in any combat and was assigned as a guard of Japanese prisoners-of-war on the Island of Okinawa until the end of the war. He was discharged around 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Laverne Arnic. Arnic joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He was assigned to an Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington for two-and-a-half years and served as a guard. Around mid-1944 Arnic was sent overseas to the Pacific. He did not participate in any combat and was assigned as a guard of Japanese prisoners-of-war on the Island of Okinawa until the end of the war. He was discharged around 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roger A. Ashenbrenner. Ashenbrenner was born 7 June 1922 in Washington D.C. He enlisted in the Navy 15 August 1942. He went to boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island. After brief periods as an armed guard at the Naval War College, amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia, and a trip to Brooklyn, New York to man a new destroyer, he was finally sent to the merchant ship Mormac Swan as a member of the Navy Armed Guard. Their duty was to man the 3" gun mounted on the bow of the ship. After one trip across the Atlantic, Ashenbrenner was assigned to the Henry A. Wiley (DM-29). In November 1944, the Wiley escorted the battleships Missouri (BB-63), Texas (BB-35), and Arkansas (BB-33), and two escort carriers from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Arriving at Pearl Harbor, she then escorted the New York (BB-34) to join the covering force for the invasion of Iwo Jima. While there, Ashenbrenner witnessed both the original flag raising on Mt. Suribachi and the second raising immortalized by Joe Rosenthal. Once Iwo Jima was secured, the Wiley went to Okinawa to sweep mines. Subsequently …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roger A. Ashenbrenner. Ashenbrenner was born 7 June 1922 in Washington D.C. He enlisted in the Navy 15 August 1942. He went to boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island. After brief periods as an armed guard at the Naval War College, amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia, and a trip to Brooklyn, New York to man a new destroyer, he was finally sent to the merchant ship Mormac Swan as a member of the Navy Armed Guard. Their duty was to man the 3" gun mounted on the bow of the ship. After one trip across the Atlantic, Ashenbrenner was assigned to the Henry A. Wiley (DM-29). In November 1944, the Wiley escorted the battleships Missouri (BB-63), Texas (BB-35), and Arkansas (BB-33), and two escort carriers from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Arriving at Pearl Harbor, she then escorted the New York (BB-34) to join the covering force for the invasion of Iwo Jima. While there, Ashenbrenner witnessed both the original flag raising on Mt. Suribachi and the second raising immortalized by Joe Rosenthal. Once Iwo Jima was secured, the Wiley went to Okinawa to sweep mines. Subsequently …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Ashwood. Ashwood joined the Navy in 1943 and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as a seaman. In the Bering Sea, Ashwood stood watch in freezing winds. But later, at Makin Island, it was so hot that sailors around him collapsed from heat exhaustion. Ashwood often worked as an ammunition handler but happened to be working in the food storage locker on the day that a 200-pound can of gunpowder exploded, killing several members of the gun crew. He was then reassigned to the turret as a replacement, becoming a third-class gunner’s mate. Near Saipan and Tinian, he survived the Pennsylvania colliding with loaded ammunition ship USS Talbot (APD-7). After shooting down a record number of planes in the Philippines, he returned to San Francisco, where the ship was modernized in preparation for bombardment of Japan. When the war abruptly ended, Ashwood was discharged in Wallace, Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Ashwood. Ashwood joined the Navy in 1943 and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as a seaman. In the Bering Sea, Ashwood stood watch in freezing winds. But later, at Makin Island, it was so hot that sailors around him collapsed from heat exhaustion. Ashwood often worked as an ammunition handler but happened to be working in the food storage locker on the day that a 200-pound can of gunpowder exploded, killing several members of the gun crew. He was then reassigned to the turret as a replacement, becoming a third-class gunner’s mate. Near Saipan and Tinian, he survived the Pennsylvania colliding with loaded ammunition ship USS Talbot (APD-7). After shooting down a record number of planes in the Philippines, he returned to San Francisco, where the ship was modernized in preparation for bombardment of Japan. When the war abruptly ended, Ashwood was discharged in Wallace, Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Avant. Avant was 16 when the war began and joined the Navy a few years later. He was trained as an electrician, but ended up working as a machinist mate for the boat pool that served CINPAC at Hawaii and then Guam. Avant mentions boxing in several smoker events. He was a member of the boat crew that took Admiral Nimitz to the surrender ceremony.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Avant. Avant was 16 when the war began and joined the Navy a few years later. He was trained as an electrician, but ended up working as a machinist mate for the boat pool that served CINPAC at Hawaii and then Guam. Avant mentions boxing in several smoker events. He was a member of the boat crew that took Admiral Nimitz to the surrender ceremony.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jean Balch. Balch was born in Abilene, Texas and was attending Hardin-Simmons University in 1941. On 8 December, he volunteered for duty in the Navy, but was too young. He joined later that spring. He trained as a radioman and gunner before being assigned the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in the fall of 1944. Balch mentions striking targets in the Philippines and on Formosa in late 1944. On one bombing mission over Hong Kong, China, the plane Balch was in was hit, forcing him to bail out. He landed among some Chinese civilians. In a short time, Balch was captured by Japanese soldiers. After several days, he was transported to Ofuna. Balch recalls several anecdotes about life as a prisoner of war in Japan. He mentions other POWs and tells stories about various guards. When the war ended, Balch was placed aboard the hospital ship USS Benevolence (AH-13). After the war, Balch returned to Tokyo to testify at the war crime trials.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jean Balch. Balch was born in Abilene, Texas and was attending Hardin-Simmons University in 1941. On 8 December, he volunteered for duty in the Navy, but was too young. He joined later that spring. He trained as a radioman and gunner before being assigned the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in the fall of 1944. Balch mentions striking targets in the Philippines and on Formosa in late 1944. On one bombing mission over Hong Kong, China, the plane Balch was in was hit, forcing him to bail out. He landed among some Chinese civilians. In a short time, Balch was captured by Japanese soldiers. After several days, he was transported to Ofuna. Balch recalls several anecdotes about life as a prisoner of war in Japan. He mentions other POWs and tells stories about various guards. When the war ended, Balch was placed aboard the hospital ship USS Benevolence (AH-13). After the war, Balch returned to Tokyo to testify at the war crime trials.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Bargsley. Bargsley joined the Navy in February of 1942. He completed communication school and served as radioman aboard the USS Fowler (DE-222), beginning in May of 1944. Bargsley describes life aboard the ship, as they made numerous voyages between New York, Africa and England escorting convoys. They delivered men and supplies for the operations in Italy and Southern France. In February of 1945 he was transferred to the USS Bassett (APD-73) for duty in the Pacific Theater. They picked up Navy frogmen in San Diego and traveled to Hawaii for training in preparation for the planned invasion of Japan later that year. In August of 1945 they rescued survivors from the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). He provides details of this rescue. Bargsley was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Bargsley. Bargsley joined the Navy in February of 1942. He completed communication school and served as radioman aboard the USS Fowler (DE-222), beginning in May of 1944. Bargsley describes life aboard the ship, as they made numerous voyages between New York, Africa and England escorting convoys. They delivered men and supplies for the operations in Italy and Southern France. In February of 1945 he was transferred to the USS Bassett (APD-73) for duty in the Pacific Theater. They picked up Navy frogmen in San Diego and traveled to Hawaii for training in preparation for the planned invasion of Japan later that year. In August of 1945 they rescued survivors from the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). He provides details of this rescue. Bargsley was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Barnhouse. Barnhouse joined the Naval ROTC at the University of Texas in 1940. He graduated and received his commission in 1944 and went aboard the USS Kidd (DD-661) at Espiritu Santo in March. He remained on this destroyer until the war ended. On the ship he was in charge of the deck crew and maintenance. When in battle he served as a gunnery officer overseeing the 20 mm guns aft. He provides details of numerous attacks on their destroyer, fighting off the enemy with the anti-aircraft guns, and protecting the carriers. They were involved in the Borneo campaign, and the battles of Iwo Jima, Leyte Gulf, Guam, Tinian and Saipan. Barnhouse was discharged in February 1946. He earned his Master’s Degree at UT and worked for an airline and later a gas company.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Barnhouse. Barnhouse joined the Naval ROTC at the University of Texas in 1940. He graduated and received his commission in 1944 and went aboard the USS Kidd (DD-661) at Espiritu Santo in March. He remained on this destroyer until the war ended. On the ship he was in charge of the deck crew and maintenance. When in battle he served as a gunnery officer overseeing the 20 mm guns aft. He provides details of numerous attacks on their destroyer, fighting off the enemy with the anti-aircraft guns, and protecting the carriers. They were involved in the Borneo campaign, and the battles of Iwo Jima, Leyte Gulf, Guam, Tinian and Saipan. Barnhouse was discharged in February 1946. He earned his Master’s Degree at UT and worked for an airline and later a gas company.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Bell. Bell finished college at Texas Tech before joining the Army Air Forces in 1942. He was commissioned and sent to India where he joined the 341st Bomb Group as an engineer officer. He shares several anecdotes about his experiences.