The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a commentary by Joe Kruzel. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 17 February 1918, Kruzel attended the University of Scranton and graduated majoring in pre-med. Joining the Army Air Corps, he attended flight school at Randolph and Kelly fields in Texas. Soon after receiving his commission, he volunteered to go to the Philippine Islands. Upon arrival he was assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron under command of Colonel Boyd “Buzz” Wagner. He flew combat missions in P-35s and P-40s in the Philippines and Java for eleven months before being sent to the United States. He was next assigned to the 361st Fighter Group as executive officer in December 1942. In March 1943 the squadron went to Bottisham, England. Kruzel describes a number of missions in detail. In September 1944, he assumed command of the fighter group, which flew P-51s. He provides several anecdotes concerning various pilots and notes that one of his pilots shot down two M-262 German jets during one mission. He also comments on one of his most memorable flights and tells of the satisfaction derived when escorting crippled bombers back to England. He provides complementary comments about the ground crews and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a commentary by Joe Kruzel. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 17 February 1918, Kruzel attended the University of Scranton and graduated majoring in pre-med. Joining the Army Air Corps, he attended flight school at Randolph and Kelly fields in Texas. Soon after receiving his commission, he volunteered to go to the Philippine Islands. Upon arrival he was assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron under command of Colonel Boyd “Buzz” Wagner. He flew combat missions in P-35s and P-40s in the Philippines and Java for eleven months before being sent to the United States. He was next assigned to the 361st Fighter Group as executive officer in December 1942. In March 1943 the squadron went to Bottisham, England. Kruzel describes a number of missions in detail. In September 1944, he assumed command of the fighter group, which flew P-51s. He provides several anecdotes concerning various pilots and notes that one of his pilots shot down two M-262 German jets during one mission. He also comments on one of his most memorable flights and tells of the satisfaction derived when escorting crippled bombers back to England. He provides complementary comments about the ground crews and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Otto Schwarz. Schwarz joined the Navy in 1940 after spending some time in the Civilian Conservation Corps. After training at San Diego, he went to Pearl Harbor and was assigned to the USS Lark (AM-21). Once in the Philippines, he was transferred to the USS Houston (CA-30) in June 1941. He remained aboard the Houston until she was sunk in March, 1942 off the Java coast. His battle station was in the powder magazine in the first turret. Schwarz remembers leaving his battle station and abandoning the ship. Toward dawn, Schwarz was picked up by a barge and taken ashore where he gathered with other survivors. They stayed in a civilian jail on Java for five or six weeks before going to Bicycle Camp in Batavia (Jakarta today). In October, Schwarz left Java aboard the Dai Nichi Maru bound for the POW camp Changi, Singapore. From there, he shipped to Burma and went to work on the railway to Thailand starting at the 14 Kilo Camp. During the construction, he suffered from tropical ulcers, malaria, beriberi, dysentery and dengue fever. When the railroad was completed, Schwarz went to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alton Warner about his experiences leading up to and during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alton Warner about his experiences leading up to and during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Irvin Strobing. Strobing joined the Army Air Corps in July of 1939. He completed Army Signal School at Fort Monmouth and worked as a radio operator. He traveled to Manila, Philippines in May of 1940 and joined the 10th Signal Service Company. He shares his experiences as an apprentice, working and general life in the Philippines. Following the surrender on Bataan, Corregidor became the focus of Japanese forces. Strobing had an operating position in one of Corregidor’s network of tunnels. He speaks on Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright surrendering the Corregidor garrison to the Japanese on 6 May 1942. Strobing provides vivid recollections of his experiences through his capture and imprisonment at Bilibid and later Cabanatuan. Strobing shares details of his time in prison, the living and food accommodations, work, illness, death, interactions with the Japanese guards and their liberation from the camp. He rejoined his family in the States in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Irvin Strobing. Strobing joined the Army Air Corps in July of 1939. He completed Army Signal School at Fort Monmouth and worked as a radio operator. He traveled to Manila, Philippines in May of 1940 and joined the 10th Signal Service Company. He shares his experiences as an apprentice, working and general life in the Philippines. Following the surrender on Bataan, Corregidor became the focus of Japanese forces. Strobing had an operating position in one of Corregidor’s network of tunnels. He speaks on Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright surrendering the Corregidor garrison to the Japanese on 6 May 1942. Strobing provides vivid recollections of his experiences through his capture and imprisonment at Bilibid and later Cabanatuan. Strobing shares details of his time in prison, the living and food accommodations, work, illness, death, interactions with the Japanese guards and their liberation from the camp. He rejoined his family in the States in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James and John Bowen, Earl Steele, and Don Stoll. The Bowen brothers and Earl Steele share their experiences aboard USS South Dakota (BB-57) during WWII. The brothers served aboard the ship together. They were still aboard when the ship was deployed to the Atlantic. Ingram interviews Don Stoll on 3 December 1989. Stoll served as an engineer on the captain’s gig aboard USS South Dakota. He was aboard from 1943 through 1946. Stoll was injured severely in a bomb blast.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James and John Bowen, Earl Steele, and Don Stoll. The Bowen brothers and Earl Steele share their experiences aboard USS South Dakota (BB-57) during WWII. The brothers served aboard the ship together. They were still aboard when the ship was deployed to the Atlantic. Ingram interviews Don Stoll on 3 December 1989. Stoll served as an engineer on the captain’s gig aboard USS South Dakota. He was aboard from 1943 through 1946. Stoll was injured severely in a bomb blast.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Beardsley. Beardsley provides two interviews, one in 1990 and the other in 1998. Both focus on his career in the Navy. Beardsley joined the Navy in 1941 and earned a commission in January 1942. He served aboard the USS Big Horn (AO-45) for a while before commanding USS PC-1140 in 1944. After further anti-submarine warfare training, Beardsley commanded USS PCE(R)-858. He was on his way to the invasion of Japan when the war ended. He was discharged in 1946, but stayed in the reserves until 1964.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Jim Woods. Woods joined the Marine Corps in January of 1943. He served with the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, participating in the Bougainville Campaign in November of 1943, the Battle of Guam in 1944, landing on Emirau Island, the Okinawa Campaign in April of 1945 and landing on Japan on 30 August 1945. After Bougainville, the Raiders were disbanded and Woods joined the 4th Marine Regiment for the remainder of his service. He provides vivid details of his combat missions with fellow servicemen, anecdotal stories from his squad and witnessed heavy casualties at Okinawa. Woods was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Jim Woods. Woods joined the Marine Corps in January of 1943. He served with the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, participating in the Bougainville Campaign in November of 1943, the Battle of Guam in 1944, landing on Emirau Island, the Okinawa Campaign in April of 1945 and landing on Japan on 30 August 1945. After Bougainville, the Raiders were disbanded and Woods joined the 4th Marine Regiment for the remainder of his service. He provides vivid details of his combat missions with fellow servicemen, anecdotal stories from his squad and witnessed heavy casualties at Okinawa. Woods was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald R. Witmer where he discusses his early life, enlisting in the Navy and going through bootcamp. Witmer describes his experiences as a torpedo man in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chaplain Vernon Hanks. Hanks was born in Sterling, Kansas on 21 November 1908. He joined the National Guard doing drills with horse-drawn caissons and French 75s while attending Sterling College in Kansas. He graduated in 1931 and then attended the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, graduating in 1940 with a Master of Theology. Hanks joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor and received orders for Naval Chaplains School (NCS), Norfolk, Virginia, in August 1942. He was stationed at MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina where he remembers counseling a distraught young Marine pilot who had been shot down during the Battle of Midway. Shortly afterward he was assigned to Bunker Hill Naval Air Station where he counseled Marines and Navy personnel. He facilitated a free circus performance at Christmastime. On 5 June 1943 he was assigned to the USS Wright (AV-1), a seaplane tender, for duty in the South Pacific. Hanks was on the Wright at Bougainville, the Admiralties and during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. In February 1945, USS Wright was renamed USS San Clemente (AG-79) and served as communications center for the 7th Fleet. Hanks returned …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chaplain Vernon Hanks. Hanks was born in Sterling, Kansas on 21 November 1908. He joined the National Guard doing drills with horse-drawn caissons and French 75s while attending Sterling College in Kansas. He graduated in 1931 and then attended the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, graduating in 1940 with a Master of Theology. Hanks joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor and received orders for Naval Chaplains School (NCS), Norfolk, Virginia, in August 1942. He was stationed at MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina where he remembers counseling a distraught young Marine pilot who had been shot down during the Battle of Midway. Shortly afterward he was assigned to Bunker Hill Naval Air Station where he counseled Marines and Navy personnel. He facilitated a free circus performance at Christmastime. On 5 June 1943 he was assigned to the USS Wright (AV-1), a seaplane tender, for duty in the South Pacific. Hanks was on the Wright at Bougainville, the Admiralties and during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. In February 1945, USS Wright was renamed USS San Clemente (AG-79) and served as communications center for the 7th Fleet. Hanks returned …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Charland. Charland initially provides details of his family history and growing up. He joined the Marine Corps in 1939. He completed boot camp at Camp Elliott in California and provides details of his training. In June of 1941 he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Defense Battalion, H & S Company in Hawaii. He was serving guard detail at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, 7 miles west of Pearl Harbor on the morning of 7 December 1941. Charland provides vivid details of his experiences through the attack. For the next month he and his sergeant went through the harbor in the captain’s gig picking up survivors and the dead. In August of 1942 he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, E Company, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division in New Zealand. In November of 1943 he participated in the Battle of Tarawa. Upon getting wounded he boarded the USS Comfort (AH-6) and went back to Hawaii, where Admiral Chester Nimitz awarded him a Purple Heart. He was then assigned to the 4th Marine Division in February of 1944 and supported the infantry during the battles of Saipan, Tinian and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Charland. Charland initially provides details of his family history and growing up. He joined the Marine Corps in 1939. He completed boot camp at Camp Elliott in California and provides details of his training. In June of 1941 he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Defense Battalion, H & S Company in Hawaii. He was serving guard detail at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, 7 miles west of Pearl Harbor on the morning of 7 December 1941. Charland provides vivid details of his experiences through the attack. For the next month he and his sergeant went through the harbor in the captain’s gig picking up survivors and the dead. In August of 1942 he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, E Company, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division in New Zealand. In November of 1943 he participated in the Battle of Tarawa. Upon getting wounded he boarded the USS Comfort (AH-6) and went back to Hawaii, where Admiral Chester Nimitz awarded him a Purple Heart. He was then assigned to the 4th Marine Division in February of 1944 and supported the infantry during the battles of Saipan, Tinian and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ramon Villa. Villa joined the Army in April of 1941. He served with the 200th Coast Artillery. In September, he deployed to the Philippines, and was assigned at Clark Field. After the Japanese landed on Luzon, Villa helped defend Bataan and Corregidor, surrendering to the Japanese in April of 1942. He was captured and held a prisoner of war at Camp O’Donnell, Cabanatuan Camp #3, Las Piñas Camp #4, and in Japan. In 1944, he survived transport aboard the Haro Maru to Taiwan, to work as slave labor on a sugar plantation. He was liberated after the war ended, and returned to the US in October of 1945, receiving an honorable discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ramon Villa. Villa joined the Army in April of 1941. He served with the 200th Coast Artillery. In September, he deployed to the Philippines, and was assigned at Clark Field. After the Japanese landed on Luzon, Villa helped defend Bataan and Corregidor, surrendering to the Japanese in April of 1942. He was captured and held a prisoner of war at Camp O’Donnell, Cabanatuan Camp #3, Las Piñas Camp #4, and in Japan. In 1944, he survived transport aboard the Haro Maru to Taiwan, to work as slave labor on a sugar plantation. He was liberated after the war ended, and returned to the US in October of 1945, receiving an honorable discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lawrence Dibb. Dibb joined the Navy in September of 1941. Beginning January of 1942, he served aboard USS Maryland (BB-46) as a Fireman in damage control, fire and rescue, and diving repair. They traveled to Midway and Fiji Island. They participated in the battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Dibb was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lawrence Dibb. Dibb joined the Navy in September of 1941. Beginning January of 1942, he served aboard USS Maryland (BB-46) as a Fireman in damage control, fire and rescue, and diving repair. They traveled to Midway and Fiji Island. They participated in the battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Dibb was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with William Bates. Bates joined the Navy Reserves in late 1939 as an aviation cadet. He was in primary flight training at Corpus Christi when the war started. He opted to quit flying and went instead to Midshipmen’s School at northwestern and earned a commission and was assigned to the USS APc-21. He describes his journey down the East Coast, through the Panama Canal and on to Australia and the Southwest Pacific. Once there, his vessel would escort LCTs and LSTs provisioning the ground forces in New Guinea. He was aboard the APc-21 when it was bombed and sunk. After returning to the US and some leave, Bates was assigned to the USS ATR-22. He then transferred to the USS Unadilla (ATA-182). He shares a few anecdotes about being at the Panama Canal and experiencing typhoons off the Philippines. Bates returned to the US in early 1946 and was discharged in September.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Wertz and Russell Wheeler. Both Wertz and Wheeler served in the Navy aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Wertz enlisted in the Navy in January of 1940 and Wheeler enlisted around 1942. Wertz served aboard the Hornet as Boatswain Mate 2nd Class and Wheeler served as Seaman 1st Class. Both men were in the 3rd Division, 40mm guns, which Wertz had charge over. Considering that Wheeler was only 15 years old when he joined, Wertz took extra care of him while aboard the Hornet. They traveled through the Panama Canal. They helped qualify fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, and transported Marines to various islands. Their ship operated around Formosa, Guam, New Caledonia, Iwo Jima and the Aleutian Islands. They share various incidents aboard the ship, including kamikaze plane attacks, air raids, memorable landings and takeoffs from their carrier and life in general aboard the Hornet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Wertz and Russell Wheeler. Both Wertz and Wheeler served in the Navy aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Wertz enlisted in the Navy in January of 1940 and Wheeler enlisted around 1942. Wertz served aboard the Hornet as Boatswain Mate 2nd Class and Wheeler served as Seaman 1st Class. Both men were in the 3rd Division, 40mm guns, which Wertz had charge over. Considering that Wheeler was only 15 years old when he joined, Wertz took extra care of him while aboard the Hornet. They traveled through the Panama Canal. They helped qualify fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, and transported Marines to various islands. Their ship operated around Formosa, Guam, New Caledonia, Iwo Jima and the Aleutian Islands. They share various incidents aboard the ship, including kamikaze plane attacks, air raids, memorable landings and takeoffs from their carrier and life in general aboard the Hornet.