The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Lee Reynolds. Reynolds was drafted into the Army in January of 1946. After basic training, he was deployed to Yokohama, Japan with occupation forces. He shares what the city looked like after the bombing and how the people treated him. He was transferred to Kobe, where his job was to process uniforms and anything that had to be salvaged or replaced. He shares his experiences living and working in Japan after the war. He returned to the US in 1948 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with William Batty. Batty was drafted into the Army Signal Corps in April, 1944 after he finished high school. After training, he joined the 58th Signal Repair Company in late 1944 and headed for England. His unit eventually moved to the continent and into Germany. Their job was to repair telephones, but they did not encounter too many. Batty shares several anecdotes of his time in Europe during and after the war. When the war ended in Europe, Batty recalls his unit packing its gear for transport to the Pacific. He was Marseilles when the Japanese surrendered. He returned instead to the US and was discharged in April, 1946. Batty went to college in Mississippi and then went to work for IBM.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Steffes. Steffes entered the Navy June 1946. He completed training in Great Lakes, Illinois. He moved on to Treasure Island, California for electronics school. In July 1947 he boarded the USS Newman K. Perry (DD-883). He served as an electronics technician aboard the destroyer. They arrived in Japan September 1947. They were with the Carrier Division 132. They were assigned to patrol escort, search and rescue, and hydrographic survey missions. They were on the coast of China from Tsingtao to Hong Kong. He was discharged March 1948. In December 1950 he was recalled for the Korean War and reported for duty in January 1951. He served aboard the USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108) working to get the radar and radios in working order. They trained pilots to land on the small flight deck, and as the pilots qualified they were sent on to Korea. He was discharged in April 1952. He owned and operated a gas station after his time in the service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Max Crittenden. Crittenden joined the Navy in May of 1944. He served as a fire controlman. He completed boot camp in Farragut, Idaho. He went to Service School for Fire Control Operator in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to learn how to use the fire control telescope. He went to Tacloban, Philippines in January 1945. He was assigned in New Guinea to the USS Flusser (DD-368), the flagship for DESRON 5. His job aboard was serving as one of the commodore’s orderlies. His ship and crew were part of the invasion on Balikpapan, Borneo in July 1945. He was discharged in June of 1946.

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 Charles Boswell. Boswell joined the Navy in January of 1941. He served aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43) and the USS Waller (DD-466) as Water Tender 1st Class. Boswell provides a description of the ships and life aboard. He was aboard the Tennessee in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and provides details of that day and their ship getting hit by the Japanese. He transferred to the USS Waller (DD-466) in September of 1942. They traveled to several islands in the Pacific, providing escort support. They traveled to New Hebrides, the Philippines, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, China and Luzon. He was discharged in January of 1947.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald McWilliams. McWilliams finished high school in 1942 and joined the Marine Corps in March, 1943. He went overseas in October and joined the Fifth Marines. At Cape Gloucester, McWilliams served in a headquarters and supply company handling ammunition. He also went to Peleliu and recalls a friend he lost there. McWilliams also went to Okinawa with the First Marine Division. He shares anecdotes about time at Pavuvu and in combat. When the war ended, McWilliams received his discharge.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudolph Kraut. Kraut joined the Navy in 1943. He volunteered for submarine duty and attended torpedo school in San Diego and submarine school in New London. He was assigned aboard USS Lizardfish (SS-373) and shares several anecdotes about his service aboard that boat. Kraut was transferred to USS Blueback (SS-326) before electing to be discharged on points.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Hartman. Hartman joined the Navy in February of 1943. He trained to be a pilot in Pensacola, Florida and received his wings in February of 1944. He was commissioned and sent to Banana River Naval Air Station, Florida to fly PBMs. He joined Patrol Bombing Squadron 26 (VPB-26). Hartman served as both pilot and navigator. He provides some details of the PBM. His crew was sent to Okinawa to deliver a new PBM-5. They went to Saipan and were assigned to the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), and later assigned to the USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17). He gives his experiences of flying combat missions around Japan and the Yellow Sea. He served in the Navy for 27 years.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Ivan Bishop. Bishop attended electrician school prior to joining the Army. He served in the Signal Corps in the 727th Signal Aircraft Warning Company. Bishop participated in the invasion of Leyte and Okinawa operating a radar warning system for invasion forces. Bishop shares several anecdotes about his experiences in the service during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clyde Day. Day finished college and was commissioned in the Navy in June 1942. He received more training at in armaments and gunnery before being assigned to USS Boston (CA-69) in January 1943 while still under construction. He served as a fire control officer aboard the Boston. Day recalls supporting the landings at the MArshall Islands, Iwo Jima and elsewehere in the Pacific. He describes the circular battle formation. Day also recalls a near collision with a carrier while bombarding Japan and several other anecdtoes from his time abaord the Boston. He also shares stories from his time during the occupation of Japan after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Nicks. Nicks enlisted in the Army Air Forces in January of 1941. He received his wings in April of 1942. Nicks was in the 120th Observation Squadron in the 130th Field Artillery Squadron. He flew border patrol missions for a year between Mexico and the United States. He was assigned to Mountain Home Air Base, Idaho to serve as a B-25 instructor until the spring of 1944. He was then transferred in May of 1944 in McCook, Nebraska as a B-29 instructor. He was in the 1st Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, 313th Wing of the 20th Air Force at McCook, Nebraska. Their outfit was sent to Kwajalein, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Japan to name a few. Nicks flew a total of 35 missions. He provides great detail of their missions. He was discharged in January of 1946 with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

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 John Rue. Rue’s son-in-law Scott Gremillion assists with the interview. Upon high school graduation in 1941 Rue enlisted in the Coast Guard. He completed training at the Naval Station in Algiers, Louisiana, and then went to Miami, Florida where he was stationed on a light ship. From there he went to Fort Lauderdale where he guarded a German ship that was in port. From there he went on to Maryland to be trained as an electrician. His job on the ships was an assistant to both the electrician and the cook. His rank was Electrician 1st Class. For almost a year he escorted ships going to Russia and later escorted troops and supplies to the Panama Canal and throughout the North Pacific. He helped make the airfield at Guadalcanal and would escort troops from Iwo Jima to Guadalcanal. His ship made the invasion at Iwo Jima. He returned from the Pacific and was discharged in 1946. He carried on with his work and family.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Howe. Howe was drafted into the Navy in August 1943. He went to boot camp in Sampson, New York. From there he went to signal school in Baltimore. From there he went into the Armed Guard division of the Navy in New York City, aboard the Liberty Ship SS Edwin Markham. He served for one year aboard the ship as signalman. They traveled through the Panama Canal picking up sugar from Hawaii and delivering it to the San Francisco Hawaii Sugar Company in California. From there they went to the Philippines for a year and a half. After that Howe was transferred to the USS Baltimore (CA-68) in Hawaii. He served on this cruiser for one year, transferring supplies and ammunition to the islands in the Pacific. He visited Hiroshima after the bomb fell and provides some description of that experience. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Sebacher. Sebacher’s son David assists with the interview. Sebacher enlisted in the Navy in December of 1942. He completed boot camp in Chicago. He volunteered for submarine training in New London, Connecticut. He boarded the USS Picuda (SS-382) at Pearl Harbor in January of 1944. He served as the electrician on board. From Pearl Harbor they went to Midway Island. He made six patrols and sunk Japanese ships on every patrol. He provides detail of these patrols and sinking around 26 ships. They also traveled to Saipan. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Cook. Cook’s brother Sidney speaks on his behalf. Cook graduated from high school in May of 1941. He joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He went to boot camp on the east coast, and he provides some detail of his experiences. He then went on to train as an aircraft mechanic at Chanute Field, Illinois. From there he went to the Navy Pier in Chicago for additional training. Then he completed special training in electronic propellers in Norman, Oklahoma through Spartan Aviation and the University of Oklahoma. In early 1943 he went to Hawaii for survival and jungle training. He was part of a Marine air crew. They were sent to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. He assisted with ground maintenance and flying supplies and medevac. He provides some detail of his experiences on Peleliu. He provides details of attacks, and the Japanese and military life on the islands. He was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Justin Bible. Bible joined the Army and went to radio school in California before being assigned to the 593rd Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO). He landed in the Philippines (Leyte and Luzon) with the unit and shares a few anecdotes. He also went to Okinawa. Bible returned to the US in late 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Philip and Mary Elizabeth Wales. Wales graduated from medical school in 1943. He was stationed at Ulithi and had some interaction with the island natives. When the war ended, Wales accepted his discharge and began practicing medicine in San Antonio. Mrs. Wales joined the Army Nurse Corps, graduated as a nurse and went to work in Galveston. They met after the war and married.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Whayland Greene. Greene joined the Army in August, 1943 and trained at Camp Fannin. When he went overseas, he went to New Guinea and joined the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He participated in the invasions of Leyte and Luzon with his outfit and recalls a few anecdotes of his combat experiences. He was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with George Kempfe. Kempfe was working when the war started. He decided to join the Navy and trained for service aboard PT boats. After training, he was assigned to PT-372 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 27. Kempfe shares several anecdotes about PT operations in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. When the war ended, Kempfe opted for discharge and mustered out of the Navy in late 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Osborne. Osborne joined the Navy in 1943. He was assigned aboard USS Chester (CA-27). Osborne shares several anecdotes of his time aboard the ship. He also describes the collision between the Chester and another ship off Iwo Jima. When the war ended, Osborne elected to take his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Dittmar. Dittmar joined the Navy in 1943 and trained at Great Lakes and shares a few anecdotes from those days. He served as an operating room technician aboard USS La Grange (APA-124) when he was assigned to the ship in mid-1944. He recalls his duties aboard and going to the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marion Peck. Peck entered the Navy WAVES in January 1943. She went to Hunter College in the Bronx, New York for training. She describes in detail what she learned in training and her uniform. She then moved on to Boston to Burdett College for additional training. She served in naval supplies and accounts. Her permanent work station was at the U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipman School at Notre Dame University in Indiana. She was also assigned to the Navy Pier in Chicago to work at the U.S. Naval Expo. She then moved on to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christ, Texas in 1945. Her rank was DK2C Disbursing Clerk Second Class. She was discharged February 1946. She used her G.I. Bill to attend St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame. She worked as a flight attendant and at Green Giant and as a housewife. She enjoys playing Taps at her local military burials as a member of the American Legion.