Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz, writing from aboard the USS Indiana (BB-1), recalls an uneventful trip from New York to Boston. He mentions waiting at the gangway for pretty girls to escort around the ship while it was open to visitors.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz, writing from aboard the USS Indiana (BB-1), recalls an uneventful trip from New York to Boston. He mentions waiting at the gangway for pretty girls to escort around the ship while it was open to visitors.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz is on the summer cruise and writing from aboard the USS Massachusetts (BB-2). He discusses the condition of his ear and is optimistic. He mentions participating in the Grand Army of the Republic reunion parade in Boston as well as his upcoming leave plans. This letter is on USS Massachusetts stationery.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz is on the summer cruise and writing from aboard the USS Massachusetts (BB-2). He discusses the condition of his ear and is optimistic. He mentions participating in the Grand Army of the Republic reunion parade in Boston as well as his upcoming leave plans.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his mother in Kerrville. Nimitz, writing from aboard the USS Narwhal (SS-17) in Norfolk, Virginia, sends birthday greetings. He encourages his mother to get a train ticket to Washington DC so they can visit for a while.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his mother in Kerrville. Nimitz, writing from aboard the USS Narwhal (SS-17) in Norfolk, Virginia, sends birthday greetings. He encourages his mother to get a train ticket to Washington DC so they can visit for a while.

Page from scrapbook kept by the Nimitz family that includes two photographs. The photograph on the left shows Clarence "Heine" Hinkamp reading a book in the Freeman house in Wollaston, Massachusetts. He is reclining against the armrest of a wooden chair and wearing a suit and tie. The photograph on the right shows Elizabeth Freeman and Chester W. Nimitz playing cribbage while seated at a table in the Freeman house. Chester is wearing a suit and tie and Elizabeth is wearing a white dress. The photographs are mounted on black scrapbook paper.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz thanks his parents for a box he received, which he took with him to Massachusetts to share with the Freeman family. He mentions spending Christmas in Wollaston with the Freeman clan.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz thanks his parents for a box he received, which he took with him to Massachusetts to share with the Freeman family. He mentions spending Christmas in Wollaston with the Freeman clan.

Page from scrapbook kept by the Nimitz family that includes a photograph of submarine USS E-2 in dock, surrounded by snow, at Fore River Ship and Engineering Company, Quincy, Massachusetts. A building is in the background. The photograph is mounted on black scrapbook paper.

Page from scrapbook kept by the Nimitz family that includes a photograph of Chester W. Nimitz and Clarence "Heine" Hinkamp holding cats, E-1 and E-2, and Dixie, a dog, sitting near Hinkamp. They are sitting on the lawn and a cottage can be seen behind them. Chester and Clarence are wearing suits and ties. The photograph is mounted on black scrapbook paper.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond F. Higgins. Higgins joined the Navy in February 1941 as a commissioned officer. He trained with the Marines at Quantico and then with the Medical Corps at Paris Island. He also trained in tropical and aviation medicine and learned to fly N3N's at Pensacola. Higgins was transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor. He then transferred to islands in the southwest Pacific. He was in Fleet Air Wing 101, a flight patrol squadron based out of Australia. He returned to the United States for leave in 1944. He then is assigned to the USS Ranger (CV-4) and leaves from San Diego to the sea for training. After V-J Day, the Ranger went to New Orleans and then Norfolk. He remained in service until 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Nielsen from Medaryville, Indiana. He discusses undergoing Amry training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being assigned as B Company of the 69th Army Regiment at Fort Knox as a private. Afterwards he got lucky and was assigned to drive a truck from Louisiana to North Carolina, Mr. Nielsen describes this as the best job he ever had in the Army. After Pearl Harbor he is transferred to the 1st Armored Division and Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He was then transported from fort Knox to Ireland then to England for a short time before being shipped out to Oran in North Africa. On the way to Oran, the ship he was on was almost hit by a missile shot by a German U-boat, but it instead hit another ship that was nearby. By the time Mr. Nielsen reached Oran he was a segreant Tank Commander. He also relays a time he warned his Company Commander about German Tiger Tanks being in their area and being ignored only for them to show up a few days later resulting in one captain deserting and being captured by German soldiers. Mr. Nielsen …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Nielsen from Medaryville, Indiana. He discusses undergoing Amry training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being assigned as B Company of the 69th Army Regiment at Fort Knox as a private. Afterwards he got lucky and was assigned to drive a truck from Louisiana to North Carolina, Mr. Nielsen describes this as the best job he ever had in the Army. After Pearl Harbor he is transferred to the 1st Armored Division and Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He was then transported from fort Knox to Ireland then to England for a short time before being shipped out to Oran in North Africa. On the way to Oran, the ship he was on was almost hit by a missile shot by a German U-boat, but it instead hit another ship that was nearby. By the time Mr. Nielsen reached Oran he was a segreant Tank Commander. He also relays a time he warned his Company Commander about German Tiger Tanks being in their area and being ignored only for them to show up a few days later resulting in one captain deserting and being captured by German soldiers. Mr. Nielsen …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Hood of Indianapolis, Indiana. He discusses entering the U.S. Navy in September of 1942 without basic training as he was a college graduate. After being sworn in at Wabash College he was sent to Harvard Business School for Supply Corps for 4 months before being assigned to a ship in Pearl Harbor despite having no sailing training. Mr. hood was assigned to the Cummings DE643, he was supposed to be on the Samuel B. Roberts but the naval officer over him changed his mind last minute and 37 days later the Roberts sunk. While in Tulagi, Mr. Hood was involved in shooting down a Kamikaze plane, even receiving a ribbon for it after the war. He was also involved in the Battle of Okinawa and even saved two shells and years later had them signed by U.S. pilot Paul Tibbets. Mr. Hood was discharged from the Navy on February 28th, 1946, at Santa Ana, California as a Full Lieutenant. He was recalled to the Navy for the Korean War on March 2nd, 1951, and discharged for the final time on March 30th, 1953, as a Lieutenant Commander.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Hood of Indianapolis, Indiana. He discusses entering the U.S. Navy in September of 1942 without basic training as he was a college graduate. After being sworn in at Wabash College he was sent to Harvard Business School for Supply Corps for 4 months before being assigned to a ship in Pearl Harbor despite having no sailing training. Mr. hood was assigned to the Cummings DE643, he was supposed to be on the Samuel B. Roberts but the naval officer over him changed his mind last minute and 37 days later the Roberts sunk. While in Tulagi, Mr. Hood was involved in shooting down a Kamikaze plane, even receiving a ribbon for it after the war. He was also involved in the Battle of Okinawa and even saved two shells and years later had them signed by U.S. pilot Paul Tibbets. Mr. Hood was discharged from the Navy on February 28th, 1946, at Santa Ana, California as a Full Lieutenant. He was recalled to the Navy for the Korean War on March 2nd, 1951, and discharged for the final time on March 30th, 1953, as a Lieutenant Commander.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alan Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt enlisted in the Army Air Forces in July of 1942. He describes the planes he flew during training, including the PT-19, the BT-13 and the UC-78. Hildebrandt was commissioned and received his pilot rating in November of 1943. Upon graduation he trained on the B-26 at Laughlin Field. Hildebrandt served as a pilot in the 95th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. They first traveled to Morocco, North Africa, then to northern Italy and Southern France. Their job was to bomb Marshaling yards, bridges and troop replacements. Hildebrandt describes some of his missions. He flew a total of 64 missions and was discharged in July of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alan Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt enlisted in the Army Air Forces in July of 1942. He describes the planes he flew during training, including the PT-19, the BT-13 and the UC-78. Hildebrandt was commissioned and received his pilot rating in November of 1943. Upon graduation he trained on the B-26 at Laughlin Field. Hildebrandt served as a pilot in the 95th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. They first traveled to Morocco, North Africa, then to northern Italy and Southern France. Their job was to bomb Marshaling yards, bridges and troop replacements. Hildebrandt describes some of his missions. He flew a total of 64 missions and was discharged in July of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Brown. Brown joined the Navy and served as a Radarman with amphibious forces at Guadalcanal for one year. In 1942, Brown worked aboard submarines as a specialist in surface attacks using radar. Admiral Chester Nimitz appointed him the officer in charge to create the Pacific Fleet Radar School for Senior Officers, and to instruct them in radar techniques. Brown completed this work through late 1945. He continued his service after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Brown. Brown joined the Navy and served as a Radarman with amphibious forces at Guadalcanal for one year. In 1942, Brown worked aboard submarines as a specialist in surface attacks using radar. Admiral Chester Nimitz appointed him the officer in charge to create the Pacific Fleet Radar School for Senior Officers, and to instruct them in radar techniques. Brown completed this work through late 1945. He continued his service after the war ended.