Interview with Lewis R. Hopkins, a pilot during World War II. He describes growing up on a farm in Georgia, going to college at Berry, and working for Sears, Roebuck, and the Royal Typewriter Company before joining the U. S. Navy. He tells an anecdote about joining the navy so he could go to New York to see the World's Fair, since he had heard the Atlanta Reserve would be making a trip to the Fair. He began flight training in Florida in December 1940, finished the next September, then drove cross-country to San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor attack. He eventually joined the USS Enterprise in April 1942 and saw the B-25 bombers in the Doolittle Raid take off. He was part of Bombing Squadron Six and trained under Commander Best to learn how to do scouting flights, navigation, and dive bombing. He then describes his participation in the Battle of Midway, the hours before take-off, his first view of the Japanese fleet, and his bombing mission. He was later assigned to the USS Hornet and had to fly off to a little island so that planes from the USS Wasp could land on the Hornet after their ship …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan Pilot. Pilot joined the Army in January 1943 and received basic training at Camp Howze. He received further training in Louisiana for the European Theater and then in California for the Pacific Theater. In January he left for Camp Old Gold at La Havre, where he served as a combat medic, supporting Companies E, G, and H of the 343rd Infantry, 86th Division. His unit relieved the 8th Division and fought in Cologne, where he was stationed at the top of the cathedral while it was being shelled. In the Ruhr Pocket a defective shell landed 10 feet away from him. He recalls seeing 100,000 Germans surrender there. He describes the Bavarian people as friendly as he passed through Austria on VE Day. He was then sent to the Pacific as part of Operation Coronet. VJ Day came while he was still crossing the Pacific. He spent the last five months of his service in the Philippines at a quiet outpost while the rest of his unit prepared the Philippines for independence. Pilot returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan Pilot. Pilot joined the Army in January 1943 and received basic training at Camp Howze. He received further training in Louisiana for the European Theater and then in California for the Pacific Theater. In January he left for Camp Old Gold at La Havre, where he served as a combat medic, supporting Companies E, G, and H of the 343rd Infantry, 86th Division. His unit relieved the 8th Division and fought in Cologne, where he was stationed at the top of the cathedral while it was being shelled. In the Ruhr Pocket a defective shell landed 10 feet away from him. He recalls seeing 100,000 Germans surrender there. He describes the Bavarian people as friendly as he passed through Austria on VE Day. He was then sent to the Pacific as part of Operation Coronet. VJ Day came while he was still crossing the Pacific. He spent the last five months of his service in the Philippines at a quiet outpost while the rest of his unit prepared the Philippines for independence. Pilot returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Lawrence Wile. Wile joined the Army in 1943. He completed Cook School, and worked as a cook at Fort Meade and Fort Eustis. In late 1944, he traveled to Cherbourg, France and Belgium, working with the 1591st Labor Supervision Company. He assisted with coordinating German companies in cleaning up after the war, rebuilding roads and picking up artillery shells. Wile continued in the Army after the war, completing 30 years of service in the military.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Lawrence Wile. Wile joined the Army in 1943. He completed Cook School, and worked as a cook at Fort Meade and Fort Eustis. In late 1944, he traveled to Cherbourg, France and Belgium, working with the 1591st Labor Supervision Company. He assisted with coordinating German companies in cleaning up after the war, rebuilding roads and picking up artillery shells. Wile continued in the Army after the war, completing 30 years of service in the military.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Adrian Miller. Miller was born in Winamac, Indiana 16 November 1924 and graduated from high school in 1942. He entered the Army in March, 1944 and took his basic training at Ft. Blanding, Florida. He volunteered for the paratroopers at Fort Benning, Georgia and describes the six weeks of rigorous training, which included jumps. In November, he joined the 101st Army Airborne and was assigned to the 505th Parachute Infantry, Company H. Miller was sent to Bastogne and describes the conditions and the high casualty rate. After being relieved in January he went to Lorraine, France, then to Berchtesgaden, Germany where he met his brother. Miller was in Paris when Germany surrendered. On 15 December 1945, he returned to the United States on the Queen Mary. He was discharged January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Adrian Miller. Miller was born in Winamac, Indiana 16 November 1924 and graduated from high school in 1942. He entered the Army in March, 1944 and took his basic training at Ft. Blanding, Florida. He volunteered for the paratroopers at Fort Benning, Georgia and describes the six weeks of rigorous training, which included jumps. In November, he joined the 101st Army Airborne and was assigned to the 505th Parachute Infantry, Company H. Miller was sent to Bastogne and describes the conditions and the high casualty rate. After being relieved in January he went to Lorraine, France, then to Berchtesgaden, Germany where he met his brother. Miller was in Paris when Germany surrendered. On 15 December 1945, he returned to the United States on the Queen Mary. He was discharged January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron C. Kulow. Kulow grew up in Michigan and enlisted in the Navy in 1942. After training, he joined the ship USS Pollux AKS-4 at Norfolk, Virginia. Initially the ship runs trips down to the Carribbean and Brazil but in 1943 is fitted with radar and sent to the Pacific Theater. In the Pacific, the general stores issue ship visited Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, and the New Hebrides Islands. He then returned to San Francisco in 1944 where his wife met him to get married. He left for the Pacific again and in 1945 traveled to the Philippines. In 1945 Kulow met survivors of the Bataan Death March that had been liberated. He remembers going to a friend's burial in the Philippines. On V-J Day Kulow was at Manila Harbor. He left for America in October 1945 and was discharged in New York December 12, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron C. Kulow. Kulow grew up in Michigan and enlisted in the Navy in 1942. After training, he joined the ship USS Pollux AKS-4 at Norfolk, Virginia. Initially the ship runs trips down to the Carribbean and Brazil but in 1943 is fitted with radar and sent to the Pacific Theater. In the Pacific, the general stores issue ship visited Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, and the New Hebrides Islands. He then returned to San Francisco in 1944 where his wife met him to get married. He left for the Pacific again and in 1945 traveled to the Philippines. In 1945 Kulow met survivors of the Bataan Death March that had been liberated. He remembers going to a friend's burial in the Philippines. On V-J Day Kulow was at Manila Harbor. He left for America in October 1945 and was discharged in New York December 12, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Moorer. Moorer grew up in Alabama and received a principal appointment to the Naval Academy in 1929. He shipped out on the USS Enterprise (CV-6) after going into aviation training in 1935. He flew the PBY. After World War II starts, in the Pacific Ocean near Australia, during a reconnaissance mission, he was shot down by the Japanese and managed to get himself and his seven crewmates all out alive. Then the ship he was rescued onto was shot again, and he again rescued six of his original crew and 40 more from the ship. They were beached on a small island and rescued by an Australian plane. From Darwin they went to Perth. After the Battle of Midway, Moorer was transferred to Africa. He discusses the attack on Pearl Harbor. While in the Pacific, he was sent by General Douglas MacArthur to pick up stranded Australian Green Berets on Timor. Macarthur met and spoke with Moorer about traveling to pick the men up. He also encountered MacArthur when MacArthur went to Japan as controller of the occupation, after Moorer was selected to command the Seventh Fleet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E. B. Potter. Potter was attached to the Intelligence Section of the 14th Naval District in Oahu during World War II. He graduated with an English degree from the University of Richmond in 1929. He completed an advanced degree in English at the University of Chicago, and during this time the war broke out in Europe. He applied for and received a commission in the Navy. Potter was sent to the Naval Academy as a reservist to teach college-level European and naval history. After 7 December 1941 he went to communications school. From there he went to Pearl Harbor in November of 1943. Potter worked in the Registered Publications Issuing Office (RPIO), distributing codes and ciphers to ships of the fleet. He provides a vivid description of his work. Potter became second-in-command of RPIO. He talks some of Commander Joseph Rochefort’s operation and code breaking. He discusses briefly working on the biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, and some of Admiral Bill Halsey’s actions during the war. Potter was later assigned as executive officer to the 14th Naval District and provides stories of his experiences. In 1945 he returned to …

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz, writing from Annapolis, Maryland, relates news about arriving in Annapolis and settling in at the Werntz Preparatory School. He provides clues about his schedule and some thoughts on Annapolis.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about the weather and his studies.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz describes Annapolis and relates a tale of sailing on Chesapeake Bay. He also indicates he is the only person among his peer group that won his appointment by competitive exam - the others were appointed outright. He also describes his academic progress so far.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz tells of other young men in his prep school from Texas and that a few of them are Germans. He also observes that some of the people there did not take a competitive exam.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects. Again, Nimitz and some friends hired a sailboat and went out on the Chesapeake Bay. Nimitz became seasick. He also includes examples of problems in math that he is encountering and explanations of the formulas and solutions.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects and expresses confidence that he will be able to enter the Academy. He also mentions the risk he runs of hazing from upper classmen should he be caught in the act of looking at one.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz relates information about his grades in various subjects and expresses his appreciation for all his grandfather has done for him. He also mentions that his ears are fine and he does not believe his hearing will bar him from entering the Academy.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz tells of the looming examinations for entrance into the Naval Academy and his confidence in passing and gaining admittance.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz describes the rigors his first week at the Academy: rowing and drilling from six in the morning until ten at night. He mentions a problem with his feet. He asks about Otto and Dora.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz describes his activities at the Academy such as rowing boats, drilling and tying knots. He also mentions going aboard the training ship, the Chesapeake. Nimitz also mentions attending a worship service in the chapel at the Academy.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz indicates his aunt Augusta and Mr. Mason visited him recently. He also describes his schedule, his coursework and his academic standing in his class as well as his hopes and prospects of improving.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz relates his excitement about the annual Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia. Nimitz bemoans the fact that he is on duty on Thanksgiving Day.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz relates his experiences while returning to the Academy for his second year. He mentions marching in the Grand Army of the Republic parade in Washington in the near future. Nimitz relates a story about arriving at the Academy wearing a giant sombrero he purchased in San Antonio while returning.