National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 39 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with A. K. Sheffield, May 20, 2016

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with A K Sheffield. Sheffield joined the Navy in late 1943. He completed Armed Guard School in San Diego. He served with the Navy Armed Guard aboard a transport ship, and traveled to the Philippine Islands. In May of 1944, Sheffield was aboard the SS Henry Bergh when it ran aground on the Farallon Islands, and shares details of those events. He traveled through the Pacific Islands, to Japan and throughout the Atlantic. Sheffield does … more
Date: May 20, 2016
Duration: 57 minutes 04 seconds
Creator: Sheffield, A. K.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Abel Ortega, July 15, 2002

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Abel Ortega. Ortega was drafted into the Army in March, 1941 and was in the Philippines by November. Ortega was with a tank battalion on Luzon and recalls the retreat to and subsequent surrender on Bataan. Ortega also recalls how his Christian faith served him, and others around him, during captivity. He describes his experiences on the Bataan Death March. Ortega remained in the Philippines for over two years before being sh… more
Date: July 15, 2002
Duration: 54 minutes 04 seconds
Creator: Ortega, Abel
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Abner Aust, March 19, 2013

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Abner Aust. Aust joined the Army Air Forces in September 1941 and completed flight school in April 1943. He was assigned to Venice, Florida, as an instructor, often receiving extra runway duty on account of his mischievous acrobatics. In October 1944, he joined the 506th Fighter Group, 457th Fighter Squadron, as flight commander. Upon familiarizing himself with the P-51, he flew his first missions out of Tinian, moving next … more
Date: March 19, 2013
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes 40 seconds
Creator: Aust, Abner
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Acencion Fernandez. Fernandez, a Texas farm boy born in 1924, was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the USS LCI-80 where he served as a loader on a 40-inch gun. At the Mariana Islands of Saipan and Tinian and at Iwo Jima, he was involved in strafing the beaches to enable Marines to land. Later his LCI landed Marines on Okinawa. He briefly mentions the presence of Navajo co… more
Date: February 19, 2005
Duration: 24 minutes 07 seconds
Creator: Fernandez, Acencion
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Adolph Krchnak, May 23, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Adolph Krchnak. Krchnak joined the Army in December of 1944. He completed parachute school. In late 1944, early 1945 he was stationed in the Philippines with the 11th Airborne Division. They served in a traditional infantry role in the Philippines. His division participated in the Liberation of Manila in the spring of 1945. In August of 1945 they traveled into southern Japan as part of the occupation force. He was honorably disch… more
Date: May 23, 2015
Duration: 3 hours 7 minutes 12 seconds
Creator: Krchnak, Adolph
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Al D'Agostino, April 19, 2012

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al D’Agostino. D’Agostino joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and received training in Brooklyn. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Monterey where he worked as a butcher. His first trip to the Pacific was transporting European troops, who were unhappy about the looming invasion of Japan. The war ended while the Monterey was in transit, and the soldiers returning home were a much happier bunch. Even more joyful was the… more
Date: April 19, 2012
Duration: 41 minutes 02 seconds
Creator: D'Agostino, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Al Flocke, October 22, 2000

Description: Interview with Al Flocke, a radio operator during World War II. He discusses his flight training and being the radio operator on a B-24 bomber which did raids on Guam, Turk, Iwo Jima and other islands. He also relates anecdotes about food, rations, and living conditions on the islands.
Date: October 22, 2000
Duration: 50 minutes 23 seconds
Creator: Nichols, Chuck & Flocke, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Jowdy. Jowdy enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age of 15, with his parents’ consent. His first assignment was pulling bodies out of sunken ships in Pearl Harbor. At Guadalcanal, his ship was torpedoed. Due to the presence of enemy subs, he could not be rescued initially and spent two weeks floating in a raft. Then he joined a rescue effort to aid the USS Wasp (CV-7), only to be torpedoed again, spending another fou… more
Date: September 21, 2008
Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes 31 seconds
Creator: Jowdy, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Alan Pilot, August 10, 2010

Description: 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 … more
Date: August 10, 2010
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes 13 seconds
Creator: Pilot, Alan
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Albert Barton, November 6, 2010

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Barton. Barton joined the Navy and was trained as a radioman. He became a crewman on an Avenger torpedo bomber in October 1943. Barton flew off of the USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) and the USS Tripoli (CVE-64) and performed anti-submarine patrols in the North Atlantic. He describes how depth charges were dropped, the armament of the plane, and how they were trained to skip-bomb. Barton was then sent to the Pacific where he… more
Date: November 6, 2010
Duration: 58 minutes 08 seconds
Creator: Barton, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Albert Brown, March 2, 2010

Description: 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… more
Date: March 2, 2010
Duration: 1 hour 48 minutes 31 seconds
Creator: Brown, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Albert Day, February 23, 2004

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Day. Day was born in Olney, Texas 23 September 1921 and graduated from high school in Vivian, Louisiana in 1942. Upon joining the Navy 4 June 1942, he was sent to The Great Lakes Naval Training Station for boot training. Afterwards, Day was assigned to the Amphibious Forces at Solomons, Maryland for training where he learned navigation and signal communications. Completing the course in October 1942 he went to Redwood… more
Date: February 23, 2004
Duration: 1 hour 34 minutes 34 seconds
Creator: Day, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Albert Jeffers, December 28, 2011

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Jeffers. Jeffers joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in Illinois. He received diesel engine maintenance and repair training at submarine school in Connecticut. Upon completion, he was assigned to the engine room aboard the USS Threadfin (SS-410) as a fireman, first class. He participated in the tracking operation that led to the sinking of the Japanese battleship Yamato. He was transferred to the USS M… more
Date: December 28, 2011
Duration: 1 hour 9 minutes 12 seconds
Creator: Jeffers, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Buck Gibson, October 19, 2002

Description: Interview with Buck Gibson of Waco, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War Two. The interview includes some of Mr. Gibson's background before and after the war as well as his personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of his training, life in the Navy, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and what happened after he was rescued.
Date: October 19, 2002
Duration: 56 minutes 42 seconds
Creator: Cox, Bill & Gibson, Buck
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Carl Peltier, March 4, 2001

Description: Interview with Carl Peltier, a U. S Marine during World War II. He begins by discussing his reaction to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He then joined the Marines when he was old enough. He trained in San Diego before shipping out to Hawaii where he joined the 2nd Marine Division. Further training included heavy weapons and mortars. Later, he landed on Saipan and describes his small arms and rations. He witnessed General Simon Buckner getting killed on Okinawa. He was later wounded on Okinawa. Afte… more
Date: March 4, 2001
Duration: 59 minutes 21 seconds
Creator: Nichols, Chuck & Peltier, Carl
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Charles Pase, April 12, 2001

Description: Interview with Charles Pase, a marine during World War II. He discusses joining the Marines and training on New Zealand and other Pacific islands. He describes landing on Tarawa, the battle of Tarawa itself, and locating and burying the dead bodies after the battle. He also talks about going to Hawaii for more training before going to Saipan, various guns and artillery he used, encountering natives on Saipan and being in Nagasaki after the bomb was dropped. He relates ancedotes about having to… more
Date: April 12, 2001
Duration: 1 hour 43 minutes 51 seconds
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Pase, Charles
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Cleatus A. LeBow, May 2, 2006

Description: Interview with Cleatus A. LeBow, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. LeBow joined the navy in 1943 and went from Lubbock, Texas to San Diego for recruit training. He shipped out to Pearl Harbor aboard an LST from San Francisco. At Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to a work detail aboard the USS Oklahoma, which had just been righted. Shortly thereafter, he boarded the USS Indianapolis to serve as a range finder operator on one of the gun turrets. Upon leaving Hawaii, the Indianapoli… more
Date: May 2, 2006
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes 39 seconds
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Lebow, Cleatus A.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Dale R. Walker, October 4, 2007

Description: Interview with Dale R. Walker, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He joined the Marine Corps in 1944 and was trained in mortars at Camp Pendleton, California. He then went to Camp Tarawa at Hawaii for further training with the Fifth Marine Division. Walker landed with the sixth wave on D-day at Iwo Jima. While working with mortars supporting the infantry, he was called on to be a stretcher-bearer on occasion. Walker spent 36 days on Iwo Jima. After the Japanese surrendered, Walker served in th… more
Date: October 4, 2007
Duration: 1 hour 51 seconds
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Walker, Dale R.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with David Braden, September 30, 2000

Description: Interview with David Braden, a member of the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He discusses his training in the U.S. to become a navigator; his deployment to Saipan with the 870th Squadron, 497th Bomb Group, 73rd Wing; initial attacks on Tokyo in a B-29 bomber at high altitude (during which the jet stream interfered with the bombing raids); a low-altitude fire-bombing mission over Tokyo in March, 1945; living conditions on base at Saipan; a mission in which the B-29 he was on ditched in the o… more
Date: September 30, 2000
Duration: 58 minutes 21 seconds
Creator: Johnson, Kep & Braden, David
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with David Braden, September 30, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Braden from Dallas, Texas. He discusses his time in the Airforce during WW2. Mr. Braden start with his time training to be a navigator before his first mission in Tokyo, Japan. David Braen describes dropping messages over Japanese cities urging Japanese people to plead for their leaders to surrender and to evacuate before the U.S. burns the cities to the ground. After the Japanese government surrendered and the war was… more
Date: September 30, 2000
Duration: 58 minutes 28 seconds
Creator: Braden, David
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with David Straus, September 17, 2001

Description: Interview with David Straus of San Antonio, Texas, a veteran from the United States Marine Corps during World War Two in the Pacific Theater as well as the Korean War. The interview includes some of Straus' background before the war and his personal experiences while in the Marines, including memories of Okinawa, various weapons, what happened at the end of World War Two, and his assignment in Korea.
Date: September 17, 2001
Duration: 47 minutes 47 seconds
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Straus, David
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Elliott Ross, May 1, 2001

Description: Interview with Elliott Ross who joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. He discusses being a landing craft coxswain carrying troops and supplies from ships to the shore in seven invasions: Guam, Leyte, Luzon, Santacristo, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and as an occupation force in Japan after the surrender. He talks mostly about Guam, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Japan, but also mentions burials at sea and on the beachs, seeing his brother's ship get hit by torpedoes, and the emotional toll of th… more
Date: May 1, 2000
Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes 07 seconds
Creator: Cox, Floyd; Misenhimer, Richard & Ross, Elliott
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Floyd R. Thomas, February 18, 2009

Description: Interview with Floyd R. Thomas, a serviceman in the U. S. Army during World War II. He discusses his childhood and education at Peacock Military Academy. He then joined the army and spent time in Okinawa during and after the war. He recalls being a surgical technician and working with Japanese civilians after the surrender, meeting his wife, and working for saw mills as a salesman and a pilot. He remembers stealing pineapples on Hawaii and getting diarrhea, being treated for jungle rot, selling… more
Date: February 18, 2009
Duration: 2 hours 54 minutes 03 seconds
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Thomas, Floyd R.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Garvin Kowalke, January 23, 2001

Description: Interview with Garvin Kowalke, a pilot during World War II. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, going to Air Cadet training to become a pilot, and training on various aircraft (AT-17, UC-78, P-36, P-33, T-6, BT-13, B-17, B-29) before becoming a B-29 pilot; he shipped out to Guam and flew standard and fire bombing runs over Japan. He discusses having to ditch the plane on the way back to Guam once when the engines failed, seeing another B-29 crew have to bail out over Toyko Bay and get pic… more
Date: January 23, 2001
Duration: 1 hour 46 minutes 10 seconds
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Kowalke, Garvin
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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