National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 61 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Charles H. Tucker, April 18, 2017

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles H. Tucker from Orange, California. He discusses volunteering for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and going to basic training in Miami Beach, Florida, then going to Aircraft Armament School in Buckley Field, Colorado, and finally air gunnery school in Fort Myers, Florida. In air gunnery school, Mr. Tucker learned to shoot in B-17 by shooting into the Gulf of Mexico. After gunnery school he was sent to the B-25 crew tr… more
Date: April 18, 2017
Creator: Tucker, Charles H.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with John G. Solis, March 31, 2009

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John G. Solis of Irving, Texas. He discusses enlisting in the U.S. Navy on September 17, 1942, and was sent to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas for bootcamp. In bootcamp Mr. Solis talks about learning to shoot rifles by shooting clay pigeons and presentations held to teach how to identify enemy aircraft. While learning to fly, Mr. Solis was assigned to Bombing Squadron 1. In 1944 Mr. Solis ended up with the Tor… more
Date: March 31, 2009
Creator: Solis, John G.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Voris C. Riley, November 1, 2005

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Voris C. Riley of Kingland, Texas. He discusses enlisting in the military while living in Abilene, Texas and getting sent to civil service for the Army before being offered to join the Navy. In the Navy he went through basic training in San Diego, California, then to St. Louis Electrical School and finally through firefighting training in Rhode Island. After he completed his training Mr. Riley was assigned to the U.S.S. Lake… more
Date: November 1, 2005
Creator: Riley, Voris C.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James R. Hood, June 21, 2007

Description: 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. Rober… more
Date: June 21, 2007
Creator: Hood, James R.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Braden, David
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Henry Kalinofsky, February 17, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Henry Kalinofsky of Annapolis, Maryland. He discusses when he was first inducted into the Navy and being a plank owner aboard DE 581. USS MCNULTY. He also discusses his time aboard the USS LSM(R) 198 manning the 40mm Twin Mount and loading rockets in Okinawa, Japan, after the invasion of Normandy. Mr. Kalinofsky describes an attack he was involved in off the coast of Okinawa.
Date: February 17, 2001
Creator: Kalinofsky, Henry
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with a Palau Native

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with a native of Palau born in 1917. He lived briefly in Saipan and returned to Angaur, Palau, as a young man. In 1943 when the bombing of Palau first began, he volunteered for the Japanese Navy to avoid starvation, since natives were prohibited from buying imported food such as rice. He boarded a ship that was sunk by an American submarine and spent the night floating amidst 12-foot sharks. In the morning, he swam to a damaged b… more
Date: unknown
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Sheffield, A. K.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Krchnak, Adolph
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Aust, Abner
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: D'Agostino, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Al Stremel, July 30, 2011

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Stremel. Stremel joined the Navy in October of 1940. Beginning in December, he served in the fire room aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). In April of 1942, they escorted USS Hornet (CV-8) on the Doolittle Raid. From June through November, they participated in the battles at Midway, the Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz and Guadalcanal. In January of 1944, Stremel was sent to Oil Burning School in Philadelphia. He was transferred to USS … more
Date: July 30, 2011
Creator: Stremel, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with A. J. Dunn, July 13, 2011

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with A J Dunn. Dunn joined the Navy in 1940 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Oglala (CM-4) at Pearl Harbor. On the morning of 7 December 1941, he was returning from liberty when the attack began. Unable to find his ship, he jumped aboard the USS Mugford (DD-389) just as it was getting underway. After seven days of patrols, he returned to the harbor and was transferred to the US… more
Date: July 13, 2011
Creator: Dunn, A. J.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with William R. Sanchez, June 24, 2011

Description: Transcript of an oral interview with William R. Sanchez. Born in Texas in 1918, Sanchez joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1938. He was drafted into the Army in 1940 and elected to serve in the Philippines. He was assigned to the 59th Regiment, Coast Artillery, Battery D and later Battery H at Fort Mills (Corregidor). He was then assigned to Army Intelligence in the Harbor Defense Headquarters. He recounts how the Army Intelligence at Corregidor provided advance notification of the… more
Date: August 2012
Creator: Sanchez, William R.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with A. N. Wiseman, March 29, 2011

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Wiseman. Wiseman joined the Navy in 1942 and was assigned to the USS Greene (AVD-13). He served as a deck seaman and stood lookout while on watch. Wiseman discusses traveling as an escort to Brazil and then travelling to the Mediterranean. He describes taking part in the invasion of Southern France. The Greene was then sent to the Pacific and performed escort duty near Okinawa. He describes seeing several Japanese air att… more
Date: March 29, 2011
Creator: Wiseman, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Jeffers, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Barton, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Pilot, Alan
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Brown, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Afton Keeton, August 30, 2007

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Afton Keeton. Keeton joined the Navy in July of 1942. He completed Hospital Corps School and became a Pharmacist Mate. He first served aboard the USS Sea Dragon (SS-194). They patrolled the Aleutian Islands. He was then stationed at the Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor, working in a sick bay. He then served aboard the USS Apollo (AS-25) with a relief crew. He provides some detail of working aboard a submarine, serving as the Doc, l… more
Date: August 30, 2007
Creator: Keeton, Afton
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Albert Donaldson, April 14, 2009

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Donaldson. Donaldson talks about how the Great Depression affected his family. He joined the Navy in 1944 and provides details of his training. He traveled aboard the USS Buckingham (APA-141). They traveled to Pearl Harbor, which he describes along with his responsibilities with work parties unloading and reloading ships. He assisted with trading out old ammunition for new ammunition. He was transferred to the John Rodgers… more
Date: April 14, 2009
Creator: Donaldson, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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
Creator: Jowdy, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Al Kiracofe, March 6, 2006

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Kiracofe. Kiracofe joined the Navy in 1942 and received yeoman training at Great Lakes. Upon completion, he was assigned to CASU-22 at Quonset Point, helping to prepare squadrons for overseas deployment. He was then assigned to Carrier Air Group 41, which was just beginning to use radar for night flying. One of his duties as yeoman was to send letters of regret to the parents of soldiers who were killed in action. The exp… more
Date: March 6, 2006
Creator: Kiracofe, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Albert Dimminger, July 5, 2006

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Dimminger. Dimminger worked for Hammond Aircraft and Consolidated in 1939, building aircraft. He joined the Navy in March of 1942. Beginning in mid-June Dimminger served as Aviation Metalsmith Third Class aboard the USS Hornet (CV-8). From August through October they operated around the Solomon Islands. On 26 October, during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the ship was struck and sank by a dive bomber and torpedo pla… more
Date: July 5, 2006
Creator: Dimminger, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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