National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 53 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Theodore Anderson, October 22, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Theodore Anderson. Anderson was drafted into the Navy in April of 1943. He graduated from the hospital corps in San Diego and worked at Long Beach Naval Hospital. As a hospital corpsman Anderson was assigned to the 13th Marines, 5th Marine Division artillery group H & S Battery in the fall of 1944. They traveled to Saipan in preparation for the Battle of Iwo Jima. Anderson provides details of his experiences at Iwo Jima, includin… more
Date: October 22, 2008
Duration: 1 hour 7 minutes 18 seconds
Creator: Anderson, Theodore
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Harold Angel, May 22, 2004

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ruth Fowler. Fowler was teaching in Big Spring, Texas, when she went out for the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. She was accepted and was trained to fly. She evetually became an instructor. She also discusses rationing.
Date: May 22, 2004
Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes 16 seconds
Creator: Angel, Harold
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with W. T. Appleton, May 22, 2004

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with W. T. Appleton. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of sixteen in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes being transported to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the USS Shasta (AE-6). He was transferred to the USS Smith (DD-378) where he served as a member of a 5-inch gun crew. He talks about the role of the USS Smith in protecting the aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise (CV-6). He describes the crashing of a Japanese tor… more
Date: May 22, 2004
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes 13 seconds
Creator: Appleton, W. T.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Edward Bale, September 22, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Bale. Bale was born in Dallas, Texas on 19 March 1920. He attended Texas A & M University and upon graduation received a commission in the United States Marine Corps. In 1943 he was assigned to 1st Medium Tank Battalion as commanding officer of Company C. Bale expresses criticism of the training received in tank maneuvers for it lacked liaison with infantry and artillery units, which led to difficulties during actual … more
Date: September 22, 2001
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes 28 seconds
Creator: Bale, Edward
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Robert Bass, May 22, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert G. Bass. Bass was born in Walnut, Illinois on 18 November 1922. He was drafted into the Army in February 1943. After three months of basic and combat military police training at Fort Riley, Kansas, Bass was accepted in the Army Specialized Training Program at the University of Indiana. The program was disbanded in early 1944 and Bass was sent first to an armored infantry unit and then to the 243rd Combat Engineers, tr… more
Date: May 22, 2008
Duration: 2 hours 1 minute 17 seconds
Creator: Bass, Robert G.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with James L. Bell, Jr., August 22, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James L. Bell, Jr. He joined the Marine Corps in August, 1944. After basic training in California, he was sent to the Parker Ranch in Hawaii where he practiced maneuvers. He describes landing on Red Beach and fighting on Iwo Jima when he was in the 5th Marine Division. He discusses the placement of the American flag on the island, the Japanese tunnels, and the suicides of Japanese soldiers. After Iwo Jima, he joined the 2nd … more
Date: August 22, 2008
Duration: 1 hour 2 minutes 56 seconds
Creator: Bell, James L., Jr.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Israel Berger, May 22, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Israel Berger. While attending medical school, Berger took an officer’s correspondence course with the Navy in May 1942. After interning at the Norfolk Naval Hospital and completing the V-12 program, he boarded the USS Drew (APA-162) as a general medical officer, traveling between Oahu and Saipan. Berger was relieved to be treated kindly despite being one of only two Jewish men on his ship. Despite having grown up in a koshe… more
Date: May 22, 2008
Duration: 48 minutes 29 seconds
Creator: Berger, Israel
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Herman Billnitzer, October 22, 2000

Description: Transcript of an oral interview with Herman Billnitzer. Mr Billnitzer was a Pharmacist Mate in the Navy and spent most of his time as a corpsman with the 1st Marine Division, landing on Guadalcanal in October 1942. He describes the conditions on Guadalcanal as well as the conditions of the sailors that were rescued from ships sunk in Iron Bottom Sound. Near the end of the year, the 1st Marine Division was relieved by the Army and went to Australia for about eight months. From there, they were s… more
Date: October 22, 2000
Duration: 59 minutes 44 seconds
Creator: Billnitzer, Herman
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Lone Star Legacy Program: Marcia Howe Bratusek and Marcile Howe Harrison, October 22, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marcia Howe Bratusek and Marcile Howe Harrison. Twins Bratusek and Harrison grew up in San Antonio, Texas and participated in the local committee called the National Defense Recreation and Service Committee of San Antonio (similar to the USO). Born in 1932, they were nine in 1941 and 13 in 1945. They took dance lessons and their mother made them costumes. Their costumes were bought in Mexico. They took classes from Bertha Al… more
Date: October 22, 2000
Duration: 57 minutes 27 seconds
Creator: Bratusek, Marcia How & Harrison, Marcile Howe
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Richard D. Buehrle, May 22, 2004

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard D. Buehrle. He volunteered to join the Navy in 1943 after he graduated from high school. Expecting to have a permanent duty assignment in Australia, he was, instead, called to be a destroyer replacement sailor in New Guinea on the USS Smith (DD-378). He served first as a five-inch gun shell retriever, then as a signalman on the bridge. He relates the story of his selection as a signalman. He also describes living con… more
Date: May 22, 2004
Duration: 50 minutes 26 seconds
Creator: Buehrle, Richard D.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with James Caposella, October 22, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Caposella. Caposella left his studies at Ohio State University to join the Navy in March 1944. He received basic training at Great Lakes and attended radio school in Bedford Springs. After completing amphibious training at Camp Bradford and Fort Pierce, he was assigned to the USS Ostara (AKA-33) where he rode in LCVPs transporting troops and supplies throughout the Pacific. Although it was not well-armored, it survived… more
Date: October 22, 2008
Duration: 31 minutes 37 seconds
Creator: Caposella, James
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Grace Carr, August 22, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Grace Carr. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1942 and accepted a job with Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, California, where most of the C-47s flown in World War II were made. She recalls that the factory was covered with netting which acted as camouflage from the air. She also remembers gas rationing, difficulty finding new tires and having to drive with parking lights at night to avoid disclosing the facto… more
Date: August 22, 2001
Duration: 10 minutes 49 seconds
Creator: Carr, Grace
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with James Carr, August 22, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Carr. He was born in Benton County, Indiana on February 17, 1914. Upon graduation from high school in 1932 he hopped a freight train to California. He enlisted in the 38th Infantry Division, Indiana National Guard in December 1940. After Pearl Harbor he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to the 30th Infantry Division. He embarked on the troopship SS Brazil for the transit to England, during which he r… more
Date: August 22, 2001
Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes 41 seconds
Creator: Carr, James
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with James C. Chandler, July 22, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James C Chandler. Chandler joined the Marine Corps in the spring of 1943. He was assigned to the 1st Armored Amphibian Battalion. Chandler participated in the battles of Guam and Okinawa. He returned to the US and was discharged in December of 1945
Date: July 22, 2008
Duration: 1 hour 33 minutes 02 seconds
Creator: Chandler, James C
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Gilbert Clark, December 22, 2005

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gilbert Clark. Clark joined the Navy in February 1941 and trained at Great Lakes. After optical training, he joined the USS Helena (CL-50) at San Diego and served aboard as a rangefinder. Clark was aboard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He also describes some action he was involved in later around the Solomon Islands and describes when the Helena was sunk at Kula Gulf. Clark made it to an island and was rescued off it. H… more
Date: December 22, 2005
Duration: 2 hours 8 minutes 26 seconds
Creator: Clark, Gilbert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Willard Cole, June 22, 2005

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Willard Cole. Cole was drafted into the Army in April, 1943. Cole went to Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas and was assigned to the 125th Evacuation Hospital, Semimobile when it formed. He went overseas to England with the unit in November, 1944. Cole arrived in France in March 1945. By early April, they had established their hospital in Krefeld, Germany and began receiving casualties. When the war ended, they were around Munchen and re… more
Date: June 22, 2005
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes 43 seconds
Creator: Cole, Willard C.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Frank Crain, June 22, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Crain. Crain left law school to join the Army Air Forces in January 1942. He was assigned to an ordnance detachment with the 3rd Air Depot Group in Agra, India, where he loaded ammunition onto trains. He was transferred to Karachi, where he made reusable practice bombs out of tin cans and sand. He applied to OCS and returned to the States in April 1943. As an Infantry officer he taught math, reading, and ordnance use. … more
Date: June 22, 2000
Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes 38 seconds
Creator: Crain, Frank
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Donald O. Dencker, September 22, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald O. Dencker. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 25, 1924. Upon graduation from high school in February, 1943 he joined the Army. In March 1944 after attending Army Corps of Engineers school, he was assigned to the 96th Infantry Division. He witnessed the explosion of a munition ship in Port Chicago, California. Eventually he departed Pearl Harbor embarked upon USS LST-745 sailing to Leyte Island in the Phi… more
Date: September 22, 2001
Duration: 1 hour 55 minutes 50 seconds
Creator: Dencker, Donald O.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with James D. Dukes, October 22, 2002

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Dukes. Born in Alabama, Dukes quit school in 1937 to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In March 1941, he joined the Marine Corps, and was sent to San Diego for boot camp. Dukes was then assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines where he received mortar training. On 6 June 1942, he boarded the SS Lurline bound for Pago Pago, Samoa. During November 1942 the unit merged with the 2nd Marine Division when they … more
Date: October 22, 2002
Duration: 2 hours 38 minutes 56 seconds
Creator: Dukes, James D
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with John Espie, February 22, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Espie. Although Espie was enrolled at Indiana University and joined the Army ROTC with intentions of being commissioned, he grew anxious about the draft and decided to enlist in the Navy in December 1942. Upon completion of quartermaster school, he embarked on amphibious training and was assigned to USS LST-734. He was at the helm in the Panama Canal and was an expert in dead reckoning at sea. At Guadalcanal he was trai… more
Date: February 22, 2008
Duration: 37 minutes 25 seconds
Creator: Espie, John
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Wendell W. Fenn, October 22, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wendell W. Fenn. Born in 1922, he enlisted in the Regular Army in June 1940. He was assigned to the 1st Armored Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After his unit received one hundred motorcycles, he volunteered to take over the Motor Pool. He subsequently trained in the use of the cryptographic machine and was assigned to the Division Headquarters. He quickly advanced to the rank of Master Sergeant. He attended Officers’ Candi… more
Date: October 22, 2000
Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes 47 seconds
Creator: Fenn, Wendell W.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Al Flocke, October 22, 2000

Description: Transcript of an oral interview with Al Flocke. 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 ancedotes about food, rations and living conditions on the islands.
Date: October 22, 2000
Duration: 50 minutes 20 seconds
Creator: Flocke, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Otha Grisham, September 22, 2001

Description: Transcript of an oral interview with Otha Grisham. He was born in Moran, Texas and enlisted in Marine Corps Officer Candidate Program on November 3rd, 1942 while still attending Southwest Texas Teacher?s College. Upon graduation in August, 1943 he went to boot camp followed by Officer Training School. Upon graduation from OTS in June 1944, he sailed to Guadalcanal. He was assigned to the First Marine Division, 6th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, preparing for the invasion of Peleliu. Following two… more
Date: September 22, 2001
Duration: 1 hour 11 minutes
Creator: Grisham, Otha
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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Oral History Interview with Daryl Haerther, April 22, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Daryl Haerther. Haerther joined the Army in 1944 and was assigned to the 96th Infantry Division a few days after the beginning of the invasion of Okinawa. He was assigned to A Company, 383rd Infantry Regiment. While there, Haerther qualified as a medic and shares several anecdotes from his combat experiences. Eventaully, Haerther was wounded and evacuated to Guam. He was still in the hospital when the war ended and Haerther elect… more
Date: April 22, 2003
Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes 08 seconds
Creator: Haerther, Daryl
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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