National Museum of the Pacific War - 3,737 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Jack Hensel, July 21, 2022: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Hensel. Hensel was drafted into the Navy in June 1943. He trained as an aerial gunner and was eventually assigned to a crew aboard an Avenger. In early 1945, he went aboard USS Franklin (CV-13). In March, when the Franklin was attacked, Hensel was blown overboard and eventually made it onto a raft before being rescued by USS Hickox (DD-673). He went to a hospital at Ulithi to recover from burns before heading back to the US. He was undergoing more training when the war ended.
Oral History Interview with Walter Gallagher, July 21, 2022: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Walter Gallagher. Gallagher joined the Navy after quitting high school and trained in aviation ordnance. In May, 1944 he was assigned to USS Franklin (CV-13) where he would arm dive bombers. Gallagher describes an injury he sustained while loading bombs as well as various enemy attacks on the Franklin, including a kamikaze. He was aboard when the Japanese bombed the Franklin in March, 1945. Gallagher recalls the attack and was ordered to transfer to USS Santa Fe (CL-60). From there, Gallagher spent six months at Hawaii before going back to the US.
Oral History Interview with Muriel Usselman, June 13, 2022: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Muriel Usselman. Usselman was a child living in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Her father worked as an electrician and the family lived on base. She recalls what she witnessed during the attack on 7 December as well as her experiences in the following days. She returned with her family to the Mainland in 1944.
Oral History Interview with Rose Dern, March 31, 2022: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rose Dern. Dern enlisted in the WAVES and went to Madison Wisconsin to train in communications. After training, Dern was stationed close to home at Floyd Bennett Field in New York City. She then went to a communications station on Maui. Dern was discharged when the war ended.
Oral History Interview with James Carnes, March 28, 2022: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Carnes. Carnes joined the Navy in 1944 before he finished high school. In the Navy, he became a signalman and was assigned to USS Norton Sound (AVM-1). Carnes was aboard when the ship went to Okinawa, where he describes being attacked by kamikaze aircraft. When the war ended, Carnes went to Japan briefly before returning to the US and receiving his discharge.
Oral History Interview with Robert Warren, March 28, 2022: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Warren. Warren was born in Frisco, Texas in February 1921. After graduating from high school, he attended Texas A&M participating in the ROTC program for two years. Upon graduation in 1942 he applied for a commission in the United States Army Air Forces and was accepted. After participating in various stages of flight training, he was assigned as a C-47 pilot. Flying the Northern Route over Greenland, he joined the 439th Troop Carrier Wing, 94th Squadron, 9th Air Force in England. He tells of being involved in Operation Market Garden and of crossing the Rhine, where he pulled Waco CG-4 gliders, and of the Battle of the Bulge where he hauled fuel for General Patton’s tanks.
Oral History Interview with Floyd Cox, February 7, 2022: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Floyd Cox concerning his recollections about the Great Depression and his life as a child during World War II. He recalls the family raising a victory garden and his participation in scrap iron drives. He also tells of the patriotism that existed in the United States and of being subjected to various forms of propaganda.
Oral History Interview with Floyd Cox, February 7, 2022: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Floyd C. Cox. He tells of organizing a group of volunteers to establish a formal oral history program. Cox also shares the growth of the program from an unorganized collection of less than 200 oral histories in 1999 to an organized and diversified collection of over 5000 stories in 2022. He tells of the progression from analog tape recordings to digital recordings and the advancement of making the collection available to the public through an online digital archive.
Oral History Interview with Dean Caswell, December 8, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dean Caswell. Caswell volunteered for the Marine Corps two weeks prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He eventually went to flight training before being assigned aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) from which he flew Corsairs. Caswell made over 100 combat flights from Bunker Hill, eventually becoming an ace with Marine Fighter Squadron 221 (VMF-221). He shares on anecdote about getting seven enemy planes in one mission. He also shares anecdotes from throughout his long career in the Marine Corps.
Oral History Interview with Leroy Joppie, December 2, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leroy Joppie. Joppie was the youngest of four boys. His three brothers were in the military, one of whom died in Italy. This lead Joppie to join the Navy in 1944 at the age of seventeen. Upon completing training in electronics at Oceanside, California, Joppie was assigned to a Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO) as a radioman 3rd class. In early 1945, he was assigned to USS Argonne (AG-31). He recalls the ship being in Typhoon Connie and listening to messages from other ships in distress. Joppie returned to the US and was discharged in 1946. He concludes the interview telling of his various jobs, including moving to Midway Island with his family.
Oral History Interview with Richard Robinette, November 3, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Robinette. Robinette was born on 27 March 1925. He joined the Navy and completed Basic Engineering School. Beginning in early 1944, Robinette served as a Fireman aboard USS Claxton (DD-571). They aided in the invasion of the Philippines and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where they received damage from a kamikaze plane. They provided escort duty in the Lingayen Gulf landings in January of 1945. In May, they arrived off Okinawa for duty as radar picket and fighter-director until the close of the war. Robinette returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.
Oral History Interview with Vernon Ollar, October 12, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Vernon Ollar. Ollar was working at the Rock Island Arsenal when the war started. He was already married with a child when he was drafted into the Army in late 1942. Ollar was attached to B Company in the 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion and proceeded to train with them. In late 1943, Ollar was shipped to England for more training prior to the invasion of Normandy. He recalls fighting in the hedgerows, fighting at St. Lo and liberating Paris. He fought all the way into Germany. In late 1945, Ollar returned to the US and was discharged.
Oral History Interview with Neil Elder, July 6, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Neil Elder. Elder joined the Navy in 1940. He completed Radio Communications School, and served as an Aviation Radioman. He flew scout missions in the Curtiss SOC Seagull aircraft, catapulted from USS Portland (CA-33). He participated in the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Savo Island, the Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz. Elder returned to the US and was discharged in 1946.
Oral History Interview with John East, May 17, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John L. East. East was born in central Texas in 1920. After graduation from high school in 1937 he worked in the rice fields. He entered the Army Air Forces in 1942, and, following training at various airfields, served as a B-17 co-pilot. In 1944, he was assigned to the 379th Bomb Group at Kimbolton, England. He tells of some of the tactics he used to thwart German fighter attacks as the pilot of a B-17 bomber. He completed missions over Germany and France. East flew thirty missions before returning to the United States. He retired from the Air Force in 1964.
Oral History Interview with Harold Rodin, May 4, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Z. Rodin. Rodin joined the Navy on May 9, 1944. He completed amphibious training in Coronado, California, and learned how to drive the landing craft, vehicle, personnel, LCVP, and the landing craft mechanized, LCM. He served as pilot on the LCM2 boat crew, aboard the USS Sibley (APA-206). In late 1944, they deployed to Pearl Harbor, then participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima beginning February of 1945. In April, they participated in the Battle of Okinawa. Rodin assisted in transporting Marines and supplies to the islands. He describes his experiences through combat. On April 11, they were ordered to Saipan, unloading troops and cargo, remaining on call for Okinawa through June 4. By October 25, they were called for duty with Operation Magic Carpet, transporting servicemen back to the U.S. He shares a story of Joe Rosenthal, Iwo Jima photographer, who traveled aboard the Sibley. He returned to the U.S. in January of 1946 and received his discharge on May 29.
Oral History Interview with Richard Byler, April 30, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard E. Byler. Byler joined the Navy on March 12, 1943. He completed radio operator training at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and became proficient in Morse Code. In 1943, he deployed to Hawaii. In February of 1944, he was transferred to Kwajalein and worked at Navy Base 824. He was on board a transport ship during the Battle of Kwajalein. Once the fighting ceased, he worked as a Radioman Second-Class on the island, translating Morse Code. He continued his service through the end of the war, and shares details of his work and life on the island. Byler returned to the U.S. and received his discharge in February of 1946.
Oral History Interview with Guy Longshore, March 19, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Guy Longshore. Longshore joined the U.S. Army Forces in 1941, before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a B-29 .50 caliber machine gunner with the 73rd Bombardment Wing, 2nd Air Force. He was stationed in Saipan, Tinian and Guam. He participated in bombing missions and missions to drop supplies to prisoner-of-war camps throughout Japan. His crew was one of the 200 B-29s who flew over Tokyo Bay on the day the surrender was signed. They completed over 30 missions. His discharge date is not noted.
Oral History Interview with Norman Riggsby, March 18, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Norman Riggsby. Riggsby was drafted into the Army in October of 1943. He served as a bugler at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. In January of 1944, he was deployed to Scotland, then England, and assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, 175th Infantry Regiment. Riggsby trained on the anti-aircraft guns. He participated in the invasion of Normandy, landing at Omaha Beach. He describes the events and combat of this day, and how he got wounded. In July, Riggsby and his division participated in the Battle of St. Lô, where he was struck by a German Tiger tank shell, spending several weeks in a coma. He woke up back in England. He earned two Purple Hearts. In late 1945, Riggsby was assigned to the 759th Military Police Battalion in France. He served during the Nuremberg Trials and left Berlin in 1946.
Oral History Interview with George Burnet, March 16, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dr. George Burnet. Burnet joined the Army on May 16, 1944. He studied chemical warfare, and was trained on the 4.2 inch mortar battalion. He served as a forward observer with the 99th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Around mid-1944, they were deployed to the Philippines and participated in the Battle of Leyte. He recovered from malaria around June and July of 1945. Beginning in September, they served in the occupation of Japan, providing military support to the U.S. government and completing 8 months of demilitarization duties. In mid to late 1946, they occupied a Japanese military base in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture. He continued his service, and received his discharge in December of 1947.
Oral History Interview with George Burnet, March 16, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Burnet. He discusses his childhood growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the chemical warfare service of the US Army. He describes all the different training camps he was sent to around the US and eventually being deployed in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.
Oral History Interview with Joseph Brown, March 15, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Brown. Brown was born in 1925. In 1942, at age seventeen, he joined the US Navy. Following his training as an Electricians Mate he was assigned to USS LST-47 and he tells of participating in the Operation Overlord, at Omaha Beach, as well as Operation Dragoon. He also tells of being at Okinawa and witnessing attacks by kamikazes. Brown returned home after the war ended.
Oral History Interview with Heinz Bachman, March 8, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Heinz Bachman. Bachman was born in Germany in 1921 and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1924. Upon graduating from high school in 1939, he joined the Army Air Corps and underwent basic training in Hawaii. Bachman trained as an auto mechanic and was assigned to Hickam Airfield, Hawaii. He tells of his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Later, he was selected for flight training and recalls the disappointment he felt when he washed out of the program. In 1945 he was sent to England and was as a member of the United States Strategic Bombing Survey teams to serve as an interpreter.
Oral History Interview with Charles Sloan, March 2, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles William Sloan. Sloan joined the Navy in mid-1942. He completed torpedo school in San Diego, California. He landed in Noumea, New Caledonia in January of 1944, then transferred to Tulagi where he worked in a torpedo shop, conducting inspections on Mark 15 torpedoes and preparing them to go aboard submarines and destroyer escorts. Sloan served as Third-Class Torpedoman, working specifically on torpedo engines, air flaps, afterbodies, warheads and exploders. He provides vivid details of his work, and life on Tulagi. He returned to the U.S. in February of 1945 for medical reasons, and received his discharge.
Oral History Interview with Dewey Holden, January 8, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dewey A. Holden. Holden joined the Navy Coast Guard on December 15, 1941. He was stationed in Mobile, Alabama and served aboard the HMS Larkspur (K82). In 1942, he was assigned to bosun mate training at Manhattan Beach, New York. Later, Holden was assigned to Picket Boat #3836 in New Orleans, LA. He transported bar pilots and ship supplies from the Gulf of Mexico up through the Mississippi River to stations located in Southwest Pass and South Pass. He speaks of the activity and threat of German submarines in this area during late 1942. He continued this service throughout the war, and was discharged on October 26, 1945.
Oral History Interview with Dietrich Braun, January 1, 2021: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dietrich Braun. Braun was born in Germany in 1932 and resided there during the war. He tells of housing and shortages during the war years. At age six, Braun was recruited into the Hitler Youth. At the conclusion of the war, his father, a German Rocket scientist, was selected to be a part of Operation Paperclip, a secret United States intelligence program that brought him to the United States. In November of 1946, Braun and his remaining family were smuggled into the US, aboard USNS Henry Gibbins (T-AP-183), to join his father at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base through 1951.
Oral History Interview with B. B. Browning, November 5, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with B B Browning. Browning joined the Navy in mid-1943. Beginning mid-1944, he served as Seaman First Class, supporting Marines aboard a troop ship. He recalls his experiences through the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot in June of 1944, and going ashore on Tinian with the Marines. He vividly describes his time on the island, serving on guard duty, communicating with Japanese civilians on the island, supervising work of the remaining Japanese soldiers and serving as yeoman to the captain. He remained on Tinian after the war ended, returning to the US in mid-1946 to receive his discharge.
Oral History Interview with Robert Broadwell, October 16, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert James Broadwell. Broadwell was born in Iowa in 1926 and joined the Coast Guard in 1944. He recalls several anecdotes about his experiences in the Philippines during the war. He was involved in medical care in the Philippines after the Allied invasion as a chief pharmacist mate. He developed an interest in homeopathic remedies there because the Filipino doctors seemed to be getting better results with their patients. After the war ended, ne traveled to Japan for a while, still working on medical issues. He returned to the US and was discharged in May 1946.
Oral History Interview with Zayda Baron, September 29, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Zayda Baron. Baron was born in 1933 in the Philippines. Her father, Leon Oreonez, was the captain of a guerrilla unit. When the Japanese came to her home looking for her father, she fled and was separated from her parents for some time. Eventually, her older brothers worked at resisting the Japanese. When the war ended, Baron returned to school. She comments on the conditions of the Filipino populace during the Japanese occupation.
Oral History Interview with Donald Bishop, September 25, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Bishop. Bishop joined the Marines late December 1942. He served with K Company, Third Battalion, First Marines. He shares his experiences through the Guadalcanal, New Britain and Peleliu campaigns. He was injured at Peleliu and returned to the US in late 1944. He assisted at West Point and Annapolis, teaching beach landings. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge on 22 January 1946.
Oral History Interview with Don Pickard, September 17, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Pickard. Pickard was in high school when the war started and recalls a few anecdotes from childhood before joining the Navy in mid-1944. Once in the Navy, Pickard was assigned to the Amphibious Force. He served as a signalman aboard USS Bergen (APA-150). On his first voyage, they delivered ammunition to Ulithi. Pickard also went to Okinawa and describes typhoons. After the war ended, his ship carried parts of the First Marine Division to China. Upon returning to the US, Pickard received his discharge in mid-1946.
Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bruce Williams. Williams was born in August 1920 in Pennsylvania. He entered the Navy’s V-7 program at Northwestern University in September 1943. Upon commissioning in December, Williams reported aboard the submarine chase USS SC-731 as the executive officer. He recalls experiences from around New Guinea and the Philippines. Part of his job included delivering supplies to Filipino guerrillas. When the war ended, Williams elected to go to seminary and stayed in the reserves and worked as a chaplain until retiring in 1975.
Oral History Interview with Hayden Reynolds, August 6, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hayden Earl Reynolds. Reynolds was born in 1926 in Texas and joined the Marine Corps in January 1945. In April, he was shipped to Hawaii and joined the 4th Marine Division. He was on Maui when the war ended. He then shipped out to Guam and served as a highway patrolman there. Reynolds was discharged in 1947.
Oral History Interview with William Hamilton, August 4, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Hamilton. Hamilton was born in 1921 in New York. He joined the Navy in April 1942, but finished college before getting a commission later in 1943. He was then sent aboard USS Quincy (CA-71) in December. He was aboard for the invasion of Normandy. Hamilton was still aboard when Quincy transported President Roosevelt to Yalta. He was able to get close enough to FDR to observe the state of his health at the time. He was still aboard during the Okinawa campaign. Hamilton shares several great anecdotes about his experiences aboard the Quincy during and after the war including kamikazes and typhoons.
Oral History Interview with Clarence Griffith, July 28, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clarence Griffith. Griffith was born in Granbury Texas in 1913. He worked as an electrician and volunteered for service in the Navy in 1943. He served with the Seabees in the 76th Naval Construction Battalion and went to Guam during the invasion. While there, his outfit built power stations.
Oral History Interview with Jack Owen, July 23, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Owen. Owen was born in Lufkin Texas in 1926. He went to Texas A&M for a year after high school then joined the Navy after turning 18 in 1944 and trained at San Diego in June. In December, he was in the commissioning crew of USS Colusa (APA-74). Owen recalls hauling wounded from Iwo Jima back to Pearl Harbor aboard the Colusa before heading for Australia to repatriate American sailors whose ships had sunk. When the war ended, Owen returned to A&M, graduated and went to work.
Oral History Interview with Roy Barrera, April 27, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Barrera. Barerra grew up in Texas during the Depression and enlisted in the Army at 17 in 1944. He was assigned to the 6th Infantry Division and shipped out with the unit to Luzon in 1945. After the war, Barerra served in occupied Korea playing in the division band. He injured one of his finger badly and had to switch to playing trumpet. He used the GI Bill to finish law school upon being discharged in December 1946.
Oral History Interview with Michael Keaveny, April 1, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Keaveny. Keaveny joined the Navy in May 1944. After training in Virginia, Keaveny joined the crew of USS Raymon W. Herndon (APD-121) in November as a signalman. They arrived in Manila the following March where they embarked some Underwater Demolition Team 16 and took them to Okinawa. Keaveny was discharged in June 1946.
Oral History Interview with James Nolan, March 30, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James C. Nolan. Nolan joined the Navy on October 19, 1943. He completed Landing Craft School, and served as Landing Craft Coxswain, Seaman First-Class aboard the USS Pierce (APA-50). They traveled to Kwajalein, Palaus, Guadalcanal, Leyte, New Guinea, Lingayen Gulf, Subic Bay and Okinawa. Nolan made eight total landings aboard landing craft boat number 13. He recalls his combat experiences landing on Leyte on October 20, 1944 in the third wave. After the war ended, the Pierce traveled to Seoul, Korea and Japan to pick up and transfer troops back to the U.S. He received his discharge on January 26, 1946.
Oral History Interview with William C. Smith, March 12, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Smith. Smith joined the Marine Corps in April 1944. After basic training, Smith went to Sea School where he trained in 40mm antiaircraft gunnery. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS Iowa (BB-61).
Oral History Interview with Arnold Holden, February 20, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Holden. Holden joined the Navy on 30 December 1943. He served as a coxswain aboard USS Olmsted (APA-188). They transported troops and supplies in support of amphibious operations, traveling to New Guinea, Leyte and Okinawa. Additionally, they participated in the first occupational landings in Japan. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.
Oral History Interview with Raymond Lepore, February 6, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Lepore. Lepore was born in Boston in 1926 and joined the Navy at 15 years of age in August 1942. After boot camp, he attended gunnery school before joining the crew of USS Bogue (CVE-9). He joined USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) commissioning crew in January 1944. Lepore spent close to 500 days aboard the ship in the combat area and shares several anecdotes about his experiences, including one about George HW Bush.
Oral History Interview with Benjamin Gruetter, February 5, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Gruetter. Gruetter was drafted into the Army in February 1945. He suffered appendicitis during boot camp and was held back. His last day of training was the last day of the war. He was sent to Japan for occupation duty and stayed about 13 months.
Oral History Interview with Kenneth Smith, January 29, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Smith. Smith joined the Navy and was in boot training when the war ended. After training, he was assigned to USS Rutland (APA-192). He recalls a few anecdotes about being aboard ship, seeing part of Japan and hauling troops home after the war. Smith shares some of his Christian testimony and entered the seminary after returning to college after the war.
Oral History Interview with Charles Johnson, January 24, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Johnson. Johnson joined the Navy as soon as he finished high school in 1943. After training at Farragut, he was assigned to USS Colorado (BB-45). He boarded the Colorado in time for the Marshall Islands campaign and was still aboard for the Mariana Islands campaign. He was aboard when Colorado got hit by shore batteries off Tinian and kamikazes off Leyte. His duty station was in a bloier room or a powder room so he was well below decks at the time of these incidents. He was still aboard during the Okinawa campaign and the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay. He also describes being in a typhoon. Johnson was dicharged in March, 1946 and went to work for the Rock Island Railroad. Johnson describes his experiences around his Honor Flight in May 2011.
Oral History Interview with Norris Jernigan, January 15, 2020: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Norris Jernigan. Jernigan enlisted in the Army Air Forces in June 1943. After basic training and being eliminated from flight training, Jernigan was assigned to the intelligence section of the 393rd Bomb Squadron in Nebraska before it was attached to the 509th Composite Group. He spent time in Wendover, Utah before going with the group to Tinian prior to the atomic bombs being dropped on Japan. Though he was in the intelligence section of the bomb group that dropped the atomic bomb, Jernigan had no idea about the atomic bomb until after it was dropped. He mentined those in his group referred to it as the gimmick or the gadget until they understood what it was. When the war ended, Jernigan returned to the US and was discharged in March 1946.
Oral History Interview with William Most, December 17, 2019: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Most. Most joined the Marine Corps in late 1944 and went to basic training at Parris Island. After further training in North Carolina, he shipped overseas to Guam where he joined replacements fro the 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division. He joined them in time for their move from Okinawa to China after he war ended. While in CHina on occupation duty, Most was made a clerk typist. he remained in that postition until he was discharged in November 1946.
Oral History Interview with Don Woodard, December 13, 2019: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Woodard, Sr. Woodard joined the Navy in March 1944. He completed Yeoman School in San Diego. Beginning in August, he served as the captain’s yeoman aboard USS Bowie (APA-137). They transported troops and cargo throughout the Philippines and to Okinawa in May of 1945. After the war ended, they delivered occupation troops to Sasebo, Japan. He returned to the US in early 1946 and received his discharge.
Oral History Interview with Benton Askins, December 11, 2019: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Benton Askins. Askins joined the Army in July 1942. He was trained in radio installation and repair and sent to Australia, then to New Gunea where he joined the 997th Signal Service Battalion at Hollandia. He stayed there until the war ended. He returned to the US and was discharged in January 1947.
Oral History Interview with John W. Smith, November 23, 2019: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John W. Smith III. Jean assists with the interview. Smith was born 15 February 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He speaks about his father’s participation with the Manhattan Project. Smith’s father, John W. Smith II, was an electrician and completed contract work for the government at Huntsville Arsenal in Alabama, Oak Ridge in Tennessee and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Smith recalls traveling with his family each time his father was relocated for work. He was 12 years old when the war in the Pacific started, and he shares memories of life in the US as a child during wartime. He served in the Navy from 1946 through 1947, then entered the Air Force. He was assigned as a navigator with the 764th Bombardment Squadron, 461st Bombardment Wing. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, retiring in 1970.
Oral History Interview with Richard Abe, November 22, 2019: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Abe. Abe’s wife Yukiko is helping with this interview. Abe was born 29 May 1934 in Ewa, Hawaii, to Japanese immigrant parents. His father was the supervisor of the Ewa Sugar Plantation. He and his family were living on the island, 8 miles west of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked. Abe was 7 years old at the time, and he provides vivid details of his experiences, witnessing the bombing of military installations, being confined to his house, blackouts and his parents being directed to destroy any documents written in Japanese. From 1956 through 1958, Abe served in the US Army, 4th Infantry Division.

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