National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 44 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Albert W. Boam, December 8, 2009

Description: Transcript of an oral interview with Albert W. Boam. Born in 1923, he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He attended gunnery school at Buckingham Army Air Base in Naples, Florida. He describes his navigation training at Selman Field in Monroe, Louisiana. He was assigned to the 846th Squadron, 489th Bomb Group, 95th Combat Wing, 8th Air Force. He describes the flying the Southern Route to England as well as the navigation methods used. In 1944, he flew thirty-one missio… more
Date: December 8, 2009
Creator: Boam, Albert W.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Alphonsis Stockdale, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alphonsis Stockdale. Stockdale was born near Morristown, South Dakota 2 August 1915. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy in 1934 and went to San Diego for boot training. He then trained as a radio operator. In 1940, he joined Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 aboard PT-24 and went to Pearl Harbor where he witnessed the Japanese attack. Arriving at Midway Island on 2 June 1942 he was present when the Japanese la… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Stockdale, Alphonsis
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Anthony Ganarelli, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Anthony Ganarelli. Ganarellis was born in Huntington, Pennsylvania in 1913 and enlisted in the Navy in May 1934. Upon completing basic training in Norfolk, Virginia he was assigned as a gunner’s mate to the USS Tennessee (BB-43), where he remained for seven years. He recalls that, when the Japanese attacked on the morning of December 7, 1941, the Tennessee was in Pearl Harbor, inboard of the USS Arizona (BB-39) and forward o… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Ganarelli, Anthony
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Wilson, December 8, 2009

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Wilson. Wilson joined the Navy and served as a gunner’s mate aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) beginning in April 1944. He traveled through a perilous typhoon on his journey to the Philippines, with the ship rolling 65 degrees amidst 50-foot waves. On 25 October 1944 the Japanese Navy caught his ship by surprise. He recalls continuously firing all guns, using all forms of ammunition until there was nothing left … more
Date: December 8, 2009
Creator: Wilson, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Charles Crider, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Crider. Crider joined the Marine Corps in early 1941. He completed Communications School, and served with the Base Guard Battalion, maintaining security of the main gates and other designated areas. In November he joined a garrison at Pearl Harbor, where he was during the Japanese attack. After the attack, his battalion traveled to Midway Island and installed two 7-inch Navy gun mounts on the island. He later traveled to … more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Crider, Charles
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Charles Sehe, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Sehe. Sehe was born in Geneva, Illinois, on 26 February 1923 and enlisted in the Navy in November 1940. Upon completing basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois in February 1941, he completed gunner’s mate school and was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36). He recalls the Nevada, the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and the USS Arizona (BB-39) made up Battle Division One at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Sehe describes the events of 7 Dece… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Sehe, Charles
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Chester W. Marshall, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester W. Marshall. He was born March 19, 1917 in Holmes County, Mississippi. He describes growing up during the Depression. On June 26, 1940 he enlisted as a private in the Army Air Corps. In early 1942 he was accepted into Aviation Cadet training. In July 1943 he was assigned to the 30th Bomber Group of the 20th Air Force in Salina, Kansas to train as a flight engineer on B-29s. He recalls being transferred to the 31st Bo… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Marshall, Chester W.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Dallas Harvey, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dallas Harvey. Harvey joined the Navy in 1937. He completed training as a Hospital Corpsman, and dental technician. He was assigned to Pearl Harbor, serving in the Sick Bay and dental office aboard the USS Argonne (AS-10). Harvey was aboard the ship, which was positioned at the north end of 1010 dock, during the attack on Pearl Harbor. They later traveled to the Fiji Islands, New Caledonia and Guam, where Harvey worked in a hospi… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Harvey, Dallas
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Darrell Nelson, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Darrell Nelson. Nelson was born in Lenora, Oklahoma on 25 December 1920 and enlisted in the Navy in December 1940. He was sent to Radio School following boot camp in San Diego, and then was assigned to the USS Phelps (DD-360) which was homeported in Pearl Harbor. Phelps was nested north of North Island with other ships being serviced by the tender USS Dobbin (AD-3), when the Japanese attacked. Nelson remembers that Dobbin su… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Nelson, Darrell
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Dean Caswell, December 8, 2021

Description: 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… more
Date: December 8, 2021
Creator: Caswell, Dean
Location: 42.360091 -71.094160
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Deno Petrucciani, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Deno Petrucciani. Petrucciani joined the Navy in September of 1940. He served with the deck force aboard USS Maryland (BB-46). In January of 1941 they traveled to Pearl Harbor. Petrucciani was aboard the Maryland during the attack on 7 December 1941. He served aboard the ship for four and half years. He shares a number of anecdotal stories living on the Maryland. He was discharged in 1946.
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Petrucciani, Deno
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Dick Frieze, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dick Frieze. Frieze joined the Navy in 1939. He trained as an aviation machinist mate, and worked at a base in Pearl Harbor, where he shares some anecdotal stories working for Captain John Sidney McCain. Frieze was in a hangar at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and provides his recollections of surviving that fateful day. He speaks about Lieutenant Fasada Iada, a Japanese pilot, whom Frieze shot at right before he crash-landed in… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Frieze, Dick
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Douglas Phillips, December 8, 2010

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Douglas G. Phillips. Phillips was born in April 1917 in Rochester, New York. While in high school he joined the Naval Reserve, doing a cruise on the USS Tattnall (DD- 125). He then attended the Merchant Marine Academy. After graduation, with his degree and experience, he was commissioned a lieutenant (j.g.) in the US Navy. He reported aboard USS Ramsay (DM-16) at Pearl Harbor on 6 December 1941. Ramsay was moored near USS Ut… more
Date: December 8, 2010
Creator: Phillips, Douglas G.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Ernest Huffman, December 8, 2009

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Huffman. Huffman joined the Navy in January 1944 and received basic training in Bainbridge and gunnery training in Norfolk. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) as a pointer on a five-inch gun mount. He was then transferred to the bridge as a talker, relaying information from the CIC to the gunnery officer. While on the midnight watch, he was among the first to become aware of the Jap… more
Date: December 8, 2009
Creator: Huffman, Ernest
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Eugene Leonard, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Leonard. Leonard grew up during the Great Depression and shares details of his family’s experiences during that economic downturn. He joined the Marine Corps in November of 1939. By 1940 he was in Bremerton, Washington and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 2. They were stationed 10 miles from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by 1941. Leonard completed gunnery school. He also grew up learning much about mechanics and pursued that ski… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Leonard, Eugene
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Evelyn Gordon, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Evelyn Gordon. Gordon joined the Navy in 1943. She served as Yeoman Second Class in the United States Naval Reserve, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). She trained at Hunter College in The Bronx, New York. From there she was shipped to Port Hueneme, California. Their job was to put the Naval base into commission where they trained and shipped out construction battalions, the Seabees. She provides some details… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Gordon, Evelyn
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Garland Swann, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Garland Swann. Swann joined the Marine Corps in June of 1940. He trained to serve as an aviation mechanic. In January of 1941 he was stationed in Hawaii, working as an airplane mechanic and helping to build the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa. He recalls the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From Pearl, he was shipped to Midway Island for 13 months. Around 1943, Swann was transferred to Majuro, and moved throughout the Pacific. He… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Swann, Garland
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Harold Placette, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Placette. Placette joined the Navy in July of 1940. He provides some vivid details of boot camp. He served 5 years aboard the USS Phelps (DD-360). He trained in radio maintenance and radar. They arrived in Hawaii in November of 1940, and they conducted fleet maneuvers and antisubmarine training. He was assigned to the Bofors gun, which he describes. Phelps was on board during the attack at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. … more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Placette, Harold
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Harry Ogg, December 8, 2006

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Ogg. Ogg joined the Navy in June of 1941. Beginning around September he served as Boatswain’s Mate First Class aboard USS Neosho (AO-23). They transported high octane fuel to the Naval Air Station on Ford Island, and just prior to leaving, the attack on Pearl Harbor commenced. In early 1942 Ogg was transferred to New York City to work on new construction and complete Minesweeping School. From May of 1944 through March of 19… more
Date: December 8, 2006
Creator: Ogg, Harry
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Homer Faseler, December 8, 2005

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Homer Faseler. Faseler joined the Army Air Forces in 1944 after he finished high school. Once out of basic training, Faseler went to aerial gunnery school. Then, he was assigned as a tailgunner aboard a B-17 and headed for Europe assigned to the 390th Bomb Group. He flew 10 combat missions and was discharged in February, 1946.
Date: December 8, 2005
Creator: Faseler, Homer F.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Howard Fyke, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Fyke. Fyke joined the Navy in December of 1939. He served on the USS Nevada (BB-36), and was aboard during the attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. In January of 1943 they provided fire support for the capture of Attu, during the Aleutians Campaign. They completed bombardment missions through the Battle of Okinawa. Fyke was discharged in December of 1945.
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Fyke, Howard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James Comet, December 8, 2009

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Comet. Comet, the son of a coal miner, left school in the eighth grade and entered the workforce after his father suffered a debilitating injury. When Comet initially volunteered for the Navy, he was refused because his family depended on him. In 1943, he successfully enlisted and was sent to gunnery school. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) as the pointer on a gun crew. Traveling throu… more
Date: December 8, 2009
Creator: Comet, James
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James Lee Swift, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Swift. Swift was born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 3 December 1919. Upon joining the Navy in 1939 he had three months of boot training at San Diego, followed by four months of study at the electrical ordnance school. Reporting aboard the USS Reid (DD-369) in December 1939, he was assigned to the engine room. The Reid was at Pearl Harbor tied up next to the USS Whitney (AD-4) when the Japanese attacked. In March 1942 he wen… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Swift, James Lee
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James R. O'Donnel, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James R. O'Donnel. He was born in Donora, Pennsylvania and joined the Aviation Cadet training program in December 1942. Upon graduation from Bombardier School in late 1943 he was sent to Clovis, New Mexico as a B-29 crewmember. Upon completion of training in November 1944 his crew flew a B-29 to Saipan as part of the 499th Bomber Group of the 20th Air Force. He recalls their first mission over Japan on Thanksgiving Day 1944 … more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: O'Donnel, James R.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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