National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 3,919 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Vernon Oates, October 21, 1942

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon Oates. He discusses his childhood, education and growing up during the great depression. He talks about joining the US Army Air Corps, now called the Air Force, and the experiences he had at various different training camps around the country.
Date: October 21, 1942
Creator: Oates, Vernon
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with John Bumgarner, March 18, 1995

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Bumgarner. He discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the US Army. He describes his experiences as a doctor during World War Two and how he was captured and lived in a Japanese POW camp.
Date: March 18, 1955
Creator: Bumgarner, John & Marcello, Ronald E.
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 Aaron C. Kulow

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron C. Kulow. Kulow grew up in Michigan and enlisted in the Navy in 1942. After training, he joined the ship USS Pollux AKS-4 at Norfolk, Virginia. Initially the ship runs trips down to the Carribbean and Brazil but in 1943 is fitted with radar and sent to the Pacific Theater. In the Pacific, the general stores issue ship visited Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, and the New Hebrides Islands. He then returned t… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Kulow, Aaron C.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Alex Trentoff

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alex Trentoff. Trentoff was born to Russian parents who immigrated to Yap during the Russian Civil War. He recalls his childhood in Chamorro Bay as peaceful and easy. His family tended livestock and the island had a rich agricultural foundation. He worked as a domestic servant for a Japanese military officer who may have been an American spy. He remembers hearing the officer speak English with his parents during evening visi… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Trentoff, Alex
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Alfred Wunderlich

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alfred Wunderlich. Wunderlich recalls working on restoring the old Nimitz Hotel in Fredericksburg when he was a young man prior to being married.
Date: unknown
Creator: Wunderlich, Alfred
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Allan Champion

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Allan Champion. Champion was born in New Guinea in 1905 and spent his career in the Australian civil service. He was stationed at Buna in 1942 as assistant resident magistrate when a B-17 piloted by Fred Eaton went missing. Champion received a coded message instructing him to locate and rescue the crew. He traveled up the Musa River and found them in a small village. He brought them back to Buna and coordinated their safe re… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Champion, Allan
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Alpha Bowser

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alpha Bowser. Bowser joined the Marine Corps and completed basic training at the Philadelphia Naval Yard in June 1933. He received further training at fleet gunnery school and attended field artillery school at Fort Sill. In February 1937 he served as Roosevelt’s security guard at Warm Springs and got to know the president well. In June 1940 he returned to Quantico as an artillery instructor. He joined the 3rd Marine Divisio… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Bowser, Alpha
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Alton Halbrook, {1972-03-21,1972-04-18}

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alton Halbrook. Halbrook joined the Marine Corps in 1938 while enrolled at John Tarleton Agricultural College (Tarleton State University). After training at San Diego, Halbrook was assigned to duty in Shanghai before serving as a sea-going Marine aboard the USS Augusta (CA-31). Due to seasickness, he returned to the 4th Marine Regiment in China. Halbrook shares several stories of duty in China prior to the outbreak of war wi… more
Date: {1972-03-21,1972-04-18}
Creator: Halbrook, Alton
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Antonio Borja

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Antonio Borja. In 1938, Borja left his home in Tinian to attend navigator school in Saipan. He was in school and aboard ships until 1942 but did not graduate, due to the war. He sailed mostly in the Marianas and requested to leave for a vacation in Rota as he became increasingly concerned about his safety aboard ship. He was recruited for the Japanese army in Rota and served for two years in the artillery. When the United St… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Borja, Antonio
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Arleigh Burke

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Arleigh Burke. In March of 1944, Burke was promoted to Chief of Staff to the Commander of Task Force 58, the Fifth Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force, which was commanded by Admiral Marc Mitscher. Burke shares two versions of his bedtime story on the incident of Turn on the Lights during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. He shares the events that ensued, while aboard the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), in the Philippine Sea beginning 19 June … more
Date: unknown
Creator: Burke, Arleigh
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Artie Stocks

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Artie Stocks. Stocks joined the U.S. Marine Corps on 13 September 1940. In December of 1941 Stocks was taken prisoner during the Battle of Wake Island. He vividly describes this event. He was held as a prisoner of war for 44 months. Stocks was discharged in February of 1946. In early 1952 he went back into the Corps and served in the Korean War. And, in 1966 Stocks served in the Vietnam War. He provides some details of these expe… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Stocks, Artie
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with August Wickert

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with August Wickert. Wickert joined the Army around February of 1943. Around late 1943, early 1944, they traveled to Italy, where Wickert was captured and imprisoned for 13 months. He shares vivid details of his experiences as a prisoner of war and liberation by the Russians.
Date: unknown
Creator: Wickert, August
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with B. K. Atkins

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by B K Atkins. Atkins was the skipper of the destroyer, USS Melvin (DD-680). His ship provided escort support for naval forces. He provides some details of the Melvin. They participated in the occupation of Majuro, Guam, the Caroline Islands, Ulithi and the invasion of the Philippine Islands. Atkins provides details of their involvement in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. They operated with fast carrier attack forces until the final Japanese … more
Date: unknown
Creator: Atkins, B. K.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bernard Isaacs

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Bernard Isaacs. Isaacs joined the Navy after attending the University of Wisconsin. Upon completion of basic training, he was sent back to UW to become a medic. However, he asked to be transferred to the School of Athletic Specialists and sent to Camp Lawrence, Great Lakes, where he trained recruits who would become the Navy’s first African-American commissioned officers, also known as The Golden 13. Isaacs was proud that his boot c… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Isaacs, Bernard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bernard Peterson

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue with Bernard Peterson. Peterson joined the Navy in February of 1941. He completed Aviation Machinist School, and joined Torpedo Squadron Three. Peterson, with his squadron, served aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) beginning July 1942, supporting landings on Guadalcanal 1942. On 24 August 1942, Enterprise exchanged blows with a powerful Japanese carrier force, and Enterprise sustained severe damage from three bomb hits received during an… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Peterson, Bernard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bernard Synder

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bernard Synder. Synder joined the Navy in January of 1944. Beginning in July, he served as Radarman aboard the USS Roi (CVE-103), transporting supplies to the Hebrides Islands. He was then transferred to USS Chenango (CVE-28), where he remained through his service in the Navy. Synder participated in the invasions of the Marianas, Leyte and Okinawa. He returned to the US and received his discharge in June of 1946.
Date: unknown
Creator: Synder, Bernard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Carty

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue of Bill Carty. Carty was an Australian war correspondent . He discusses how he got t oNew Guinea to cover the war and his relationship General Robert Eichelberger. He discusses his role in the infantry and armor assault at Buna. Carty also mentions meeting John Bulkeley and going out with him on PT boats. Carty made the landing at Hollandia with the 42nd Infantry Division and Eichelberger. Later in 1944, Carty joined General MacA… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Carty, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Pampe

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Pampe. Pampe joined the ROTC in 1940 and was called to active duty in June 1943. After receiving coast artillery training at Camp McQuaide, he was sent through the Army Specialized Training Program. When the program ended, Pampe was assigned to the Ammunition and Pioneer Platoon, 290th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division. At the Battle of the Bulge, he delivered ammunition to troops and went ahead of the front lin… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Pampe, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Wasson

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Wasson. Wasson joined the Marine Corps and was trained as a radioman. He served on an amphibious tractor and then was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines. Wasson landed on Saipan and Okinawa and describes the combat that he encountered including having a radio he was wearing get destroyed by incoming shell fragments. He also describes being given the order to relay the message that Okinawa had been secured. Wa… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Wasson, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Winnekins

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Winnekins. Winnekins’s older brother John joined the 23rd Marines in April 1943. The two corresponded until his brother’s death, which occurred on D-day at Saipan. His mother never recovered from the loss, and she searched for the exact location of her son’s remains until her death. Winnekins struck up correspondences with members of his brother’s unit and eventually found the burial site in Saipan. He dedicated his fre… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Winnekins, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bryghte Godbold

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bryghte Godbold. Godbold joined the Marine Corps in 1939 and received basic training in Philadelphia. He served aboard the USS Pensacola (CA-24) in Hawaiian and Alaskan waters before being stationed on Wake Island. He surrendered to the Japanese on 23 December 1941 and was sent to a prisoner-of-war camp outside of Shanghai. There he served as the recreation officer, managing athletic fields and equipment, as well as the libr… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Godbold, Bryghte
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with C. Elizabeth Callahan

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with C. Elizabeth Callahan. Callahan was born to Japanese parents in San Francisco. Her name at birth was Cho Elizabeth Ishi. Her parents couldn’t sustain their family in America during the Depression, so Callahan and her sister were sent to Japan in August 1935. When the war broke out, Callahan was caught completely by surprise, due to the extensively censored news available to her. While her parents were sent to an internment c… more
Date: unknown
Creator: Callahan, C. Elizabeth
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with C. W. Horner

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C W Horner. Horner joined the Navy in 1938. He served in the Fire Control Division aboard the USS Helena (CL-50). The Helena was moored at 1010 Dock Navy Yard on the base (southeast) side of Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Horner recalls his experiences through that fateful event.
Date: unknown
Creator: Horner, C. W.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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