National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 149 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with A. R. Evans

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue by A R Evans. Evans was the coastwatcher on Kolombangara who facilitated the rescue of the PT-109 crew, led by John F. Kennedy. One of his scouts noticed a fire on the water at night and saw an unidentified object floating the next day. Evans, having been informed that PT-109 was missing, instructed his scouts to search for crewmen. Two natives encountered the crew, who for want of a common language carved a message on a coconut … more

Date: April 8, 2014

Creator: Evans, R. A.

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Adanto D'Amore, October 8, 2005

Transcript of an oral interview with Dr. Adanto D'Amore. D'Amore describes his education briefly at Ohio State University where he graduated from medical school. Shortly thereafter, he joined the US Army Air Corps, where he examined candidates for jump school. He eventually was assigned as flight surgeon to the 19th Bomb Group and sent with them to Clark Field in the Philippines in October, 1941. After the Japanese invaded, D'Amore and elements of the 19th Bomb Group moved to Mindanao. After th… more

Date: October 8, 2005

Creator: D'Amore, Dr. Adanto A. S.

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders of New Braunfels, Texas, a veteran of the Army Air Force during World War Two. The interview includes Saunders' personal experiences while in the Air Force, including the China-Burma-India Theater and memories of flying cargo to China over the Himalayas. Mr. Saunders also talks about life before and after his service.

Date: October 8, 2004

Creator: Cox, Floyd & Saunders, Alan W.

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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

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 Allan W. 'Buck' Saunders, October 8, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan W. ""Buck"" Saunders. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, then going to flight school to be a pilot. He was stationed in India and discusses flying supplies into China over the Himalayas, ""the Hump"", trading items like jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma, and meetings he had with native Burmese. He also talks about later experiences he had after th… more

Date: October 8, 2004

Creator: Saunders, Alan W.

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Alphonsis Stockdale, December 8, 2001

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 Alton Frost, April 8, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alton Frost. Frost joined the Navy in September 1942 after finishing high school. He went to flight school and switched to the Marine Corps so he could fly single engine planes. He then was assigned to fly dive bombers in Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 241 (VMSB-241). Frost joined the squadron in the Solomon Islands in time to go to the Philippines. He shares a few anecdotes of his combat flight experiences. When the war ended, Fr… more

Date: April 8, 2016

Creator: Frost, Alton

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Ann Jonushaitis, October 8, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ann Jonushaitis. Jonushaitis was born in Germany in November of 1934. Her family was from Lithuania and she describes their fleeing to Germany as the Russians filtrated in. Jonushaitis describes their hard life during wartime, living in barracks and having very little to eat. She describes her family’s trip to America and beginning anew in Chicago. She also describes living on a farm in Indiana with her husband and family. She ex… more

Date: October 8, 2005

Creator: Jonushaitis, Ann

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Anthony Ganarelli, December 8, 2001

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 Arthur G. Whitehead, May 8, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur G Whitehead. Whitehead joined the Navy in October 1942, attending boot camp and receiving hospital corpsman training. Upon completion, he was assigned as a pharmacist’s mate, tending to wounded Marine fighter pilots. Whitehead was stationed in Ewe, Hawaii, before traveling to American Samoa, where he slept in a wooden hut plagued by mosquitos. Moving next to the Ellice Islands, Funafuti, his ship became stuck on the c… more

Date: May 8, 2007

Creator: Whitehead, Arthur G

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Ben Blaz, October 8, 1994

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Blaz. Blaz was born on Guam in 1928 and recalls aspects of his education on the island prior to World War II. He then recounts the arrival of the Japanese forces in December, 1941 and how they treated the Chamorro people. His family fled Agana to some property in the hills outside of town and raised crops during the war years. Blaz was recruited to help build and maintain airfields for the Japanese. He describes his life on G… more

Date: October 8, 1994

Creator: Blaz, Ben

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Ben Cater, August 8, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Cater. Cater joined the Navy V-7 Program, graduating in June of 1942. He then completed Midshipman School in the February of 1943. Cater then flew to Kodiak, Alaska, and served aboard USS Long (DMS-12), providing escort and patrol for the occupations of Attu and Kiska, returning to Pearl Harbor in September. Cater recalls participating in the Marshall Islands Campaign. In February of 1944, they traveled to New Guinea, escorti… more

Date: August 8, 2000

Creator: Cater, Ben

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Benjamin Molina, August 8, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Molina. Molina joined the Army in 1937 and received basic training at Fort Sam Houston. He was assigned to a machinegun company in the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was discharged in February 1940 and volunteered again in February 1942. He joined the Army Air Forces and became a guard and small arms instructor at Foster Field with the 934th Guard Squadron. He left the base in 1945 as a tech serge… more

Date: August 8, 2000

Creator: Molina, Benjamin

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bernice Shafer, September 8, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernice Shafer. Shafer was born in Ackley, Iowa 26 December 1926. She began nurse training at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Des Moines in 1941. Upon graduating in 1944, she entered the US Army Nurse Corps and began basic training at Camp Carson, Colorado. When she completed basic, she was assigned to Leonard General Hospital, Topeka, Kansas. After a period of time, she was shipped to Camp Pendleton, California in prepa… more

Date: September 8, 2007

Creator: Shafer, Bernice

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Hardin, October 8, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Hardin. Hardin joined the Navy’s underwater demolition team after attending Officers Candidate School at Columbia University. He received water training and depth training at Pearl Harbor. He cleared underwater obstacles in Guam, Saipan, and Okinawa in preparation for invasions, often under enemy fire. At Guam, he noticed a native girl in need of serious medical attention. He called in a medic, who arrived by plane and … more

Date: October 8, 2010

Creator: Hardin, Bill

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Wilson, December 8, 2009

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 Bob Layher, September 8, 1998

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Layher. Layher was a member of the first squadron of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. While stationed in Rangoon in January 1942, the group sent Pete Wright into the air to scare off an enemy bomber. Wright's plane malfunctioned on the approach, and he veered off the runway, killing a captain. On 5 March 1942, Layher nearly lost control of his own plane during a close formation drill. The … more

Date: September 8, 1998

Creator: Layher, Bob

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bob Osborne, April 8, 2017

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Osborne. Osborne joined the Navy in 1943. He was assigned aboard USS Chester (CA-27). Osborne shares several anecdotes of his time aboard the ship. He also describes the collision between the Chester and another ship off Iwo Jima. When the war ended, Osborne elected to take his discharge.

Date: April 8, 2017

Creator: Osborne, Bob

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Buddy McLeroy, November 8, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Buddy McLeroy. McLeroy joined the Navy in 1943 and was sent aboard USS Dallas (DD-199). He was then sent to signalman school in Maine. McLeroy was then assigned to the USS Hilary P. Jones (DD-427). He describes his duties as a signalman, the equipment he used, and shipboard life. McLeroy took part in convoy escort duty in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. He describes the transfer of his ship to the Pacific and mentions some o… more

Date: November 8, 2006

Creator: McLeroy, Buddy

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bunichi Ohtsuka, November 8, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bunichi Ohtsuka. Ohtsuka describes growing up in wartime Japan. He discusses seeing bombing raids and the resulting damage. Ohtsuka also describes the military training he received in school. He joined the Imperial Japanese Navy in March 1945. Ohtsuka details his training in the Navy and how a nearby unit training for suicide boat operations was completely wiped out in a bombing raid. He briefly mentions his thoughts on the … more

Date: November 8, 2000

Creator: Ohtsuka, Bunichi

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bunichi Ohtsuka, November 8, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bunichi Ohtsuka. Ohtsuka begins by describing growing up in Japan in the 1930s. Then he describes military training in the Imperial Japanese Navy. He volunteered for service in the Navy in March, 1945. Ohtsuka recalls his military training school being bombed by the Americans. He also speaks about his impressions of the atomic bombs being dropped on Japan. Ohtsuka emigrated to the UNited States in 1967 to study English at th… more

Date: November 8, 2000

Creator: Ohtsuka, Bunichi

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Caramello Stramer, March 8, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Caramello Stramer. Stramer joined the Navy in February of 1942. He completed boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and he completed training in New London, Connecticut to serve aboard submarines. Stramer provides details on his experiences at both training locations. He served aboard the USS Puffer (SS-268) beginning April of 1943, as the motor machinist mate. He was stationed in the aft engine room, overseeing diesel engines.… more

Date: March 8, 2016

Creator: Stramer, Caramello

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Cecil Dykes, April 8, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cecil Dykes. Dykes volunteered for the Navy in July of 1944. He was trained to become a LCVP crewman on the USS Bosque (APA-135). Dykes traveled to Okinawa and took part in landing troops and ferrying wounded back to the ship. He witnessed several kamikaze attacks. Dykes was aboard the Bosque at Tokyo Bay the day of the surrender and helped land troops from the 1st Cavalry Division for the occupation of Japan. He was dischar… more

Date: April 8, 2010

Creator: Dykes, Cecil

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Charles Chapman, June 8, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Chapman. Chapman joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He was sent to Karachi with the 8th Medical Supply Platoon. He handled the medical supplies for the Army and drove an ambulance to and from the local airport close to their base. From there he traveled to Kunming, China. Chapman describes flying over the Hump. He worked out of a brick warehouse in China packed with medical supplies and a pharmacy. He assisted with recei… more

Date: June 8, 2015

Creator: Chapman, Charles

Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

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