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

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

Description: 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 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 Bunichi Ohtsuka, November 8, 2000

Description: 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 John H. Camp, April 8, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John H. (Jack) Camp. Camp grew up in New Orleans and joined the Navy in August, 1943. Upon completion of training, Camp was selected for Hospital Corpsman school. In ealry 1945, Camp was ordered to go to Guam and work the in Fleet Hospital 103. He recalls receiving patients from the battle at Okinawa. In May, Camp was transferred to the USS South Dakota (BB-57). He was aboard when the task force the South Dakota was attached… more
Date: April 8, 2000
Creator: Camp, John H
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with David Jones, January 8, 1974

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Major General David M. Jones. Jones participated in the Doolittle Raid. He describes the take-off procedures from the USS Hornet (CV-8). He piloted plane number five and recalls clearly seeing a Japanese G4M (Betty) bomber pass by his aircraft an hour after being launched. Jones dropped incendiary bombs over Tokyo and encountering anti-aircraft fire. He explains how the crew bailed out over China and mentions the joyous rece… more
Date: January 8, 1974
Creator: Jones, David M.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Ruth Fowler, January 8, 2001

Description: Transcript of 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: January 8, 2001
Creator: Fowler, Ruth
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with L. E. Robinson, March 8, 1985

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by L E Robinson. Robinson joined the Marine Corps in May 1939 and received basic training in San Diego. After sea school training, he was assigned to Admiral Kimmel’s flag allowance and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). Robinson was at Pearl Harbor as the admiral’s senior orderly during the attack of December 7. After surviving strafing from enemy planes, he headed toward the submarine base dock to help carry the wounded. When he f… more
Date: March 8, 1985
Creator: Robinson, L. E.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with A. R. Evans

Description: 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 Richard Cole, August 8, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Richard E. Cole. Cole was born 7 September 1915 in Dayton, Ohio. In 1940 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and received his commission in 1941. He was then assigned to the 17th Bomb Group. In 1942 he volunteered for a mission and tells of being assigned as co-pilot to Colonel James Doolittle. Cole mentions the specialized training the volunteers received, being aboard the USS Hornet (CV-8), the bombing mission over Tokyo, a… more
Date: August 8, 2000
Creator: Cole, Richard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Junior Montgomery, August 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Junior Montgomery. Montgomery joined the Marine Corps in the summer of 1942. He trained specifically on driving amphibious tractors. He traveled to New Caledonia and joined the 6th Marine Division, 3rd Raider Battalion. Montgomery participated in the Bougainville Campaign, the Battle of Guam and the Battle of Okinawa. He shares his experiences through these battles, and was discharged in December of 1945.
Date: August 8, 2001
Creator: Montgomery, Junior
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Wayne Miller, August 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wayne Miller. Miller was born 10 September 1926 in rural Fulton County, Indiana. Upon graduating from high school in 1944, he joined the Navy and went to boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois. Completing boot camp he was sent to Portland, Maine and assigned as Water Tender 3rd Class on the USS Varian (DE-798). In November 1944 the ship joined two other destroyer escorts as a hunter-killer group. In April … more
Date: August 8, 2001
Creator: Miller, Wayne
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 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 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 Robert Rhodes, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Rhodes. Rhodes was born in 1922 and enlisted in the Army on 23 January 1941. Soon after enlisting, he boarded the USS Republic (AP-33) for an eighteen day voyage to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii for basic training. Upon completion of basic, he was assigned to the 696th Ordnance Company at Wheeler Field. Rhodes recalls being at breakfast when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He describes the actions he and others that … more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Rhodes, Robert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Leroy McCovney, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leroy McCovney. McCovney joined the Navy in May of 1941. Beginning around August he served with the deck force aboard the USS Honolulu (CL-48). He was aboard the Honolulu on 7 December 1941 when it was moored in Pearl Harbor. McCovney provides vivid details of his experiences through the attack on that fateful day. His job was to help clean up the ship after the attack. After minor repairs to the ship, they traveled to Australia,… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: McCovney, Leroy
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with June Reilly Leonard, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with June Reilly Leonard. Leonard was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 8 June 1923 and enlisted in the WAVES after the beginning of the war. Upon completion of basic training at Whittier College, Bronx, New York, she was sent to storekeeper’s school at the Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville. She met and married an Army soldier while on leave in August 1943, and after three months together, they were separated for t… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Leonard, June Reilly
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 Nelson Howard, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nelson Howard. He was born in Everett, Washington, March 17, 1920. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the Navy in 1940. He was sent to Pearl Harbor and assigned to the USS Macdonough (DD-351) where he served as a Gunners Mate. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he recalls shooting down a Japanese plane. He recalls that the Macdonough steamed out of the harbor that morning and returned the following Wednesday to prov… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Howard, Nelson
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 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

Oral History Interview with Kenneth K. Little, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth K. Little. He was born in San Diego, California on February 2, 1921 and enlisted in the California National Guard in the summer of 1940. His unit was activated on September 16, 1940. He recalls embarking on the SS Washington (later requisitioned by the Navy and renamed USS Mount Vernon (AP-22)) in San Pedro, California and sailing to Hawaii on November 5, 1940. He recounts the transit during which he contracted a ser… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Little, Kenneth K.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Robert Ellinger, December 8, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ellinger. Ellinger joined the Navy in August of 1943. He served aboard the USS California (BB-44) beginning in December of that same year. They provided shore bombardment during the Battles of Saipan, Guam and Tinian. In late 1944, they participated in the Leyte operation during the invasion of the Philippines. They were struck by a kamikaze in January of 1945 while providing shore bombardment at Lingayen Gulf. They contin… more
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Ellinger, Robert
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
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