National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 127 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Joseph Brown, March 15, 2021

Description: 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.
Date: March 15, 2021
Creator: Brown, Joseph
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Norris Jernigan, January 15, 2020

Description: 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 s… more
Date: January 15, 2020
Creator: Jernigan, Norris
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Charles Dahlstrom, June 15, 2019

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Dahlstrom. Dahlstrom joined the Navy around June of 1943. He served with the deck crew aboard USS Mississippi (BB-41). In November of 1943, they bombarded Makin Island, providing fire support. He talks of the mass casualties amongst the crew members during combat. Dahlstrom shares his experiences through the Battle of Surigao Strait in October of 1944, the Battle of Lingayen Gulf in January of 1945 and the kamikaze attack… more
Date: June 15, 2019
Creator: Dahlstrom, Charles
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Julius Spelce, January 15, 2019

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Julius Spelce. Spelce joined the Navy in May of 1944. On Manus Island, he was assigned to a floating dry dock, USS ABSD-2. Spelce served as Petty Officer Third Class with the deck force, conducting repair work and serving as a cook, where he remained through the end of the war. They provided service repairs to large and small ships. Spelce recalls their vessel being torpedoed in April of 1945. He received his discharge in July of… more
Date: January 15, 2019
Creator: Spelce, Julius
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with George Barbier, September 15, 2018

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Barbier. Barbier joined the Navy in June 1941. He went to boot camp in San Diego, California. Upon graduating, he was assigned as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Louisville (CA-26) at Pearl Harbor. The Louisville was involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf at Surigao Strait and then at Lingayen Gulf. He survived damage caused by a number of kamikaze attacks, one of which claimed the life of Admiral Theodore Chandler. Barbier notes… more
Date: September 15, 2018
Creator: Barbier, George
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Earl Carlin, May 15, 2018

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Earl Carlin. Carlin joined the Navy in June of 1943. He served as a Seaman aboard the USS LCI(R)-472. Carlin oversaw steering the ship, as well as the annunciator and compass on board. They transported troops to Hawaii, the Aleutians, Kwajalein, Eniwetok and New Guinea. They also traveled to Tinian conducting amphibious demolition work. Carlin did get involved in battle at Guam, after the invasion, when they were under air attack… more
Date: May 15, 2018
Creator: Carlin, Earl
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Earl Call, October 15, 2017

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Earl Call. Call joined the Army Air Forces in January 1943 and went to weather school in Michigan. His first assignment was to Mitchel Field in New York as a weather observer. He went overseas aboard SS Jeremiah O'Brien (1943) to New Caledonia, then to a weather station on Guadalcanal for one day. Then he went to an island north of Bougainville, Green Island, and was assigned to the weather station there with the 17th Weather Squ… more
Date: October 15, 2017
Creator: Call, Earl
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Richard Storick, September 15, 2017

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Storick. Storick joined the Navy after high school in June 1943 and trained at Great Lakes. His forst assignmnet took him aboard USS Taluga (AO-62). He shares several anecdotes from his time aboard, where he served as a rangefinder. Storick also shares his experiences ashore in Japan and Korea after the war. He was discharged in March 1946.
Date: September 15, 2017
Creator: Storick, Richard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James Cook, March 15, 2017

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Cook. Cook’s brother Sidney speaks on his behalf. Cook graduated from high school in May of 1941. He joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He went to boot camp on the east coast, and he provides some detail of his experiences. He then went on to train as an aircraft mechanic at Chanute Field, Illinois. From there he went to the Navy Pier in Chicago for additional training. Then he completed special training in electronic pr… more
Date: March 15, 2017
Creator: Cook, James
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Richard Maxwell, March 15, 2016

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Maxwell. Maxwell joined the Navy in September of 1941. He completed Officer Candidate School, and served as Yeoman Second Class aboard a landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP), and later served as Captain aboard an amphibious command ship (LCC). In 1942, Maxwell deployed to Hawaii. In the Solomon Islands, he worked as an administrator of a PBY outfit. After the war, he served with occupation forces in Japan.
Date: March 15, 2016
Creator: Maxwell, Richard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Charles Herlin, February 15, 2016

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Herlin. Herlin joined the Navy in the fall of 1942. Beginning in late 1943, he served as a Radioman First Class with Composite Squadron Twelve (VC-12) aboard the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). He later transferred to the USS Card (CVE-11). Herlin served with the hunter-killer groups completing offensive operations against German submarines in the Atlantic and North Africa. He continued his service after the war ended through … more
Date: February 15, 2016
Creator: Herlin, Charles
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Joseph Nix, February 15, 2016

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Nix. Nix joined the Army Air Forces around early 1942. He served as a CG-4A glider pilot with the 29th Troop Carrier Squadron. They worked from base 464 in England. They dropped paratroopers in the invasion of Italy and during Operation Market Garden. He received his discharge around late 1945, though remained in the reserve until 1978.
Date: February 15, 2016
Creator: Nix, Joseph
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Frank Nemec, November 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank J. Nemec. Nemec joined the Marine Corps in early 1942. He received light and medium tanks training, and served with Company B of the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He participated in the invasions at New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa. Frank also served at Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Pavuvu, and the Goodenough Islands. He spent 28 months in the war zone, plus a 3-month occupational duty in China after the war. Nemec’s… more
Date: November 15, 2015
Creator: Nemec, Frank
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Norman Martin, October 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Norman Martin. Martin was born in Chicago in January 1924. While in college he applied for and was granted conscientious objector status, however, he volunteered for the Army in 1943. Arriving in England he was assigned to the 44th Field Artillery Battalion where he joined a forward observation team, which landed on Utah Beach. He tells of capturing a group of ten German soldiers single-handedly. He describes being severely wound… more
Date: October 15, 2015
Creator: Martin, Norman
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Jack Schaffer, September 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Schaffer. Schaffer went into the Marine Corps at 17 in August, 1942 and trained at San Diego. When basic training ended, Schaffer trained with the Raiders and was assigned to the 4th Marine Raider Battalion. He went overseas to the New Hebrides, then Guadalcanal for more training prior to participating in the campaign for the Solomon Islands at New Georgia. After some combat experience, Schaffer was sent back to the US and a… more
Date: September 15, 2015
Creator: Schaffer, Jack
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Edward Havorka, July 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Havorka. Havorka was born 24 April 1923, graduated from high school in 1940, then joined the Marine Corps in 1943. He completed boot camp in San Diego. He completed Telephone School and learned how to work a switchboard. He served as an instructor in the school into 1944. He then completed Officer Candidate School at Oberlin College, Ohio. Havorka was then transferred to an infantry unit at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, wh… more
Date: July 15, 2015
Creator: Havorka, Edward
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Luther Burnette, July 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Luther Burnette. Burnette joined the Army in July 1946 and trained in Alabama. He went to Korea in 1946 and was made a typist in his company's office while there. Burnette was in a segregated unit in the Sixth Infantry Division and comments on the racial conditions in the Army during the time. He also served in the quartermaster section while on duty in occupied Japan. He returned and was discharged in 1949, but stayed in the res… more
Date: July 15, 2015
Creator: Burnette, Luther
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Tommy Blake, May 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tommy Blake. Blake joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed gunnery, airplane mechanic and flight training. Blake served as P-38 pilot with the 26th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Air Force. Beginning in 1944, he flew missions in support of the Philippines Campaign. After the war ended, Blake completed aerial reconnaissance over Okinawa and Korea. He returned to the US and received his discharge in May of 1946.
Date: May 15, 2015
Creator: Blake, Tommy
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Ray Murray, April 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Murray. Murray joined the Army Air Forces. Upon completing flight training at Lubbock, Texas, he graduated as a twin-engine pilot and spent the next year as an instructor. Next, he went overseas to transport supplies in the European Theater. Operating first out of Scotland, he carried anything and everything, from overcoats and tomatoes to gasoline and mail. In the whole of his career, he was only ever taken off one flig… more
Date: April 15, 2015
Creator: Murray, Ray
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Fern LaVaune Ward, January 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fern Ward. Ward was born in Wausa, Nebraska on 16 January 1923. She grew up during the Great Depression years. Soon after joining the Navy (WAVES) in 1944, she was sent to Hunter College, Bronx, New York for six weeks of basic training. She was then sent to Indiana University in Bloomington where she studied bookkeeping for six weeks. Upon graduating she was classified as a Storekeeper 3rd Class and sent to the San Francisco… more
Date: January 15, 2015
Creator: Ward, Fern
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Paul Monroe, September 15, 2014

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Monroe. Monroe joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1942, as an Aviation Cadet. He received his wings and commission in the summer of 1943. He was then stationed in Carlsbad, New Mexico flying bombardiers in a T-11 trainer. Monroe completed 1,000 hours of flying cadets over a period of nine months. He was then assigned as the Assistant Director of Flying, which is where he served for the remainder of the war. In late 1945 … more
Date: September 15, 2014
Creator: Monroe, Paul
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Frank Alexander, July 15, 2014

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Alexander. Alexander joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and trained in Texas and Massachusetts as an airplane mechanic. He went overseas to England in December, 1944. He began flying combat missions on a B-17 as a flight engineer in February and was in a midair collision on his first mission. He bailed out and was rescued by Allied forces and returned to service to fly on 18 more combat missions. In April, he was shot down … more
Date: July 15, 2014
Creator: Alexander, Frank
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Lewis Brinson, April 15, 2014

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Brinson. Brinson was drafted into the Army Air Forces in 1942. He completed basic training in Texas and Nebraska as an airplane mechanic, working on B-17s and B-29s. Brinson was in the 6th Bomb Group, 40th Bomb Squadron. In December 1943 he went to Tinian and served as crew chief on a B-29. He flew over Iwo Jima for two weeks looking for downed aircraft. He gives some description of seeing the Enola Gay, and of flying … more
Date: April 15, 2014
Creator: Brinson, Lewis
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Arthur Monaghan, November 15, 2013

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Arthur Monaghan. Monaghan was born in Houston in 1922. After attending boot camp, he was assigned to Torpedo school in San Diego. He relates the various aspects of training he underwent and tells of being assigned to the Motor Torpedo Base 16. In 1943 his unit boarded a ship and he tells of the living conditions on board. He relates incidents that occurred while stationed on several island of the Philippines as well as one … more
Date: November 15, 2013
Creator: Monaghan, Arthur
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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