National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 329 Matching Results

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Commander Hal Lamar, USNR (Ret.) Remembers Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

Transcript of an oral monologue with Hal Lamar. He reflects on Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz during his time serving as the Admiral's personal aide and secretary. He describes Nimitz's character and abilities as a leader. Lamar shares anecdotes about visiting wounded men and awarding Purple Heart medals, other officers coming to call, recreating, visiting Tarawa ,and activities at the new headquarters on Guam.

Date: February 1, 1980

Creator: Lamar, Hal

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

Oral History Interview with Abe Santos, February 24, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Abe Santos. Santos joined the Navy in November of 1939. He served as a Fireman aboard the USS Astoria (CA-34). They participated in the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway and Savo Island, where the ship was sunk. He traveled back to Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Wharton (AP-7). Santos was placed on tugboat duty for six months, then transferred to Johnston Island as a Second-Class Machinist’s Mate. He assisted with airstrip constructi… more

Date: February 24, 2001

Creator: Santos, Abe

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

Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Acencion Fernandez. Fernandez, a Texas farm boy born in 1924, was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the USS LCI-80 where he served as a loader on a 40-inch gun. At the Mariana Islands of Saipan and Tinian and at Iwo Jima, he was involved in strafing the beaches to enable Marines to land. Later his LCI landed Marines on Okinawa. He briefly mentions the presence of Navajo co… more

Date: February 19, 2005

Creator: Fernandez, Acencion

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

Oral History Interview with Albert Day, February 23, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Day. Day was born in Olney, Texas 23 September 1921 and graduated from high school in Vivian, Louisiana in 1942. Upon joining the Navy 4 June 1942, he was sent to The Great Lakes Naval Training Station for boot training. Afterwards, Day was assigned to the Amphibious Forces at Solomons, Maryland for training where he learned navigation and signal communications. Completing the course in October 1942 he went to Redwood… more

Date: February 23, 2004

Creator: Day, Albert

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

Oral History Interview with Albert Eshelman, February 25, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Eshelman. Eshelman was inducted into the Army in February of 1942. He served in the 553rd Air Force Base Unit. In December of 1943 he went to Liverpool, England. His job there was refueling the planes, using two 4,000-gallon trailers and a tanker engine. He also traveled to Metfield while in England, assisting with the closing of a base. He describes this experience, including a near miss from an enemy shell. He was sent t… more

Date: February 25, 2005

Creator: Eshelman, Albert

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

Oral History Interview with Andrew Firm, February 26, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Andrew Firm. Firm joined the Navy in June 1942 and only received 28 days of training before boarding the light cruiser USS Montpelier (CL-57). As a gunner’s mate, his first duty was greasing the guns while the Montpelier patrolled The Slot around Guadalcanal. During island bombardments, he added special tips to shells that would clear trees from the beachheads. In the blazing heat of the Marianas, he was stunned to see a war… more

Date: February 26, 2009

Creator: Firm, Andrew

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

Oral History Interview with Angelo Gagliano, February 10, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Angelo Gagliano. Gagliano joined the Navy in August 1942. He describes his experiences in basic training at Newport, Rhode Island. Gagliano was assigned to an air service unit and then transferred to the USS Langley (CVL-27). He became an aviation storekeeper and also served as an ammunition handler on a 40mm gun. Gagliano describes a time when he was a passenger on a TBF that catapulted off of the ship and how he blacked-ou… more

Date: February 10, 2010

Creator: Gagliano, Angelo

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

Oral History Interview with Arlie Ray Horn, February 19, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arlie Ray Horn. Horn was drafted into the Army in July 1943 and trained at Camp Wolters before being shipped overseas to England where he trained with the Special Forces and was attached to the 29th Infantry Division. He landed at Omaha Beach on 6 June 1944 (D-Day). Horn was wounded three different times. After the war ended, Horn returned to the US in October, 1945.

Date: February 19, 2016

Creator: Horn, Arlie Ray

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

Oral History Interview with Arnold Holden, February 20, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Holden. Holden joined the Navy on 30 December 1943. He served as a coxswain aboard USS Olmsted (APA-188). They transported troops and supplies in support of amphibious operations, traveling to New Guinea, Leyte and Okinawa. Additionally, they participated in the first occupational landings in Japan. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.

Date: February 20, 2020

Creator: Holden, Arnold

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

Oral History Interview with Arnold L. Pitcher, February 22, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arnold L. ""Al"" Pitcher. Pitcher finished high school and then joined the Navy in 1943. He joined with one of his brothers and they trained at Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon completion Pitcher went to quartermaster school at Bainbridge, Maryland, where he learned to signal, navigate and steer a destroyer escort. Upon completion, Pitcher was sent to California where he boarded the USS Crowley (DE-303) and headed for Pearl Harbo… more

Date: February 22, 2012

Creator: Pitcher, Arnold L.

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

Oral History Interview with Arnold Peters, February 24, 2013

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Peters. Peters joined the Navy in 1944. He served in the commissary department as a butcher at a Naval Air Base in San Diego. His wife worked as a cook for a children’s nursery at an aircraft factory. He ranked Petty Officer, Third Class, and received his discharge in early 1946.

Date: February 24, 2013

Creator: Peters, Arnold

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

Oral History Interview with Arthur Bertanzetti, February 2, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arthur Bertanzetti. Bertanzetti joined the Army in February of 1941. After 2 years he transferred to the Army Air Forces. He was commissioned in 1943. He flew B-24s and was assigned to the 489th Bomb Group, 846th Bomb Squadron. In 1944 Bertanzetti traveled to England and completed 31 combat missions. On the last mission his plane went down. He and the crew bailed out over Germany, were captured and taken as prisoners of war to St… more

Date: February 2, 2010

Creator: Bertanzetti, Arthur

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

Oral History Interview with Arthur Burry, February 17, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Burry. Burry was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado 28 March 1924. He was inducted into the Army Air Forces in January 1943 and received flight training at various bases. After completing gunnery school, he was assigned to the 45th Fighter Squadron, which flew P-47 fighter planes. Traveling by merchant ship, Burry arrived at Iwo Jima in February 1945. He relates an incident where the Japanese made a banzai attack on the air… more

Date: February 17, 2005

Creator: Burry, Arthur

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

Oral History Interview with Arthur Griffin, February 16, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arthur Griffin. Griffin joined the Navy in late 1942. He served as an aircraft navigator in the Pacific Theater. He volunteered for the Marine Corps and became a second lieutenant. He was assigned to a 5-man squadron and a C-47 at an airfield in La Tontouta, New Caledonia. They were part of the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT). SCAT provided rapid transport of personnel and cargo, including munitions, food, repla… more

Date: February 16, 2019

Creator: Griffin, Arthur

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

Oral History Interview with Arthur O. Spaulding, February 24, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur O. Spaulding. Spaulding grew up on his father's lemon farm in California and finished high school in 1943. He then enrolled in the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, but enlisted in the Army after a few months. Eventually, Spaulding served in Europe and recalls coming home after Germany surrendered.

Date: February 24, 2012

Creator: Spaulding, Arthur O.

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

Oral History Interview with Arthur Scharlau, February 16, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arthur Scharlau. Scharlau joined the Navy in January of 1945. He completed basic training in Bainbridge, Maryland. In January of 1946, he was transferred to the Naval operating base on Guam and served as Seaman Second-Class in the Disbursing Office. Scharlau shares a number of stories of living and working on Guam. He returned to the US and received his discharge in July of 1946.

Date: February 16, 2016

Creator: Scharlau, Arthur

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

Oral History Interview with Atys Daniel Brunson, February 22, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Atys Daniel Brunson. He discusses his family history, childhood, education and what led him to joining the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

Date: February 22, 2008

Creator: Brunson, Atys Daniel & Osborn, Oakley E.

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

Oral History Interview with Barry Atkins, February 20, 1997

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barry Atkins. In 1928, Atkins was appointed to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1932 and was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43). He was aboard at Long Beach, California during the 1933 earthquake. After that, he was transferred to the USS New Mexico (BB-40). his next assignment took him aboard the USS Mahan (DD-364). In 1941, Atkins was assigned to the USS Parrott (DD-218) in Manila Bay. He was aboard the Parrott during… more

Date: February 20, 1997

Creator: Atkins, Barry

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

Oral History Interview with Ben Guthrie, February 26, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Guthrie. Guthrie joined the Army in September of 1940. He graduated from Parachute School in the spring of 1941. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Guthrie participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in late 1945.

Date: February 26, 2004

Creator: Guthrie, Ben

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

Oral History Interview with Benjamin Gruetter, February 5, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Gruetter. Gruetter was drafted into the Army in February 1945. He suffered appendicitis during boot camp and was held back. His last day of training was the last day of the war. He was sent to Japan for occupation duty and stayed about 13 months.

Date: February 5, 2020

Creator: Gruetter, Benjamin

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

Oral History Interview with Benjamin Nicks, February 10, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Benjamin Nicks. Nicks enlisted in the Army Air Forces in January of 1941. He received his wings in April of 1942. Nicks was in the 120th Observation Squadron in the 130th Field Artillery Squadron. He flew border patrol missions for a year between Mexico and the United States. He was assigned to Mountain Home Air Base, Idaho to serve as a B-25 instructor until the spring of 1944. He was then transferred in May of 1944 in McCo… more

Date: February 10, 2017

Creator: Nicks, Benjamin

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

Oral History Interview with Bernadine Bircher, February 6, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernadine Bircher. Bircher was working as a psychiatric nurse in October 1943 when she joined the Army Nurse Corps. Upon completion of basic and specialized training, she deployed in June 1944 to a station hospital in Holland. Her unit was short on anesthetists, so Bircher volunteered, despite having no specific training. Nurses and doctors at the adjacent operating tables assisted Bircher with her first patients, and she be… more

Date: February 6, 2014

Creator: Bircher, Bernadine

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

Oral History Interview with Bernice Harriet Wallis George, February 10, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bernice Harriet Wallis George. George served with the US Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) beginning October of 1942. She was trained for a highly secret project designed to crack the German Enigma encryption. She then was assigned to Washington, DC, where she worked on the prototype decryption devices called bombes. George continued her work through December of 1944.

Date: February 10, 2015

Creator: George, Bernice Harriet Wallis

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

Oral History Interview with Bill Marten, February 4, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Marten. Marten joined the Merchant Marine in November 1943. He started as a fireman working as a water tender in the engine room. Marten describes some of his service on tankers crossing the Atlantic. He details an incident where he witnesses another tanker in his convoy explode after it was hit by a torpedo. Marten took part in 12 voyages and eventually left the Merchant Marine in 1948.

Date: February 4, 2016

Creator: Marten, Bill

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

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