National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 289 Matching Results

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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 Afton Keeton, April 5, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Afton Keeton. Keeton joined the Navy in early 1942. He completed Hospital Corps School, and served as a Pharmacist’s Mate. He volunteered for Submarine School. From 1944 through the end of the war, Keeton worked in the sick bays aboard USS Seadragon (SS-194) and USS Tilefish (SS-307). He shares numerous anecdotes of his work aboard the submarines, though does not go into detail of where they traveled through the Pacific. Keeton c… more
Date: April 5, 2003
Creator: Keeton, Afton
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Al D'Agostino, April 19, 2012

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al D’Agostino. D’Agostino joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and received training in Brooklyn. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Monterey where he worked as a butcher. His first trip to the Pacific was transporting European troops, who were unhappy about the looming invasion of Japan. The war ended while the Monterey was in transit, and the soldiers returning home were a much happier bunch. Even more joyful was the… more
Date: April 19, 2012
Creator: D'Agostino, Al
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Albert Donaldson, April 14, 2009

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Donaldson. Donaldson talks about how the Great Depression affected his family. He joined the Navy in 1944 and provides details of his training. He traveled aboard the USS Buckingham (APA-141). They traveled to Pearl Harbor, which he describes along with his responsibilities with work parties unloading and reloading ships. He assisted with trading out old ammunition for new ammunition. He was transferred to the John Rodgers… more
Date: April 14, 2009
Creator: Donaldson, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Albert Finley, April 11, 2006

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Finley. Finley joined the Marine Corps around December of 1943. He provides vivid details of his boot camp experiences. He served with Headquarters Company, 4th Marines, as a radar mechanic on Corsairs, repairing radio and radar gear. Beginning in September of 1944 they traveled to Guam, Kwajalein, Pearl Harbor and Majuro in the Marshall Islands. Finley shares a number of anecdotal stories, including working with POWs. He … more
Date: April 11, 2006
Creator: Finley, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Albert Wakeman, April 26, 2012

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Wakeman. Wakeman joined the Navy in 1944. The son of a machinist who fashioned guns for the Navy during WWI, Wakeman advanced to diesel school upon completion of basic training. He was assigned to PT-175 with Squadron 11 at Emirau, New Guinea, as a machinist's mate. At Morotai, as Wakeman manned his battle station against a Japanese barge, an officer rushed over to help him load the 40mm and was immediately shot in th… more
Date: April 26, 2012
Creator: Wakeman, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Allen Barker, April 29, 2008

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Allen Barker. Barker was born 29 July 1922 in Sairlie, Texas. He joined the Army Air Corps in August 1942. Following completion of basic training in Greenville, Texas he was assigned to the signal corps. He was shuttled around to various bases in the United States and finally boarded a troop ship, USS General A.E. Anderson for a 30 day sea trip to Bombay, India. His unit built a base about 60 miles northwest of Imphal, India… more
Date: April 29, 2008
Creator: Barker, Allen
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Alton Frost, April 8, 2016

Description: 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 Alvino Mendoza, April 25, 2017

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvino Mendoza. Mendoza was born in Round Rock, Texas on 1 March 1926, and briefly tells of his life before entering the US Navy. After completing boot training at Camp Wallace, Texas he was assigned as a seaman aboard USS St. George (AV-16). His battle station was loader on an anti-aircraft gun. Mendoza describes his experiences during the Battle of Okinawa in which the St. George, as well as USS Curtiss (AV-4), were hit by kami… more
Date: April 25, 2017
Creator: Mendoza, Alvino
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Amos McGinnis, April 22, 2014

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Amos McGinnis. McGinnis was working in a factory when he was drafted into the Army in December, 1942. He trained as a combat engineer and went to England before heading out for Normandy five days after D-Day. McGinnis shares several anecdotes about his experiences building bridges across Europe. He was in Germany when the war ended and was discharged in December, 1945.
Date: April 22, 2014
Creator: McGinnis, Amos
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Arthur Schott, April 4, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arthur Schott. Schott joined the Army in January of 1942. He completed Quartermaster training. In mid to late 1942 he traveled to Brisbane, Australia and New Guinea, serving with the Sixth Army Headquarters. In 1944 Schott was stationed in the Philippines, during the Battle of Leyte. His job was graves registration. He remained in the Philippines through early 1945. He returned to the US and was discharged in August.
Date: April 4, 2003
Creator: Schott, Arthur
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Arvon E. Caruthers, April 21, 2009

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arvon E Caruthers. Caruthers joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a Gunner’s Mate Second-Class aboard the USS Tanager (AM-5) during the Philippine Campaign in 1941 through the sinking of the ship in May of 1942. Caruthers participated in the Battle of Corregidor, and was captured by Japanese forces. He was imprisoned at Cabanatuan number three and traveled aboard a hell ship, eventually settling at Ōmori. Cauthers was liberated … more
Date: April 21, 2009
Creator: Caruthers, Arvon E
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Audrey Sigrist, April 15, 2011

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Audrey Sigrist. Sigrist joined the Coast Guard in June 1944. She attended boot camp in Palm Beach, Florida and radio school in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Sigrist describes her training and daily life as a SPAR. She was stationed in Port Angeles, Washington and discusses he duties as a radioman receiving calls for ship pilots. Sigrist describes celebrating the end of the war and her departure from the service in November 1945. more
Date: April 15, 2011
Creator: Sigrist, Audrey
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Ben Schurmeier, April 10, 2018

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Schurmeier. Schurmeier joined the Navy in early 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot with Photographic Squadron 1 (VD-1). Beginning in the spring of 1944 they traveled to their base at the Naval Air Station on Guam. They completed patrol and photo reconnaissance missions around the Pacific Islands, including Truk, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Japan. Finley was discharged around October of 1945.
Date: April 10, 2018
Creator: Schurmeier, Ben
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Ben Wagner, April 26, 2010

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ben Wagner. Wagner joined the Navy in 1944. He worked in the engine room on the USS Howard F. Clark (DE-533), and was onboard when the Clark accidentally rammed the USS Saratoga during a training mission. Wagner had several members of his boot camp company assigned to the USS Mount Hood (AE-11). He discusses how they were assigned and what he was able to learn about the loss of the ship. Wagner witnessed the Ommaney Bay (CVE… more
Date: April 26, 2010
Creator: Wagner, Ben
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Dean, April 10, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Dean. Dean was born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma on 7 September 1924 and graduated from high school in 1942. Upon being drafted in 1943, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for thirteen weeks of basic training. While there he was selected to attend the Army Specialized Training Program at Colorado State College at Fort Collins. Soon after he entered the program, it was discontinued and he joined the 80th Infantry Divisio… more
Date: April 10, 2015
Creator: Dean, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Lane, April 1, 2006

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Lane. Lane was attending the University of Texas and tried joining the Marine Corps, but did not pass the physical. He instead opted for the Army, which accepted him. He trained at Fort Custer, Michigan. There he trained as a military policeman and was soon shipped to a prisoner of war camp housing German submarine sailors in New Mexico. After being sent to west coast, Lane boarded a ship and sailed 23 days to New Caled… more
Date: April 1, 2006
Creator: Lane, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Lewis, April 25, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Lewis. Lewis joined the Navy in July 1939 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Breese (DM-18) where he worked in the engine room. He participated in neutrality patrols and survey trips along the Pacific coast. Ten days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, his ship reported sighting a Japanese submarine outside Pearl Harbor. During the attack, he saw the USS Utah (BB-31) rol… more
Date: April 25, 2001
Creator: Lewis, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Smith, April 11, 2013

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and interview Bill Smith. Smith went into the Army in February 1942. After basic training, Smith was shipped to Australia with the 440th Signal Construction Battalion and they built telephone lines. From there, he went to Port Moresby, still building communications infrastructure. When the invasion of the Philippines occurred, Smith went to Luzon and continued with the 440th. He also went to Okinawa with them. When the war ended, Smith went home a… more
Date: April 11, 2013
Creator: Smith, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Billy Wayne Sherrill, April 22, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Billy Sherrill. Sherrill was born in Houston, Texas in 1926 and joined the US Marine Corps on 26 December 1941. After undergoing boot training at San Diego, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Defense Battalion stationed on Palmyra Atoll for sixteen months. In 1943 he returned to the United States where he underwent six months of advanced training. Sherrill was then sent to Bougainville where he joined the 9th Marines, 3rd Mar… more
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Sherrill, Billy Wayne
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bob Fagleson, April 1, 2005

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Fagleson. Fagleson went to school at Virginia Tech and took the Civilian Pilot Training course. To continue flying he joined the Army Air Forces. He was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri for classification due to an eye astigmatism. From there he went to Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin learning basic radio mechanics, and then on to radar school in Florida, then Control Net System training in Homer, Wisconsin. Once he gra… more
Date: April 1, 2005
Creator: Fagleson, Bob
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bob Osborne, April 8, 2017

Description: 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 Bruce Heard, April 15, 2002

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bruce Heard. Heard worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1937 to 1939 as a baker and he build houses and benches at a national park. He joined the Army in April of 1944, and served as a Tech Sergeant with the 1260th Combat Engineers Battalion, Headquarters Company. He provides details of his training. He traveled to France in late 1944. His battalion was attached to the 3rd, 7th and 15th Armies at different times. They … more
Date: April 15, 2002
Creator: Heard, Bruce
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with C. E. Simmons, April 21, 2006

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C E Simmons. Simmons joined the Navy in October of 1944. Beginning in January of 1945 he served aboard the USS Goshen (APA-108) as coxswain driving Landing Craft, Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) to the beach. They traveled to Hawaii and New Hebrides, and landed the first wave at the Battle of Okinawa. In September of 1945 he was assigned to the US Naval Training Center in Newport, Rhode Island, training new crewmembers for sea duty. He … more
Date: April 21, 2006
Creator: Simmons, C. E.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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