National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 47 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Bob McMahon, October 29, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob McMahon. He enrolled in the Flying Cadet program while in college. After completing initial training in San Antonio, he was transferred to the 21st Pursuit Squadron at Hamilton Field in California where he trained in P-36s and P-40s. In November 1941 he embarked on the troop ship, USS Republic (AP-33) which was underway in the South Pacific on December 7. He arrived in Australia on December 21. In February, 1942 his squa… more
Date: October 29, 2003
Creator: McMahon, Bob
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., October 20, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earl Smyth. He discusses his time aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) at the Battle of Midway, Guadacanal, sustaining two torpedo attacks and seeing Pearl Harbor three days after the attack.
Date: October 20, 2003
Creator: Smyth, Earl, Jr.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Floy Hughes, October 10, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Floy Hughes. Hughes joined the Navy in early 1941. From 1941 through early 1944, he served as a First Class Cook in the Officers Mess at Corpus Christi, Texas. Beginning April of 1944, Hughes did the same work at Camp Kearny in San Diego, California. He returned to Texas and was discharged in September of 1945.
Date: October 10, 2003
Creator: Hughes, Floy
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Joe E. Hunter, October 10, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe E. Hunter: He joined the Navy in May, 1944 with basic training at Camp Wallace, Texas. He spoke of being chosen for the CINPAC (Commander-in-Chief Pacific Command) Boat Crew by Commander Hal Lamar, Admiral Nimitz's Flag Officer, and becoming the stern hook on Admiral Nimitz's barge. He took Admiral Bull Halsey out fishing once and another time picked up an unnamed vice-admiral off of a submarine. He told about interactin… more
Date: October 10, 2003
Creator: Hunter, Joe E.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Richard Gilbert, October 16, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Gilbert. Gilbert joined the Navy in early 1945. Beginning June of 1945, he served as Fireman First-Class aboard the USS Norris (DD-859), traveling to Hong Kong. There, they tended the mines and tended water for the minesweepers working along the coast. He continued his service after the war ended, serving aboard the USS Finch (DE-328), until his discharge in the spring of 1947.
Date: October 16, 2003
Creator: Gilbert, Richard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Calvin Patterson, October 10, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Calvin Patterson. Patterson joined the Navy in 1943. He completed Radar School and Fire Fighter School and was assigned to serve as an instructor aboard a radar training ship, USS Moosehead (IX-98). They traveled up and down the Mexican coast, taking recent radar school graduates for experiential learning aboard the ship. Patterson was later assigned to a Coast Guard radio station in California. In February of 1944, he was transf… more
Date: October 10, 2003
Creator: Patterson, Calvin
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Louis Avant, October 10, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Avant. Avant was 16 when the war began and joined the Navy a few years later. He was trained as an electrician, but ended up working as a machinist mate for the boat pool that served CINPAC at Hawaii and then Guam. Avant mentions boxing in several smoker events. He was a member of the boat crew that took Admiral Nimitz to the surrender ceremony.
Date: October 10, 2003
Creator: Avant, Louis
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James Grealish, October 11, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Grealish. Grealish joined the Navy in April of 1942. He completed Midshipman School. He served aboard the USS Waters (APD-8), transporting troops to the Solomon Islands, New Georgia, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and rescuing survivors from the USS Helena (CL-50). He was later assigned as Commanding Officer of USS Cronin (DE-704). Grealish was discharged in 1946, though continued active duty through 1953 and service in the Res… more
Date: October 11, 2003
Creator: Grealish, James
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Richard Reedle, October 11, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Reedle. Reedle joined the Navy in January 1942. He served as a boatswain’s mate on the USS McKean (APD-5). Reedle describes how his ship landed Marine Raiders throughout the Solomon Islands. He also discusses being critically hit by an aerial torpedo and being the last man off before it sank. Reedle then joined the crew of the USS Preston (DD-795) and became a captain of one of the five-inch guns. He describes provid… more
Date: October 11, 2003
Creator: Reedle, Richard
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Paul Livingston, October 11, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Livingston. Livingston joined the Navy in April of 1943. He served aboard the USS Rathburne (DD-113), a training ship for the West Coast Sound School in San Diego. Livingston helped train prospective Commanding and Executive Officers in anti-submarine warfare using sonar as a guide. In May of 1944 they were converted to a to a high-speed transport, and reclassified as (APD-25). They traveled to Hawaii to complete amphibious … more
Date: October 11, 2003
Creator: Livingston, Paul
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with John Roberts, October 10, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Roberts. Roberts joined the Navy in June of 1943. Beginning in 1944, he served as Signalman Third-Class aboard the USS Drew (APA-162). They transported cargo and troops to and from combat areas traveling to Guam, Ulithi, Leyte and Okinawa.
Date: October 10, 2003
Creator: Roberts, John
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with William Meehan, October 11, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Meehan. Meehan was born in Lambertville, New Jersey. He attended midshipman’s school at Northwestern in Chicago completing the course in December 1940. He was commissioned by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Meehan received orders to report to the USS Goldsborough (AVD-5), a seaplane tender, as the communications officer. He recounts various missions to Mexico and Iceland and describes a trip to Greenland during which the … more
Date: October 11, 2003
Creator: Meehan, William
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Dwight Mayo, October 11, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dwight Mayo. Mayo joined the Marine Corps in October of 1942. Beginning in late 1944, he served as an F4U Corsair fighter pilot, stationed aboard USS Bennington (CV-20) in the Pacific. He took part in strikes against the Japanese home islands, and in raids in support of the Okinawa campaign. Mayo completed 100 missions. He continued his service after the war ended, retiring in 1962 with the rank of major.
Date: October 11, 2003
Creator: Mayo, Dwight
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Curtis G. Clark, October 11, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Curtis G. Clark. Born in 1918, he joined the Navy in 1937. He served on the USS Talbot throughout the war, beginning as a Radioman third class and working his way up to the rank of Warrant Officer. He provides information about the Battle of Dutch Harbor in Alaska. He discusses the conversion of four-stack destroyer ships (DD), such as the USS Talbot, into high-speed transport ships (Auxiliary Personnel Destroyer or APD) on … more
Date: October 11, 2003
Creator: Clark, Curtis G.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Charles Kunkler, October 9, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles W. Kunkler. Kunkler was born in Los Angeles on 5 August 1925. He joined the Navy and was sent to Farragut, Idaho for six weeks of boot training. He was then sent to Pearl Harbor. Upon his arrival he was one of five seaman selected by Commander Hal Lamar to serve on the Admiral Nimitz’s barge. After serving for a period of time in Pearl Harbor the crew was assigned to a newly constructed barge that was sent to Admiral… more
Date: October 9, 2003
Creator: Kunkler, Charles
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Arnold Rothhaar, October 3, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Rothhaar. Rothhaar joined the Navy in 1942. He served as Coxswain of a whaleboat aboard USS Cotten (DD-669). He transported crewmembers to and from shore. He recalls several encounters with the Japanese through the Pacific Theater. He remained with the Cotton until it returned to the US in December of 1945.
Date: October 3, 2003
Creator: Rothhaar, Arnold
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Darwin Crain, October 2, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Darwin Crain. Crain joined the Navy in November of 1942. Beginning in the fall of 1943, he served as Fireman aboard USS Virgo (AKA-20). They traveled to Wellington, New Zealand and picked up various Marine units, transporting them to Tarawa, the Gilbert Islands, Kwajalein, the Marshall Islands, Guadalcanal, New Guinea and Leyte. They completed seven first-wave invasions. The Virgo also transported wounded soldiers. Crain remained… more
Date: October 2, 2003
Creator: Crain, Darwin
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Merrill Butler, October 3, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Merrill Butler. Born in 1925, he was inducted into the Army in 1943. After graduating from officer candidate school, he joined the 76th Infantry Division, 301st Engineer Combat Battalion. He explains the military hierarchy of a battalion. As a former football player at the University of Southern California (USC), he became the leader of the battalion football team. He describes being in a convoy of ships bound for England. H… more
Date: October 3, 2003
Creator: Butler, Merrill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Walter Stueck, October 12, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Stuek. Stueck was born in St. Louis, Missouri 28 May 1921. Upon enlisting in the Army Air Forces in May 1942, he was sent to Santa Ana, California to begin eight weeks of pre-flight training which was followed by three months of primary training at Oxnard. While making his first flight in a P-40 fighter, the plane suffered a complete electrical failure resulting in a controlled crash landing at Luke Army Airfield. He … more
Date: October 12, 2003
Creator: Stueck, Walter E.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Robert Cwalino, October 17, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Cwalino. Cwalino joined the Navy in 1943. He served as a Gunner’s Mate aboard USS David W. Taylor (DD-551) through the ship’s decommissioning in August of 1946. They traveled to Iwo Jima, Tarawa and to the Philippines, escorting carriers and covering landings with naval gunfire. Cwalino was discharged in late 1946.
Date: October 17, 2003
Creator: Cwalino, Robert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Robert Strehle, October 17, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Strehle. Strehle joined the Navy in November 1942. He was sent to school to become a torpedoman and then joined the commissioning crew of USS David W. Taylor (DD-551). Strehle describes depth charging and sinking a Japanese submarine. He describes how depth charges functioned and how they were deployed. Strehle discusses the ship hitting a mine and the damage control performed. He volunteered to go into the damaged ar… more
Date: October 17, 2003
Creator: Strehle, Robert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Frank Jagielski, October 16, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Jagielski. Jagielski was born in Redding, Pennsylvania 5 April 1926. In May 1943, he joined the Navy and attended boot camp at Sampson, New York. Following graduation, he was sent to gunnery school at Price Neck, Rhode Island. He was eventually assigned as a member of the deck force on the USS Cebu (ARG-6). He was present at Manus Island when the Mount Hood (AE-11) exploded. The blast killed six sailors on the Cebu. He… more
Date: October 16, 2003
Creator: Jagielski, Frank
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Vincent J. Colan, October 17, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vincent J. Colan. Born in 1914, he joined the Naval Militia in New York in 1932 on his eighteenth birthday. In January 1941, he was transferred to a destroyer, the USS J. Fred Talbott (DD-156), which was part of the Banana Fleet that protected the Panama Canal. He shares an anecdote about learning of the attack on Pearl Harbor while on liberty in Panama. For eleven months, the destroyer escorted ships from Guantanamo to Pana… more
Date: October 17, 2003
Creator: Colan, Vincent J.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Franklin Pomroy, October 25, 2003

Description: The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral history with Franklin Pomroy. Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Pomroy, aged 17, joined the US Marine Corps. After completing boot camp he was sent to Camp Lejeune and assigned to H Company 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He presents a riveting narrative of combat conditions, death, destruction, jungle diseases and man’s inhumanity to man that he witnessed on the islands of Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Pel… more
Date: October 25, 2003
Creator: Pomroy, Franklin
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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