National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 61 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with L. B. Blackmon, April 10, 2007

Description: Transcription of a phone interview with L. B. Blackmon of Corpus Christi, Texas, a World War Two veteran of the United States Marine Corps. In the interview, Mr. Brown talks about his time in the Marines as well as life growing up during the Great Depression and other biographical information. He recalls memories of surviving Pearl Harbor, guard duty around naval storage in Hawaii, and the Horse Marines.
Date: April 10, 2007
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Blackmon, L. B.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Floyd R. Thomas, February 18, 2009

Description: Interview with Floyd R. Thomas of El Paso, Texas, who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces during World War II. In the interview, Mr. Thomas recalls memories from before the war as well as his time in the military, including his training in Oregon and Hawaii, attacks on Okinawa, and various battle scenes.
Date: February 18, 2009
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Thomas, Floyd R.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Maurice Stamps, March 18, 2009

Description: Interview with Maurice Stamps, a serviceman in the U. S. Army during World War II. Stamps discusses growing up on a farm in Iowa, joining the army, going to Hawaii and staying at Schofield Barracks. He was assigned to the Classification/Assignment section at Fort Shafter without ever having basic training. He was later assigned to the Message Center at Ft. Shafter. He remembers his correspondence with his girlfriend Enid, whom he married upon his discharge in 1946.
Date: March 18, 2009
Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes 43 seconds
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Stamps, Maurice
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Carl Peltier, March 4, 2001

Description: Interview with Carl Peltier, a U. S Marine during World War II. He begins by discussing his reaction to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He then joined the Marines when he was old enough. He trained in San Diego before shipping out to Hawaii where he joined the 2nd Marine Division. Further training included heavy weapons and mortars. Later, he landed on Saipan and describes his small arms and rations. He witnessed General Simon Buckner getting killed on Okinawa. He was later wounded on Okinawa. Afte… more
Date: March 4, 2001
Duration: 59 minutes 21 seconds
Creator: Nichols, Chuck & Peltier, Carl
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Cleatus A. LeBow, May 2, 2006

Description: Interview with Cleatus A. LeBow, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. LeBow joined the navy in 1943 and went from Lubbock, Texas to San Diego for recruit training. He shipped out to Pearl Harbor aboard an LST from San Francisco. At Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to a work detail aboard the USS Oklahoma, which had just been righted. Shortly thereafter, he boarded the USS Indianapolis to serve as a range finder operator on one of the gun turrets. Upon leaving Hawaii, the Indianapoli… more
Date: May 2, 2006
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes 39 seconds
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Lebow, Cleatus A.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

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

Description: Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., a serviceman during World War II. He discusses his time aboard the USS Saratoga at the Battle of Midway and at Guadalcanal, where the ship sustained two torpedo attacks. He saw Pearl Harbor three days after the attack.
Date: October 20, 2003
Duration: 45 minutes 38 seconds
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Smyth, Earl, Jr.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with James William Harrison, January 27, 2005

Description: Interview with James William "Bill" Harrison, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He explains how he joined the navy in San Diego without going to boot camp. He worked on an oil tanker that shipped out to Pearl Harbor a month after the attack there and transported fuel out of San Diego to various ships at sea. He was then transfered to Admiral Nimitz's public relations department. There he and two others wrote stories about the action in the Pacific theater, particularly about t… more
Date: January 27, 2005
Duration: 58 minutes 50 seconds
Creator: Parish, Brainerd & Harrison, James William
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Kleiss, September 29, 2000

Description: Interview with Jack Kleiss, a pilot during World War II. He discusses training for carrier landings on USS Enterprise; the arrival of VMF-211 aboard Enterprise and their delivery to Wake Island; and the attack on Pealr Harbor on 7 December 1941. Kleiss was in a dive bomber and attacked Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway, where he earned the Navy Cross.
Date: September 29, 2000
Duration: 1 hour 55 minutes 53 seconds
Creator: Nichols, Chuck & Kleiss, Jack
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Floyd R. Thomas, February 18, 2009

Description: Interview with Floyd R. Thomas, a serviceman in the U. S. Army during World War II. He discusses his childhood and education at Peacock Military Academy. He then joined the army and spent time in Okinawa during and after the war. He recalls being a surgical technician and working with Japanese civilians after the surrender, meeting his wife, and working for saw mills as a salesman and a pilot. He remembers stealing pineapples on Hawaii and getting diarrhea, being treated for jungle rot, selling… more
Date: February 18, 2009
Duration: 2 hours 54 minutes 03 seconds
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Thomas, Floyd R.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Sam H. Snoddy, April 29, 2004

Description: Interview with Sam H. Snoddy, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. After training, he participated in the initial landing at Saipan where he was wounded in the knees and shoulder on the beach by shell fragments. He was loaded onto a hospital ship with several other casualties before going to Hawaii to recuperate. He participated in the Okinawa campaign and spent time at Nagasaki on occupation duty. After being discharged, … more
Date: April 29, 2004
Duration: 43 minutes 03 seconds
Creator: Smith, Ned & Snoddy, Sam H.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with L. B. Blackmon, April 10, 2007

Description: Interview with L. B. Blackmon, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He discusses boot camp in San Diego, his assignment to Pearl Harbor, and his experiences during the attack. He later trained cadets in Corpus Christi.
Date: April 10, 2007
Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes 38 seconds
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Blackmon, L. B.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Dale R. Walker, October 4, 2007

Description: Interview with Dale R. Walker, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He joined the Marine Corps in 1944 and was trained in mortars at Camp Pendleton, California. He then went to Camp Tarawa at Hawaii for further training with the Fifth Marine Division. Walker landed with the sixth wave on D-day at Iwo Jima. While working with mortars supporting the infantry, he was called on to be a stretcher-bearer on occasion. Walker spent 36 days on Iwo Jima. After the Japanese surrendered, Walker served in th… more
Date: October 4, 2007
Duration: 1 hour 51 seconds
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Walker, Dale R.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Arwin Bowden, March 9, 2000

Description: Interview with Arwin Bowden, a marine during World War II. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw, and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment before joining the battle of Saipan. He describes ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made, and the ti… more
Date: March 9, 2000
Duration: 1 hour 1 minute 03 seconds
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Bowden, Arwin J.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James Carnes, March 28, 2022

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Carnes. Carnes joined the Navy in 1944 before he finished high school. In the Navy, he became a signalman and was assigned to USS Norton Sound (AVM-1). Carnes was aboard when the ship went to Okinawa, where he describes being attacked by kamikaze aircraft. When the war ended, Carnes went to Japan briefly before returning to the US and receiving his discharge.
Date: March 28, 2022
Creator: Carnes, James
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Rose Dern, March 31, 2022

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rose Dern. Dern enlisted in the WAVES and went to Madison Wisconsin to train in communications. After training, Dern was stationed close to home at Floyd Bennett Field in New York City. She then went to a communications station on Maui. Dern was discharged when the war ended.
Date: March 31, 2022
Creator: Dern, Rose
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Walter Gallagher, July 21, 2022

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Walter Gallagher. Gallagher joined the Navy after quitting high school and trained in aviation ordnance. In May, 1944 he was assigned to USS Franklin (CV-13) where he would arm dive bombers. Gallagher describes an injury he sustained while loading bombs as well as various enemy attacks on the Franklin, including a kamikaze. He was aboard when the Japanese bombed the Franklin in March, 1945. Gallagher recalls the attack and was or… more
Date: August 30, 2022
Creator: Gallagher, Walter
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Muriel Usselman, June 13, 2022

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Muriel Usselman. Usselman was a child living in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Her father worked as an electrician and the family lived on base. She recalls what she witnessed during the attack on 7 December as well as her experiences in the following days. She returned with her family to the Mainland in 1944.
Date: June 13, 2022
Creator: Usselman, Muriel
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Jack Hensel, July 21, 2022

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Hensel. Hensel was drafted into the Navy in June 1943. He trained as an aerial gunner and was eventually assigned to a crew aboard an Avenger. In early 1945, he went aboard USS Franklin (CV-13). In March, when the Franklin was attacked, Hensel was blown overboard and eventually made it onto a raft before being rescued by USS Hickox (DD-673). He went to a hospital at Ulithi to recover from burns before heading back to the US.… more
Date: September 1, 2022
Creator: Metzler, Ed
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Brown, June 26, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Brown. Brown was studying at the University of Texas at El Paso whe nhe joined the Army Air Force in 1942. Brown discusses his flight training, which occurred throughout Texas. With training cmplete, Brown was sent to Hawaii where he continued training with the 45th Fighter Squadron, 7th Air Force. Soon his unit was shipped to Iwo Jima where they flew bomber escort for bombing missions over the home islands of Japan. Br… more
Date: June 26, 2000
Creator: Brown, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James T. Murphy, October 1, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James T. Murphy. Murphy grew up in Montana and joined the Army Air Corps in May 1941. Once he finished training, he was assigned to the 43rd Bomb Group, 63rd Bomb Squadron. He then went to reconnaissance for the Battle of Midway. He then rejoined the Pacific Theater and pacticipated in skip bombing and flying B17s. He tells the story of receiving his Silver Star from General Douglas MacArthur. He mentions returning to the Ai… more
Date: October 1, 2000
Creator: Murphy, James T.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Orland J. ""Bud"" Harris, August 22, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Orland Harris. Harris went to Santa Anna, California for Aviation Cadet training in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He went to primary flying school in Visalia, California and then went to LaeMoore, California for more training. From there he went to replacement training units, flying the P-38, P-322 and P-39. Harris had take civilian pilot training for one year at college before he went into the service. He received his wings a… more
Date: August 22, 2000
Creator: Harris, Orland J.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Abe Santos, February 24, 2001

Description: 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

Description: 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
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