National Museum of the Pacific War - 142 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with John Brush, February 3, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John B. Brush. Brush graduated from Cornell in 1934 and went to work for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio. In April, 1941, he took a position as chief engineer for P&G's Philippine operation in Manila. He mentions how unprepared he was for the Japanese invasion in December, 1941, and how unaware he was of any Japanese military intentions. He and his wife were caught in the invasion and captured in Manila and sent to th… more
Date: February 3, 1998
Creator: Brush, John B.

Oral History Interview with John Brush, January 5, 1993

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Brush. Brush was assigned to serve as the Chief Engineer of the Philippine Manufacturing Company in Manila, before World War II. He and his wife traveled to Manila in May of 1941 and operated the factory until the end of December. He and his wife were taken prisoner into Santo Tomas Internment Camp in January of 1942. Brush shares details of the accommodations, building structure, atmosphere, food rations, starvation, illnes… more
Date: January 5, 1993
Creator: Brush, John

Oral History Interview with John E. Olson, March 5, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Olson. Olson was born in Leavenworth, Kansas on 27 November 1917. His father was a Norwegian who immigrated to the United Sates and began a career as an Army officer. Olson entered West Point Military Academy in July 1935 and upon graduation he was sent to the Philippines as an officer with the 57th Infantry. He recalls that during October 1941 orders were received that all military dependents were to be evacuated. Olso… more
Date: March 5, 1998
Creator: Olson, John E.

Oral History Interview with John Fitch, March 19, 1995

Description: The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with John Fitch. Fitch begins with a summary of the naval career of his father, Admiral Aubrey Fitch. Fitch joined the Navy in early 1942. He was assigned to the USS Wasp (CV-7) just before it sank, then to the USS Hornet (CV-8) just before it sank. He was finally assigned to CASU-3 and sent to Guadalcanal. He reflects on what it was like for him in the service while having a high-ranking father. In April, 1943, Fitch transferred aboa… more
Date: March 19, 1995
Creator: Fitch, John

Oral History Interview with John Olson, March 15, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Olson. Olson joined the Army as an Infantry officer in June 1940 after graduating from West Point. He was assigned to the Philippines, at Fort McKinley, with the 57th Infantry Regiment. Olson was among those who surrendered to the Japanese and endured the Bataan Death March. At the prisoner-of-war camp, the Japanese assigned administrative duties to Olson. When prisoners were moved to another camp, Olson stayed behind a… more
Date: March 15, 1998
Creator: Olson, Colonel

Oral History Interview with John Rich, October 12, 1996

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Rich. Rich was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on 5 August 1917. He completed high school in 1935 and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1939. Following graduation, he worked as a newspaper reporter and interviewed survivors of the USS Reuben James (DD-245), which was sunk by a German U-boat in 1941. In early 1941, he attended the University of Colorado and spent a year studying the Japanese language. In 1942, he joined th… more
Date: October 12, 1996
Creator: Rich, John

Oral History Interview with John Schley, June 22, 1999

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Schley. Schley enlisted in the Naval Reserve in August of 1940. He was assigned to 5 destroys and served as skipper on 3 of these. He was commissioned in March of 1941 and sent to the USS Rhind (DD-404), serving as assistant engineer. He describes their supporting the British war effort. They traveled to Bermuda maintaining a destroyer tender, providing convoy escort, carrier screening and anti-submarine warfare services. Th… more
Date: June 22, 1999
Creator: Schley, John

Oral History Interview with Jose King, September 11, 1997

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jose King. King, of Korean descent, grew up under Japanese occupation in Songsong Village, Rota. Relations with the Japanese were mostly peaceful. He attended a strict but effective Japanese school. When Japanese supplies began to dwindle, soldiers stole food from villagers and threatened to kill them if they withheld it. The natives narrowly escaped mass execution and instead were put to work farming sweet potatoes. King’s … more
Date: September 11, 1997
Creator: King, Jose

Oral History Interview with Jose Mundo, October 16, 1997

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jose Mundo. Mundo was born in Rota in 1931 and attended a Japanese school in Guam until the third grade. When the Japanese invaded, he was recruited as a child laborer to help build an air base. After returning home to Rota, the first indication of war came when American planes began bombing and shooting at the base. He hid with his family in a cave above Songsong Village. It was difficult to get food, because of the danger … more
Date: October 16, 1997
Creator: Mundo, Jose

Oral History Interview with Joseph M. McDonough, March 27, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph M. McDonough. He discusses his childhood growing up during the Great Depression, and what led him to join the Us Navy in 1943. He describes his experiences in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.
Date: March 27, 1998
Creator: McDonough, Joseph M. & Mar, Caroline

Oral History Interview with Joseph Moore, March 13, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Moore. Moore joined the Army Air Corps in June 1937 and received flight training at Randolph and Kelly fields. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 77th Pursuit Squadron and arrived at Nichols Field in October 1940 as squadron commander. His squadron relocated to Clark Field, and on 8 December 1941 Moore was among the first pilots to fight Zeros, quickly learning that the P-40’s only advantage was speed. His squadr… more
Date: March 13, 1998
Creator: Moore, Joseph

Oral History Interview with Jospeh Triolo, October 25, 1999

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Triolo. Triolo joined the US Navy 9 December 1937 and served in China from 1938 to 1940. Upon returning to the United States he was assigned to the USS Tangier (AV-8), still under construction. While waiting for the ship to launch, he was temporarily assigned to Tiburon, California where mine nets were made. Once the Tangier was put to sea they proceeded to Pearl Harbor. Triolo tells of the attack by Japanese forces on 7… more
Date: October 25, 1999
Creator: Triolo, Joseph J.

Oral History Interview with Ken Jernstedt, September 10, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ken Jernstedt. Upon completion of flight training at Pensacola, Jernstedt joined the third squadron of the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. In this interview, Jernstedt describes the social complexities of the group, such as Pappy Boyington's unruly behavior as an experienced Marine who was unsatisfied with his rank with the AVG. He also recounts accidental encounters with… more
Date: September 10, 1998
Creator: Jernstedt, Ken

Oral History Interview with Ken Towery, March 19, 1995

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ken Towery. Towery joined the Army in early 1941 and was sent to Corregidor to join a coast artillery unit. He recalls several details about life under siege at Corregidor before he was captured by the Japanese and taken to Cabanatuan. He left the Philippines later that year and was taken to China. Towery shares his opinions about being a POW as well as several anecdotes. He also comments on being liberated by Russians and how th… more
Date: March 19, 1995
Creator: Towery, Ken

Oral History Interview with Kenneth Johnsen, February 18, 1999

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Johnsen. Johnsen joined the Army Air Corps in August of 1940. He worked as a clerk and postal inspector for the Army at Scott Field, Illinois. He graduated in August of 1942 from the Flying Sergeant Program. He opted not to be a pilot and immediately transferred to the 426th Army Air Forces Band in Waco, Texas as a trombonist. They were sent to San Marcos and provided music for the marching soldiers, the black soldiers in… more
Date: February 18, 1999
Creator: Johnsen, Kenneth

Oral History Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, October 11, 1996

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lanson B. Ditto. Ditto grew up in Kentucky. He went to college at Washington and Lee University and then joined the Navy in 1940. After training, Ditto chose to join the Asiatic Fleet. He went to Shanghai, China where he was assigned to the USS Langley (CV-1). The ship went to the Philippines. They were at Manila when the Japanese destroyed all B-17's at the airfield on December 8, 1941. The Langley left Manila Bay that nigh… more
Date: October 11, 1996
Creator: Ditto, Lanson B.

Oral History Interview with Lee Weber, September 23, 1999

Description: The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Lee Weber. Weber joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1939. He was in San Diego when the war started and soon sailed for Samoa where he served as an armorer. He attended OCs at Samoa and was commissioned in August before going to Guadalcanal in October, 1942. Weber shares several details about ground fighting at Guadalcanal. When he left Guadalcanal, he went to New Zealand for rest and preparation for the invasion of Tarawa. Weber … more
Date: September 23, 1999
Creator: Weber, Lee

Oral History Interview with Leslie Bray, March 3, 1999

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leslie Bray. After several attempts to get into the Army Air Corps flying cadet program, Bray finally succeeded in late 1941 and started flight school in Coleman, Texas. He earned hi swings and commission in October, 1942. He ended up learning to fly C-47 cargo planes and serving as an operations officer for the 10th Troop Carrier Group. In June, 1944, Bray was selected to command the newly-formed 16th Combat Cargo Squadron in Ne… more
Date: March 3, 1999
Creator: Bray, Leslie

Oral History Interview with Lewis Michelony, May 2, 1993

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Michelony. Michelony joined the Marine Corps right after finishing high school in 1938. After training and being joined to the 5th Marines, he went aboard the USS Arkansas (BB-33). Once the war started, Michelony went to first sergeant school. Once he got overseas, he was assigned to the 6th Marine Regiment and joined them in New Zealand. When the division arrived at Tarawa, Michelony's unit was in reserve and went ash… more
Date: May 2, 1993
Creator: Michelony, Lewis

Oral History Interview with Lewis Walker, March 18, 1995

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lewis Walker. Walker was commissioned in January of 1942 from the Midshipman School at Northwestern University in Chicago. He served a total of 4 years with the Small Ship Navy. He describes how these small ships, including submarine chasers and patrol craft served the war effort. In the Pacific, Walker commanded the USS SC-1272, and he describes its function, equipment and participation in the war. They traveled to Iwo Jima, Ley… more
Date: March 18, 1995
Creator: Walker, Lewis

Oral History Interview with Lyle Specht, May 3, 1993

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lyle Specht. Specht signed up for the Marine Corps in the Spring of 1941, while attending Oregon State College. He graduated from the candidate’s class. He was sent to a recruit depot in San Diego on an 81mm mortar platoon in a weapons company. In the Fall of 1942 he joined the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. They traveled to New Zealand and he provide some detail of their travels there and of the New Zealanders. From there they trav… more
Date: May 3, 1993
Creator: Specht, Lyle

Oral History Interview with Manual Sablan, July 8, 1997

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Manual Sablan. Sablan was born in Saipan and became a messenger for the Japanese police when he was a teenager. Japanese troops had occupied his family home by that time. To remain safe during bombardments, Sablan lived in a manmade cave behind the police station. He recalls seeing six American prisoners of war in the jail. When the bombing became very heavy, Sablan went to look for his mother, but fires blocked his way. Wit… more
Date: July 8, 1997
Creator: Sablan, Manual

Oral History Interview with Margaret Gillooly, March 18, 1995

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Margaret Gillooly. Gillooly moved to the Philippines with her parents in 1938 and was a teenager when the Japanese invaded. She discusses her struggles as a student during internment and conditions within the internment camps she encountered. She was living in Cebu City when the war started. Her parents were visiting Manila. They were reunited a year later at Santo Tomas Internment Camp. Gillooly remarks on how the camp was organ… more
Date: March 18, 1995
Creator: Gillooly, Margaret

Oral History Interview with Marie Castro, September 30, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marie Castro. As a child, Castro lived in Saipan under Japanese occupation, living with rationing and blackout conditions. As a Chamorro, she received corporal punishment from her teachers, and one of her cousins was beaten to death. When Japanese Marines came to Garapan seeking comfort women, Castro hid in an attic to avoid being taken. She then moved with her family to Marpi Point, but her father was sent to a labor camp. … more
Date: September 30, 1998
Creator: Castro, Marie
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