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[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, April 1905]
Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions finally leaving California for Hawaii on 1 April 1905 and comments on the desertion rate among the sailors. He also mentions the seas his ship is facing. He indicates the ship's position and mentions the cooks and stewards. Nimitz also mentions the weather. He shares anecdotes from aboard ship about his experiences. He also mentions going ashore at Honolulu.
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, November 5, 1902]
Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz answers a few questions and then relates his current standing in his classes. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.
[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, November 5, 1902]
Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz answers a few questions and then relates his current standing in his classes.
[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, April 1905]
Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions finally leaving California for Hawaii on 1 April 1905 and comments on the desertion rate among the sailors. He also mentions the seas his ship is facing. He indicates the ship's position and mentions the cooks and stewards. Nimitz also mentions the weather. He shares anecdotes from aboard ship about his experiences. He also mentions going ashore at Honolulu.
The Eagle, Volume 2, Number 14, Thursday, August 5, 1943
Weekly newsletter published for employees of the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation Fort Worth Division containing work-related information, updates about employees, and other news.
[Postal Card from Eleanor Bowker to Cecelia McKie - July 5, 1943]
Postcard sent from Eleanor Bowker, Somerset, England, to Mrs. W. L. McKie, Sacramento, California, thanking her for the message and stating the delay in her response was due to the fact the letter had to be forwarded to her in England.
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Florence R. Cole - June 5, 1943]
Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to Florence R. Cole. McKie states that she has been listening to shortwave radio messages for four months and sending letters to families of P.O.W.s. McKie estimates she has already sent over 500 letters and has filled four scrapbooks. McKie also mentions family news and talks about life in California.
[Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Salutes from Parade Car]
Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz saluting as his parade car travels down the parade route in Washington D.C.. Admiral Nimitz is in his formal Navy uniform, the car he is riding in is dark and has both the American flag and the Texas flag on the front. On the left side of the photo three cops on motorcycles are shown alongside the parade.
[Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Salutes on Stage]
Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz saluting on stage in Washington D.C.. Admiral Nimitz stands in a salute in his dark Naval uniform with six buttons on the front, stripes on his sleeves and ribbon bars displayed above his pocket. He also sports a hat with the Navy's emblem and dark dress shoes, something is grasped in his non-saluting hand at his side. Standing to his left is an unidentified woman mostly hidden with a long black coat and black hat visible. Beside the woman stands a man in a light-colored long coat with his hand on his midsection. Behind them are several metal folding chairs.
Oral History Interview with Howard L. Patton, January 5, 1999
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard L. Patton. He discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and the rest of World War Two in the Pacific Theatre.
Oral History Interview with Howard B. "Jeep" Stebelton, October 5, 2012
Transcript of an oral interview with Howard B. “Jeep” Stebelton. Born in 1922, he was drafted into the Army Air Force in January, 1943. He was trained in airplane mechanics and aerial engineering. He describes aerial gunnery training at Kingman Army Airfield, Arizona. In the summer of 1944, he was sent to England and assigned to the 91st Bombardment Group, 324th Bomb Squadron. As top turret gunner, he went on missions to bomb targets in Germany, including a railroad yard in Hamm and an engine factory in Frankfurt. He describes a mission to bomb a synthetic oil refinery in Merseburg on which the plane sustained major damage, but was able to return to the base. One mission involved aiding General Patton by bombing German pillboxes in Metz, France. He describes his typical day. He recounts an instance in which he manually cranked open the bomb bay doors. He flew eighteen of his thirty-five missions in a plane named Mih Ideal. He flew his last mission in March, 1945. He was discharged in September, 1945.
Oral History Interview with B. B. Browning, November 5, 2020
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with B B Browning. Browning joined the Navy in mid-1943. Beginning mid-1944, he served as Seaman First Class, supporting Marines aboard a troop ship. He recalls his experiences through the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot in June of 1944, and going ashore on Tinian with the Marines. He vividly describes his time on the island, serving on guard duty, communicating with Japanese civilians on the island, supervising work of the remaining Japanese soldiers and serving as yeoman to the captain. He remained on Tinian after the war ended, returning to the US in mid-1946 to receive his discharge.
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.
Oral History Interview with Charles Kayhart, June 5, 2019
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Kayhart. Kayhart joined the Army in December of 1942. He completed training in radar and radio engineering. He served with the 3116th Signal Service Battalion. Kayhart’s headquarters were in Hawaii. He set up an underground radio station, installing and fine tuning all radio transmitters. He completed the same work on Iwo Jima in order to have direct communication with the Pentagon in Washington, DC, with San Francisco and with all of the Orient. Kayhart and his crew completed the installation on the island during the battle, and shares details of his experiences. He returned to the US and received his discharge in March of 1946.
Oral History Interview with Maynard Saugstad, April 5, 2019
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Maynard Saugstad. Saugstad joined the Navy in July of 1943. He served as Storekeeper 2nd Class, and worked on bases including Pearl Harbor, Palmyra Island and Maui, where he was working when the war ended. Saugstad was in charge of several warehouses, where he distributed supplies. He was discharged in late 1945.
Oral History Interview with Herbert Cavness, March 5, 2018
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Herbert Cavness. Cavness was born in Mason County, Texas in 1924. He quit high school in his junior year and joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. After completing basic training at Wichita Falls, Texas he was sent to Las Vegas, Nevada for training in aerial gunnery. He then went to Sioux City, Iowa for additional training and assignment to an air group. He recalls the loss of air crews during training mission. In early 1943 he boarded the RMS Aquitania and sailed to England. Arriving at Sudbury, he was assigned to the 486th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force as a waist gunner on a B-17 bomber. He vividly describes his various actions and observations during various missions. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.
Oral History Interview with John Connolly, February 5, 2016
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Connolly. Connolly joined the Navy in mid-1943. He served as a Hospital Corpsman. In mid-1944, he was assigned to St. Albans Naval Hospital in New York. In early 1945, Connolly served aboard the USS Repose (AH-16). They served as a base hospital ship in Shanghai and later Tsingtao, China, supporting the occupation forces in northern China. He received his discharge in May of 1946.
Oral History Interview with W. T. Hardi, January 5, 2016
The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with W T Hardi. Hardi joined the Navy in August, 1942 and trained at San Diego. He went aboard USS Mustin (DD-413) at Noumea. He recalls watching USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) go down in the Gilberts. Hardi served on the radar watch. After promotion, Hardi joined the crew of USS Houston (CL-81). Hardi was aboard when the Houston was severely damaged by Japanese aircraft off Formosa. He was blown into the water and rescued by USS Ingersoll (DD-652). He eventually made his way back to the Houston in December 1944. Hardi opted for discharge when the war ended.
Oral History Interview with Charles Mazoch, February 5, 2016
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Mazoch. Mazoch was drafted into the Army in August, 1942 and was attached to the 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He joined the unit on New Guinea after the Battle of Buna. He also participated in the invasion of the Philippines. Mazoch has considerable help relating his story from his daughter.
Oral History Interview with Nicholas Fedesma, December 5, 2015
The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Nicholas Fedesma. Fedesma joined the Navy when he was 17 in 1942. After training, he was assigned to Composite Squadron 21 (VC-21) and went aboard USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) in March 1944. He specialized in aviation hydraulics. Fedesma recounts several anecdotes about his experiences aboard the Marcus Island. After he left the Navy in 1848, Fedesma studied mechanical engineering in Chicago on the GI Bill.
Oral History Interview with Carlos Sanchez, November 5, 2015
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carlos Anserra Sanchez. Sanchez was born 10 September 1927, graduated high school in 1943 and joined the Navy in late 1944. He completed training at Camp Pendleton and served aboard USS Sumner (AGS-5), with the black gang tending to the boilers. From September through February 1945, they conducted survey operations around Ulithi. In June, they continued surveys in Leyte Gulf, Philippines. After the war, they participated in the nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll. They returned to the US in mid-1946, and Sanchez received his discharge.
Oral History Interview with Ollie Music, December 5, 2015
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ollie Thomas Music. Music was born 10 January 1927. He joined the Army in April of 1945. By the time he finished boot training and traveled to Fort Ord, California for assignment, the war had ended. He was then stationed at Yokohama, Japan. Music shares details of his travels and his participation during the occupation of Japan. He was assigned to Hakodate and Sapporo. He took an Army incentive to discharge in Japan and reenlist for 18 more months, with his remaining service in the US From December of 1945 through June of 1947, Music was assigned to a clerical job with Headquarters Company of the 32nd Medical Battalion at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio.
Oral History Interview with James Reynolds, November 5, 2015
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Reynolds. Reynolds has some assistance from his daughter during the interview. Reynolds joined the Navy in September 1943 and was in a construction battalion working at Manus in the Admiralty Islands. Reynolds was discharged in December 1945.
Oral History Interview with James Williams, October 5, 2015
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James R. Williams. Williams was born in Des Moines, Iowa on 20 October 1923. In January 1943 he entered the Navy and reported to Naval Station Great Lakes. Following boot camp, Williams reported to the Naval Aviation Ordnance School at Millington, Tennessee. A physical problem prevented him from then going to learn aerial gunnery at Pensacola. Instead he was sent to the Navy Bomb Disposal School on the American University campus, Washington DC. After three months learning on Allied and Axis ordnance, his unit, Mine Explosive Investigation Unit 4, was sent to Hawaii. There they dismantled Japanese munitions and Williams, who had drafting skills, made drawings of them for dissemination to the fleet. They then were sent to Guam to find and dispose of unexploded ordnance and disarm a cache of Japanese ordnance captured on Eniwetok. While MEIW 4 was on Guam, the Japanese surrendered. The unit returned to Hawaii. Williams did drawings of a captured Japanese suicide torpedo, a Kaiten. Then he and five others flew to Okinawa to clear four ships that had sunk in a typhoon, blocking a harbor. While there, Williams’ discharge date approached. He was returned to the States and was discharged in the summer of 1946.
Oral History Interview with Paul Silber, October 5, 2015
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Silber. Silber was born in 1925 and recalls life during the depression years. In June 1943, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Hood, Texas for basic training. While there, he was accepted into air cadet training. The program was cancelled before he got started and he was sent to the 13th Armored Division at Camp Bowie, Texas. While there, he applied for Officer Candidate School and was accepted. After being commissioned, he was sent to Tacloban, where he was assigned as a platoon leader in G Company, 2nd Battalion, 34th Infantry. He recalls landing on Mindoro and describes some of the action that followed where he was severely wounded. Following a hospital stay in the Philippines he was put aboard USS Hope (AH-7) and then spent time in several Army hospitals, including Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center.
Oral History Interview with Douglas R. Smith, September 5, 2014
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Douglas R Smith. Smith joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He served as a cryptographer, coding and decoding secret military messages in the Pacific, as the US prepared to invade Japan. After the war ended, Smith was stationed in Hokkaido, Japan. He received his discharge in late 1945.
Oral History Interview with John Tomlin, March 5, 2015
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Tomlin. Tomlin joined the Navy in September 1944 and received basic training in Illinois. He received aviation ordnance training in Oklahoma. While there, he contracted scarlet fever and was quarantined for six weeks. After the war, he was assigned to the USS Core (CVE-13), entrusted with keeping the ship’s log. Tomlin returned home and was discharged in July 1946.
Oral History Interview with Bobby Dee Williams, February 5, 2015
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bobby Dee Williams. Williams joined the Navy and upon completion of basic training was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), in May 1945. As a yeoman striker, he was responsible for maintaining personnel records and issuing liberty cards. He also recorded the proceedings of captain's masts. Williams printed out the plan of the day and delivered it all over the expansive ship, and through that he befriended and was able to curry favor from cooks and storekeepers. When the ship was struck by a torpedo at Okinawa, the yeomen barely felt the impact and went on with their normal duties. When his father fell ill in April 1946, Williams received a hardship discharge. He was recalled to active duty from the reserves for the Korean War, serving aboard PCE-846 in the Caribbean.
Oral History Interview with Wilbur Hendrix, November 5, 2014
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur H. Hendrix. Hendrix was born on 4 October 1921 in Ray County, Missouri. He entered the Army Air Corps in June, 1942. After basic training at Jefferson Barracks, he went to a civilian aircraft mechanic school in Chicago. From there he went to Blythe Army Airfield in California. After three months, he went to Spokane Army Airfield. There he was assigned as a crew chief for B-17s in the 569th Squadron, 390th Bomb Group. The squadron went overseas to Parham Airfield in Suffolk, England in July, 1943. Hendrix's only direct experience with an aircraft accident occurred when a B-17 was cleared to fly despite heavy icing on the wings. It crashed on takeoff, killing all 9 aboard. Hendrix was involved in the post-crash recovery. In his time off, he visited friends in and around London. He never slept in a shelter until a German V-1 buzz bomb exploded near the house where he was sleeping. Eventually Hendrix was responsible for two aircraft, a Pathfinder, and a trainer for new crews. After Germany surrendered, Hendrix flew on a mission to return 20 French POWs from Austria. The squadron then went home. Hendrix flew back to the states in one of the war-weary trainers. The squadron was to be assigned to a B-29 unit, but the Japanese surrendered. Hendrix left active service in October, 1945. He joined the Missouri Air National Guard, was activated and sent to France for 8 months in 1952-1953
Oral History Interview with Everett Scarr, March 5, 2014
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Everett Scarr. Scarr joined the Navy in 1944. He served with the deck force aboard the USS Black (DD-666). He recalls his experiences through the battles of Leyte and Okinawa, and serving with occupation forces in Japan after the war. Scarr returned to the US and received his discharge in June of 1946.
Oral History Interview with Paul Shealy, February 5, 2014
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Shealy. Shealy joined the Navy in August of 1940. Beginning February of 1941, he served as Seaman First Class mess cook aboard the USS Canopus (AS-9) until they scuttled the ship in April of 1942, upon the surrender of Bataan. Shealy was taken to Corregidor for duty in the 4th Battalion Reserve, of the 4th Marine Regiment. He was captured in May and imprisoned in Bilibid Prison, Cabanatuan Prison, a Japanese prison ship, and Osaka Prison. Shealy returned to the US in late 1945, and completed thirty years of service.
Oral History Interview with Roy Stevens, December 5, 2013
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Stevens. Stevens was born 1 November 1924. He joined the Navy in May of 1943. He completed Aviation Radio School and Aerial Gunnery and Radar School by late 1943. Stevens served as a Radioman Gunner aboard a TBF torpedo bomber. In the spring of 1944, he joined a composite squadron, which participated in aerial combat operations while attached to USS Shipley Bay (CVE-85). They conducted additional flight missions to and from the Makassar Strait (CVE-91). They conducted anti-submarine patrol off Maui and around Leyte Gulf, and bombing missions over Ishigaki, Japan. They supported the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Stevens returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945, early 1946.
Oral History Interview with Robert W. Pearson, September 5, 2013
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert W Pearson. Pearson joined the Army Air Forces around 1943. He served as a flight engineer aboard a B-29 with the 20th Air Force, 314th Bomb Wing, 21st Bomb Group. Beginning in February of 1945, they traveled between Guam, Saipan and Tinian. Pearson describes life on Guam and his work aboard their B-29, also referred to by the crew as the Oily Boid. Their mission was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese home islands and the destruction of its war-making capability. They completed both bombardment and search and rescue missions. Pearson returned to the US after the war, receiving his discharge in December.
Oral History Interview with Glenn Taylor, July 5, 2013
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Glenn W. Taylor. Taylor joined the Army in July 1941. He graduated from flight school in June of 1942 and served with the 345th Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force as a B-25 pilot, completing over fifty low-level combat missions in New Guinea. Around 1944, he returned to the US as a B-25 instructor. In late 1944, early 1945, Taylor went to the China Burma India Theater, where he flew over fifty more low-level attack missions. Taylor became the squadron commander and returned to the US in November of 1945. He continued his career in the military, retiring in 1968.
Oral History Interview with Harold Ponder, July 5, 2013
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Ponder. Ponder joined the Army Air Forces in January 1942. He received basic training and aviation mechanic training at Sheppard Field. He was then sent to a B-25 manufacturing plant for advanced mechanical training. Upon completion, he was assigned as a flight engineer to the 345th Bomb Group in South Carolina. At Port Moresby and Clark Field, he supervised the ground maintenance of B-25s. Ponder returned home and was discharged in October 1945. He became a full-time employee of the Texas Air National Guard, retiring as chief of aircraft maintenance.
Oral History Interview with Lewis Burke, February 5, 2013
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lewis Burke. Burke enlisted in the aviation cadet corps and was called up in January 1943. Burke primarily reads a testimony that details his experiences in the Army Air Forces. He also reads details about the combat missions he flew over Europe with the 398th Bomb Group, 603rd Bomb Squadron between November 1944 and April 1945.
Oral History Interview with Ray William Rouch, September 5, 2012
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy William Rouch. Born in 1924, he joined the Marine Corps in July, 1942. He describes boot camp in San Diego, California. He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. He describes the conditions on board ship en route to Camp Pakarariki, New Zealand. The Division was transported to Guadalcanal in January 1943. He talks about the deplorable living conditions on Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Tenaru River. He describes landing as part of the second wave on Tarawa and how the fighting was up close and personal. He explains how the BAR squads were used and reorganized following Guadalcanal and Tarawa. He also shares a story of the LCTs and LSTs being sunk off of Hawaii during night maneuvers before leaving for Saipan. He then describes the street fighting and banzai charges the 2nd Marine Division endured on Saipan during the Battles of Garapan and Charan Kanoa. He shares an anecdote of being injured on Tinian and his family being informed when in fact it was another Rouch who was injured during the battle. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps in July of 1946, he enlisted in the Air Force where he became a fighter pilot and flew P-51s, F-80s and F-86s during the Korean War. He flew on a medical waiver after a accident and was later discharged from the Air Force.
Oral History Interview with Richard K. Bentley, October 5, 2012
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard K. Bentley. Bentley finished high school in Oklahoma nad joined the Navy in October, 1942. After boot camp, Bentley served with a Marine communications unit in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea before being assigned aboard the USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108).
Oral History Interview with Warren Vickers, October 5, 2012
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Vickers. Vickers was born in 1923. He joined the Army in 1942, and served as a rifleman and a scout with the 36th Infantry Division. The Division landed in North Africa on 13 April 1943. They participated in operations in Italy, the south of France and Germany. Vickers was discharged around late 1945.
Oral History Interview with Ernie Bowdre, September 5, 2012
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernie Bowdre. Bowdre joined the Navy in mid-1943. He served as a Storekeeper aboard a liberty ship and traveled to Noumea, New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. He was then assigned to USS President Jackson (APA-18). In 1943, they participated in the Bougainville Campaign, transporting troops from island to island. They landed troops in the reinforcement landing at Lingayen Gulf and Iwo Jima. Bowdre recalls the ship being hit by enemy fire at Iwo. In June of 1945, they completed two round-trips to Manila before the cessation of hostilities. Bowdre returned to the US and received his discharge in March of 1946.
Oral History Interview with Frank C. Litters, Jr., June 5, 2012
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank C. Litters, Jr. Litters was attending Texas A&M (class of 1943) when the war started. His class was graduated early so they could begin active military service. He was commissioned and attached to an anti-aircraft artillery unit. In December, 1943, he shipped out for the Pacific. In January, 1944 his unit, the 208th Anti-aircraft Artillery battalion, arrived at New Guinea. Litters eventually got so sick with malaria and dengue fever, and with a severe knee injury, he was shipped back to the US in May, 1945. Litters was discharged and began teaching at Texas A&M University before beginning to ranch. He also tells a ashort story about being a Distinguished Alumni from Texas A&M and talking to former President George HW Bush.
Oral History Interview with Roy Peters, October 5, 2011
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Peters. Peters joined the Navy in February 1944 and was trained as a motor machinist mate. He was sent to USS LSM-96. Peters describes the machinery he worked on and his usual duties. He describes an incident when the enlisted men in the engine room repainted pipes to fool a new officer and the disciplinary action that followed. Peters mentions unloading equipment at Okinawa and seeing a merchant ship get hit by a torpedo. He discusses how his ship was used to haul ammunition and fight fires caused by kamikaze attacks. Peters describes being sent to China at the end of the war and being transferred to LC(FF)-789. He was discharged in May 1946.
Oral History Interview with Clyde Combs, September 5, 2011
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clyde Combs. Combs was attending a vocational school when Pearl Harbor was attacked. During his senior year, he worked for a company that manufactured parts for military planes. He was then drafted into the Navy in March 1943 and sent to quartermaster school. Combs then had motor torpedo boat training to study their engines, radio, radar, and gunnery. Upon completion, he was assigned to PT-515 as a quartermaster stationed in Southern England. During the invasion of Normandy, his boat’s job was to protect the western flank of landing crafts from Schnell boats and also to assist ships with the rescue and recovery of wounded and deceased. In August 1944, while patrolling the French coast, the boat was by a Schnell boat. Combs waited in London for repairs, enduring buzz bombs and blackouts. He returned to the States in March 1945 and served as an instructor until his discharge in November. Combs finished college on the GI Bill and went on to a career in engineering.
Oral History Interview with Peter Hennessey, September 5, 2011
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Peter Hennessey. Hennessey attended a West Point prep school and helped his widowed mother run the family business. After earning a business degree at the University of Texas, he enlisted in the Army and became an aviation cadet in September 1941. After earning his wings in April 1942, he became an instructor in Douglas, Arizona. Hennessey flew every model of B-25 produced and was promoted to captain. Hoping to see combat, he volunteered for a bomber assignment but V-E Day occurred soon after. He was then transferred to Pampa, Texas, again as an instructor. Making flight commander and squadron commander, he would often fly with struggling students to assess their instructors. While doing so, he once avoided disaster by saving a plane from a violent spin. Hennessey joined a night squadron as commander, but it was soon disbanded near the end of the war. He was released from active duty in October 1945 with over 2,000 hours of flight time.
Oral History Interview with Weldon Kaspar, May 5, 2011
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Weldon Kaspar. Kaspar joined the Army Air Forces in 1944 and received basic training in Amarillo. He wanted to be a pilot, but was ineligible due to poor eyesight. He received aircraft radio mechanic training at Truax Field. He was in Boca Raton maintaining equipment at a training center for high-altitude bombing when the war ended. He reenlisted as a supply clerk for one year and was in the Reserves for three years. He went to Coyne Electrical School on the GI Bill. Kaspar’s wife, Sheila L. Mack, served as a second lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps from 30 March 1945 to 20 June 1946.
Oral History Interview with Bianca Cunningham, May 5, 2011
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bianca Cunningham. Cunningham was born in Brazil to an Italian mother and a German Jew who was a sculptor and architect that had won a competition to build the Presidential Palace. Eventually Cunningham traveled with her mother to her hometown in Capri where she remained throughout the war. She witnessed life under Mussolini, the German occupation, bombing of Naples, and the American occupation. Cunningham became a hostess for the American Red Cross and met and married an American soldier after the war had ended.
Oral History Interview with John Edwards, May 5, 2011
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Edwards. Edwards joined the Army Air Forces in 1944. He was trained as an aircraft engine mechanic and was sent to the Philippines where he became a crewman on an A-26 bomber. Edwards describes how his plane flew missions with P-61s as escorts and gives some detail on the types of targets that were selected. He talks about how his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and forced down during an attack on a Japanese airfield. Edwards was captured and interrogated by the Japanese. He describes the treatment that he received and how he lost half of his total body weight in his six months as a POW. Edwards was liberated at the end of the war, hospitalized in Tokyo, and returned to the US where he reenlisted and remained in the service until 1949.
Oral History Interview with Orrin W. Johnson, April 5, 2011
Transcript of an oral interview with Orrin W. Johnson. In March, 1942 Johnson joined the Marine Corps while in law school at the University of Texas. He took his officer's basic course at Quantico, Virginia. Whe nhe completed it, he was a newly-minted 2nd lieutenant and assigend to an artillery battalion as a forward observer. When he went overseas in 1943, his first stop was New Zealand for more training. Then, Johnson's unit went to Bougainville i nNovember, 1943 to capture the island from the Japanese. Johnson relates several experiences he had while on Bougainville. Johnson also relates several anecdotes about his experiences fighting on Guam, including a banzai attack by the Japanese. After the battle at Guam, Johnson was made a captain and promoted to S-3 (the operations officer for the 4th Battalion, 12th Marines) before the Iwo Jima campaign. After the battle, JOhnson shiiped back to the US to go to Advanced Artillery School. When the war ended, Johnson stayed in the Marine Corps Reserve and returned to law school using the G.I. Bill.
Oral History Interview with Donald Davis, April 5, 2011
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Davis. Davis joined the Navy in August 1941 after having already received basic training in the Navy ROTC. He was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Arlington, where his duty was to review personnel files and select which officers would be assigned to submarines. He claims that for a period during the war, every man aboard a submarine was chosen by him. He was later transferred to the USS Amick (DE-168), where he volunteered for wheel duty in addition to serving in the ship’s office. His battle station was on the flying bridge as the captain’s talker, wearing a large telephone helmet. In the summer of 1943 he traveled to North Africa, which he found to be extensively damaged by the war. After attending steno school in Lake Geneva, he was transferred to the USS Bremerton (CA-130). One day, he was assigned to write the discharge papers for nine men; he added his name to the list, submitting discharge papers for 10 men, and arrived home in August 1945.
Oral History Interview with Raymond A. Dembinski, January 5, 2011
Transcript of an oral interview with Raymond A. Dembinski. Dembinski begins by recalling some experiences from his childhood growing up during the Great Depression. He joined the Naval Reserve in 1935 and went on active duty in September, 1941 when he was assigned to the USS Sacramento (PG-19). He describes his role in the attack on Pearl Harbor, then mentions how he was transferred to the USS Bogue (CVE-9) and spent two years on convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic. In 1944, Dembinski was transferred to the USS Bataan (CVL-29) and was involved in the Marianas Turkey Shoot. Toward the end of the war, Dembinski was transferred to the USS Robert K. Huntington (DD-781), the ship he cruised home aboard after the war ended.
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