National Museum of the Pacific War - 108 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Travis Smith, February 12, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Travis Smith. Smith joined the Army Air Forces in September 1942. He qualified as a pilot trainee and began training in San Antonio. In May, 1944, he graduated and received his commission. Smith went overseas to the Philippines, arriving in March, 1945. Later, he moved to Okinawa and flew bomber escort for bombing missions to China and Japan. He flew over 50 combat missions before the war ended and then went to japan on occu… more

Date: February 12, 2015

Creator: Smith, Travis

Oral History Interview with Vernon Ollar, October 12, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Vernon Ollar. Ollar was working at the Rock Island Arsenal when the war started. He was already married with a child when he was drafted into the Army in late 1942. Ollar was attached to B Company in the 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion and proceeded to train with them. In late 1943, Ollar was shipped to England for more training prior to the invasion of Normandy. He recalls fighting in the hedgerows, fighting at St. Lo and liberat… more

Date: October 12, 2021

Creator: Ollar, Vernon

Oral History Interview with Leo Rose, November 12, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leo Rose. Rose joined the Army Air Forces in early 1942. He served as a B-29 Bombardier and Navigator. Beginning in early 1944, he was assigned to a squadron and plane in Kansas, he does not note his squadron or group number. They were one of the first groups to fly the Superfortress and use the Norden Bombsight. They traveled to Saipan in the Mariana Islands. From these islands, Roses crew flew bombing missions across the Pacifi… more

Date: November 12, 2011

Creator: Rose, Leo

Oral History Interview with William C. Smith, March 12, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Smith. Smith joined the Marine Corps in April 1944. After basic training, Smith went to Sea School where he trained in 40mm antiaircraft gunnery. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS Iowa (BB-61).

Date: March 12, 2020

Creator: Smith, William C

Oral History Interview with Alfred Gluck, July 12, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred Gluck. Gluck joined the Merchant Marines in mid-1941. He served as a Seaman aboard a liberty ship, the SS George L. Baker (1614). In May of 1943, they traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii, transporting general supplies and merchandise for people on the island. He returned to San Francisco, and was assigned to the SS James Lick in July as Able Seaman, traveling to New Hebrides and New Caledonia, transporting military cargo. In 1944… more

Date: July 12, 2019

Creator: Gluck, Alfred

Oral History Interview with Ernest Harper, December 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Harper. Harper joined the Navy in April of 1944. He did not train in any specific Navy schooling prior to going to sea. Beginning around mid-1944, Harper served as Steward’s Mate aboard USS Cowpens (CVL-25), working in storerooms, resupplying various areas of the ship and cleaning. Additionally, he assisted on the deck during combat, transporting supplies and ammunition to the gunners. Harper recalls combat experiences thr… more

Date: December 12, 2018

Creator: Harper, Ernest

Oral History Interview with James Foster, November 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Foster. Foster received an agriculture deferment for two years afer he finished high school in 1942. He was drafted into the Army and trained in Florida before being shipped overseas to Hawaii, then Saipan, and finally Okinawa where he joined the 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division as a replacement. He shares several anecdotes about his experiences fighting on Okinawa. Toward the end of the war, Foster was reass… more

Date: November 12, 2018

Creator: Foster, James

Oral History Interview with Thomas Killian, July 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Killian. Killian joined the Army in April of 1945, at the young age of 14 years old. He was assigned to the 29th Regimental Combat Team, 10th Army. He traveled to Okinawa, arriving 26 June 1945, participating in the invasion of the island. They traveled south on the island, towards Naha, and helped with cleanup, and had some direct combat with the Japanese. By August the bombs had been dropped and the war was over. Killian… more

Date: July 12, 2018

Creator: Killian, Thomas

Oral History Interview with Maurice Clark, July 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Maurice Clark. Clark joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1943. He served with as a Radio Operator and 2nd Navigator with the 93rd Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29 the crew named Lil’ Butch. From February through August of 1945 they were stationed in Guam, and completed bombing missions over Japan, to destroy their war-making capabilities. They bombed targets on the Caroline Islands, Marianas and … more

Date: July 12, 2018

Creator: Clark, Maurice

Oral History Interview with Frank Chalke, April 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Chalke. Chalke joined the Navy in June of 1944. Beginning in March of 1945, he was assigned as Radioman 3rd Class aboard the landing craft repair ship USS Pandemus (ARL-18). They traveled to Okinawa, Guam, Saipan, Philippine Islands and China servicing landing and small craft. They encountered kamikaze planes and a typhoon during their travels. They returned to the US in December of 1945. Chalke was discharged in May of 194… more

Date: April 12, 2018

Creator: Chalke, Frank

Oral History Interview with James Tatum, October 12, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Tatum. Tatum joined the Navy in January 1942 and trained at Norfolk. He trained in aerial gunnery and as an airplane mechanic. In 1943, he was assigned to VT-37 and went aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26). One day, a plane crashed on the flight deck, seriously injuring Tatum and blowing him into the water. He stayed with the ship through the Battle of Leyte Gulf before being assigned to advanced mechanic school in Washington … more

Date: October 12, 2017

Creator: Tatum, James

Oral History Interview with Harold Buell and Warren Taylor, May 12, 1990

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Buell and Warren Taylor. Buell discusses being aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands. Buell served as a Dauntless dive bomber pilot. Ingram’s (interviewer) primary interest in the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57). Ingram also interviews Warren Taylor. Taylor served as a gunnery officer aboard the South Dakota. Taylor discusses much about gunnery at sea: targeting, target spotting, plo… more

Date: May 12, 1990

Creator: Buell, Howard & Taylor, Warren

Oral History Interview with Fred Marron, May 12, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Marron. Marron joined the Army in June 1943, volunteered for the Airborne, and went to Georgia for basic and airborne training. He went overseas to France and was assigned to the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. He remained with the unit until the war in Europe ended, then volunteered to go to the Pacific. On the way to the US for more training, the war ended and Marron was among the first soldiers … more

Date: May 12, 2017

Creator: Marron, Fred

Oral History Interview with John Dittmar, April 12, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Dittmar. Dittmar joined the Navy in 1943 and trained at Great Lakes and shares a few anecdotes from those days. He served as an operating room technician aboard USS La Grange (APA-124) when he was assigned to the ship in mid-1944. He recalls his duties aboard and going to the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Date: April 12, 2017

Creator: Dittmar, John

Oral History Interview with Ralph Crocker, August 12, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Crocker. Crocker joined the Naval Reserve in 1942 at Texas A&M, and was called to active duty in the spring of 1943. He studied civil engineering at Rice University for eight semesters. He then completed Officer Candidate School at Camp Endicott, Davisville, Rhode Island. He served with the Civil Engineer Corps as a Seabee, and worked as an operations officer on Espiritu Santos, New Hebrides. He and the enlisted men he was … more

Date: August 12, 2016

Creator: Crocker, Ralph

Oral History Interview with Frederick Valentine, November 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frederick Valentine. Valentine graduated from high school in 1940. He worked as a mechanic for the General Aviation Company in Canton, Massachusetts. In early 1942, he joined the Army Air Forces, and served as a chief instructor at the Aviation Company’s civilian mechanics school and was in the reserve. The company began manufacturing parts for the CG-4 Glider, and he worked on the production line training welders. In April of 19… more

Date: November 12, 2018

Creator: Valentine, Frederick

Oral History Interview with Otis Sumner, July 12, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Otis Sumner. Sumner was drafted into the Navy in November, 1943 and went to Samson for boot camp. Training completed, he was assigned to the USS Hodges (DE-231). He was aboard working as a water tender during the invasion of Luzon. Sumner was discharged in May 1946.

Date: July 12, 2016

Creator: Sumner, Otis

Oral History Interview with Henry Jennings, April 12, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Jennings. Jennings joined the Army Air Forces in September, 1942 and trained at Wichita Falls. He eventually became a flight engineer on B-26 bombers. Jennings recalls several anecdotes about his time in the service.

Date: April 12, 2016

Creator: Jennings, Henry

Oral History Interview with Frank Nemec, January 12, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Nemec. Nemec joined the Marine Corps in December, 1942 and trained at San Diego. He arrived overseas in time to join B Company, 1st Tank Battalion in the First Marine Division when they invaded New Britain. Nemec describes going ashore and the conditions of battle at Peleliu. He also was on Okinawa and shares stories. Nemec served as maintenance man for tanks. He also relates several anecdotes from his time in China af… more

Date: January 12, 2016

Creator: Nemec, Frank

Oral History Interview with Jodie Lander, October 12, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jodie Lander. Lander was born in December of 1923. In 1943 he was drafted into the Army, and volunteered for parachute training. Lander was assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry, and transported to Belfast, Ireland. He describes some of the action encountered after landing during Operation Overlord in June of 1944, and Operation Market Garden in September.

Date: October 12, 2015

Creator: Lander, Jodie

Oral History Interview with Lester Harrell, August 12, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lester Harrell. Harrell joined the Navy in 1942. In 1943, he completed Midshipman School. In 1944, Harrell served on the starboard anti-aircraft guns aboard USS New Mexico (BB-40). He later served as an ensign in the plotting room aboard USS Canberra (CA-70), where he was stationed when the ship was torpedoed in October of 1944. His next assignment was on a Landing Ship Medium (LSM). He returned to the US and received his dischar… more

Date: August 12, 2015

Creator: Harrell, Lester

Oral History Interview with Richard Dirks, November 12, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Dirks. Dirks was drafted into the Navy in February 1944 and trained at San Diego. From there he went to a weather school. Once he got to the Aleutian Islands, he was assigned to a weather station. Because he could type, he was made a yeoman in Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher's Northern Pacific Command headquarters on Adak. He spent the war there but for a brief interlude in Japan during the surrender and was discharged i… more

Date: November 12, 2014

Creator: Dirks, Richard

Oral History Interview with Virgil Haley, March 12, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Virgil Haley. Haley joined the Navy in June 1944 and trained at San Diego. After training as a quartermaster and signalman, Haley joined the USS Williams (DE-372). His job aboard ship was to steer and work in the chart room. The Williams provided escort duty in the New Guinea and the Solomon Islands area. He also describes being caught in a typhoon. Haley returned to the US and was discharged in June, 1946.

Date: March 12, 2014

Creator: Haley, Virgil

Oral History Interview with Frank C. Smith, March 12, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank C. Smith. Smith was born in Houston, Texas on 7 August 1921. Graduating from high school in 1939, he enrolled in Williams College. After three years he transferred to and graduated from Caltech in 1944. Smith joined the Navy in 1944 and trained in electronics at several universities and Navy bases before being trained in electronic countermeasures, including the IFF (identification friend or foe) set. Just prior to con… more