National Museum of the Pacific War - 118 Matching Results

Search Results

Oral History Interview with Edward Nielsen, August 23, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Nielsen from Medaryville, Indiana. He discusses undergoing Amry training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being assigned as B Company of the 69th Army Regiment at Fort Knox as a private. Afterwards he got lucky and was assigned to drive a truck from Louisiana to North Carolina, Mr. Nielsen describes this as the best job he ever had in the Army. After Pearl Harbor he is transferred to the 1st Armored Division and Regimen… more

Date: August 23, 2001

Creator: Nielsen, Edward

Oral History Interview with Jack Owen, July 23, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Owen. Owen was born in Lufkin Texas in 1926. He went to Texas A&M for a year after high school then joined the Navy after turning 18 in 1944 and trained at San Diego in June. In December, he was in the commissioning crew of USS Colusa (APA-74). Owen recalls hauling wounded from Iwo Jima back to Pearl Harbor aboard the Colusa before heading for Australia to repatriate American sailors whose ships had sunk. When the war e… more

Date: July 23, 2020

Creator: Owen, Jack

Oral History Interview with John W. Smith, November 23, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John W. Smith III. Jean assists with the interview. Smith was born 15 February 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He speaks about his father’s participation with the Manhattan Project. Smith’s father, John W. Smith II, was an electrician and completed contract work for the government at Huntsville Arsenal in Alabama, Oak Ridge in Tennessee and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Smith recalls traveling with his family each time his… more

Date: November 23, 2019

Creator: Smith, John W

Oral History Interview with Melvin Pratt, July 23, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Melvin Pratt. Pratt joined the Navy in April of 1944. He served as Seaman 3rd Class with the gunnery gang aboard the minesweeper USS Strength (AM-309). In December, they arrived in Pearl Harbor, and began training in preparation for the Iwo Jima invasion. On 16 February 1945, they began sweeping off Iwo Jima to clear the way for the invasion fleet. In late March, they assisted in clearing the approaches to the beaches off Okinawa… more

Date: July 23, 2019

Creator: Pratt, Melvin

Oral History Interview with Russell J. Judah, June 23, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Russell J Judah. Judah joined the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, New York, in 1944. He graduated in August of 1945. He was immediately commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, serving mostly in the Philippines and occupied Japan. He traveled aboard the SS Mission Loreto (1944), a type T2 tanker. Judah was discharged in March of 1946.

Date: June 23, 2019

Creator: Judah, Russell J

Oral History Interview with David Laughery, April 23, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Laughery. Laughery joined the Navy in June of 1943. He served as Seaman 2nd Class aboard the USS Harrison (DD-573), assisting the 20mm gunner and working in the fireroom as a Water Tender 1st Class. They survived 11 encounters with Japanese defenses at Bougainville, Tarawa, New Guinea, Kwajalein, Guam, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Laughery was discharged in April of 1946.

Date: April 23, 2019

Creator: Laughery, David

Oral History Interview with Alvin Lebsack, March 23, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvin Lebsack. Lebsack joined the Army Air Corps in November of 1940. He trained in aircraft mechanics, and served with the 58th Bomb Wing as a B-29 Crew Chief and Flight Chief. They participated in the China Burma India Theater, and were stationed at a base in India. Lebsack completed bombing missions over Japan in 1944. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

Date: March 23, 2018

Creator: Lebsack, Alvin

Oral History Interview with Thomas Burgess, October 23, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Burgess. Burgess joined the Army in June of 1943 and went into the Specialized Training Program. Once ASTP was abolished he joined the 87th Infantry Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He was assigned to Company A of the 345th Infantry Regiment. He was also assigned to the weapon’s platoon as the number one gunner of the 60mm mortar squad. He served as squad leader of the 60mm mortar for the duration of the war. His … more

Date: October 23, 2017

Creator: Burgess, Thomas

Oral History Interview with George Halfin, November 23, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George S. Halfin. Halfin joined the Army in early 1942. He studied geodetic computing at the University of Kentucky, then joined the 910th Engineers Air Force Headquarters Company. They were sent to Colorado Springs, and worked on drafting plans to extend runways in the U.S. to handle military planes. Through 1943, Halfin traveled to around 45 states in the U.S., analyzing runways. They would clock the amount and distance it took… more

Date: November 23, 2016

Creator: Halfin, George

Oral History Interview with Allen Cates, November 23, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Allen Cates. Cates joined the Army in 1944. He completed basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and paratrooper training off Dog Island, Florida. In December he deployed to New Guinea and served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division. In mid-February 1945, they landed on Corregidor to liberate the island from occupying Japanese forces. From there he was assigned as a combat engineer with the 11th, work… more

Date: November 23, 2016

Creator: Cates, Allen

Oral History Interview with Richard Werner, September 23, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard E. Werner. Werner joined the Army in September of 1942. He served in the Medical Detachment with the 1106th Engineer Combat Battalion, 7th Army. They were transferred to England, and participated in infantry combat and built pontoon bridges during the Normandy invasion and traveled as far as the Rhine River when Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945. Werner served with the occupation in Germany and returned to the US in Novem… more

Date: September 23, 2016

Creator: Werner, Richard

Oral History Interview with Robert Bains, February 23, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Bains. Bains joined the Army around early 1942. He completed Signal Corps training. Bains deployed to England and served with the 66th Infantry Division, 566th Signal Corps Company. The 66th was primarily involved with destroying the Germany troops left behind by the retreat from Northern France. Bains traveled through central Europe, Germany and France. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1946.

Date: February 23, 2016

Creator: Bains, Robert

Oral History Interview with Eugene Volcik, January 23, 2016

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Volcik. Volcik grew up on a farm in Texas and was 13 when the war started. Volcik’s brothers served and urged him not to join the service too quickly as their mother needed help at home. Volcik was 17 when the war ended. After the war, he joined the Navy in February 1946 and recalls several experiences from his time in the post-war Navy aboard USS Huntington (CL-107).

Date: January 23, 2016

Creator: Volcik, Eugene

Oral History Interview with Archie Scott, November 23, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Archie W. Scott. Scott joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He entered the V-12 Program, and was sent to Georgia Tech to train further as an engineer. He transferred to California, and attended Field Telephone School. He was then assigned to USS Rochambeau (AP-63), and served in communications, and on the 8-inch gun. They traveled to Pearl Harbor, where he joined the Third Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment. They participated in the … more

Date: November 23, 2015

Creator: Scott, Archie

Oral History Interview with Edward Larson, July 23, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Larson. Larson joined the Army Air Forces in January, 1943 and became a pilot and was commissioned in April, 1944. He was first assigned as an instructor. He finally went overseas to India and was stationed in the Assam Valley where he participated in transporting material over the Himalaya Mountains to China beginning in January 1945. After a few trips over the Hump, Larson was stationed in China where he flew transport m… more

Date: July 23, 2015

Creator: Larson, Edward

Oral History Interview with W. T. Riedel, September 23, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with W.T. Riedel. Riedel was born in Yorktown, Texas on 27 December 1921. He was a member of the Texas A&M University band when he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1943. Following basic training at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas, he was sent to the University of Denver in Colorado. While there he was selected for pilot training. He recalls the various air fields on which he received the various phases of f… more

Date: September 23, 2014

Creator: Riedel, W. T.

Oral History Interview with Adolph Krchnak, May 23, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Adolph Krchnak. Krchnak joined the Army in December of 1944. He completed parachute school. In late 1944, early 1945 he was stationed in the Philippines with the 11th Airborne Division. They served in a traditional infantry role in the Philippines. His division participated in the Liberation of Manila in the spring of 1945. In August of 1945 they traveled into southern Japan as part of the occupation force. He was honorably disch… more

Date: May 23, 2015

Creator: Krchnak, Adolph

Oral History Interview with David Belvin, April 23, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Belvin. Belvin joined the Navy in June, 1941 and trained at San Diego. After training and before the war started, he went to machinist school and then was assigned to the USS Dobbin (AD-3). He spent some time in Australia and recalls a submarine attack in Sydney Harbor. After his brother was lost at sea during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Belvin was sent back to the US for reassignment after some home leave. Belvin was di… more

Date: April 23, 2015

Creator: Belvin, David

Oral History Interview with Raymond Juengermann, December 23, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Juengermann. Juengermann was drafted into the Army Air Forces in January, 1943. He qualified for flight training and earned his wings in May, 1944. Then he reported to Roswell, New Mexico for training in B-17 bombers. In early 1945, he and his crew headed for England. Once he was settled into the routine, he began flying combat missions over Germany. he flew 29 combat missions in B-17s through April. After the war. Juenge… more

Date: December 23, 2014

Creator: Juengermann, Raymond

Oral History Interview with Jerome Crowley, September 23, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jerome Crowley. Crowley was born in Cituate, Maine 17 March 1924. He graduated from high school in 1941 and joined the US Navy 17 January 1942. Upon completion of boot camp he was sent to Aviation Machinist Mate School in Jacksonville, Florida where he received six months training on aircraft engines. He then volunteered for PT boats and underwent two months of training in Melville, Rhode Island. Crowley was then assigned to… more

Date: September 23, 2014

Creator: Crowley, Jerome

Oral History Interview with Thomas Agin, July 23, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Agin. Agin lied about his age so he could join the CCC in summer, 1941, when he was 15 years old. When he was discharged from the CCC in 1942, instead of returning to school, Agin joined the Army Air Forces at sixteen years old. He trained in aerial gunnery before heading overseas on a B-25 crew. He was assigned to the 71st Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomb Group at Morotai, Indonesia. He flew on 46 missions over the Philippin… more

Date: July 23, 2014

Creator: Agin, Thomas

Oral History Interview with James Plaster, April 23, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Plaster. Plaster joined the US Navy in 1943, completed boot camp and Landing Craft School. He then went to New Caledonia, where he served aboard USS John Penn (APA-23). He describes the ship and its mission. While participating in the invasion of Guadalcanal, the ship was sunk by a Japanese torpedo. Plaster was then assigned to USS President Hayes (APA-20) as a member of a landing craft crew and participated in the landing … more

Date: April 23, 2014

Creator: Plaster, James

Oral History Interview with Eugene Hannemann, June 23, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Hannemann. Hannemann joined the Navy in June of 1943. He deployed after basic training to Brisbane, Australia, where he was assigned to a replacement unit. He served as a Yeoman in the Admiral’s Office of the 7th Fleet, under the direction of Douglas MacArthur. Hannemann additionally served on bases in Hollandia, New Guinea and in the Philippines. In mid-1945, he was transferred to a Navy base in Florida. In 1946, he recei… more

Date: June 23, 2014

Creator: Hannemann, Eugene

Oral History Interview with Thomas Nixon, December 23, 2013

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Nixon. Nixon joined the Marine Corps shortly after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He trained at San Diego and was assigned as a ground crewman in Marine Bombing Squadron 611 (VMB-611). He went with the squadron to the Philippines and shares several anecdotes of his time among the pilots and crew, and of repairing aircraft.

Date: December 23, 2013

Creator: Nixon, Thomas