National Museum of the Pacific War - 334 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Douglas A. Skinner, December 1, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Douglas A. Skinner. Born 13 January 1923 in Fleetwood, Oklahoma, Skinner joined the Army 1 April 1943 and was sent to Fort Hood, Texas for basic training. Upon completion of basic, he volunteered for the Parachute Infantry and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for airborne training. He describes the training they received. Assigned to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division he was sent to England. On … more

Date: December 1, 2006

Creator: Skinner, Douglas A.

Oral History Interview with John Tait, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Tait. He discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the US Navy. He describes his experiences during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the rest of the war in the Pacific Theatre.

Date: December 6, 2001

Creator: Tait, John & Alexander, William J.

Oral History Interview with Ray Hechler, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Hechler. He discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the Marine Corps. He describes his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor and what he did for the rest of World War Two.

Date: December 6, 2001

Creator: Hechler, Ray & Alexander, William J.

Oral History Interview with George Medcalf, December 27, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Geroge Medcalf from Greensville, South Carolina. He discusses his experience in training in Camp Mcoy in Wisconsin and meeting his wife there. He also discusses his time in the Second Infantry Division with the 38th Regiment, Company C, preparing for the Normandy Invasion. Mr. Medcalf also relays how he had to take over command of his Company during the invasion when he was injured by flying shrapnel and sent back to England… more

Date: December 27, 2000

Creator: Medcalf, George

Oral History Interview with Leroy Joppie, December 2, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leroy Joppie. Joppie was the youngest of four boys. His three brothers were in the military, one of whom died in Italy. This lead Joppie to join the Navy in 1944 at the age of seventeen. Upon completing training in electronics at Oceanside, California, Joppie was assigned to a Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO) as a radioman 3rd class. In early 1945, he was assigned to USS Argonne (AG-31). He recalls the ship being in Typhoon C… more

Date: December 2, 2021

Creator: Joppie, Leroy

Oral History Interview with William Most, December 17, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Most. Most joined the Marine Corps in late 1944 and went to basic training at Parris Island. After further training in North Carolina, he shipped overseas to Guam where he joined replacements fro the 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division. He joined them in time for their move from Okinawa to China after he war ended. While in CHina on occupation duty, Most was made a clerk typist. he remained in that postition until h… more

Date: December 17, 2019

Creator: Most, William

Oral History Interview with Benton Askins, December 11, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Benton Askins. Askins joined the Army in July 1942. He was trained in radio installation and repair and sent to Australia, then to New Gunea where he joined the 997th Signal Service Battalion at Hollandia. He stayed there until the war ended. He returned to the US and was discharged in January 1947.

Date: December 11, 2019

Creator: Askins, Benton

Oral History Interview with Don Woodard, December 13, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Woodard, Sr. Woodard joined the Navy in March 1944. He completed Yeoman School in San Diego. Beginning in August, he served as the captain’s yeoman aboard USS Bowie (APA-137). They transported troops and cargo throughout the Philippines and to Okinawa in May of 1945. After the war ended, they delivered occupation troops to Sasebo, Japan. He returned to the US in early 1946 and received his discharge.

Date: December 13, 2019

Creator: Woodard, Don

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 Clifford Staffenbeck, December 7, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clifford Staffenbeck. Staffenbeck was born in Galveston, Texas on 24 February 1926. In 1944, he was drafted into the United States Navy. Upon completing boot camp at San Diego, he was trained as a Gunner’s Mate. He was sent to the Philippines and assigned to crash boat 26635, nicknamed Bug Bunny. He describes the boat and the crew and tells of his experiences while aboard the boat. Following the end of the war, he was assign… more

Date: December 7, 2018

Creator: Staffenbeck, Clifford

Oral History Interview with Edgar Hessek, December 22, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edgar Hessek. Hessek joined the Navy in October of 1942. In February of 1943 he was assigned to the American Builder, a commercial ship, as a radio operator. They traveled to South Africa and England delivering war materials. In 1944 he was transferred to the USS Swenning (DE-394). From late 1944 into 1945 they traveled to Casablanca, the Pacific, Guam, Wake Island and Okinawa. He describes a torpedo attack by a submarine on thei… more

Date: December 22, 2017

Creator: Hessek, Edgar

Oral History Interview with Garland Picou, December 19, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Garland Picou. Picou was drafted into the United States Army in August of 1954. He was involved in the occupation of Germany and therefore was classified as a World War II veteran. He trained as a medic at Fort Hood, learning battlefield first aid. He was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, 8th Regiment, Headquarters Company, and they were sent to Frankfurt, Germany. He was assigned to work as a communications operator, sendin… more

Date: December 19, 2017

Creator: Picou, Garland

Oral History Interview with James Leavelle, December 7, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Leavelle. Leavelle joined the Navy in 1940 after he finished a stint in the Civilian Conservation Corps and high school. After training, Leavelle was assigned to USS Whitney (AD-4). He was aboard the Whitney during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was later injured by a rogue wave and elected to be medically discharged. He went on to be a detective in the Dallas Police Department and was escorting Lee Harvey Oswald when Jack … more

Date: December 7, 2017

Creator: Leavelle, James

Oral History Interview with Jack Alldridge, December 11, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Alldridge. Alldridge joined the Navy in May of 1944. He completed amphibious landing craft training, and served as Coxswain aboard the USS Kenton (APA-122). Alldridge made landings in the Marshall Islands, the Philippines and during the Battle of Okinawa, transporting troops from ship to shore. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

Date: December 11, 2017

Creator: Alldridge, Jack

Oral History Interview with Harlan Green, December 30, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harlan Green. Green enlisted in the Navy in September 1942 as an aviation cadet and earned his wings and a commission in June 1943. He then served as an instructor. Before the war ended, he was assigned to the Naval Air Transport Service and ferried wounded troops from Okinawa, or the Philippines, back to Guam or the US. He was discharged in October, 1945, but stayed in the Reserves until 1958.

Date: December 30, 2016

Creator: Green, Harlan

Oral History Interview with Robert Phillips, December 28, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Phillips. Phillips joined the Army Air Forces in December of 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot, and shares details of his flight training. Beginning December of 1944, Phillips and his crew flew over the Gulf of Mexico, identifying potential enemy U-boats. He later transferred to Hondo, Texas to train B-29 engineers, where he was stationed when the war ended. Phillips received his discharge in late 1945.

Date: December 28, 2016

Creator: Phillips, Robert

Oral History Interview with Patrick Walseth, December 22, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Patrick N. Walseth. Walseth joined the Navy in July of 1944. On 15 November, he was assigned to USS LSM-43, and assisted with transporting construction equipment to Pearl Harbor. Walseth learned several tasks aboard the ship, including training with the telegraph machine, the 20mm gun and general deck seaman responsibilities. In January of 1945, they landed six Sherman tanks and 30 Marines on Oahu. Beginning 19 February through 2… more

Date: December 22, 2016

Creator: Walseth, Patrick

Oral History Interview with Marilyn Dow, December 14, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marilyn Richards Dow. Dow joined the Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, WAVES, in March of 1943. She attended Navy Storekeeper School in Bloomington, Indiana. She was stationed at a base in Edenton, North Carolina as a teletypist, taking coded messages for and from her commanding officer. She shares stories of working and living at the base, and meeting her husband there. Dow was discharged in May of 1945.

Date: December 14, 2016

Creator: Dow, Marilyn

Oral History Interview with L. M. McGregor, December 13, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with L M McGregor. McGregor joined the Navy in June of 1942. He completed boot camp in San Diego. He served aboard the USS Sperry (AS-12) for the duration of the war. They went to Pearl Harbor, the Marshall Islands, Midway, Brisbane, Australia all before December of 1942. McGregor stood orderly watches for the Commodore of the submarine fleet. He also worked in laundry and the supply and service divisions on board. They went to G… more

Date: December 13, 2016

Creator: McGregor, L. M.

Oral History Interview with Charles Harter, December 9, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Harter. Harter was drafted in December of 1942 into the Army Ordnance Corps. He went to the Ordnance station in Aberdeen, Maryland. His outfit was the 534th Ordnance, Heavy Tank Company. From there they went to Indio, California, and practiced tank maneuvers in the desert. He went to Normandy, where his outfit’s job was to put devices on front of the tanks so they could go through hedgerows so the infantry could foll… more

Date: December 9, 2016

Creator: Harter, Charles

Oral History Interview with Floyd Schexnayder, December 17, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Floyd John Schexnayder. Schexnayder was born in 1928. At the age of 16, he changed his birth certificate in order to join the Navy in mid-1944. He completed boot camp in San Diego, California. Beginning around February of 1945, he served as Seaman Second-Class in the gunnery department aboard the USS Terror (CM-5), loading 40mm quadruple antiaircraft guns. They transferred battle casualties to an Army hospital at Saipan, then tra… more

Date: December 17, 2016

Creator: Schexnayder, Floyd

Oral History Interview with Robert Lee Thomas, December 30, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Lee Thomas. Thomas joined the Army in December 1944. He describes his training in intelligence and reconnaissance. Thomas was sent to the Philippines as a replacement and details going through a typhoon en route. He arrived in Manila after the city had been recaptured and was assigned to the Military Police. Thomas discusses some of the incidents he encountered during his duties including looking for a murder suspect … more

Date: December 30, 2015

Creator: Thomas, Robert Lee

Oral History Interview with William Schauer, December 29, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William T. Schauer. Schauer was born on 27 August 1928. He was in high school for the duration of World War II. He joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1946. He completed bootcamp, then was assigned to a fighter group on Okinawa and Guam, where he assisted in refueling planes. He notes Japanese soldiers coming out of caves and hiding, unaware that the war was over. He also notes his living conditions on the islands. Schauer was … more

Date: December 29, 2016

Creator: Schauer, William

Oral History Interview with Theodore Kalenterides, December 29, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Theodore J. Kalenterides. Kalenterides joined the Army Air Corps on 10 August 1939. He completed Airplane and Engine Mechanic School at Parks Air College, Illinois, and worked on the line as Crew Chief, Flight Chief and Line Chief. He then completed B-29 Engineer Flight School. In 1944, Kalenterides was assigned to the 62nd Bomb Squadron, 39th Bomb Group at Smoky Hill Air Force Base, Kansas. In January of 1945, they deployed to B… more