National Museum of the Pacific War - 345 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Edmund Thomassen, May 4, 1993

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edmund Thomassen. Thomassen entered the Merchant Marine Academy in October, 1941 and completed his education in April, 1943. When Thomassen was assigned to the USS Sheridan (APA-51), Eddie Albert was one of his shipmates. He went to New Zealand and embarked Marines ahead of the Tarawa invasion and discusses the practice landings. At Tarawa, he delivered Marines to the shore in a small landing craft. He also delivered Marines to R… more
Date: May 4, 1993
Creator: Thomassen, Edmund
transcript

Oral History Interview with Mary Steele Leon, April 15, 1997

Description: Interview with Mary Steele Leon, a secretary for the U. S. Navy during and after World War II. She joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) and was trained as a secretary. Her first assignment was in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during World War II. The CNO at the time was Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King. After the war, she served as personal secretary for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz while he was CNO. She was discharged in 1946.
Date: April 15, 1997
Duration: 31 minutes 04 seconds
Creator: Alexander, Bill & Leon, Mary Steele
transcript

Oral History Interview with Vernon Hanks, March 7, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chaplain Vernon Hanks. Hanks was born in Sterling, Kansas on 21 November 1908. He joined the National Guard doing drills with horse-drawn caissons and French 75s while attending Sterling College in Kansas. He graduated in 1931 and then attended the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, graduating in 1940 with a Master of Theology. Hanks joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor and received orders for Naval Chaplains School (NCS), No… more
Date: March 7, 1998
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes 18 seconds
Creator: Hanks, Vernon
transcript

Oral History Interview with Frederick Rosen, February 27, 1997

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frederick W. Rosen. Rosen was born in Kings County, New York 9 September 1917. Graduating from the University of Georgia in 1939 he entered the US Navy in 1941. In October 1942 he reported for duty at the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Center, Melville, Rhode Island, where he met John F. Kennedy. Upon completion of the limited training he was assigned captain of PT-207 in Squadron 15. He tells of the boats being loaded onto the… more
Date: February 27, 1997
Duration: 1 hour 58 minutes 08 seconds
Creator: Rosen, FrederickW.
transcript

Oral History Interview with Iliff D. Richardson, February 22, 1997

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Iliff Richardson. Richardson was commissioned in the Navy in 1940 and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 as the executive officer of PT-34. After the loss of his boat in April 1942, he joined a band of Filipino guerrillas. Richardson tells of setting up radio transmitters and of the unusual features of the operations and equipment used. At the request of General Douglas MacArthur he plotted the Japanese mine fields in… more
Date: February 22, 1997
Duration: 53 minutes 19 seconds
Creator: Richardson, Iliff D.
transcript

Oral History Interview with Barry Atkins, February 20, 1997

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barry Atkins. In 1928, Atkins was appointed to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1932 and was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43). He was aboard at Long Beach, California during the 1933 earthquake. After that, he was transferred to the USS New Mexico (BB-40). his next assignment took him aboard the USS Mahan (DD-364). In 1941, Atkins was assigned to the USS Parrott (DD-218) in Manila Bay. He was aboard the Parrott during… more
Date: February 20, 1997
Duration: 4 hours 38 minutes 13 seconds
Creator: Atkins, Barry
transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Donihi, October 13, 1996

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Donihi. Donihi was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. He graduated from high school in 1934. During the Depression, he worked low wage jobs and lost his leg in an automobile accident while hitchhiking to Florida. His experiences influenced him to attend law school. He passed the Bar in 1941 and went to work in Tennessee. He was exempt from the draft, but was motivated to learn to fly under the Civil Air Patrol. He joined the… more
Date: October 13, 1996
Duration: 2 hours 32 minutes 20 seconds
Creator: Donihi, Robert
transcript

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
Duration: 2 hours 29 minutes 45 seconds
Creator: Brush, John B.
transcript

Oral History Interview with Ike Kampmann, October 12, 1996

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ike Kampmann. Kampmann was born in San Antonio, Texas on 2 October 1918 and graduated from the University of Texas, Austin with a law degree. In the spring of 1945 when he was stationed at 6th Army Headquarters at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Island, Philippines, he was attached to the Staff Officer for Personnel (G-1) as the Army was making its move toward Manila. The commanding general, Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, appointed… more
Date: October 12, 1996
Duration: 16 minutes 32 seconds
Creator: Kampmann, Ike
transcript

Oral History Interview with Sam Moody, October 10, 1996

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam Moody. Moody joined the Air Corps in 1940 to become an aircraft mechanic. He arrived in the Philippines in November, 1941 and when the war broke out, he went to the front at Bataan. After the surrender, he walked out of Bataan and spent 10 days on the Death March. He was moved from Camp O'Donnell to Cabanatuan. From there, he was sent to Manila to a camp near Clark Field. Moody stayed on a work detail in Manila for a whi… more
Date: October 10, 1996
Duration: 43 minutes 07 seconds
Creator: Moody, Sam B.
transcript

Oral History Interview with Donald Showers, March 13, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Mac Showers. He joined the Navy after finishing school at the University of Iowa in August 1940. He signed up for the V-7 program and was commissioned an ensign in September 1941 after Midshipman School at Northwestern University. His first assignment took him to the intelligence center at the 13th Naval District in Seattle. He stayed in Seattle for six weeks hoping to get in with the public relations section. Instead… more
Date: March 13, 1998
Duration: 2 hours 36 minutes 54 seconds
Creator: Showers, Donald Mac
transcript

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
Duration: 2 hours 12 minutes 16 seconds
Creator: Olson, Colonel
transcript

Oral History Interview with J. Lloyd Abbot, March 14, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with J. Lloyd Abbot. Abbot received a commission in the Navy in 1939 and served two months aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) before being tasked to bring an old destroyer, the USS Gilmer (DD-233), out of mothballs. He stayed on it for a while before going to flight school in Pensacola. He earned his wings in November, 1941. Due to some accidents and illnesses, Abbot was disallowed to fly from carriers. He was assigned to shore-bas… more
Date: March 14, 1998
Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes 27 seconds
Creator: Abbot, J. Lloyd
transcript

Oral History Interview with Arthur E. Owen, September 11, 1996

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Owen. Owen enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1941. After boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to the Marine Detachment at San Clemente Island, California. After he was there for a year, they transferred him to Camp Elliott in San Diego where he became part of the 2nd Marine Division. In Oct 1942, they sailed for New Zealand and additional training. They made several practice landings and then invaded Tarawa on No… more
Date: September 11, 1996
Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes 08 seconds
Creator: Owen, Arthur E.
transcript

Oral History Interview with Bob Layher, September 8, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Layher. Layher was a member of the first squadron of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. While stationed in Rangoon in January 1942, the group sent Pete Wright into the air to scare off an enemy bomber. Wright's plane malfunctioned on the approach, and he veered off the runway, killing a captain. On 5 March 1942, Layher nearly lost control of his own plane during a close formation drill. The … more
Date: September 8, 1998
Duration: 1 hour 5 minutes 45 seconds
Creator: Layher, Bob
transcript

Oral History Interview with George Bailey, July 17, 1997

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Bailey. Bailey was a crew chief with the Flying Tigers. He recalls that many of the mechanics in his crew were not well trained when they arrived, but they learned from him quickly. He describes the dangers presented by various landing gears. He discusses the personal lives of the crew, staff, and pilots, both during the war and after.
Date: July 17, 1997
Duration: 35 minutes 06 seconds
Creator: Bailey, George
transcript

Oral History Interview with William Schaper, July 19, 1997

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Schaper. Schaper joined the Flying Tigers as a crew chief and was soon promoted to hangar chief, handling all the heavy maintenance that could not be done on the field. Part of his job included salvaging carburetors and engines from crash sites. He recalls that many of the mechanics in his crew were not well trained after transferring in. Finally, he laments that much of the history around the AVG is obscured and for… more
Date: July 19, 1997
Duration: 29 minutes 16 seconds
Creator: Schaper, William
transcript

Oral History Interview with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi, June 17, 1996

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents oral interviews with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi. Hill and Burken go into great detail regarding an issue of LIFE Magazine with a picture of General Claire Lee Chennault on the cover and a drawing of a panda bear dressed like a cowboy, as Hill was a member of the Panda Bear squadron of the Flying Tigers. Burken then visits with Joe Robert about a print that Joe is looking to sell and a LIFE Magazine that Joe is featured in, sitting on the … more
Date: June 17, 1996
Duration: 2 hours 17 minutes 06 seconds
Creator: Hill, Tex; Robert, Joe & Rossi, Dick
transcript

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
Duration: 1 hour 33 minutes 52 seconds
Creator: Jernstedt, Ken
transcript

Oral History Interview with Traute (Gertrude) Manning, November 1, 1998

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Traute (Gertrude) Manning. Born in 1907 in the East German town of Koenigshuette, she moved, along with her engineer husband, to the Dutch East Indies to build roads. She shares anecdotes of her time in Java and Borneo, the living conditions and living among the Dutch community. When the Japanese invaded the Dutch East Indies, her husband was taken and held in an internment camp and she and her son, Robert, were imprisoned f… more
Date: November 1, 1998
Duration: 1 hour 34 minutes 32 seconds
Creator: Manning, Traute
transcript

Oral History Interview with Ray Hunter and Howard Jackel, April 30, 1990

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rear Admiral Ray Hunter and Howard Jackel. The interview begins with Admiral Hunter’s experiences aboard USS Washington (BB-56) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 14-15 November 1942. Hunter served as officer of the deck, and speaks of events that occurred in company with USS South Dakota (BB-57). In the second interview, Howard Jackel shares his experiences aboard the South Dakota from January of 1942 through January of 1… more
Date: April 30, 1990
Duration: 42 minutes 18 seconds
Creator: Hunter, Ray & Jackel, Howard
transcript

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

Description: 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
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes 07 seconds
Creator: Buell, Howard & Taylor, Warren
transcript

Oral History Interview with Ray Hunter, April 30, 1990

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Hunter. In this interview, Hunter recounts the Night Battle of Guadalcanal, for which he served as officer of the deck on the USS Washington (BB-56), on the lookout, keeping the ship out of collision with friendly forces, and making sure that the commanding officer’s orders were carried out. The crew had been at general quarters for 12 hours before the first shots were fired. Still, everyone remained calm. At the climax … more
Date: April 30, 1990
Duration: 20 minutes 03 seconds
Creator: Hunter, Ray
transcript

Oral History Interview with Howard Jackel, April 30, 1990

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Jackel. Jackel served aboard the USS Portland (CA-33) beginning in 1937. During World War II, he was aboard the USS South Dakota (BB-57). He noticed a stark difference between the two crews: while the Portland’s crew were polished sailors, the South Dakota’s were fighting men; uniforms did not mean much to them. During the Night Battle of Guadalcanal, Jackel was in the main battery plotting room, taking ranges from fi… more
Date: April 30, 1990
Duration: 22 minutes
Creator: Jackel, Howard
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