Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO)

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Houston, Jack Motivations, Drill Instructors, and China
Jack Houston had three reasons for enlisting. The first was patriotism. The second was that all of his friends were...
Heuer, Frank Motor Machinist’s Mate School
In January 1943, Frank M. Heuer Sr. enlisted in the Navy with his younger brother, Edward. Heuer, his brother, and...
Hatch, Norman Mount Suribachi
Norman Hatch [Annotator's Note: a photographer in the 5th Marine Division] was on Iwo Jima, Japan [Annotator's Note:...
Ukrop, Samuel Mount Yae-take on Okinawa
Samuel Ukrop [Annotator's Note: while serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division...
Sullivan, George Moving Around the Pacific
George Joseph Sullivan moved from Mbanika [Annotator's Note: Mbanika Island, Solomon Islands] on an APC [Annotator's...
Warne, Thomas Moving Back to Hawaii
In the 1930s, Thomas E. Warne was living at the Del Monte Plantation in the Philippines because his father was the...
Reeder, John Moving on in the Marine Corps
John Reeder remained on active duty, and was sent to the Naval Air Station at Mojave, California for a month, then...
Heath, David Moving Over to Guadalcanal
David Heath transferred to Guadalcanal, 26 miles from the island of Tulagi [Annotator's Note: both in the Solomon...
Ream, John Moving to Camp Holmes
John Ream would walk around the camp [Annotator’s Note: Camp John Hay in Baguio, the Philippines was a relatively nice...
Strausbaugh, Leo Moving to the Philippines
Their kickoff point was Finschhafen [Annotator's Note: Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea], and when the time came, Leo V....
Rose, Olaf "Olly" Moving Up Through the Ranks
Olaf Rose recalled having served under three different skippers on the PT-171 [Annotator's Note: PT-171, Motor Torpedo...
Dragich, Charles Mukden
Charles Dragich saw burials every day [Annotator’s Note: while a prisoner of war of the Japanese at Camp O’Donnell in...
Muri, James Muri's part of the Battle of Midway
[Annotator's Note: James Muri served in the USAAF as a pilot flying Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers in the 22nd...
Muri, James Muri's Torpedo Run on the Akagi
It took James Muri 45 minutes or an hour to get to the Japanese fleet from Midway. After he left Midway, he was...
Gackenbach, Russell Mysterious Mission
Russell Gackenbach was summoned one day after dinner to answer the phone. He knew that something had to be wrong for...
Bale, Edward Nagasaki
Edward Bale began training for the invasion of Japan after the end of the combat on Okinawa. He knew what to expect of...
Taddeo, Al Naming the Blue Angels
Alfred Taddeo was with the squadron that became the Blue Angels [Annotator's Note: United States Navy Blue Angels...
Tso, Samuel Navajos Join the Marine Corps
Samuel Tso changed his age to join the Marine Corps. He was 18 years old at the time and could not find a job. He went...
Little, Keith Navajos Joining the Marines
[Annotator's Note: This interview was conducted with a group of Navajo veterans present, many of whom can be heard off-...
Weymouth, Ralph Naval Academy Classmates and Sneak Attacks
In the early 1930s when the Japanese invaded Manchuria then moved into China, Ralph Weymouth’s group was being pushed...
McCormick, Bruce Naval and Civil Service After the War
Bruce McCormick returned to Camp Pendleton [Annotator's Note: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County,...
Culpepper, George Naval Battle at Surigao Strait
MacArthur [Annotator's Note: General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area] went...
Bost, Ben Naval Battle in the Philippines
After he had joined the Navy, it was a shock for Ben Ray Bost to leave home and get into uniform. Everything was free...
Tarrant, Eugene Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
[Annotator's Note: Eugene Tarrant served in the Navy as a captain’s mess attendant aboard the USS San Francisco (CA-38...
Harrell, Edgar Naval Battles Aboard the the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
After being assigned to the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) [Annotator's Note: sometimes referred to as "Indy"], Edgar Harrell...
Murphy, Paul Naval Campaigns and Repair
Paul J. Murphy had his first campaign [Annotator’s Note: as a fire controlman aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)] in...
Yost, Victor Naval Service
Victor James Yost was born on a farm in Illinois in October 1920. His parents were farmers. Yost was one of eight...
Amoss, Walter "Jimmy" Naval Training, Combat, War's End
Walter Amoss was 17 years of age when the war started. Like his fellow students, he wanted to join the military and go...
Johnsen, Erik Navigation Before Radar
Erik Johnsen served in the US Merchant Marine on the SS Dolly Madison. He doesn't recall the cargo on his first trip...
Boehm, Robert Navigation Equipment Technician
Robert Kenneth “Bob” Boehm was called into personnel one day [Annotator’s Note: Boehm was working toward acceptance as...
Sparacino, Paul Navy and Veteran Life
Paul Sparacino was ordered aboard the USS Princeton [Annotator's Note: USS Princeton (LPH-5)] as an airdale [Annotator'...
Ashton, Jackson Navy Assignments and Postwar
Jackson Augustus "Jack" Ashton, Senior served at many bases during the war [Annotator's Note: as a member of (MTB RON...
Anthony, Ray Navy Bandmember
Ray Anthony joined the Navy rather than the Army. He went to the Great Lakes and Chicago. Eddie Peabody was a...
Witaker, Richard "Dick" Navy Corpsmen
Richard Witaker heard about the war ending in Europe and was grateful. More supplies would be coming to the Pacific. In...
Masters, Robert Navy Experience and War's End
Robert Masters's ship [Annotator's Note: USS LST-601] came under air raids on several occasions while in port in Tunis...
Wade, Nelsyn Navy Life
While on watch duty [Annotator's Note: aboard the USS Aldebaran (AF-10)], Nelsyn Ernest Brooks Wade studied the stars....

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