[Annotator's Note: There is white noise throughout this clip.] James L. Lowder was born in Cleveland, Ohio in June 1926. His father was an accountant but could not land a job during the Great Depression [Annotator's Note: The Great Depression, a global economic depression that lasted from 1929 through 1945]. However, Lowder did not feel out of place because all his neighbors were in the same situation. They survived on very little for a long time until his father finally landed a job in 1938. He recalls sitting next to a radio with his brother-in-law when he heard that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. Lowder was in college before he was drafted. His brother-in-law was drafted to New Caledonia [Annotator's Note: New Caledonia, Oceania] as a surgeon soon after. Lowder was drafted about eight months after he was in college. He developed a heart murmur. When he was receiving his physical the doctors had to discuss with each other whether he should be allowed to join the service. They eventually passed him. Before Lowder was drafted, he tried to enlist in the Navy, but they did not accept him because he was too tall. He received a notice to reported to basic training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson [Annotator's Note: Camp Joseph T. Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas] after his induction in Indiana. The last few weeks in training it rained the whole time. He would camp in wet clothes, and the trenches they dug were filling up with water. Many of the men contracted illnesses and trench foot [Annotator's Note: immersion foot syndrome]. Since Lowder did well on written tests when he first arrived at camp, he was transferred to Minnesota for Japanese language and culture classes which were supposed to take a year. He was not expecting this transfer because he thought for sure he would be sent to Europe with his company.

[Annotator's Note: There is white noise, and the video randomly pauses throughout this clip.] James L. Lowder reported to the University of Minnesota [Annotator's Note: in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota] where he learned the Japanese language and culture from Nisei [Annotator's Note: first generation Japanese-American]. Lowder did not complete the course because he was sent overseas to Okinawa [Annotator's Note: Okinawa, Japan] to join the 51st MP Battalion [Annotator's Note: 51st Military Police Battalion, 10th Army]. He began to prepare to invade Japan. Lowder was uneasy when he heard this news. The war ended right before Lowder got to Okinawa. He was informed by 10th Army Headquarters that he was not supposed to be on Okinawa. He was supposed to be back in Minnesota for Officers Training School at Fort Snelling [Annotator's Note: Fort Snelling, Minnesota]. Lowder returned to the United States and went by train to Fort Snelling. He was informed that he was over a month late and would have to wait until the next class began. Before that could happen, however, his mother became gravely ill and Lowder was given a dependency discharge in November 1945.

[Annotator's Note: There is white noise throughout this clip.] James L. Lowder's older brother was working in the Caribbean building Atlas missiles [Annotator's Note: SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile]. His sister's husband was in New Caledonia [Annotator's Note: New Caledonia, Oceania], so Lowder was discharged in 1945 from the Army as a Private so they could care for his ailing mother. Later, he was able to attend school when his uncle came to help his mother. He used the G.I. Bill for his education. Lowder enjoyed being in the Army and going to school in Minnesota.

[Annotator's Note: There is white noise throughout this clip.] James L. Lowder thinks that going into the Army made him more mature and more responsible. He enjoyed his experience in the Army from the food to the training. He also felt for the first time in his life, he took on responsibility, especially as a squad leader. He was later drafted for Korea [Annotator's Note: Korean War, 1950 to 1953] but was deferred because he was in school for dentistry and his wife was about to have their first child. Lowder believes that World War 2 is a good example to teach children about war. He believes that people need to know what happens to the civilians during wars. It is a tremendous loss of life. He enjoyed going through The National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: in New Orleans, Louisiana]. He was impressed how there were many photographers at the frontline of the battles. Lowder is amazed about the massive operations that had to occur for America to succeed in World War 2.