Lyle Bird was born in May 1926 in Bakersfield, California and grew up in Oakland, California. Bird was one of three siblings. His family was in the automobile business, and his father owned a parts store. During the Great Depression [Annotator's Note: The Great Depression was a global economic depression that lasted from 1929 through 1939 in the United States], his father was able to continue to work, so the era did not affect him negatively. When he lived in Oakland, a German woman in his neighborhood who was pro-Hitler [Annotator's Note: German dictator Adolf Hitler] was his first exposure to the coming war. He recalls living under blackout conditions each night due to the threat of Japanese submarines along the West Coast. He learned about Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941] on the car radio when he was on his way home from church. Bird did not understand the impact of the event at the time. At age 16, Bird became a union musician and began performing at USO [Annotator's Note: United Service Organizations, Inc.] shows and marching in military parades with the Oakland Weldonians. While performing for servicemen, Bird became acquainted with several of them and admired the work they were doing. In April 1944, bored with his job at the Golden Gate Theater, Bird asked for, and his parents granted, permission for him to enter the Navy at age 17. He chose the Navy because one of his siblings joined and he had an affinity for boats.

Lyle Bird asked for, and his parents granted, permission for him to enter the Navy at age 17. He attended boot camp in Farragut, Iowa where the military discipline was the most surprising thing about his new reality. As a union worker, he jokingly says he objected to being overworked. He then did training as a signalman. Bird was put aboard the USS Okanogan (APA-220) as a signalman and bugler. His ship launched from Richmond, California, and he was part of the first crew. He met several other musicians aboard ship and they formed a 14-piece jazz band. [Annotator’s Note: Cellphone dings at 0:16:45.000.] In early 1945, the ship’s shakedown was to San Francisco [Annotator’s Note: San Francisco, California] and back. He learned to overcome seasickness. The ship first traveled to the Philippines and picked up men and supplies for the invasion of Okinawa [Annotator’s Note: the Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg; 1 April to 22 June 1945; Okinawa, Japan]. The ship carried 800 soldiers to Okinawa three times before the war concluded. While anchored off the coast of Okinawa, the threat of kamikaze attack was ever-present. His ship had a machine on board that made smoke screens to protect his ship and others around them. The day that the atomic bomb dropped [Annotator's Note: nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 6 and 9 August 1945] was when his ship departed Okinawa. During occupation, his ship was ordered to bring troops into occupied Yokohama, Japan. When the ship was at battle stations, Bird went to his signal station and then came forward if he was needed as a bugler. Bird retaliated a little bit because he was tired of playing the bugle and dismissed orders until he was sent to brig duty. Three men died aboard ship while being transported from Okinawa, and Bird played Taps [Annotator’s Note: a bugle call used to mark the end of the day, as well as at ceremonies and military funerals] during the burials at sea. The Japanese had a hatred for him, but he always tried to be peaceful. He realized what the feeling of hatred pressed upon him felt like. Bird watched tracers in the sky that looked like they were aiming at him, but actuality flew over him.

Lyle Bird was assigned as a signalman and bugler aboard the USS Okanogan (APA-220) in the Pacific at the end of the war and postwar. He listened to Tokyo Rose [Annotator's Note: nickname given by Allied servicemen to any English-speaking female radio personality broadcasting Japanese propaganda in the Pacific Theater] on the way to Okinawa [Annotator’s Note: Okinawa, Japan]. His ship was on its way to the Philippines when they heard the war ended [Annotator’s Note: 15 August 1945. They were able to keep their lights on during the night for the first time. One crewman jumped off the ship, and the ship had to turn around and search for him. Bird found him in the water, and they pulled him in. The sailor spent the rest of the time in the brig [Annotator's Note: military prison aboard a Naval vessel or base; slang for jail]. His ship returned to the United States and he disembarked in Philadelphia [Annotator’s Note: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]. He was discharged in May 1946 with the rating of signalman second class. It took him three days on a train to get home to California. When he arrived home, his uncle bought him a car. He used the G.I. Bill [Annotator's Note: the G.I. Bill, or Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was enacted by the United States Congress to aid United States veterans of World War 2 in transitioning back to civilian life and included financial aid for education, mortgages, business starts and unemployment] to take courses in music.

Lyle Bird remarks that World War 2 was a long time ago, but he feels honored to have been a part of it. He served because he wanted to defend America. He was happy to continue to play [Annotator’s Note: music] while he was in service. The war changed his life because people gave him a lot of respect. He appreciates the recognition, and was able to go on various adventures because of his service. He thinks that most people think of Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941] in association with World War 2. Bird believes there should be institutions like the National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana], and that we should continue to teach World War 2 to future generations because it is the only way for this country to stay on course.