Preparing for the invasion of Japan

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Higgins, Archibald 494th Bombardment Group Operations
Archibald Higgins was in the Palau Islands with the mission of keeping those islands neutralized and flying missions to...
Cauble, Raymond A Visit from Winston Churchill
Raymond Cauble stayed in Italy until after Japan surrendered [Annotator's Note: Victory Over Japan Day, 15 August 1945...
Burrus, William Accordions and Mortars
William Burrus and his outfit [Annotator's Note: Company C, 1st Battalion, 347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry...
Moret, Calvin Advanced Flight Training
After ten weeks of flying the BT-13 [Annotator’s Note: Vultee BT-13 Valiant two seat trainer aircraft], Calvin Moret...
Ferris, Robert Aerial Bombardment Missions Over Japan
[Annotator's Note: Robert J. Ferris was pilot in Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232 (VMTB-232) and took part in combat...
Womack, Charles L. "Red" After the War
Charles Womack and every other Marine on the island were fully aware that they were headed for Japan after the fighting...
LeBlanc, Dale After the War
When Dale LeBlanc heard the news that the battle [Annotator's Note: Battle of Okinawa] was over he was relieved. One...
Tillery, Allen After the War and Personal Feelings
For Allen Tillery, returning to civilian life was not much of an adjustment because it happened so fast. He thought for...
Gillis, Jack Aircraft Spotter
Jack A. Gillis was a member of the Army Air Defense observation teams on Hawaii. He was a PFC [Annotator's Note:...
Wombacher, Delbert Airplane Close Call
Delbert Wombacher was at Camp Campbell, Kentucky [Annotator's Note: now Fort Campbell, Kentucky] doing some military...
Shirkey, Robert Alamo Scout Missions
Robert Leroy Shirkey and his unit [Annotator's Note: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 158th Regimental Combat Team] began...
Beck, Carl Alsace-Lorraine
On 5 January 1945, Carl Beck and his unit [Annotator's Note: Company H, 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry...
McCalla, Anna Army Nurse Overseas
In November 1944, Anna McCalla Noren received orders to report to the 304th General Hospital at Fort Knox, Kentucky....
Geisler, James Army Service Overview and Early Life
James "Jim" Geisler was born and raised in Pittsburgh [Annotator's Note: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]. He was 18 years old...
Segal, Harvey Assault into Germany
Harvey Segal knew nothing of the concentration camps before he entered Germany. When he and his battalion [Annotator's...
Bethard, Orville Assignments After the USS St. Lo (CVE-63)
[Annotator's Note: Orville Bethard served as an Electrician’s Mate aboard the USS St. Lo (CVE-63) which was sunk during...
Weiss, Jack Atomic Bomb then Home
Jack Weiss got off his ship [Annotator's Note: USS Columbia (CL-56)] and went on the South Dakota [Annotator's Note:...
Kolesa, Thomas Atomic Bombs
Thomas Kolesa was told to clean up his area and get everything ship shape. General MacArthur [Annotator's Note: General...
Brignac, Martin Atomic Bombs
Martin Brignac was building an airfield on New Guinea. The work was mostly just leveling the land. On Ie-Shima, Japan,...
Tyson, Marvin Atomic Bombs and Home
[Annotator's Note: Marvin Tyson served in the Navy aboard the USS LSM-270, the lead landing ship, for the invasion of...
Prince, Robert Atomic Bombs and Luck
Robert Prince was in San Fernando Sur, north of Manila [Annotator’s Note: Manila, Luzon, Philippines], close to Clark...
Stiles, John Atomic Bombs Dropped
[Annotator's Note: John Stiles was stationed on Okinawa, Japan with Marine Fighting Squadron 312 (VMF-312) when the...
Bucksell, Norris Attending Mass and Racial Discrimination
While Norris Bucksell was in Naples, Italy, the churches that had not been bombed stayed open and he was able to attend...
Klenoski, Richard Back Home
Richard Klenoski was at a rest home [Annotator's Note: a flak house; a designated rest home for American airmen who...
Samuelson, Daniel Back Home and The Atomic Bombs
Daniel Samuelson finished his 35 missions. He had flown over from Florida to Scotland and then went to England. After...
Atwood, Walter Basic Training to War's End
Walter Atwood worked for Boeing [Annotator's Note: The Boeing Company] for a couple of years and got deferments [...
Rosenbaum, James Battle of Okinawa
On 1 April 1945, James Stewart Rosenbaum, and his unit [Annotator's Note: Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th...
Light, Carl Battle of the Bulge
Every morning, Carl Light and his unit [Annotator's Note: Company C, 61st Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored...
Slay, Charles Battle of the Bulge
When Charles Slay joined the military he was assigned to Cannon Company [Annotator's Note: Cannon Company, 415th...
Catalano, Erico "Harry" Battle of the Bulge and War's End
Erico J. Catalano witnessed several plane crashes in mid-air or as they tried to land. There were close calls where the...
Cohn, Major Becoming a Sailor
Major Cohn joined the Navy and originally thought of becoming a submariner. He mistakenly thought it would be romantic...
Taylor, Claude Becoming a Sailor and Going to War
When Claude Taylor turned 18, he enlisted in the Navy. His father had been in the Army in France in World War 1. The...
Rogers, John Becoming Company Commander, Interactions with German Civilians and Going Home
John Rogers was fighting on Christmas Day [Annotator's Note: 25 December 1944] during the Battle of the Bulge. They...
Puissegur, Baptiste Being a Staff Car Driver and Nightmares After the War
Baptiste Puissegur was a staff car driver during the war. He liked the officers he served with. He enjoyed the duty...
Hughes, Lowell Being Discharged and the Ruptured Duck
Lowell Hughes got new uniforms when he returned to Fort Devens [Annotator's Note: Ayer and Shirley, Massachusetts]. He...
Baile, Richard Being Promoted and Firebombing Tokyo
To fill personnel losses resulting from accidents and combat, Richard Baile's crew was broken up. He was made the...

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