Before John Coltrane became recognized as an influential jazz musician, he served with the US Navy band the Melody Masters. 

In this clip, Richard Candelaria discusses how he and the other P-51 Mustang pilots in his group favored bomber escort missions as they knew they would likely get a chance to engage any German fighters that arrived to attack the bomber formations.

Merchant Marine, Louis Taix of New Orleans, Louisiana, was lost at sea when the SS Nicarao was sunk by a German submarine U-751 on the night of May 15, 1942, in the Bahama Islands.

In this clip, Roland Chaisson talks about his experiences during the Sicilian Campaign and encounters he had with local civilians and their German occupiers.

After delivering vital parts to the island of Tinian for the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima, the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis was struck by two enemy torpedoes on July 29, 1945. The ship sank in twelve minutes.

In his Museum oral history, Senior Chief Radioman Walter Nelson recounts the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Diagnosed with Hansen’s disease and unable to access medication in Japanese-occupied Philippines, Josefina Guerrero decided to join the guerrilla movement and become a spy. Her disease allowed her to move untouched by the Japanese, providing critical intel to American forces as they moved towards the Battle of Manila.

World War II shaped the kind of person, musician, and composer Dave Brubeck became.

In this clip, Fred Hollis describes how he learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Walter Broll was present during the German bombing attack on Bari Harbor in Italy on 2 December 1943.

In the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history, 27 Marines and sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor for action on Iwo Jima. No other campaign surpassed that number.

For Jack Vessey, the march through Rome following that city’s liberation was one of the greatest days of the war.