William J. Alexander | Oral History

William J. Alexander

OH 1397

Dairyman. His experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Enlistment and boot camp, San Diego, California, 1942-43; tank training, El Cajon, California, 1943; tank mechanics school, Fort Knox, Kentucky, 1943; assignment as a replacement to the 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion at Guadalcanal, 1944; invasion of Guam, July-August, 1944; reminiscences of coming under Japanese mortar fire on Guam; invasion of Iwo Jima, February-March, 1945; his role in hauling supplies ashore to the infantry on Iwo Jima; his return to the States for training in the V-12 Program, June, 1945.

OH 1283

Attorney. His role and experiences as a prosecuting attorney at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East [Tokyo War Crimes Trials], 1945-46. His early law career; acquaintanceship with U.S.

OH 1232

His experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. First assignment to the battleship USS West Virginia and his experiences during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; assignment to the antiaircraft cruiser USS San Juan, 1942; naval battles around Guadalcanal; Battle of Savo Island; assignment to the destroyer USS Wedderburn, 1944; Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944; Pacific typhoons; Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations, 1945.

OH 1570

His experiences in combat in Philippines during World War II; presence in Yokohama Harbor during Japanese surrender; and in Tokyo during post-war U. S. occupation of Japan.

OH 1383

Electrical engineer. His experiences in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. Prewar civilian jobs in radio/communications work; his selection and training for OSS operations, 1943; assignment to Wudu, China, 1944; coastwatching activities and radio transmissions; various miscellaneous accounts of his tour of duty in China.

OH 1557

His experiences as a radar technician in the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War years. Early family life; decision to join the U.S.

OH 1427

His experiences while aboard the destroyer USS Blue during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Also comments about the Battle of Savo Island, August 9, 1942, and the sinking of the Blue, August 22, 1942.

OH 1401

Member of Doolittle's Raiders. His experiences as Jimmie Doolittle’s co-pilot during the Tokyo Raid of April 18, 1942.