Oral History Interview with R. J. Schneider, September 19, 2013

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R.J. Schneider. Schneider was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on 7 March 1922. After completing high school, he enrolled in Xavier University and was in his senior year when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. He volunteered for the Marine Corps and was permitted to return college. Immediately after graduating he went to Parris Island for boot camp. He then went to Camp Lejeune where he received training in artillery, mortars and machineguns. This was followed by Officer Candidate School from which he graduated in late 1942 as a second lieutenant. Soon after being commissioned he boarded a ship bound for Guadalcanal. He recalls malaria being a problem that hindered the process of ridding the jungle of isolated Japanese. After nine months, he was sent to Peleliu for a short period of time before he was sent to Guam. While on Guam, the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. He tells of his admiration of President Truman for making such a momentous decision and reminisces of having dinner with Truman later in civilian life. After spending four months on Guam, he returned to the United States and resigned his commission