Rhoades discusses his family and education; attending Louisiana Polytechnic Institute; his training as an aircraft engineer and pilot; bombing missions over Germany flown from his base in northern England; his work in natural gas engineering in South Louisiana; owning a machine shop in Bossier City, La.; working for an ordnance plant near Minden, La.; his jobs in aircraft construction; his work in petroleum pipeline engineering in Texas, Alaska, and Saudi Arabia; and Saudi Arabian cultural customs.

Johnson discusses his family, childhood, education, and teaching in high school; his flight training and service with the Army Air Corps in the United States and Europe during World War II; his postwar assignments including commanding the Washington Area Air Defense Sector and the 14th Aero Space Force; attending the Imperial Defense College in London; early events in the Cold War; the contribution of his wife to his career; his involvement with the Korean and Vietnam Wars; and his government service in Shreveport.

The interview details early to mid-twentieth century life in south Louisiana, and describes extensively one woman's experience as an armed services nurse overseas during World War II. Considerable detail is also given to Turcan's nursing experience during Hurricane Audrey, which hit Southwest Louisiana in 1957. Finally, Turcan speaks to the nature of contemporary military life, particularly on women's roles and scandals involving women in the military.

Session I concerns Dupont's early life; his inspiration for joining the Marine Corps; boot camp in San Diego; and his passage through Hawaii, Guam, Midway Island, and Manila. He talks at length about being stationed in Shanghai in 1941. The interview ends with the Japanese attack on Manila, where he was in a hospital, on December 9, 1941.; Session II deals with the period between December 1941 and May 1942, during which time Dupont served on Corregidor in the Philippines. He describes details of life there while under siege by the Japanese, the fighting on Bataan and Corregidor, and his eventually being forced to surrender.; In Sessions III & IV, Dupont describes conditions in several prison camps in the Philippines, including Bilibid Prison in Manila, the hospital at Bilibid Prison, and prison camps in Cabanatuan and Palawan Island. He recounts details of hard labor including building an airfield in the jungle on Palawan Island, lack of food and clothing, poor shelter, diseases, maltreatment by guards, and encounters with wild animals. He describes the Battle of Manila, his subsequent liberation from Bilibid Prison, readjusting to life after his freedom, and his homecoming to Louisiana. He also discusses the "hell ships," Japanese ships carrying American prisoners of war that were sunk unknowingly by American submarines, and the massacre of American POWs on Palawan Island on December 14, 1944.; Session V concerns the postwar rehabilitation of Dupont and his close friends, all of whom had war-related disabilities. He describes his homecoming, meeting and marrying his wife, creating a life as a visually impaired veteran, and his work for the Department of Veterans Affairs.; In Session VI, Dupont tells of his childhood in Plaquemine in the 1920s and 1930s, the Mississippi River flood of 1927, his family background, life along the river, the Depression, his schooling, activities of teenagers, and joining the Marines.

Sims describes his family background and his hometown, Donaldsonville, his work at WJBO radio before and after the war and his association with station owner Charles Manship, Sr., and his training and experiences as a member of a B-17 flight crew during World War II, including his participation in D-Day. He offers details about debriefings after his missions and the "official" news in the STARS AND STRIPES. He also relates his career after the war and radio and his involvement in the Rotary Club.

Interview discusses Robert H. Barrow's life and experiences while serving in the Marine Corps from 1941 to his appointment as Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1978. Topics include the following in chronological order: his family and educational background in St. Francisville, Louisiana; life as a student at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge; the decision to join the Marine Corps following Pearl Harbor; service in World War II in China; downsizing of the Corps following the war; his service in the Korean War; the liberation of Seoul, Korea; general involvement in the Korean War (Hill 1081, Battles of Hungnam, Pusan, Peleliu); his marriage and assignments following the Korean War; his service in the Vietnam War; strategy, warfare, and tactics in Vietnam; assignment to Parris Island; service as Deputy Chief of Staff of Manpower; assignment and work as Commanding General of Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic until 1978; and his apppointment and work as Commandant until his retirement in 1983.; Additionally, topical subjects include Marines and married life; necessary qualities for a leader; operations in Laos; recruit training reforms; Marine discipline; Ronald Reagan as President; drug problems in the military; the image of the Marine Corps; the role of women in the Corps; and the continued need of the Marines and profile of the Corps in 1992-1993.