Learning Resource Library

Explore stories, activities, and sources that bring the Pacific War to life. Whether you're diving deep or just curious, you can search by topic, format, or interest to find something that sparks connection and understanding.

Cleto Rodriguez Story

4-8
Videos
Virtual Lessons

Discover Cleto Rodriguez’s heroic World War II story of courage and sacrifice—an inspiring tale perfect for sparking classroom discussion.

For the Classroom
Servicemen & Servicewomen
3 views

Highlights and Insights: Medal of Honor

Videos
Museum, Video

The Medal of Honor is the highest decoration for valor in combat awarded to those serving in the U.S. armed forces. Hear the story of Sgt. John Basilone who fought in the Pacific War and was the first enlisted Marine to earn the Medal of Honor. Listen to the stunning account of bravery written on the citation for the Medal of Honor awarded to Staff Sgt. William J. Bordelon whose medal is displayed at the National Museum of the Pacific War.

Battles & Campaigns
Museum Stories & Artifacts
Servicemen & Servicewomen
10 views

President Franklin Roosevelt after Pearl Harbor Speech, December 8, 1945

Videos

This is the famous speech that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered on December 8, 1941, one day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Society & the Homefront
For the Classroom
47 views

Experiment in the Cockpit: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II | Webinar

Videos
Video, Webinar

By September of 1942, the U.S. was in dire need of pilots, and the U.S. Army Air Forces decided to try allowing women to fly their planes. Led by famed aviators Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love, over 1,800 women did the same flight training as men and 1,102 won their wings. They served in the same roles as men service pilots, including flying complicated bombers and towing targets behind planes to train ground gunners who fired live ammunition at them. In the two years they served the women flew 77 types of aircraft over 60 million miles. The Women Airforce Service Pilots did not fly in combat, but thirty-eight women were killed flying for their country. They were disbanded in December 1944 as more men began surviving the war and returning home to take over domestic flying. However, despite their important work, they were sent home with no benefits and no recognition. Over thirty years later, after a long grassroots effort, the government finally recognized them as Veterans of World War II.

Aviation and Aircraft
Servicemen & Servicewomen
14 views

The Rosies of Battleship New Jersey | Webinar

Videos
Webinar, Video

Director of Curatorial and Educational Affairs Ryan Szimanski and Director of Education Libby Jones from Battleship New Jersey and Museum will team up to present the 30-minute webinar that will highlight insightful details and stories about the women who helped build the Battleship New Jersey. The Battleship New Jersey was built by a workforce comprised of one-third women at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. They came from Pennsylvania or rode the ferry across the river from New Jersey. They built the world's longest battleship during a period of transition, both in the labor force, and in warship construction techniques. In addition to building the fleet that won World War II, some of their ships, including the battleship New Jersey, have stood the test of time and are still in use after 80 years.

Society & the Homefront
7 views

The Governor and the Colonel: A Dual Biography of William P. Hobby and Oveta Culp Hobby | Webinar

Videos
Video

In this webinar, author Don Carleton gives us some interesting insights into the lives of William P. Hobby and Oveta Culp Hobby. In 1917, William became the 27th Governor of Texas. During WWII, Oveta was the first director of the Women's Army Corps. In 1943, she was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a Colonel.

Webinars & Speaker Events
Leadership and Citizenship
7 views

Tails and Rabbit Trails: Solving WWII Mysteries | Webinar

Videos
Video, Webinar

Join Dr. Donna Esposito and NMPW's Chris McDougal as they give great tips and examples of how to find documents and information about military personnel from WWII.

Museum Stories & Artifacts
Webinars & Speaker Events
8 views

Preserving the Arsenal: Behind the Scenes| Webinar

Videos
Video

Join us for an “insider” look at how the firearms in the vast collection of the National Museum of the Pacific War are maintained. During this 30 minute webinar you will go through the process of cleaning a firearm and learn step by step how these firearms are preserved for display and living history programs.

Center for Pacific War Studies
Webinars & Speaker Events
Vehicles, Weapons, & Equipment
6 views

Postmarked at Sea: Naval Covers from the Asiatic Sea | Webinar

Videos
Video, Webinar

Tour an exhibit of Naval Covers from the Asiatic Fleet during the Pacific War. In this webinar, learn what Naval Covers are and how they are still used today.

Museum Stories & Artifacts
Japan & the Pacific
5 views

10 Latest Artifacts in the Museum [Recorded January 2023]

Videos
Video, Museum

Go behind the scenes of our Center for Pacific War Studies and see 10 artifacts that were donated to the National Museum of the Pacific War. From cameras to artwork, they show and tell the stories behind these very well-preserved artifacts.

Center for Pacific War Studies
Museum Stories & Artifacts
7 views