Transcript of a letter from David Fentress to his wife Clara in which he asks her to write longer letters with news of her and the children; his hopes for an end to the war in the spring; the shortage of physicians and why that makes it impossible for him to receive a furlough; the difficulty in receiving newspapers that have been subscribed to; news of the war; Abraham Lincoln's success in bringing people in west Tennessee to support the north; the difficulty in sending items home because he does not think they would get there; the sick making their way to the general hospital and a list of individuals who have died; his dislike for the people of Arkansas; the support of the people of Texas for the troops; the cost of wheat; his personal health; and his attendance at the funeral of Governor Jackson of Missouri.

Letter from David Fentress to his wife Clara in which he asks her to write longer letters with news of her and the children; his hopes for an end to the war in the spring; the shortage of physicians and why that makes it impossible for him to receive a furlough; the difficulty in receiving newspapers that have been subscribed to; news of the war; Abraham Lincoln's success in bringing people in west Tennessee to support the north; the difficulty in sending items home because he does not think they would get there; the sick making their way to the general hospital and a list of individuals who have died; his dislike for the people of Arkansas; the support of the people of Texas for the troops; the cost of wheat; his personal health; and his attendance at the funeral of Governor Jackson of Missouri.

Transcript of an oral interview with Al Heigel. When Heigel finished high school in June, 1944, he joined the Navy at Little Rock, Arkansas and went for boot training at San Diego. He was assigned as a radar operator and reported aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) at Pearl Harbor. Heigel describes the light carrier and its construction and features. He also speaks of the time the Independence was hit by a torpedo off Tarawa in 1943. Heigel then describes events off Okinawa: watching the USS Franklin (CV-13) being bombed off Okinawa; locating and shooting down kamikazes; describing battle stations; aircraft water landings; being in a typhoon, etc. After the war ended, the Independence served as a troop transport taking GIs back home to the US. He describes bunks in the hangar deck and arriving in Portland, Oregon. As the Independence was being prepared for the Bikini Atoll atomic tests, Heigel got off becuase he had the requisite amount of points allowing him to be discharged. He then entered the lumber business, married and raised family.

Interview with Clarabelle Barton Snodgrass, vice-chair of the Kerr County Historical Commission from Kerrville, Texas. Mrs. Snodgrass talks about growing up on a primitive ranch, struggling to survive during the Depression, meeting and marrying her husband, their family, their involvement with music, and her efforts to preserve the history of Kerr County. She also briefly discusses the honors and awards her volunteer work has earned her. Pages 2-13 include a written statement by Miles Abernathy Lowrence, Clarabelle's maternal great-uncle.

Transcript of an oral interview with Al Heigel. When Heigel finished high school in June, 1944, he joined the Navy at Little Rock, Arkansas and went for boot training at San Diego. He was assigned as a radar operator and reported aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) at Pearl Harbor. Heigel describes the light carrier and its construction and features. He also speaks of the time the Independence was hit by a torpedo off Tarawa in 1943. Heigel then describes events off Okinawa: watching the USS Franklin (CV-13) being bombed off Okinawa; locating and shooting down kamikazes; describing battle stations; aircraft water landings; being in a typhoon, etc. After the war ended, the Independence served as a troop transport taking GIs back home to the US. He describes bunks in the hangar deck and arriving in Portland, Oregon. As the Independence was being prepared for the Bikini Atoll atomic tests, Heigel got off becuase he had the requisite amount of points allowing him to be discharged. He then entered the lumber business, married and raised family.