Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bruce Williams. Williams was born in August 1920 in Pennsylvania. He entered the Navy’s V-7 program at Northwestern University in September 1943. Upon commissioning in December, Williams reported aboard the submarine chase USS SC-731 as the executive officer. He recalls experiences from around New Guinea and the Philippines. Part of his job included delivering supplies to Filipino guerrillas. When the war ended, Williams elected to go to seminary and stayed in the reserves and worked as a chaplain until retiring in 1975.
Date: August 27, 2020
Creator: Williams, Bruce
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Nolan, March 30, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Nolan, March 30, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James C. Nolan. Nolan joined the Navy on October 19, 1943. He completed Landing Craft School, and served as Landing Craft Coxswain, Seaman First-Class aboard the USS Pierce (APA-50). They traveled to Kwajalein, Palaus, Guadalcanal, Leyte, New Guinea, Lingayen Gulf, Subic Bay and Okinawa. Nolan made eight total landings aboard landing craft boat number 13. He recalls his combat experiences landing on Leyte on October 20, 1944 in the third wave. After the war ended, the Pierce traveled to Seoul, Korea and Japan to pick up and transfer troops back to the U.S. He received his discharge on January 26, 1946.
Date: March 30, 2020
Creator: Nolan, James
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Arnold Holden, February 20, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Arnold Holden, February 20, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Holden. Holden joined the Navy on 30 December 1943. He served as a coxswain aboard USS Olmsted (APA-188). They transported troops and supplies in support of amphibious operations, traveling to New Guinea, Leyte and Okinawa. Additionally, they participated in the first occupational landings in Japan. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.
Date: February 20, 2020
Creator: Holden, Arnold
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bruce Williams. Williams was born in August 1920 in Pennsylvania. He entered the Navy’s V-7 program at Northwestern University in September 1943. Upon commissioning in December, Williams reported aboard the submarine chase USS SC-731 as the executive officer. He recalls experiences from around New Guinea and the Philippines. Part of his job included delivering supplies to Filipino guerrillas. When the war ended, Williams elected to go to seminary and stayed in the reserves and worked as a chaplain until retiring in 1975.
Date: August 27, 2020
Creator: Williams, Bruce
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Hamilton, August 4, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with William Hamilton, August 4, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Hamilton. Hamilton was born in 1921 in New York. He joined the Navy in April 1942, but finished college before getting a commission later in 1943. He was then sent aboard USS Quincy (CA-71) in December. He was aboard for the invasion of Normandy. Hamilton was still aboard when Quincy transported President Roosevelt to Yalta. He was able to get close enough to FDR to observe the state of his health at the time. He was still aboard during the Okinawa campaign. Hamilton shares several great anecdotes about his experiences aboard the Quincy during and after the war including kamikazes and typhoons.
Date: August 4, 2020
Creator: Hamilton, William
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with B. B. Browning, November 5, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with B. B. Browning, November 5, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with B B Browning. Browning joined the Navy in mid-1943. Beginning mid-1944, he served as Seaman First Class, supporting Marines aboard a troop ship. He recalls his experiences through the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot in June of 1944, and going ashore on Tinian with the Marines. He vividly describes his time on the island, serving on guard duty, communicating with Japanese civilians on the island, supervising work of the remaining Japanese soldiers and serving as yeoman to the captain. He remained on Tinian after the war ended, returning to the US in mid-1946 to receive his discharge.
Date: November 5, 2020
Creator: Browning, B. B.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Don Pickard, September 17, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Don Pickard, September 17, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Pickard. Pickard was in high school when the war started and recalls a few anecdotes from childhood before joining the Navy in mid-1944. Once in the Navy, Pickard was assigned to the Amphibious Force. He served as a signalman aboard USS Bergen (APA-150). On his first voyage, they delivered ammunition to Ulithi. Pickard also went to Okinawa and describes typhoons. After the war ended, his ship carried parts of the First Marine Division to China. Upon returning to the US, Pickard received his discharge in mid-1946.
Date: September 17, 2020
Creator: Pickard, Don
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Nolan, March 30, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Nolan, March 30, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James C. Nolan. Nolan joined the Navy on October 19, 1943. He completed Landing Craft School, and served as Landing Craft Coxswain, Seaman First-Class aboard the USS Pierce (APA-50). They traveled to Kwajalein, Palaus, Guadalcanal, Leyte, New Guinea, Lingayen Gulf, Subic Bay and Okinawa. Nolan made eight total landings aboard landing craft boat number 13. He recalls his combat experiences landing on Leyte on October 20, 1944 in the third wave. After the war ended, the Pierce traveled to Seoul, Korea and Japan to pick up and transfer troops back to the U.S. He received his discharge on January 26, 1946.
Date: March 30, 2020
Creator: Nolan, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Donald Bishop, September 25, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Donald Bishop, September 25, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Bishop. Bishop joined the Marines late December 1942. He served with K Company, Third Battalion, First Marines. He shares his experiences through the Guadalcanal, New Britain and Peleliu campaigns. He was injured at Peleliu and returned to the US in late 1944. He assisted at West Point and Annapolis, teaching beach landings. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge on 22 January 1946.
Date: September 25, 2020
Creator: Bishop, Donald
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Arnold Holden, February 20, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with Arnold Holden, February 20, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Holden. Holden joined the Navy on 30 December 1943. He served as a coxswain aboard USS Olmsted (APA-188). They transported troops and supplies in support of amphibious operations, traveling to New Guinea, Leyte and Okinawa. Additionally, they participated in the first occupational landings in Japan. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.
Date: February 20, 2020
Creator: Holden, Arnold
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with B. B. Browning, November 5, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with B. B. Browning, November 5, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with B B Browning. Browning joined the Navy in mid-1943. Beginning mid-1944, he served as Seaman First Class, supporting Marines aboard a troop ship. He recalls his experiences through the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot in June of 1944, and going ashore on Tinian with the Marines. He vividly describes his time on the island, serving on guard duty, communicating with Japanese civilians on the island, supervising work of the remaining Japanese soldiers and serving as yeoman to the captain. He remained on Tinian after the war ended, returning to the US in mid-1946 to receive his discharge.
Date: November 5, 2020
Creator: Browning, B. B.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Don Pickard, September 17, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with Don Pickard, September 17, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Pickard. Pickard was in high school when the war started and recalls a few anecdotes from childhood before joining the Navy in mid-1944. Once in the Navy, Pickard was assigned to the Amphibious Force. He served as a signalman aboard USS Bergen (APA-150). On his first voyage, they delivered ammunition to Ulithi. Pickard also went to Okinawa and describes typhoons. After the war ended, his ship carried parts of the First Marine Division to China. Upon returning to the US, Pickard received his discharge in mid-1946.
Date: September 17, 2020
Creator: Pickard, Don
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Hamilton, August 4, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with William Hamilton, August 4, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Hamilton. Hamilton was born in 1921 in New York. He joined the Navy in April 1942, but finished college before getting a commission later in 1943. He was then sent aboard USS Quincy (CA-71) in December. He was aboard for the invasion of Normandy. Hamilton was still aboard when Quincy transported President Roosevelt to Yalta. He was able to get close enough to FDR to observe the state of his health at the time. He was still aboard during the Okinawa campaign. Hamilton shares several great anecdotes about his experiences aboard the Quincy during and after the war including kamikazes and typhoons.
Date: August 4, 2020
Creator: Hamilton, William
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Donald Bishop, September 25, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with Donald Bishop, September 25, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Bishop. Bishop joined the Marines late December 1942. He served with K Company, Third Battalion, First Marines. He shares his experiences through the Guadalcanal, New Britain and Peleliu campaigns. He was injured at Peleliu and returned to the US in late 1944. He assisted at West Point and Annapolis, teaching beach landings. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge on 22 January 1946.
Date: September 25, 2020
Creator: Bishop, Donald
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History