Resource Type

Oral History Interview with Mary Steele Leon, April 15, 1997 transcript

Oral History Interview with Mary Steele Leon, April 15, 1997

Interview with Mary Steele Leon, a secretary for the U. S. Navy during and after World War II. She joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) and was trained as a secretary. Her first assignment was in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during World War II. The CNO at the time was Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King. After the war, she served as personal secretary for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz while he was CNO. She was discharged in 1946.
Date: April 15, 1997
Creator: Alexander, Bill & Leon, Mary Steele
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Warren Honey transcript

Oral History Interview with Warren Honey

Interview with Warren Honey, a communications specialist with the US Army. He answers questions about his service during WWII.
Date: 1995~
Creator: Andrisek, Mike & Honey, Warren
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, February 18, 2005

Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He attended Texas A&M before serving in the Marine Corps. He was in the 28th Replacement Battalion when he was assigned to the 3d Marine Division and deployed to Iwo Jima. He discusses his first impressions of landing on the island. He describes the constructed Japanese defenses on the island and the use of Japanese Nisei interpreters to convince defenders to surrender. He returned to Texas A&M where he was in the Corps of Cadets (ROTC) and accepted his commission in the Army in time to serve in Korea. He eventually earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Texas A&M and a doctorate degree in pathology from Michigan State University. He retired from service in 1976 with the rank of colonel.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Atkinson, Scott & Trevino, Gilberto S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Annie May Web, March 24, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Annie May Web, March 24, 2001

Interview with Annie (Amy) May Webb discussing her husband's service and her experiences on the homefront during World War II. She describes delivering word of the birth of their daughter to her husband while he was aboard the USS Bennington serving with VMF-112.
Date: March 24, 2001
Creator: Bloomfield, Vivian & Webb, Annie May
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Edward Harris, April 26, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Edward Harris, April 26, 2002

Interview with Robert Edward Harris, a veteran of World War II, serving in India at the time. Harris answers questions relating to his training, duties, and activities while over in India towards the end of the war; Harrs also answers questions concerning his feelings towards the war and his enemies.
Date: April 26, 2002
Creator: Bottoms, Aaron & Harris, Robert Edward
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with M. T. Hebel transcript

Oral History Interview with M. T. Hebel

Interview with M.T. Hebel, a Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class in the US Navy. He answers questions about joining the military and life abroad.
Date: 1995~
Creator: Boudreaux, Monica & Hebel, M.T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Spears, April 5, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Spears, April 5, 2001

Interview with James Spears, an ammunition worker on the home front during WWII. He describes the war as he saw it from the home front.
Date: April 5, 2001
Creator: Brosh, Kate & Spears, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lynn A. Seamans, March 30, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lynn A. Seamans, March 30, 2002

Interview with Lynn A. Seamans, a naval reservist in the US Navy during WWII and the Korean War. He answers questions about his time in the military and his experience abroad.
Date: May 12, 2004
Creator: Brown, C. & Seamans, Lynn A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Norman Apelt, September 23, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Norman Apelt, September 23, 2001

Interview with with Norman Apelt, an airplane mechanic during World War II. He discusses his service in the US Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic in Pampa, Texas. After the war ended, Apelt was assigned duty in occupied Japan.
Date: September 23, 2001
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Apelt, Norman
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lowell Dean Cox, February 1, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lowell Dean Cox, February 1, 2005

Interview with Lowell Dean Cox, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He discusses joining the Navy and serving aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). He was on board when the cruiser was attacked by a Japanese submarine and survived for five days in the water before being rescued.
Date: February 1, 2005
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Cox, Lowell Dean
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with E. R. Dolinar, April 5, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with E. R. Dolinar, April 5, 2003

Interview with E.R. (Ed) Dolinar, a serviceman with the U. S. Navy during World War II. He discusses going to boot camp, torpedo school and submarine school. He was on the SSN Stingray as a torpedo crewman that offloaded supplies and guerillas in the Philippines. It picked up stranded Japanese sailors and transported them to Australia. The Stingray was then decomissioned. He was then part of a crew that studied and stripped captured German submarines, and he discusses the differences between the U-boats and the US submarines. He also discusses the Bolomen, Filipino guerillas who fought the Japanese during the occupation. He also talks briefly about his experience of being hit with depth charges and gives his opinions on General MacArthur and President Truman.
Date: April 5, 2003
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Dolinar, E. R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., October 20, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., October 20, 2003

Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., a serviceman during World War II. He discusses his time aboard the USS Saratoga at the Battle of Midway and at Guadalcanal, where the ship sustained two torpedo attacks. He saw Pearl Harbor three days after the attack.
Date: October 20, 2003
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Smyth, Earl, Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Russell Colburn transcript

Oral History Interview with Russell Colburn

Interview with Russell Colburn, a tank troop in the US Army. He answers questions about his time in the military during WWII.
Date: 1995~
Creator: Burleson, Jennifer & Colburn, Russell
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James W. Johnson transcript

Oral History Interview with James W. Johnson

Interview with James W. Johnson, highlighting the divisions and battalions that he served in as well as anecdotes of other troops stealing supplies. Also mentioned are stories of treatment of deceased American soldiers, and the lack of rations coming in quickly.
Date: 199X
Creator: Busby, Dory & Johnson, James W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bobbie C. Lamb, April 26, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bobbie C. Lamb, April 26, 2001

Interview with Bobbie C. Lamb, a civilian worker in the US Maritime Commission. She answers questions about life on the home front during WWII.
Date: April 26, 2001
Creator: Chamblin, Marie & Lamb, Bobbie C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Boyd Lamb, February 28, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Boyd Lamb, February 28, 2001

Interview with Boyd Lamb. He answers questions about his life before enlisting, life on the USS Tennessee, and his life post-war.
Date: February 28, 2001
Creator: Chamblin, Marie & Lamb, Boyd
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Fritz Kornegay, March 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Fritz Kornegay, March 2003

Interview with Fritz Kornegay, a signal engineer in the US Army during WWII. He describes his time in the military and coming home post-war.
Date: March 2003
Creator: Childress, D. & Kornegay, Fritz
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Paul F. Lemmon, August 16, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Paul F. Lemmon, August 16, 2002

Interview with Paul F. Lemmon, a fireman in the US Navy during WWII. He answers questions about his life prior to enlisting and his experience overseas.
Date: August 16, 2002
Creator: Coates, Evan & Lemmon, Paul F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with E. C. May, April 16, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with E. C. May, April 16, 2002

Interview with E. C. May, a navigator in the US Air Corps during WWII. He answers questions about his time in the military overseas and returning home.
Date: April 16, 2002
Creator: Coates, Evan & May, E. C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John C. Hencke, April 25, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with John C. Hencke, April 25, 2003

Interview with John C. Hencke, a veteran of the United States Army during World War II, from New York City, New York. Hencke responds to questions regarding his time in the service and overseas, as well as what was going on back home. He notes his relationships that he kept up while he was away and the duties he maintained in the Army.
Date: April 25, 2003
Creator: Coffey, Stephen & Hencke, John C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with A. B. Rawlinson, June 25, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with A. B. Rawlinson, June 25, 2002

Interview with A. B. Rawlinson, a machine gunner in the US Army during WWII. He answers questions about his life during the war and his experience abroad.
Date: June 25, 2002
Creator: Collins, Kim & Rawlinson, A. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jesse F. Stovall, Jr., April 29, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jesse F. Stovall, Jr., April 29, 2002

Interview with Jesse F. Stovall, Jr., a soldier in the US Marine Corps during WWII. He answers questions about his time in the Marines and his experiences overseas.
Date: April 29, 2002
Creator: Contreras, Francisco & Stovall, Jesse F., Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Buck Gibson, October 19, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Buck Gibson, October 19, 2002

Interview with Buck Gibson of Waco, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War Two. The interview includes some of Mr. Gibson's background before and after the war as well as his personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of his training, life in the Navy, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and what happened after he was rescued.
Date: October 19, 2002
Creator: Cox, Bill & Gibson, Buck
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Bennett, November 15, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Bennett, November 15, 2001

Interview with Richard (Dick) Bennett, a pilot during World War II. He discusses his enlistment in the Army Air Corps, basic training and flight school. He then went to a base in South Carolina to learn to fly B-25s. At Fort Myers, Florida he flew B-26 bombers and trained to fly them off of aircraft carriers so they could drop torpedos on the Japanese fleet during naval battles. He traveled across the Pacific to Brisbane only to be told that they didn't have B-26s for the crews; the colonel there knew nothing about the plan to launch B-26s from aircraft carriers, so they were sent to New Guinea to fly B-17s and supplement the crews for those bombers. From there they made bombing runs or "Washing Machine Charlie"-type runs to keep people awake at night on various Japanese targets in the islands, particularly the base at Rabaul. In fall of 1943, the Army grounded the B-17s due to the damage they had incurred and replaced them with B-24s. The men received manuals and were given only a few days to familiarize themselves with the new planes. They were then sent on bombing runs. He finished his tour of duty at …
Date: November 15, 2001
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Bennett, Richard
System: The Portal to Texas History