Oral History Interview with Donald O. Dencker, September 22, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Donald O. Dencker, September 22, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald O. Dencker. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 25, 1924. Upon graduation from high school in February, 1943 he joined the Army. In March 1944 after attending Army Corps of Engineers school, he was assigned to the 96th Infantry Division. He witnessed the explosion of a munition ship in Port Chicago, California. Eventually he departed Pearl Harbor embarked upon USS LST-745 sailing to Leyte Island in the Philippines. He recalls several anecdotes during the transit and landing on Leyte Island in October, 1944. He recalls gunfire support from a destroyer that was off target, resulting in six casualties from white phosphorus as well as a Japanese suicide attack on his company that resulted in 75 enemy killed. His unit was then sent to Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He remembers that his 3rd Battalion had so many casualties that it was relieved and sent to guard Kadena Airfield. He recounts the many nights of shelling at the airfield followed by assaults on Japanese positions in which he lost four company commanders and many of his fellow soldiers, including several close friends. His company had sustained over …
Date: September 22, 2001
Creator: Dencker, Donald O.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Donald O. Dencker, September 22, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Donald O. Dencker, September 22, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald O. Dencker. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 25, 1924. Upon graduation from high school in February, 1943 he joined the Army. In March 1944 after attending Army Corps of Engineers school, he was assigned to the 96th Infantry Division. He witnessed the explosion of a munition ship in Port Chicago, California. Eventually he departed Pearl Harbor embarked upon USS LST-745 sailing to Leyte Island in the Philippines. He recalls several anecdotes during the transit and landing on Leyte Island in October, 1944. He recalls gunfire support from a destroyer that was off target, resulting in six casualties from white phosphorus as well as a Japanese suicide attack on his company that resulted in 75 enemy killed. His unit was then sent to Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He remembers that his 3rd Battalion had so many casualties that it was relieved and sent to guard Kadena Airfield. He recounts the many nights of shelling at the airfield followed by assaults on Japanese positions in which he lost four company commanders and many of his fellow soldiers, including several close friends. His company had sustained over …
Date: September 22, 2001
Creator: Dencker, Donald O.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard L. Nielsen, September 4, 2012 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Richard L. Nielsen, September 4, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard L. Nielsen. Nielsen joined the Navy in 1960 after two years of college at San Francisco State. Nielsen discusses his father's service aboard liberty ships as a radio operator in the Merchant Marine during WWII in the Pacific. He also shares anecdotes about time in boot camp at San Diego. After boot camp, Nielsen went to hospital corps school. Upon completion of that, he was stationed in the intensive care unit at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. He relays an encounter he had with Admiral Nimitz as a patient at the hospital. He also relates an incident in which he traveled with a doctor to Yerba Buena Island to treat Admiral Nimitz at his home the day before he passed away.
Date: September 4, 2012
Creator: Nielsen, Richard L.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard L. Nielsen, September 4, 2012 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard L. Nielsen, September 4, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard L. Nielsen. Nielsen joined the Navy in 1960 after two years of college at San Francisco State. Nielsen discusses his father's service aboard liberty ships as a radio operator in the Merchant Marine during WWII in the Pacific. He also shares anecdotes about time in boot camp at San Diego. After boot camp, Nielsen went to hospital corps school. Upon completion of that, he was stationed in the intensive care unit at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. He relays an encounter he had with Admiral Nimitz as a patient at the hospital. He also relates an incident in which he traveled with a doctor to Yerba Buena Island to treat Admiral Nimitz at his home the day before he passed away.
Date: September 4, 2012
Creator: Nielsen, Richard L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Leo Vrana, March 20, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Leo Vrana, March 20, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leonard Vrana. Vrana was born in Moravia, Texas on 21 March 1921 and attended school in a two-room building. He enlisted in the Navy in 1940. After eight weeks of boot training at San Diego, he went to Pearl Harbor assigned aboard the USS California (BB-44). After serving a while in the Motor Launch Division, he became a striker in a fourteen inch gun turret. He describes the working conditions within a turret, the job assignments and procedures involved in firing the guns. He recalls experiences during the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941 during which the ship sustained bomb and torpedo damage. Following the attack, he was assigned to clean up the bodies of his dead shipmates. The ship was taken to Bremerton for repairs during which time he went to the naval gun factory at Annapolis for eight weeks of training. Afterward, he returned to the California. Vrana was aboard ship during the invasions of the Mariana Islands and during the Battle of Surigao Strait. The ship was hit by a kamikaze during the invasion of Luzon at Lingayen Gulf. After being repaired the California went …
Date: March 20, 2004
Creator: Vrana, Leo
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Leo Vrana, March 20, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Leo Vrana, March 20, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leonard Vrana. Vrana was born in Moravia, Texas on 21 March 1921 and attended school in a two-room building. He enlisted in the Navy in 1940. After eight weeks of boot training at San Diego, he went to Pearl Harbor assigned aboard the USS California (BB-44). After serving a while in the Motor Launch Division, he became a striker in a fourteen inch gun turret. He describes the working conditions within a turret, the job assignments and procedures involved in firing the guns. He recalls experiences during the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941 during which the ship sustained bomb and torpedo damage. Following the attack, he was assigned to clean up the bodies of his dead shipmates. The ship was taken to Bremerton for repairs during which time he went to the naval gun factory at Annapolis for eight weeks of training. Afterward, he returned to the California. Vrana was aboard ship during the invasions of the Mariana Islands and during the Battle of Surigao Strait. The ship was hit by a kamikaze during the invasion of Luzon at Lingayen Gulf. After being repaired the California went …
Date: March 20, 2004
Creator: Vrana, Leo
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Boston, September 13, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Boston, September 13, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Boston. Boston was born 17 April 1924 in Philadelphia and joined the Marines 15 January 1942. After completing boot and advanced training, he boarded the USS George F. Elliott (AP-105) as a member of the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion to participate in the invasion of Guadalcanal. He describes boot training, advanced training and combat scenarios encountered during the invasion of Guadalcanal. He also details the Japanese night attack at the Tenaru River. He lists by name those of company G that were killed during the action. Upon contracting malaria, he was sent to the 4th General hospital in Melbourne, Australia followed by stay in the Oakland Naval Hospital and the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. In August 1945 he was sent to Guam where he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. In November 1945, he returned to the United States and received his discharge.
Date: September 13, 2005
Creator: Boston, James E.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James D. Dukes, October 22, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with James D. Dukes, October 22, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Dukes. Born in Alabama, Dukes quit school in 1937 to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In March 1941, he joined the Marine Corps, and was sent to San Diego for boot camp. Dukes was then assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines where he received mortar training. On 6 June 1942, he boarded the SS Lurline bound for Pago Pago, Samoa. During November 1942 the unit merged with the 2nd Marine Division when they landed on Guadalcanal. He was assigned to the Matanikau River and tells of subsequent actions in which some of his men were killed. Dukes was wounded and sent to the Silver Stream Hospital in New Zealand. Following surgery, he was sent to the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital. Dukes struggled with malaria. Throughout the interview, he expresses his admiration for the people of New Zealand. He returned to the US and received his discharge on 12 August 1945.
Date: October 22, 2002
Creator: Dukes, James D
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Boston, September 13, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Boston, September 13, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Boston. Boston was born 17 April 1924 in Philadelphia and joined the Marines 15 January 1942. After completing boot and advanced training, he boarded the USS George F. Elliott (AP-105) as a member of the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion to participate in the invasion of Guadalcanal. He describes boot training, advanced training and combat scenarios encountered during the invasion of Guadalcanal. He also details the Japanese night attack at the Tenaru River. He lists by name those of company G that were killed during the action. Upon contracting malaria, he was sent to the 4th General hospital in Melbourne, Australia followed by stay in the Oakland Naval Hospital and the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. In August 1945 he was sent to Guam where he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. In November 1945, he returned to the United States and received his discharge.
Date: September 13, 2005
Creator: Boston, James E.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Stephen Moulton, July 29, 2010 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Stephen Moulton, July 29, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Stephen Moulton. Moulton joined the Navy in March 1940 and received basic training in Illinois. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS San Francisco (CA-38) as a deckhand and traveled to Manila and Cavite. He lived among the villagers and describes their rustic lifestyle. He was then assigned to the USS Trinity (AO-13) in October 1941 and traveled to Tanjong Lobang to load up on oil for the Asiatic Fleet. In 1942 he was sent to Mare Island on account of health problems and eventually had his lung removed, perhaps due to inhaling particles from the ship’s stacks. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and discharged at Mare Island.
Date: July 29, 2010
Creator: Moulton, Stephen
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Stephen Moulton, July 29, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with Stephen Moulton, July 29, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Stephen Moulton. Moulton joined the Navy in March 1940 and received basic training in Illinois. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS San Francisco (CA-38) as a deckhand and traveled to Manila and Cavite. He lived among the villagers and describes their rustic lifestyle. He was then assigned to the USS Trinity (AO-13) in October 1941 and traveled to Tanjong Lobang to load up on oil for the Asiatic Fleet. In 1942 he was sent to Mare Island on account of health problems and eventually had his lung removed, perhaps due to inhaling particles from the ship’s stacks. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and discharged at Mare Island.
Date: July 29, 2010
Creator: Moulton, Stephen
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with R. A. Barbezat, December 6, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with R. A. Barbezat, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with R A Barbezat. Barbazet joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a second-class fireman aboard USS California (BB-44). They were moored on the southern side of Ford Island, the southernmost ship along Battleship Row when the Japanese attack occurred. Barbezat later served aboard USS Astoria (CA-34) until it was sunk during the Battle of Savo Island in August of 1942. He then served two years aboard USS Coral Sea (CVE-57). They completed naval operations supporting attacks on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Barbezat returned to the US and was discharged in November of 1945.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Barbezat, R. A.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with R. A. Barbezat, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with R. A. Barbezat, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with R A Barbezat. Barbazet joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a second-class fireman aboard USS California (BB-44). They were moored on the southern side of Ford Island, the southernmost ship along Battleship Row when the Japanese attack occurred. Barbezat later served aboard USS Astoria (CA-34) until it was sunk during the Battle of Savo Island in August of 1942. He then served two years aboard USS Coral Sea (CVE-57). They completed naval operations supporting attacks on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Barbezat returned to the US and was discharged in November of 1945.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Barbezat, R. A.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Ellinger, December 8, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Ellinger, December 8, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ellinger. Ellinger joined the Navy in August of 1943. He served aboard the USS California (BB-44) beginning in December of that same year. They provided shore bombardment during the Battles of Saipan, Guam and Tinian. In late 1944, they participated in the Leyte operation during the invasion of the Philippines. They were struck by a kamikaze in January of 1945 while providing shore bombardment at Lingayen Gulf. They continued support operations during the Battle of Okinawa. Ellinger was discharged in late 1945.
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Ellinger, Robert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Ellinger, December 8, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Ellinger, December 8, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ellinger. Ellinger joined the Navy in August of 1943. He served aboard the USS California (BB-44) beginning in December of that same year. They provided shore bombardment during the Battles of Saipan, Guam and Tinian. In late 1944, they participated in the Leyte operation during the invasion of the Philippines. They were struck by a kamikaze in January of 1945 while providing shore bombardment at Lingayen Gulf. They continued support operations during the Battle of Okinawa. Ellinger was discharged in late 1945.
Date: December 8, 2001
Creator: Ellinger, Robert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clement Good, August 29, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Clement Good, August 29, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clement Good. Good was born in Deland, Illinois 29 September 1920 and upon graduation from high school, was drafted into the Army in July 1942 and joined the 80th Infantry Division. He recalls that he was assigned as the driver for the division artillery’s headquarters battery commander. Good describes in detail the division’s training while operating out of Camp Forest, Tennessee. His division was moved to California for desert training in November 1943. Several weeks of more training followed at Fort Dix, New Jersey in April 1944, before being shipped to Great Britain on the Queen Mary in July. He describes the conditions on the Queen Mary during the seven day transit. The division landed on Utah Beach on 3 August 1944, and was assigned to General Patton’s Third Army. He describes his participation in the Battle for Paris and in the Battle of the Bulge. He recalls seeing the remains of the Maginot Line, the countryside of Luxemburg, crossing the Rhine River into Nuremberg, Germany and entering Munich in April 1945. He was in Austria when the war ended. During the following five months his unit was …
Date: August 29, 2001
Creator: Good, Clement
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Norman Dike, May 11, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Norman Dike, May 11, 2001

Transcript of an oral inerview with Norman Dike. Born in Atlanta, Illinois, on April 18, 1923. Enlisted in the Navy on March 12, 1942 and was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois for recruit training. He was sent to Radioman School at the University of Idaho on May 25, 1942. Upon completion in August, as a Third Class Radioman, he was sent to Bainbridge Island, Washington to learn Japanese code. He recalls meeting Merry Miles, the second in command at SACO, at a party he gave for the SACO team at a Chinese restaurant. A short time later he volunteered for hazardous duty outside continental United States and was in Washington, DC where he met Captain Metzger who represented the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO). Sent to San Pedro, California by train. He recounts his experiences on the train. Upon arrival in San Pedro he was embarked on the USS Hermitage (AP-54) a captured Italian liner converted into a troopship. He recalls some of his experiences on the Hermitage including the Crossing the Line ceremony where he became a Shellback. After arriving in Bombay, India he recounts the journey across India by rail and steamboat to a Himalayan airfield where he was …
Date: May 11, 2001
Creator: Dike, Norman
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clement Good, August 29, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Clement Good, August 29, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clement Good. Good was born in Deland, Illinois 29 September 1920 and upon graduation from high school, was drafted into the Army in July 1942 and joined the 80th Infantry Division. He recalls that he was assigned as the driver for the division artillery’s headquarters battery commander. Good describes in detail the division’s training while operating out of Camp Forest, Tennessee. His division was moved to California for desert training in November 1943. Several weeks of more training followed at Fort Dix, New Jersey in April 1944, before being shipped to Great Britain on the Queen Mary in July. He describes the conditions on the Queen Mary during the seven day transit. The division landed on Utah Beach on 3 August 1944, and was assigned to General Patton’s Third Army. He describes his participation in the Battle for Paris and in the Battle of the Bulge. He recalls seeing the remains of the Maginot Line, the countryside of Luxemburg, crossing the Rhine River into Nuremberg, Germany and entering Munich in April 1945. He was in Austria when the war ended. During the following five months his unit was …
Date: August 29, 2001
Creator: Good, Clement
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia, July 21, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia, July 21, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia. He discusses being a navigator/bombardier on the 14th plane in the Doolittle Raid, including the training leading up to the raid, the trip on the USS Hornet, the raid itself, bailing out over China, the weeks spent there before making it out through India and Egypt and stories about other men in the Raiders. He also discusses meeting with Generalissimo and Madam Chiang Kai-Shek, seeing the Egyptian pyramids, crossing Africa then to Brazil before getting back to the US, landing in Miami, his later deployments in North Africa and Europe, his work after the war and reunions the Raiders have had since the war.
Date: July 21, 2000
Creator: Macia, James H. ""Herb""
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Norman Dike, May 11, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Norman Dike, May 11, 2001

Transcript of an oral inerview with Norman Dike. Born in Atlanta, Illinois, on April 18, 1923. Enlisted in the Navy on March 12, 1942 and was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois for recruit training. He was sent to Radioman School at the University of Idaho on May 25, 1942. Upon completion in August, as a Third Class Radioman, he was sent to Bainbridge Island, Washington to learn Japanese code. He recalls meeting Merry Miles, the second in command at SACO, at a party he gave for the SACO team at a Chinese restaurant. A short time later he volunteered for hazardous duty outside continental United States and was in Washington, DC where he met Captain Metzger who represented the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO). Sent to San Pedro, California by train. He recounts his experiences on the train. Upon arrival in San Pedro he was embarked on the USS Hermitage (AP-54) a captured Italian liner converted into a troopship. He recalls some of his experiences on the Hermitage including the Crossing the Line ceremony where he became a Shellback. After arriving in Bombay, India he recounts the journey across India by rail and steamboat to a Himalayan airfield where he was …
Date: May 11, 2001
Creator: Dike, Norman
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Carr, August 22, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Carr, August 22, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Carr. He was born in Benton County, Indiana on February 17, 1914. Upon graduation from high school in 1932 he hopped a freight train to California. He enlisted in the 38th Infantry Division, Indiana National Guard in December 1940. After Pearl Harbor he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to the 30th Infantry Division. He embarked on the troopship SS Brazil for the transit to England, during which he recounts several experiences. He remembers London, including bombings by the German Luftwaffe and V-1 flying bombs. He was placed in charge of the motor pool and joined the invasion of France six days after D-Day. He describes the ensuing confusion and his company getting separated from the Regiment. During a battle he recalls observing General Bradley arriving to discuss whether Carr's regimental commander should be court-martialed for refusing to follow an order that he considered suicidal. The commander was exonerated, but was transferred to another battalion. Eventually his regiment joined up at the Battle of the Bulge, where they remained just outside the front lines providing and maintaining vehicles used in the assault. After the battle, …
Date: August 22, 2001
Creator: Carr, James
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bill Marten, February 4, 2016 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bill Marten, February 4, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Marten. Marten joined the Merchant Marine in November 1943. He started as a fireman working as a water tender in the engine room. Marten describes some of his service on tankers crossing the Atlantic. He details an incident where he witnesses another tanker in his convoy explode after it was hit by a torpedo. Marten took part in 12 voyages and eventually left the Merchant Marine in 1948.
Date: February 4, 2016
Creator: Marten, Bill
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Carr, August 22, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Carr, August 22, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Carr. He was born in Benton County, Indiana on February 17, 1914. Upon graduation from high school in 1932 he hopped a freight train to California. He enlisted in the 38th Infantry Division, Indiana National Guard in December 1940. After Pearl Harbor he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to the 30th Infantry Division. He embarked on the troopship SS Brazil for the transit to England, during which he recounts several experiences. He remembers London, including bombings by the German Luftwaffe and V-1 flying bombs. He was placed in charge of the motor pool and joined the invasion of France six days after D-Day. He describes the ensuing confusion and his company getting separated from the Regiment. During a battle he recalls observing General Bradley arriving to discuss whether Carr's regimental commander should be court-martialed for refusing to follow an order that he considered suicidal. The commander was exonerated, but was transferred to another battalion. Eventually his regiment joined up at the Battle of the Bulge, where they remained just outside the front lines providing and maintaining vehicles used in the assault. After the battle, …
Date: August 22, 2001
Creator: Carr, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James (Jim) Phinney, July 15, 2010 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James (Jim) Phinney, July 15, 2010

Transcript of an oral interview with James (Jim) Phinney. He begins by discussing joining the Navy, going through boot camp and becoming an aircraft electrician. He was assigned to the USS Lexington and describes abandoning ship after it was hit by torpedos and the aftermath of getting rescued then going to San Diego to be reassigned to the USS Enterprise. He mentions being at Guadalcanal and later aboard a sub-chaser and ancedotes about the crossing the equator initiation ceremony, a time Admiral Halsey almost got shot by one of the ship's pilots who forgot to lock up his guns and some of the food he ate while at sea.
Date: July 15, 2010
Creator: Phinney, James (Jim)
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History