Oral History Interview with Clarence Haverland, September 21, 2007 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Clarence Haverland, September 21, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clarence Haverland. Haverland joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He went to aviation metalsmith school in Oklahoma. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) as a chock man, assisting in the maneuvering of planes aboard ship. While on his way ashore for liberty, a friend dared him to ignore rather than salute the first officer he passed. He agreed and immediately encountered 18 admirals, including Nimitz, Spruance, Fletcher, and Halsey. Haverland pretended to be busy inspecting cranes as they passed by. Later, Admiral Halsey found Haverland aboard ship and questioned him about the incident. Haverland explained the bet he had made with a friend, and Halsey replied that he was lucky it was a group of admirals and not ensigns that he passed. Haverland went on to serve in United States. Navy. Carrier Air Service Unit 1 (CASU-1) and CASU-38 as an aviation metalsmith. He returned home and was discharged in January 1946.
Date: September 21, 2007
Creator: Haverland, Clarence
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clarence Haverland, September 21, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Clarence Haverland, September 21, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clarence Haverland. Haverland joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He went to aviation metalsmith school in Oklahoma. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) as a chock man, assisting in the maneuvering of planes aboard ship. While on his way ashore for liberty, a friend dared him to ignore rather than salute the first officer he passed. He agreed and immediately encountered 18 admirals, including Nimitz, Spruance, Fletcher, and Halsey. Haverland pretended to be busy inspecting cranes as they passed by. Later, Admiral Halsey found Haverland aboard ship and questioned him about the incident. Haverland explained the bet he had made with a friend, and Halsey replied that he was lucky it was a group of admirals and not ensigns that he passed. Haverland went on to serve in United States. Navy. Carrier Air Service Unit 1 (CASU-1) and CASU-38 as an aviation metalsmith. He returned home and was discharged in January 1946.
Date: September 21, 2007
Creator: Haverland, Clarence
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Thomas Jeter, February 20, 2010 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Thomas Jeter, February 20, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Jeter. Jeter was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He found boot camp to be tough, and some men committed suicide there. Jeter attended fire-control school in Bainbridge and then boarded USS New York (BB-34) as a fire controlman, working with highly classified computers and gyroscopes. Because his commanding officer was a childhood friend, Jeter turned down promotions to avoid misperceptions of favoritism. He instead served as the telephone man and orderly for the captain. In combat, Jeter served as the main battery director, witnessing the bloody aftermath of friendly fire from his battle station at Iwo Jima. After a kamikaze attacked the ship at Okinawa, Jeter saved the rising sun emblem from its wing as a souvenir. Upon returning to the States, Jeter guarded German prisoners at Norfolk. After his discharge, he earned a degree in physics on the GI Bill, later befriending several Japanese colleagues through his work.
Date: February 20, 2010
Creator: Jeter, Thomas
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Hershel Woodrow 'Woody' Williams, February 18, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Hershel Woodrow 'Woody' Williams, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hershel Woodrow ""Woody"" Williams. Williams quit high school I nWest Virginia to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, which assigned him to Montana. He was there when Pearl harbor was attack and resigned from the CCC to joint the Marine Corps. The Marine recruiter told him he was too short, so Williams headed back to West Virginia. When the Marine Corps lifted the height requirement, he enlisted in May, 1943. After boot camp, he joined a newly-established flame thrower demolition special weapons unit in the 1st Battalion, 21st Regiment of the Third Marine Division and began training with them at Guadalcanal. From there, Williams went to recapture Guam. With Guam secure, Williams's unit went to Iwo Jima. He finally got ashore on 21 February. On 23 February, Williams used six flamethrowers to destroy seven fortified enemy-help positions that opened a gap in the Japanese line of defense. This action allowed more Marines and tanks to get farther inland and earned Williams the Medal of Honor. He also speaks of losing his good friend on Iwo Jima and retrieving the man's ring in order t oreturn it to his parents …
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Williams, Hershel Woodrow 'Woody'
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Hershel Woodrow 'Woody' Williams, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Hershel Woodrow 'Woody' Williams, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hershel Woodrow ""Woody"" Williams. Williams quit high school I nWest Virginia to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, which assigned him to Montana. He was there when Pearl harbor was attack and resigned from the CCC to joint the Marine Corps. The Marine recruiter told him he was too short, so Williams headed back to West Virginia. When the Marine Corps lifted the height requirement, he enlisted in May, 1943. After boot camp, he joined a newly-established flame thrower demolition special weapons unit in the 1st Battalion, 21st Regiment of the Third Marine Division and began training with them at Guadalcanal. From there, Williams went to recapture Guam. With Guam secure, Williams's unit went to Iwo Jima. He finally got ashore on 21 February. On 23 February, Williams used six flamethrowers to destroy seven fortified enemy-help positions that opened a gap in the Japanese line of defense. This action allowed more Marines and tanks to get farther inland and earned Williams the Medal of Honor. He also speaks of losing his good friend on Iwo Jima and retrieving the man's ring in order t oreturn it to his parents …
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Williams, Hershel Woodrow 'Woody'
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Johnsmiller, January 10, 2011 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Johnsmiller, January 10, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Johnsmiller. Johnsmiller joined the Marine Corps in April 1942. He was sent to the Solomon Islands and took part in the landing at Tanambogo as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines. Johnsmiller describes aiding a wounded corpsman and providing cover for a demolition man. He also discusses Japanese destroyers using search lights to seek out Marines at night, and an incident where he helped bury a large amount of crewmen from a badly damaged US cruiser. Johnsmiller also landed on Savo Island and then Guadalcanal where he describes losing a friend to enemy machine gun fire. He almost drowned in a training accident and was saved by another marine. Johnsmiller landed on Tarawa as an assistant squad leader and was wounded in the eye. He goes on to discuss attacking a key bunker in the Japanese defenses and losing many members of his squad. Johnsmiller describes being evacuated and the care that he received on a troop ship and then a hospital ship. His damaged eye was removed and he was assigned to help another marine who was completely blind. Johnsmiller discusses the personal impact …
Date: January 10, 2011
Creator: Johnsmiller, Robert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Herbert Elfring, December 5, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Herbert Elfring, December 5, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herbert Elfring. Elfring was with the California National Guard, 251st Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft), when it was federalized in September 1940. He was sent to Honolulu and trained with a searchlight battery. Elfring became leader of the radar squad, directing antiaircraft searchlights. On 7 December 1941 he was in his office when a string of bullets struck the ground 15 feet from where he stood. His radar equipment was damaged by strafing, but Elfring survived the attack. He recalls that American planes were shot down by friendly fire later that evening, before personnel were quickly advised on nighttime Identify Friend or Foe (IFF). He was transferred to Fiji in June 1942 and was selected for OCS. He became Radar Officer and Transportation Officer for the 37th Infantry Division at Bougainville. During ground combat, Elfring directed searchlights at the clouds, illuminating the front lines. At the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Elfring set up radar operations at Clark Field. He carried a wounded man out of battle who died soon after. Elfring was on leave in the States when the war ended and he was discharged. He went on to …
Date: December 5, 2008
Creator: Elfring, Herbert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Francis Shiner, July 30, 2011 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Francis Shiner, July 30, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis Shiner. Shiner joined the Navy in December 1942 and received basic training in Green Bay. Based on an aptitude test, he was sent to a university for electrician’s mate training. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), tasked with climbing 60-foot ladders to retrieve and recharge batteries from backup generators. It was heavy lifting for a man of his size, so he was reassigned to the power room, where he maintained fuses. He enjoyed his time walking along the deck and seeing porpoises swim alongside the ship. But it was tense during attacks, and he was dismayed to see the bodies of eight men who were killed by friendly fire after a kamikaze got between two ships. Shiner was aboard the Enterprise for every campaign from November 1943 until it took its last kamikaze hit off Okinawa. His friend was among the crew who drowned in the elevator pump room that day. Shiner returned to Bremerton with the Enterprise and made the acquaintance of a young woman. Five weeks later, on 9 August 1945, they were in a long line of soldiers and their …
Date: July 30, 2011
Creator: Shiner, Francis
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Thomas Jeter, February 20, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with Thomas Jeter, February 20, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Jeter. Jeter was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He found boot camp to be tough, and some men committed suicide there. Jeter attended fire-control school in Bainbridge and then boarded USS New York (BB-34) as a fire controlman, working with highly classified computers and gyroscopes. Because his commanding officer was a childhood friend, Jeter turned down promotions to avoid misperceptions of favoritism. He instead served as the telephone man and orderly for the captain. In combat, Jeter served as the main battery director, witnessing the bloody aftermath of friendly fire from his battle station at Iwo Jima. After a kamikaze attacked the ship at Okinawa, Jeter saved the rising sun emblem from its wing as a souvenir. Upon returning to the States, Jeter guarded German prisoners at Norfolk. After his discharge, he earned a degree in physics on the GI Bill, later befriending several Japanese colleagues through his work.
Date: February 20, 2010
Creator: Jeter, Thomas
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Francis Shiner, July 30, 2011 transcript

Oral History Interview with Francis Shiner, July 30, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis Shiner. Shiner joined the Navy in December 1942 and received basic training in Green Bay. Based on an aptitude test, he was sent to a university for electrician’s mate training. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), tasked with climbing 60-foot ladders to retrieve and recharge batteries from backup generators. It was heavy lifting for a man of his size, so he was reassigned to the power room, where he maintained fuses. He enjoyed his time walking along the deck and seeing porpoises swim alongside the ship. But it was tense during attacks, and he was dismayed to see the bodies of eight men who were killed by friendly fire after a kamikaze got between two ships. Shiner was aboard the Enterprise for every campaign from November 1943 until it took its last kamikaze hit off Okinawa. His friend was among the crew who drowned in the elevator pump room that day. Shiner returned to Bremerton with the Enterprise and made the acquaintance of a young woman. Five weeks later, on 9 August 1945, they were in a long line of soldiers and their …
Date: July 30, 2011
Creator: Shiner, Francis
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Galer, March 14, 1998 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Galer, March 14, 1998

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert E. Galer. Galer was born in Seattle 23 October 1913. In 1935, he graduated from the University of Washington, having earned a commission through ROTC. During flight training at Pensacola, he accepted a regular commission in the Marine Corps. His classmate at Washington was Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, who also trained with him at Quantico. During the ensuing years, Galer became carrier qualified and flew sea planes in the Virgin Islands, had a tour of duty with a fighter squadron in San Diego, and had fighter training in Honolulu. He watched the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor from a friend’s house. Galer went to Guadalcanal in late August 1942, where he flew interdiction missions in the Grumman F4F Wildcat. In fighting for Henderson Field, Galer was shot down three times, was credited with shooting down 11 ½ Japanese planes, and received the Medal of Honor. After receiving the award, he went on speaking tours to sell war bonds. Afterwards, he attended the Army Command and Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. In early 1945, he was assigned as the co-leader of a 25-man team responsible for evaluating a new radar …
Date: March 14, 1998
Creator: Galer, Robert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Herbert Elfring, December 5, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Herbert Elfring, December 5, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herbert Elfring. Elfring was with the California National Guard, 251st Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft), when it was federalized in September 1940. He was sent to Honolulu and trained with a searchlight battery. Elfring became leader of the radar squad, directing antiaircraft searchlights. On 7 December 1941 he was in his office when a string of bullets struck the ground 15 feet from where he stood. His radar equipment was damaged by strafing, but Elfring survived the attack. He recalls that American planes were shot down by friendly fire later that evening, before personnel were quickly advised on nighttime Identify Friend or Foe (IFF). He was transferred to Fiji in June 1942 and was selected for OCS. He became Radar Officer and Transportation Officer for the 37th Infantry Division at Bougainville. During ground combat, Elfring directed searchlights at the clouds, illuminating the front lines. At the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Elfring set up radar operations at Clark Field. He carried a wounded man out of battle who died soon after. Elfring was on leave in the States when the war ended and he was discharged. He went on to …
Date: December 5, 2008
Creator: Elfring, Herbert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Johnsmiller, January 10, 2011 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Johnsmiller, January 10, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Johnsmiller. Johnsmiller joined the Marine Corps in April 1942. He was sent to the Solomon Islands and took part in the landing at Tanambogo as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines. Johnsmiller describes aiding a wounded corpsman and providing cover for a demolition man. He also discusses Japanese destroyers using search lights to seek out Marines at night, and an incident where he helped bury a large amount of crewmen from a badly damaged US cruiser. Johnsmiller also landed on Savo Island and then Guadalcanal where he describes losing a friend to enemy machine gun fire. He almost drowned in a training accident and was saved by another marine. Johnsmiller landed on Tarawa as an assistant squad leader and was wounded in the eye. He goes on to discuss attacking a key bunker in the Japanese defenses and losing many members of his squad. Johnsmiller describes being evacuated and the care that he received on a troop ship and then a hospital ship. His damaged eye was removed and he was assigned to help another marine who was completely blind. Johnsmiller discusses the personal impact …
Date: January 10, 2011
Creator: Johnsmiller, Robert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Tice, December 27, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Tice, December 27, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Tice. Tice was born in Detroit 3 January 1924. After joining the Navy in 1943 he went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot training. Upon completion of training he entered gunnery school in preparation for Armed Guard duty. After training, Tice served as instructor at the Armed Guard school for four months. He then volunteered for aircraft carrier duty and was assigned to a gunnery crew aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). He went aboard late in December 1943. Tice recalls meeting a childhood friend, Bob Harrison, an armament specialist who was also on board. Soon after arriving at Pearl Harbor the Franklin sailed to the Marianas. He recalls the ship being involved in many operations including the Bonin Islands, Peleliu, Guam, Luzon and Iwo Jima. It was also involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where a Japanese aircraft crashed on the deck. He went into an ammunition magazine to wet down the area with water. He received a citation from Admiral Halsey for this action. He also describes burials at sea. The ship returned to Bremerton for repairs. On 19 March 1945 a …
Date: December 27, 2005
Creator: Tice, Robert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Tice, December 27, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Tice, December 27, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Tice. Tice was born in Detroit 3 January 1924. After joining the Navy in 1943 he went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot training. Upon completion of training he entered gunnery school in preparation for Armed Guard duty. After training, Tice served as instructor at the Armed Guard school for four months. He then volunteered for aircraft carrier duty and was assigned to a gunnery crew aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). He went aboard late in December 1943. Tice recalls meeting a childhood friend, Bob Harrison, an armament specialist who was also on board. Soon after arriving at Pearl Harbor the Franklin sailed to the Marianas. He recalls the ship being involved in many operations including the Bonin Islands, Peleliu, Guam, Luzon and Iwo Jima. It was also involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where a Japanese aircraft crashed on the deck. He went into an ammunition magazine to wet down the area with water. He received a citation from Admiral Halsey for this action. He also describes burials at sea. The ship returned to Bremerton for repairs. On 19 March 1945 a …
Date: December 27, 2005
Creator: Tice, Robert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Galer, March 14, 1998 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Galer, March 14, 1998

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert E. Galer. Galer was born in Seattle 23 October 1913. In 1935, he graduated from the University of Washington, having earned a commission through ROTC. During flight training at Pensacola, he accepted a regular commission in the Marine Corps. His classmate at Washington was Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, who also trained with him at Quantico. During the ensuing years, Galer became carrier qualified and flew sea planes in the Virgin Islands, had a tour of duty with a fighter squadron in San Diego, and had fighter training in Honolulu. He watched the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor from a friend’s house. Galer went to Guadalcanal in late August 1942, where he flew interdiction missions in the Grumman F4F Wildcat. In fighting for Henderson Field, Galer was shot down three times, was credited with shooting down 11 ½ Japanese planes, and received the Medal of Honor. After receiving the award, he went on speaking tours to sell war bonds. Afterwards, he attended the Army Command and Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. In early 1945, he was assigned as the co-leader of a 25-man team responsible for evaluating a new radar …
Date: March 14, 1998
Creator: Galer, Robert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Sun-Ha Lim, September 19, 2010 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Sun-Ha Lim, September 19, 2010

Transcript of an oral interview with Sun-Ha Lim. Lim discusses growing up in Korea and living under Japanese Colonial Government, being conscripted into the Japanese army and being part of the mainland defense of Japan in 1945. He also discusses a friend deciding to "go crazy" during training to get out of service and having to fight the Americans, then Lim later pulling him out of a "mental deficiency patient curing place" which was actually a cave in a mountain to get him home to Korea after the war.
Date: September 19, 2010
Creator: Lim, Sun-Ha
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Alfred Bisili, August 14, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Alfred Bisili, August 14, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred Bisili. Bisili was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in December of 1923. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bisili, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Jimmy Bennett’s oral history, a native friend of Bisili, who participated with him during the war.
Date: August 14, 2002
Creator: Bisili, Alfred
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jimmy Bennett, August 13, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jimmy Bennett, August 13, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jimmy Bennett. Bennett was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in May of 1922. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bennet, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Alfred Bisili’s oral history, a native friend of Bennett, who participated with him during the war.
Date: August 13, 2002
Creator: Bennett, Jimmy
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Sun-Ha Lim, September 19, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with Sun-Ha Lim, September 19, 2010

Transcript of an oral interview with Sun-Ha Lim. Lim discusses growing up in Korea and living under Japanese Colonial Government, being conscripted into the Japanese army and being part of the mainland defense of Japan in 1945. He also discusses a friend deciding to "go crazy" during training to get out of service and having to fight the Americans, then Lim later pulling him out of a "mental deficiency patient curing place" which was actually a cave in a mountain to get him home to Korea after the war.
Date: September 19, 2010
Creator: Lim, Sun-Ha
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bernard Campbell, December 6, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bernard Campbell, December 6, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernard Campbell. Campbell joined the Navy in May 1941 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was sent to the submarine base at Pearl Harbor, where he became a barber. During the attack on 7 December, he was assigned to an officer, as his foot messenger. He recalls that American planes were shot down by friendly fire later that evening, before personnel were quickly advised on nighttime Identify Friend or Foe (IFF). In 1944 he was transferred to Midway, where he was coxswain of a small boat for transporting the captain of the USS Pelias (AS-14). Campbell returned home and was discharged in September 1945, just one week after the war ended.
Date: December 6, 2008
Creator: Campbell, Bernard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Alfred Bisili, August 14, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Alfred Bisili, August 14, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alfred Bisili. Bisili was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in December of 1923. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bisili, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Jimmy Bennett’s oral history, a native friend of Bisili, who participated with him during the war.
Date: August 14, 2002
Creator: Bisili, Alfred
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jimmy Bennett, August 13, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jimmy Bennett, August 13, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jimmy Bennett. Bennett was born in Munda, New Georgia, Western Province, Solomon Islands in May of 1922. He recalls the Japanese invading in 1942, the Americans arriving in 1943, and his family hiding in the bush. Bennet, and a number of other natives, joined the American Army’s 118th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He served as a scout for the island, and led the troops on Baanga Island, through the New Georgia Campaign, and until the end of the war. Reference Alfred Bisili’s oral history, a native friend of Bennett, who participated with him during the war.
Date: August 13, 2002
Creator: Bennett, Jimmy
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Cecil D. Bettes, September 25, 2012 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Cecil D. Bettes, September 25, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cecil D. Bettes. Bettes joined the Army after finishing high school in Houston, Texas, in 1943. After basic training, Bettes was shipped to Italy and assigned to E Company, 2nd, Battalion,339th Regiment, 85th Infantry Division. He describes the death in combat of a close friend. In Italy, Bettes was wounded severley and sent to the hospital. Instead of allowing himself to be shipped to France, he broke out of the hospital and returned to his unit. He also mentions breaking through the Gothic Line. Bettes also describes a sour experiences he had with the Red Cross while he was hospitalized. Bettes also describes taking a few German soldiers prisoner.
Date: September 25, 2012
Creator: Bettes, Cecil D.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History