Resource Type

Oral History Interview with Vern "Bucky" Blodgett, May 3, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Vern "Bucky" Blodgett, May 3, 2001

Interview with Vern "Bucky" Blodgett, an armed forces veteran and Veteran's Administration worker from Kerrville, Texas. Mr. Blodgett describes moving to and growing up in Kerrville, and his work with the VA Hospital there (first as a clerk, and finally, as acting associate director). Besides serving in the service for four years, he also worked in several VA facilities around the country before making his way back to Kerrville. His memories of the town include details of the flood of 1932, his role in founding the Buck 'N' Bull Club (a rifle club) in 1946, and a few stories concerning the religious community. A historical profile of the Kerrville VA Hospital is included at the end of interview transcript.
Date: May 3, 2001
Creator: Bethel, Ann; Snodgrass, Clarabelle & Blodgett, Vern
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edward Nielsen, August 23, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Edward Nielsen, August 23, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Nielsen from Medaryville, Indiana. He discusses undergoing Amry training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being assigned as B Company of the 69th Army Regiment at Fort Knox as a private. Afterwards he got lucky and was assigned to drive a truck from Louisiana to North Carolina, Mr. Nielsen describes this as the best job he ever had in the Army. After Pearl Harbor he is transferred to the 1st Armored Division and Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He was then transported from fort Knox to Ireland then to England for a short time before being shipped out to Oran in North Africa. On the way to Oran, the ship he was on was almost hit by a missile shot by a German U-boat, but it instead hit another ship that was nearby. By the time Mr. Nielsen reached Oran he was a segreant Tank Commander. He also relays a time he warned his Company Commander about German Tiger Tanks being in their area and being ignored only for them to show up a few days later resulting in one captain deserting and being captured by German soldiers. Mr. Nielsen …
Date: August 23, 2001
Creator: Nielsen, Edward
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert and Dalene Reagan, August 28, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert and Dalene Reagan, August 28, 2001

Interview with Robert Reagan and his wife, Dalene Comparette Reagan, a couple with strong local historical family roots, from Kerrville, Texas. Mrs. Reagan delves into the history of Kerrville Telephone Company, which was co-founded by her great-grandfather, Dale Comparette. Mr. Reagan discusses his family history, including his connection to Admiral Chester Nimitz. The couple also talk about their childhood memories of Kerrville while it was still a small town.
Date: August 28, 2001
Creator: Bethel, Ann; Snodgrass, Clarabelle; Reagan, Robert & Reagan, Dalene Comparette
System: The Portal to Texas History