Oral History Interview with Philip Schneiderman, April 10, 2014 transcript

Oral History Interview with Philip Schneiderman, April 10, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Philip Schneiderman. Schneiderman joined the Coast Guard in 1944 when he was 15 years old because he was able to get the doctor to waive him as a result of procuring a set of tires for the doctor. He was shipped to New Guinea to catch his ship and was in the hospital with a tropical disease when his ship came in. He snuck out of the Navy hospital to join his ship. He shares several anecdotes about life aboard an LST in the Pacific during WWII. He recalls going to Luzon and Okinawa as well as other points around New Guinea landing supplies and equipment. He was discharged in May 1946.
Date: April 10, 2014
Creator: Schneiderman, Philip
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ralph Sparks, April 10, 2014 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ralph Sparks, April 10, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Sparks. Sparks was drafted into the Army in 1943 and for part of basic training, they went to North Dakota to harvest a bumper wheat crop. He then trained in field artillery before heading for France in July, 1944. Sparks served as a forward observer around Metz. He also recalls moving into Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. Sparks recalls a story where his unit raided a wine cellar. When the war ended, Sparks made his way back to the US and was discharged in December, 1945.
Date: April 10, 2014
Creator: Sparks, Ralph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Felix Burrus, April 10, 2016 transcript

Oral History Interview with Felix Burrus, April 10, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Felix Burrus. Burrus joined the Army Air Forces in August of 1944. He completed Airplane Mechanics School, and served as a B-29 mechanic with the 5th Bomb Group, 313th Bomb Wing. In early 1945, Burrus was assigned to Clark Field in the Philippines, where he worked through the end of the war. He received his discharge in November of 1946.
Date: April 10, 2016
Creator: Burrus, Felix
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Vernon Bowen, April 10, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Vernon Bowen, April 10, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon Bowen. Bowen quit school and joined the Navy in August 1944. After training, he went aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) and served as messman and as a 40mm antiaircraft gun loader. He describes his experiences when the ship was bombed in March, 1945 and how he escaped from below decks. Bowen rode the ship back to New York. He was discharged in June, 1946.
Date: April 10, 2015
Creator: Bowen, Vernon
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Paul Simpson, April 10, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Paul Simpson, April 10, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Simpson. Simpson joined the Army in December of 1944. After boot camp, he deployed to Saipan where he served on patrol. Simpson participated with the 147th Infantry Regiment through the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he was stationed when the war ended. He returned to the US and received his discharge around early 1946.
Date: April 10, 2015
Creator: Simpson, Paul
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bill Dean, April 10, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bill Dean, April 10, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Dean. Dean was born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma on 7 September 1924 and graduated from high school in 1942. Upon being drafted in 1943, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for thirteen weeks of basic training. While there he was selected to attend the Army Specialized Training Program at Colorado State College at Fort Collins. Soon after he entered the program, it was discontinued and he joined the 80th Infantry Division and went to Fort Dix, New Jersey. There, the division boarded HMS Queen Mary bound for Scotland. Dean recalls landing at Normandy three weeks after the invasion and describes seeing wreckage and bodies that remained. The division joined the 8th Army and advanced across France. During December 1944 he was hospitalized for three weeks with a severe case of trench foot. Upon being released from the hospital, he was assigned to the 60th US Army Band. The band played during the funeral for General George Patton and he describes the formalities of the funeral. Dean returned to the United States in 1946 and was discharged soon thereafter.
Date: April 10, 2015
Creator: Dean, Bill
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edward Hasty, April 10, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Edward Hasty, April 10, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Hasty. Hasty joined the Navy in November of 1943. He completed Firefighting School, and served aboard the USS Antietam (CV-36) beginning January of 1945. They conducted training in the Hawaiian Islands through mid-August, then served with occupation forces in Tokyo, Japan. Hasty returned to the US and received his discharge in early 1946.
Date: April 10, 2018
Creator: Hasty, Edward
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ben Schurmeier, April 10, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ben Schurmeier, April 10, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Schurmeier. Schurmeier joined the Navy in early 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot with Photographic Squadron 1 (VD-1). Beginning in the spring of 1944 they traveled to their base at the Naval Air Station on Guam. They completed patrol and photo reconnaissance missions around the Pacific Islands, including Truk, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Japan. Finley was discharged around October of 1945.
Date: April 10, 2018
Creator: Schurmeier, Ben
System: The Portal to Texas History