Oral History Interview with A. J. Dunn, July 13, 2011 (open access)

Oral History Interview with A. J. Dunn, July 13, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with A J Dunn. Dunn joined the Navy in 1940 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Oglala (CM-4) at Pearl Harbor. On the morning of 7 December 1941, he was returning from liberty when the attack began. Unable to find his ship, he jumped aboard the USS Mugford (DD-389) just as it was getting underway. After seven days of patrols, he returned to the harbor and was transferred to the USS New Orleans (CA-32). While on convoy duty to Brisbane, the ship received a warm welcome from Australian citizens. But one evening, the ship was nearly subject to friendly fire when a cruiser from New Zealand mistook the New Orleans for a Japanese ship. Dunn was transferred to the USS Indiana (BB-58) with Task Force 58, bombarding islands in the Gilberts and Marshalls. As a gunner’s mate, his duties included testing small arms ammunition in a surveillance oven to see whether it had expired. He was transferred to the USS Botetourt (APA-136), operating out of the Philippines until the end of the war. He sailed past the USS Missouri (BB-63) …
Date: July 13, 2011
Creator: Dunn, A. J.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Eleanor Bowker - May 13, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Eleanor Bowker - May 13, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. Eleanor Bowker regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee Isla Corfield, recorded in the letter as 'Isla Coffield (Cortier) (?)'. Letter contains transcribed message broadcast to Eleanor from internee on Radio Tokyo.
Date: May 13, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to B. D. Beverson - May 13, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to B. D. Beverson - May 13, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to 'Mrs. B. D. Beverson', of Los Angeles, California, regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee 'Agnes J. Axe'. Letter contains transcribed message broadcast to mother from internee on Radio Tokyo.
Date: May 13, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Receives a Statuette]

Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz receiving a statuette for 'An Inspiring Example of Leadership to Youth' from Eagle Scout Robert Black aboard the U.S.S. Kearsarge, San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California. Fleet Admiral Nimitz wears a dark Navy uniform with a white undershirt, a tie, six buttons on the front, ribbon bars pinned above his pocket, a medal around his neck, stripes and a star on his sleeves and a brimmed hat with the Navy's emblem on the front. In his hands is a small statuette of a man being passed from Robert Black on the right. Robert Blacks is wearing a dark short sleeved shirt with "San Francisco 166" on the shoulder, a white neckerchief, a white belt and a tilted white hat.
Date: February 13, 1954
Creator: United States. Navy
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Muriel Usselman, June 13, 2022 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Muriel Usselman, June 13, 2022

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Muriel Usselman. Usselman was a child living in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Her father worked as an electrician and the family lived on base. She recalls what she witnessed during the attack on 7 December as well as her experiences in the following days. She returned with her family to the Mainland in 1944.
Date: June 13, 2022
Creator: Usselman, Muriel
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History