Oral History Interview with Durwood Chester Kincheloe, October 4, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Durwood Chester Kincheloe, October 4, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Durwood Chester Kincheloe. Born in 1921, he chose to join the Army Air Force upon being drafted in 1943. After receiving air traffic controller training, he was transported to Kunming, China. He describes the trip on the USS Hermitage from Long Beach, California to Karachi, India by way of Australia; the train trip from Lahore, India to the province of Assam; and the flight to China on a B-24 bomber. He talks about his living conditions and Japanese air raids in China as well as his function as air traffic controller. He was discharged in December 1945. He shares anecdotes about the heat at Wichita Falls, Texas during his basic training; the rain and humidity in Assam; the insufficient number of oxygen masks on the B-24; and the Chinese method of runway repair and agricultural fertilization. He also describes life in the rural community of Burnet, Texas as well as his work as a planimeter operator with the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS). The interview also includes information about his parents and siblings.
Date: October 4, 2005
Creator: Kincheloe, Durwood Chester
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles E. Jones, October 4, 2006 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Charles E. Jones, October 4, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles E. Jones. With his father's consent, Jones joined the Marine Corps in Tennessee when he was 15 years old in 1940. When he finished training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to the Fourth Defense Battalion at Guantanimo Bay, Cuba. In November, 1941, his unit was assigned to Wake Island. He was at Pearl Harbor en route to Wake Island when the Japanese struck Hawaii on 7 December 1941. Jones describes his activities during the battle. Shortly thereafter, Jones was sent to Efate, New Hebrides where his unit defended an airstrip from which the US was able to attack Guadalcanal. Jones retunred to the US and trained on 155mm artillery guns at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While at Camp Lejeune, Jones was able to shake President Roosevelt's hand. Jones recalls a story about meeting his brother randomly on Guam. Jones was on Guam when the war ended. He mustered out of the Marines in November, 1945 and eventually reenlisted in the US Air Force. He served in the print shop at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Date: October 4, 2006
Creator: Jones, Charles E.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Durwood Chester Kincheloe, October 4, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Durwood Chester Kincheloe, October 4, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Durwood Chester Kincheloe. Born in 1921, he chose to join the Army Air Force upon being drafted in 1943. After receiving air traffic controller training, he was transported to Kunming, China. He describes the trip on the USS Hermitage from Long Beach, California to Karachi, India by way of Australia; the train trip from Lahore, India to the province of Assam; and the flight to China on a B-24 bomber. He talks about his living conditions and Japanese air raids in China as well as his function as air traffic controller. He was discharged in December 1945. He shares anecdotes about the heat at Wichita Falls, Texas during his basic training; the rain and humidity in Assam; the insufficient number of oxygen masks on the B-24; and the Chinese method of runway repair and agricultural fertilization. He also describes life in the rural community of Burnet, Texas as well as his work as a planimeter operator with the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS). The interview also includes information about his parents and siblings.
Date: October 4, 2005
Creator: Kincheloe, Durwood Chester
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles E. Jones, October 4, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charles E. Jones, October 4, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles E. Jones. With his father's consent, Jones joined the Marine Corps in Tennessee when he was 15 years old in 1940. When he finished training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to the Fourth Defense Battalion at Guantanimo Bay, Cuba. In November, 1941, his unit was assigned to Wake Island. He was at Pearl Harbor en route to Wake Island when the Japanese struck Hawaii on 7 December 1941. Jones describes his activities during the battle. Shortly thereafter, Jones was sent to Efate, New Hebrides where his unit defended an airstrip from which the US was able to attack Guadalcanal. Jones retunred to the US and trained on 155mm artillery guns at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While at Camp Lejeune, Jones was able to shake President Roosevelt's hand. Jones recalls a story about meeting his brother randomly on Guam. Jones was on Guam when the war ended. He mustered out of the Marines in November, 1945 and eventually reenlisted in the US Air Force. He served in the print shop at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Date: October 4, 2006
Creator: Jones, Charles E.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Willard Norris, October 4, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Willard Norris, October 4, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Willard Norris. Norris joined the Army in 1942 and was eventually sent to the 42nd Infantry Division as a replacement. He discusses the rations and living conditions on the front lines in Belgium. Norris describes getting body lice and how he was treated. He discusses liberating Nordhausen concentration camp and the condition of the prisoners he encountered. Norris describes an encounter with a unit of Hitler Youth on his last day of combat. He was then sent to the 71st Infantry Division as a part of the occupation of Germany. Norris became a warrant officer and served in Korea. He retired from the Army several years later.
Date: October 4, 2005
Creator: Norris, Willard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Walter Wier, November 4, 2016 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Walter Wier, November 4, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Wier. Wier joined the Navy in June, 1942 and trained at San Diego. With training complete, Wier was assigned to the Armed Guard and board the SS Day Star (1939) in San Francisco. Wier’s son provides a chronology of Wier’s first cruise in the Pacific starting in early 1943. After one voyage aboard the Day Star, he was transferred to the Young America. His third voyage was aboard the William H Moody. Wier sailed in the Pacific and the Atlantic facing Japanese and Germans. He also served aboard the Alexander Hamilton, the Joshua Tree and the Thaddeus S C Lowe. He returned to the US and was discharged in October, 1945.
Date: November 4, 2016
Creator: Wier, Walter
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Merrick, December 4, 2012 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jack Merrick, December 4, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Merrick. Merrick joined the Air Force Reserves. By 1942 he had earned his pilot license and completed two civilian pilot training courses. He graduated as a flight officer from the glider pilot program in Lubbock, Texas in May of 1943. Merrick was assigned to the 437th Troop Carrier Group and the 84th Squadron. In January of 1944 he was shipped to England and provides details of his experiences there and additional training. In June of 1944 his outfit participated in D-Day. He also participated in Operation Market Garden in September of 1944. He served as a glider pilot during the war and provides detail of his experiences through these events. He returned to the U.S. in July of 1945.
Date: December 4, 2012
Creator: Merrick, Jack
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Walter Wier, November 4, 2016 transcript

Oral History Interview with Walter Wier, November 4, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Wier. Wier joined the Navy in June, 1942 and trained at San Diego. With training complete, Wier was assigned to the Armed Guard and board the SS Day Star (1939) in San Francisco. Wier’s son provides a chronology of Wier’s first cruise in the Pacific starting in early 1943. After one voyage aboard the Day Star, he was transferred to the Young America. His third voyage was aboard the William H Moody. Wier sailed in the Pacific and the Atlantic facing Japanese and Germans. He also served aboard the Alexander Hamilton, the Joshua Tree and the Thaddeus S C Lowe. He returned to the US and was discharged in October, 1945.
Date: November 4, 2016
Creator: Wier, Walter
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Willard Norris, October 4, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Willard Norris, October 4, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Willard Norris. Norris joined the Army in 1942 and was eventually sent to the 42nd Infantry Division as a replacement. He discusses the rations and living conditions on the front lines in Belgium. Norris describes getting body lice and how he was treated. He discusses liberating Nordhausen concentration camp and the condition of the prisoners he encountered. Norris describes an encounter with a unit of Hitler Youth on his last day of combat. He was then sent to the 71st Infantry Division as a part of the occupation of Germany. Norris became a warrant officer and served in Korea. He retired from the Army several years later.
Date: October 4, 2005
Creator: Norris, Willard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Merrick, December 4, 2012 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Merrick, December 4, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Merrick. Merrick joined the Air Force Reserves. By 1942 he had earned his pilot license and completed two civilian pilot training courses. He graduated as a flight officer from the glider pilot program in Lubbock, Texas in May of 1943. Merrick was assigned to the 437th Troop Carrier Group and the 84th Squadron. In January of 1944 he was shipped to England and provides details of his experiences there and additional training. In June of 1944 his outfit participated in D-Day. He also participated in Operation Market Garden in September of 1944. He served as a glider pilot during the war and provides detail of his experiences through these events. He returned to the U.S. in July of 1945.
Date: December 4, 2012
Creator: Merrick, Jack
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Rodenhouse, September 4, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Rodenhouse, September 4, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Rodenhouse. Rodenhouse joined the Army Air Forces on 8 December 1941. He served as a B-29 Pilot with the 313th Bombardment Wing, 6th Bombardment Group, 39th Bomb Squadron. From his base on Tinian, Rodenhouse completed 35 Pacific Theater missions. Rodenhouse served in the Air Force Reserves until he earned the rank of major, then was honorably discharged in September of 1956.
Date: September 4, 2002
Creator: Rodenhouse, Robert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Rodenhouse, September 4, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Rodenhouse, September 4, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Rodenhouse. Rodenhouse joined the Army Air Forces on 8 December 1941. He served as a B-29 Pilot with the 313th Bombardment Wing, 6th Bombardment Group, 39th Bomb Squadron. From his base on Tinian, Rodenhouse completed 35 Pacific Theater missions. Rodenhouse served in the Air Force Reserves until he earned the rank of major, then was honorably discharged in September of 1956.
Date: September 4, 2002
Creator: Rodenhouse, Robert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History