Oral History Interview with Jess Stanbrough, April 15, 1985 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jess Stanbrough, April 15, 1985

Interview with Jess Stanbrough, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Wichita Falls, Texas, who served and was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion.") Stanbrough discusses his time in the Guard before the war, deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and being captured, experiences in internment at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, operating a clandestine radio, transfer to Japan, being an iron smelter at Kamaishi, Honshu, American air and naval bombardment, and liberation.
Date: April 15, 1985
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Stanbrough, Jess
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Thomas A. Whitehead, February 2, 1977 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Thomas A. Whitehead, February 2, 1977

Interview with Thomas Whitehead, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Wichita Falls, Texas. Whitehead discusses his experiences as a member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, the "Lost Battalion" captured on Java in March 1942, including: joining the National Guard; participation in the Louisiana Maneuvers; departure for the Philippines and diversion to Brisbane; assignment to Sangosari Airfield near Malang; the surrender of American forces; internment at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Prison in Singapore, several camps on the Burma Railway, and Non Pladuk and Ubon Airfield, Thailand; and liberation.
Date: February 2, 1977
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Whitehead, Thomas A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with M. T. Harrelson, May 9, 1985 (open access)

Oral History Interview with M. T. Harrelson, May 9, 1985

Interview with M. T. Harrelson, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Wichita Falls, Texas, who was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion"). Harrelson discusses National Guard training and operations before the war, deployment to the Pacific and diversion to Java, the Japanese invasion, surrender and initial confinement, internment at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Changi Camp in Singapore, and the end of the war.
Date: May 9, 1985
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Harrelson, M. T., 1919-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Roy Offerle, August 14, 1978 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Roy Offerle, August 14, 1978

Interview with Roy Offerle regarding his experiences in the military and as a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II. He was part of the Texas National Guard, 36th Division, 131st Field Artillery, 2nd Battalion, also known as the "Lost Battalion." He was captured on the island of Java in March of 1942 and spent the duration of the war thereafter as a prison of war in camps in South East Asia and in Japan.
Date: August 14, 1978
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Offerle, Roy M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Keith Naylor, April 2, 1971 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Keith Naylor, April 2, 1971

Interview with Keith Naylor, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Vernon, Texas, who was captured with 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion") on Java by the Japanese. Naylor discusses joining the Guard, deployment to the Pacific and the war's start, operations at Malang on Java, the American surrender, experiences in internment at Tanjung Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Changi Camp in Singapore, work on the Burma Railway, internment at Chungkai and Linson in Thailand, and liberation. In appendix are an excerpt from a radio broadcast of Norton McGriffin in the News, three letters to Naylor's mother regarding his MIA status, and two cards from Naylor while interned.
Date: April 2, 1971
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Frank W. Ficklin, January 16, 1987 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Frank W. Ficklin, January 16, 1987

Transcript of an interview with Frank Ficklin, a businessman, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion." Ficklin discusses his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Ficklin discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944), Changi Jail (1944), and his liberation.
Date: January 16, 1987
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Ficklin, Frank W., 1922-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Ben Kelley, March 26, 1982 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Ben Kelley, March 26, 1982

Interview with Ben Kelley regarding his experiences in the military and as a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II. He was part of the 36th Division, Texas National Guard, 131st Field Artillery, 2nd Battalion. He was captured on the island of Java in March of 1942 and spent the duration of the war thereafter as a prison of war in camps in South East Asia and in Japan.
Date: March 26, 1982
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Kelley, Ben
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Kyle O. Thompson, March 9, 1977 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Kyle O. Thompson, March 9, 1977

Interview with Kyle Thompson, a journalist, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Thompson talks about the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi and Tamarkan, Thailand (1944), American air raids, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand (1944-1945), and his liberation.
Date: March 9, 1977
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Thompson, Kyle, 1922-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Crayton R. Gordon, January 31, 1977 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Crayton R. Gordon, January 31, 1977

Transcript of an interview with Crayton Gordon, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.
Date: January 31, 1977
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Crayton, Gordon R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with M. L. Rea, April 14, 1980 (open access)

Oral History Interview with M. L. Rea, April 14, 1980

Transcript of an interview with M. L. Rea, a Texas native, Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), and a member of the "Lost Battalion." Rea discusses his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.
Date: April 14, 1980
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Rea, M. L., 1917-
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Cleon Stewart, March 18, 1993

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
Interview with Cleon Stewart, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Tulia, Texas, who served and was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (known as the "Lost Battalion"). Stewart discusses joining the National Guard, training and the Louisiana Maneuvers, deployment to the Pacific in November, 1941, diversion to Java after December 7th, Japanese air strikes and the invasion, the American surrender and initial internement by the Japanese, experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Changi Camp, Singapore, and life in captivity there, and liberation.
Date: March 18, 1993
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Stewart, Cleon
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with George P. Lawley, November 3, 1973 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George P. Lawley, November 3, 1973

Interview with George P. Lawley, an Army WWII veteran and POW from Odessa, Texas. Lawley discusses his time with the so-called "Lost Battalion" on Java and his experiences as a Japanese prisoner-of-war, including: joining the National Guard in 1940 and training, deployment for East Asia with 2nd Battallion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment; diversion to Java at the start of the war; the Japanese attack and his unit's capture; and his experiences in internment and labor at Tanjong Priok in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, Thanbyuzayat and several camps on the Burma Railway, and near Nagasaki.
Date: November 3, 1973
Creator: Teague, William J. & Lawley, George P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Lawrence Brown, March 13, 1974 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Lawrence Brown, March 13, 1974

Interview with Lawrence Brown, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Decatur, Texas. Brown was a captured member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment (the "Lost Battalion"): he recounts working during the Depression; mobilization; deployment to the Philippines and diversion to Brisbane after December 7th, 1941; arrival at Sangosari, Java; the Japanese invasion and American surrender; experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, several work camps on the Burma "Death" Railway, and Saigon; and liberation.
Date: March 13, 1974
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Brown, Lawrence
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Arthur B. Clark, September 29, 2000

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
Interview with Arhtur B. Clark, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Abilene, Texas, who was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery. Clark discusses joining the National Guard, training and maneuvers, deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and surrender to the Japanese, experiences in internment at Tanjong Priok in Batavia, internment at Changi Camp in Singapore, labor on the Burma "Death" Railway, and liberation. The interview includes an appendix with a reference page and a written flight log by Col. Tom Sledge.
Date: September 29, 2000
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Clark, Arthur B.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Lloyd V. Willey, March 3, 1999

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
Interview with Lloyd V. Willey, U.S. Marine Corps WWII veteran and survivor of the sinking of the USS Houston, concerning his experiences as as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Appendix includes poems written by the interviewee and photocopied picture of the interviewee.
Date: March 3, 1999
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Willey, Lloyd V.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with E. Benjamin Dunn, November 16, 1999

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
Interview with E. Benjamin Dunn, a Army WWII veteran and POW from Gorham, Illinois, who was captured by the Japanese on Java with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion.") Dunn discusses training in the Army, transfer to 2-131 and deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and being captured, experiences in internment in Batavia and later Changi Prison Camp in Singapore, building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway, and liberation.
Date: November 16, 1999
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Dunn, E. Benjamin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Personal Diary of Frank Fujita, Jr. (open access)

Personal Diary of Frank Fujita, Jr.

A copy of Frank Fujita Jr.'s war diary, obtained by Dr. Ron Marcello to accompany Fujita's oral history interview. Fujita was an Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment captured on Java in March 1942. Included is Fujita's original bound diary, and a rewritten version he made in a Japanese logbook in internment and continued. They contain daily activities, doodles, lists of dozens of servicemen and captives encountered, and the key to an encoded script Fujita developed for sensitive information. Also included is a postwar newspaper clipping about Fujita's unit.
Date: December 19, 1970
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Fujita Jr., Frank
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Raymond D. Reed, March 13, 1979 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Raymond D. Reed, March 13, 1979

Interview with Raymond Reed, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Reed discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi and Tamarkan, Thailand (1944), Phet Buri, Thailand (1944-1945), and his liberation.
Date: March 13, 1979
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Reed, Raymond D., 1921-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Horace Chumley, April 3, 1974 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Horace Chumley, April 3, 1974

Interview with Horace Chumley, retired law enforcement officer, U.S. Army WWII veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), and member of the “Lost Battalion.” Chumley discusses his experiences while being held as a prisoner-of-war by the Japanese during World War II. Fall of Java and capture; Bicycle Camp, Batavia, 1942-45; liberation.
Date: April 3, 1974
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Chumley, Horace, 1916-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with George Burns, March 12, 1974 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Burns, March 12, 1974

Interview with George Burns, a postal worker, farmer, U.S. Army WWII veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), and a member of the "Lost Battalion," about his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Burns talks about the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944), Bangkok, Thailand (1945), and his liberation.
Date: March 12, 1974
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Burns, George, 1917-
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Thurman L. Capps, July 8, 1997

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
Interview with Thurman Capps, U.S. Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.
Date: July 8, 1997
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Capps, Thurman L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Willie V. Jordan, June 1987 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Willie V. Jordan, June 1987

Interview with Willie Jordan, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Jordan talks about the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Bangkok, Thailand (1944-1945), and his liberation.
Date: 1987-06-01/1987-06-03
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Jordan, Willie V., 1922-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with J. B. Heinen, Jr., October 29, 1973 (open access)

Oral History Interview with J. B. Heinen, Jr., October 29, 1973

Interview with J. B. Heinen Jr., an independent oilman, U. S. Army WWII veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), and a member of the "Lost Battalion." Heinen discusses his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II, including the fall of Java and capture; Bicycle Camp, Batavia, 1942; Changi Prison Camp, Singapore, 1942; building the Burma Thailand Death Railway, 1942-44; Kanchanaburi, Thailand, 1944; and his liberation in Bangkok.
Date: October 29, 1973
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Heinen, J. B., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Paul D. Stein, March 11, 1998

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
Interview with Paul Stein, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), member of the "Lost Battalion." His experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Fall of Java and capture; imprisonment in Surabaya, 1942; Changi Prison Camp, Singapore, 1942; hell ship to Japan, 1943; Nagasaki shipyards, 1943-45; Orio, Kyushu, 1945, and American air raids; liberation; description of damage at Nagasaki after the dropping of the atomic bomb.
Date: March 11, 1998
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Stein, Paul Daniel, 1920-2007
System: The UNT Digital Library