Ensembles concert performed at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Donovan. In January 1943 Donovan served as a member of the 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division as it joined the ongoing battle at Guadalcanal. His unit was withdrawn in February to New Zealand, and after recuperating from widespread malaria, his battalion landed at Tarawa on the day after the initial landing. After Tarawa, Donovan recalls that members of his battalion were put ashore by the USS Nautilus onto the Northern Gilbert island atoll Abemama, to flush out entrenched Japanese soldiers. Donovan was the battalion executive officer during the landing on Saipan. His landing craft was shot up resulting in several casualties but eventually landed. He describes the ferocious action that followed over the next three weeks until Saipan was eventually secured on 9 July. Donovan next describes the landing on Tinian where the 2nd Marine Division landed in support of the 4th Marine Division and secured the island over the following eleven days. At the end of 1944 he was transferred back to Pearl Harbor for a job at Fleet Pacific Headquarters until June 1945 when he was sent to Quantico, Virginia as an instructor.

An ensemble concert performed in the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Owen. Owen enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1941. After boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to the Marine Detachment at San Clemente Island, California. After he was there for a year, they transferred him to Camp Elliott in San Diego where he became part of the 2nd Marine Division. In Oct 1942, they sailed for New Zealand and additional training. They made several practice landings and then invaded Tarawa on November 20, 1943. Owen was a corporal in what was called Shore Party Command Group - Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 18th Marines. The job of this Group was to establish dumps on the beaches and unload the ships. Owen states that he was probably one of the few that made the landing in Tarawa twice and never did get ashore, because he spent 13 days on the pier. At the end of this time, they went aboard the President Monroe and sailed to Hawaii. Upon arriving in Hilo, they set up a camp on the volcano which was at the Parker Ranch in Kamuela (Camp Tarawa) and at an old Japanese POW camp. While …

Audio cassette from The Black Academy of Arts and Letters recorded during the 'Round Midnight jazz and bepop concert held on September 21st, 1996 at the Clarence Muse Café Theatre. The tape includes the Fabulous Monk Family performing jazz.

Audio cassette from The Black Academy of Arts and Letters recorded during the 'Round Midnight jazz and bepop concert held on September 21st, 1996 at the Clarence Muse Café Theatre. The tape includes the Fabulous Monk Family performing jazz.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jose King. King, of Korean descent, grew up under Japanese occupation in Songsong Village, Rota. Relations with the Japanese were mostly peaceful. He attended a strict but effective Japanese school. When Japanese supplies began to dwindle, soldiers stole food from villagers and threatened to kill them if they withheld it. The natives narrowly escaped mass execution and instead were put to work farming sweet potatoes. King’s family foraged in the mountains and jungles, hunting birds with a slingshot. His brother was recruited by the Japanese to hunt birds and was killed in an air raid. His uncle was wrongly accused of being a spy and sentenced to death. King and his family sought refuge in a cave during bombardments and were strafed while searching for food. Upon being discovered by American Marines, King feared that the food they provided might be poisoned. Although the military initially intended to send his family to Korea, they successfully pleaded to stay with their community. King’s family later moved to Saipan and then Tinian, embarking in prosperous trade with Allied occupation forces. He started a family of his own, and many of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Layher. Layher was a member of the first squadron of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. While stationed in Rangoon in January 1942, the group sent Pete Wright into the air to scare off an enemy bomber. Wright's plane malfunctioned on the approach, and he veered off the runway, killing a captain. On 5 March 1942, Layher nearly lost control of his own plane during a close formation drill. The group had been asked to escort Chiang Kai-shek and to perform a slow roll. Being at the tail end of the formation, Layher was unable to fly fast enough to perform the maneuver safely. By the time he recovered and rejoined the formation, their leader had dropped out due to an equipment malfunction. So, Pappy Boyington led the group, taking them off course and expending more fuel than anticipated. Layher crash-landed on a remote trail and was discovered by unfriendly natives. Not having worn his blood chit that day, he narrowly escaped execution and was eventually reunited with his group.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ken Jernstedt. Upon completion of flight training at Pensacola, Jernstedt joined the third squadron of the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. In this interview, Jernstedt describes the social complexities of the group, such as Pappy Boyington's unruly behavior as an experienced Marine who was unsatisfied with his rank with the AVG. He also recounts accidental encounters with generals and royalty that visited the group unannounced. For example, they once offered a lift to Madame Chiang Kai-shek due to her good looks but ignored the Generalissimo, not recognizing him. Towards the end of the war, a pilot came to work with Jernstedt's unit, claiming to have flown with the first squadron. When an FBI background check confirmed everyone's suspicions that he had not, the imposter was sent home. Jernstedt laments that AVG history has been distorted by fraudulent claims of membership. He commends Bruce Holloway, who spent time with the AVG but was not a group member, for recognizing and honoring the distinction.

Interview with Levi and Evelyn Taylor, owners of a drive-in restaurant, The Grove, in Kerrville, Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue by Nubuo Kishiue. Kishiue, the son of Japanese immigrants, joined the Army in November 1941 and received training at Camp Robertson. After the war began, he was granted leave to help his family relocate to an internment camp. Upon his return, he was sent to language school at Camp Savage. He was then assigned to the 27th Infantry Division and shipped to Saipan. There he served as a medical interpreter for civilians at Camp Susupe. He occasionally accompanied personnel on intelligence missions, scouring battlefields for paperwork in the aftermath of firefights. After the war, and during a sweep of the island, Kishiue was nearly killed by a Japanese soldier who refused to surrender. Kishiue later returned home and rented land to farm. He believes the discrimination his family faced before the war, including being unable to own land, was remedied by the Nisei soldiers who proved their loyalty to America. Kishiue ultimately purchased his own land and farmed until his retirement in 1990.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marie Castro. As a child, Castro lived in Saipan under Japanese occupation, living with rationing and blackout conditions. As a Chamorro, she received corporal punishment from her teachers, and one of her cousins was beaten to death. When Japanese Marines came to Garapan seeking comfort women, Castro hid in an attic to avoid being taken. She then moved with her family to Marpi Point, but her father was sent to a labor camp. After the United States invaded, Castro and her family hid in a cave, lacking food and water. They were discovered and sent to Camp Susupe, crowded with orphans of those who committed suicide. Initially wary of Americans, the interned were happy to find themselves treated very well. Grateful to Americans for giving their lives to save hers, Castro devoted herself to a teaching career in Kansas City.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue with Preston Holcomb. Holcomb joined the Navy in Houston, Texas in 1938 when he was 17 years old. He volunteered for service in China and was assigned to the USS Tulsa (PG-22) when he arrived in Hong Kong in November 1939. Holcomb recalls fighting fires at the fuel docks at Cavite shortly after the Japanese attacked the Philippines. He describes some of his adventures eluding the Japanese Fleet as the Tulsa made her way to Australia. Late in 1943, Holcomb was detached from the Tulsa and ordered aboard the USS Tinsman (DE-589). He returned to the Philippines on the Tinsman in time for the liberation.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arwin Bowden. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment, then joining the battle of Saipan. He ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made and the time he had leave.

Interview with Marguerite Sammons Voges from Hunt, Texas. The interview includes her stories of growing up in Hunt, including the floods of 1932 and 1978, and the lives of farmers in Kerr County.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Anne Sloan. Sloan grew up in Oregon and joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1944. She spent time at Fort Des Moines, Iowa; Plattsburgh, New York; Camp Davis, North Carolina; Lexington, Virginia; and San Antonio, Texas before she left the service in 1946. She was at Times Square, New York City on V-E Day. After the service, she used the GI Bill to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her husband. She later became a teacher.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ken Barden. Barden joined the Navy in 1942, and was called to active duty in July of 1943. He was assigned to the Navy V-12 program, graduating around March of 1944. He then completed Midshipman’s School in June, and was commissioned in the Naval Reserve. After finishing amphibious boat training in December, he was assigned to the USS Charles Carroll (APA-28). They participated in the Battle of Okinawa. He recalls Ernie Pyle riding in his landing craft to the beach at Okinawa. After the war ended, they became part of the Magic Carpet Fleet, making voyages from the west coast to the Philippines and the Far East, carrying occupation troops west-bound, and returning servicemen east-bound. Barden was discharged in August of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ross Taggart. Taggart was born 21 May 1921 in Twin Falls, Idaho. He joined the Navy in 1938. He was assigned to the USS Langley (CV-1) and was wounded when she was attacked by Japanese aircraft and sank in February, 1942. He was rescued by the USS Whipple (DD-217) and transferred to the USS Pecos (AO-6). Two days later, the Pecos was attacked and sank. He was wounded again in the attack and transferred back to the Whipple, which went to Australia. After a stay in the hospital in Australia, Taggart returned to duty and was assigned to the USS Bullwheel (YO-46). Taggart was transferred to shore duty on Iwo Jima where he was severely wounded and placed aboard the hospital ship USS Bountiful (AH-9) for return to the United States. He traveled by hospital train to the Great Lakes Naval Hospital and spent 18 months recovering. He received a medical discharge and went to school using the GI Bill where he received a degree in chemical engineering.

Ensemble performance at the UNT College of Music.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gerold (Jerry) Haynes. Haynes grew up in Mississippi and went to Memphis, Tennessee to join the Navy in 1939. He was assigned to the USS California and went to Pearl Harbor. The California was bombed December 7, 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Haynes describes the recovery efforts. In March 1942 he was reassigned to the USS Sante Fe (CL-60). He was on a 5 in/38 gun. He discusses sinking a ship in the San Bernadino Strait. In 1945, he rescued two survivors from the USS Franklin and received a citation. He describes the experience of pulling survivors from the ocean. NOTE: Haynes identified the USS Tingey (DDS-539) but the action described (Attu, Tarawa, USS Franklin rescue) supports the USS Santa Fe (CL-60).

Interview with Jack Kleiss, a pilot during World War II. He discusses training for carrier landings on USS Enterprise; the arrival of VMF-211 aboard Enterprise and their delivery to Wake Island; and the attack on Pealr Harbor on 7 December 1941. Kleiss was in a dive bomber and attacked Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway, where he earned the Navy Cross.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Kleiss. Kleiss discusses training for carrier landings on USS Enterprise; the arrival of VMF-211 aboard Enterprise and their delivery to Wake Island; and the attack on Pealr Harbor on 7 December 1941. Kleiss was in a dive bomber and attacked Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway, where he earned the Navy Cross.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Ross. Assigned to the 267th Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division, he describes training and living conditions at camp Joseph T. Robinson. He describes crossing the Atlantic in November 1944 as well as being transported to Weymouth, England. He also recalls narrowly missing being transported on the SS Léopoldville (1929) and arriving at Cherbourg, France in December 1944. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge near Lorient, France. When the war ended in Europe, he was in placed in charge of supplies for two general hospitals near Arles, France. He was subsequently transferred to the 4289th Provisional Supervision Company. He talks about taking charge of SS Troops in Vienna and setting up a hospital in Wels, Austria. He recalls the entertainment in Vienna. He was discharged in April 1946.

Transcript of an oral interview with Taisuke Maruyama. He was born in 1922. After finishing the sixth grade, Mr Maruyama took an exam for Navy pilot school and passed; he was 15 or 16 at the time. At that time, preparatory flight school (navy basic training) for the Navy was one and one half years. Once he completed this, Maruyama entered flight training, which lasted for one year. After flight training, he was ordered to the carrier Hiryu; to be a scouting member of the 97th torpedo plane, a Kate. He was not assigned as a pilot but as a scout. In July/August 1941, the Hiryu escorted the invasion fleet when the Japanese Army landed in French Indo-China. Mr Maruyama saw his first combat on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor; the first wave (183 planes). His target was the USS Oklahoma and he had the job of releasing the torpedo; it hit. He was 19 years old. After the attack, the carriers returned to their own harbors and the planes went to bases. Mr Maruyama states that either the pilot or the scout could be the leader on the plane. At Midway, he was still a scout but was …