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Oral History Interview with Ed Carseth, August 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ed Carseth, August 6, 2003

Interview with Ed Carseth, a pilot during World War II. He discusses an early interest in aviation and earned his pilot's license through the Civilian Pilot Training program. He spent a year as an instructor before joining the Air Transport Command. Through 1944 he delivered aircraft to Australia before being assigned to Myitkyina, Burma. He speaks of living conditions at Myitkyina. He flew materials over the Himalaya Mountains (the Hump) from Burma to Kunming, China. Carseth relates anectdotes about General Claire Chennault, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and a squadron mate who kept a baboon.
Date: August 6, 2003
Creator: Metzler, Ed & Carseth, Ed
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jessie Clark, June 6, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jessie Clark, June 6, 2002

Interview with Jessie Clark regarding her experiences during World War II. She discusses having to adjust to a lifestyle of rationing for food products and shoes as well as blackouts and scrap metal drives. Her husband worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and was often absent while she stayed home to raise their children in Houston. She discusses the scarcity of toys during Christmas and hosiery.
Date: June 6, 2002
Creator: Loyd, Ms. & Clark, Jessie
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Morton Harrington, July 6, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Morton Harrington, July 6, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Morton Harrington. Harrington joined the Navy in January of 1944. He completed Gunnery School and Aviation Ordnance School, learning about aircraft bombs, fuses, various caliber guns, rockets, flags, radio communication and Morse Code. Beginning February of 1945 Harrington was assigned to the USS Nehenta Bay (CVE–74), serving as a turret gunner aboard both TBF’s and TBM’s. Their ship qualified with F4-U Corsair squadrons for carrier work. They traveled to Eniwetok, bombing several islands that the Japanese still held. In April of 1945 they participated in the Battle of Okinawa, where they shot down three kamikazes. Harrington provides details of his experiences aboard the Nehenta Bay and throughout their battles. He was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: July 6, 2007
Creator: Harrington, Morton
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Raymond Heller, March 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Raymond Heller, March 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Heller. Heller joined the Army in September 1944 and received basic training at Camp Hood. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 40th Infantry Division as a rifleman. In March 1945 he travelled to Leyte and was camped beside survivors of the Bataan Death March. He made patrols along various islands, to protect villagers from Japanese raids. While in the Philippines, he bought fresh fruits from natives. He recalls that although his unit prepared for a full-scale landing on Mindanao, it was unopposed, save for a lone Japanese soldier who charged with a sword. At Panay, Heller was treated by a medic for jungle rot. He then survived a typhoon on the way to Inchon. On V-J Day he saw USS Missouri (BB-63) break away from his convoy to celebrate by firing ammunition. Heller patrolled the 38th parallel, opposite the Russians. Heller returned home and was discharged in October 1946.
Date: March 6, 2001
Creator: Heller, Raymond
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Sidney Key, June 6, 2000 transcript

Oral History Interview with Sidney Key, June 6, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Sidney Key. Key joined the Marine Corps in July of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School and LVT School. Key was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. In May of 1943, he deployed and participated in in the assaults on Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. He operated the landing vehicles and provided combat support in operations ashore. Key was discharged in late 1945.
Date: June 6, 2000
Creator: Key, Sidney
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Reid Misenheimer, September 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Reid Misenheimer, September 6, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Reid Misenheimer. Misenheimer was born in Augusta, Arkansas 8 May 1922 and attended North Georgia College for two years before entering the Army in 1945. He took basic training at Smyrna Army Airfield, Tennessee, and was placed into a guard squadron after completing training. He recalls being transferred into the Army Specialized Training Program and being sent to the Citadel where he received training in basic engineering. The program was terminated and he was transferred into the infantry and sent to Fort Bragg, Kentucky for infantry basic. At the end of infantry training, he was transferred into the artillery and once again took basic training. Upon completion, he was sent to a 155mm Long Tom artillery unit at Brownsville, Texas and was assigned as a mechanic in the headquarters battalion. In January 1945 he went aboard a troop transport bound for La Havre, France. He relates various experiences in France. He returned to the United States in 1946 and received his discharge at Fort Bragg.
Date: September 6, 2003
Creator: Misenheimer, Reid
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Henry Mooi, August 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Henry Mooi, August 6, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Mooi. Mooi joined the Navy in January of 1945. He served aboard USS Cabot (CVL-28). He served on fire watch duty. Mooi remained aboard the Cabot through the end of the war, and they provided air cover during the Japanese surrender on USS Missouri (BB-63).
Date: August 6, 2003
Creator: Mooi, Henry
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Irvin Spielberg, November 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Irvin Spielberg, November 6, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irvine Spielberg. Born 18 December 1918 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Spielberg graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1941 with an aeronautical engineering degree. He worked at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio as a civil employee in the aircraft laboratory until he was drafted in January 1943. He went through Army Air Forces basic training on three different occasions. Twice he was relieved from active duty, placed into enlisted reserves and returned to his job at the laboratory. In 1944 he was again called up and completed basic training at Sheppard Field, Texas. Spielberg then entered gunnery school at Lowery Air Base, Colorado. After six weeks of training he transferred into flight engineer school at Lowery and describes various aspects of his training. Upon completion in October 1944, he began training at Maxwell Air Base. After several months, he went to MacDill Air Base, Florida. There, his crew was assembled and training began. It included long flights and he explains the procedure of fuel transfers during flight. In June 1945, the crew was assigned to the 313th Bomb Wing, 504th Bomb Group, 421st Bomb Squadron on Tinian. He remembers …
Date: November 6, 2003
Creator: Spielberg, Irvine
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Garrett Klatt, November 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Garrett Klatt, November 6, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Garrett A. Klatt. Klatt was born in Bluntzer, Texas on 24 January 1925, and was inducted into the Army on 22 June 1943. He shares several anecdotes about basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After graduating he was accepted into the Amy Specialized Training Program (ASTP) where he trained in basic engineering at the University of Kentucky and at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The ASTP was terminated in May 1944, and his group was sent overseas on the USAT George Washington. Klatt provides details of the transit and arrival in England. While in England he trained as a truck driver. Later, he served as a driver for the American Red Cross for six weeks in Paris. Klatt then describes his assignment to the Psychological Warfare Division of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. The division eventually evolved into the Information Control Division of United States Forces, European Theater, and was headquartered in Munich, Germany. He served in occupied Germany as a driver and details the dire circumstances faced by the German populace. He eventually returned to the US and was discharged on 18 March 1946 when he joined the …
Date: November 6, 2003
Creator: Klatt, Garrett A.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Raymond Strohmeyer, October 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Raymond Strohmeyer, October 6, 2003

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Strohmeyer. Strohmeyer enlisted in the Marine Corps in October, 1942. He trained in San Diego. Once he was shipped to New Caledonia as a replacement, he volunteered for the Marine Raiders and was attached to the 2nd Raider Battalion. He was with them when they went to Bougainville in November, 1943. He left after ten weeks in combat. His unit went to Saipan, but was never called ashore from the floating reserve. They went to Guam, instead. Strohmeyer describes taking the airfield on Guam and other combat actions. He also participated in the invasion of Okinawa. He carried a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) in his squad. He was eventually wounded on 19 May and evacuated to an Army hospital, from which he was flown to Guam two days later. He rejoined his outfit in time to go to Japan after the surrender. Strohmeyer was discharged in November, 1945.
Date: October 6, 2003
Creator: Strohmeyer, Raymond M.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Brown, December 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Brown, December 6, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Brown. Born in 1919, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1941. He was sent to Pearl Harbor. He recounts his actions during the Japanese attack there. He was then assigned to the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). He describes his duties as the captain?s orderly. He talks about an encounter with fifteen Japanese twin-engine airplanes while escorting troop ships from the Coral Sea to Australia. He also discusses sinking Japanese supply ships in Alaska. After being hospitalized in San Francisco for tuberculosis, he joined the 1st Marine Division in Guadalcanal in late 1943. He shares an anecdote about the troops and quinine on Guadalcanal. He describes the Battle of Peleliu where he was a gun captain on a 105mm howitzer. When the war ended, he was transported on the USS Wharton (AP-7) to San Diego, California where Roy Rogers and Dale Evans greeted the troops with the song ?Happy Trails.? Shortly thereafter, he was discharged.
Date: December 6, 2003
Creator: Brown, Jack
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with J. C. Alston, December 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with J. C. Alston, December 6, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.C. Alston. Alston joined the Navy in August, 1941. He eventually reported aboard the USS California (BB-44) and served in the number 2 turret. Alston describes being present aboard the California when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, Alston stayed with the California repairing and refurbishing her. Alston was aboard for the in Leyte invasion in the Philippines and describes watching some of the action at Iwo Jima. Alston also speaks about life aboard the California during the war.
Date: December 6, 2003
Creator: Alston, J. C.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Frank Curre, December 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Frank Curre, December 6, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Curre. Curre joined the Navy in June of 1941. Beginning in August, he served as Mess Cook aboard USS Tennessee (BB-43). They were moored in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Through 1942, Curre served aboard a yard mine sweeper in Bremerton. He completed training on minesweeping gear. He traveled through the Caroline, Marshall and Gilbert islands. They swept around Bougainville, New Britain and New Georgia prior to invasions. They were stationed on Midway Island, where Curre remained through the end of the war. He was discharged in August of 1946.
Date: December 6, 2003
Creator: Curre, Frank
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Euell White, December 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Euell White, December 6, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Euell White. White entered the Marine Corps on 29 May 1941 and did his basic training in San Diego. His first assignment was on Midway Island where he manned 3-inch anti-aircraft guns. He was at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 in the Marine barracks, which looked down on battleship row. White talks about a Japanese aircraft that was shot down and ended up about 500 feet from the hospital near his barracks. He states that the pilot had a map that marked every battleship and aircraft carrier that was supposed to be in the harbor. White also talks about a two-man Japanese submarine in the bay during the attack; the sub had hit a sand bar. He also mentions guarding a tank farm two days after the attack. Two to three weeks after Pearl Harbor, White was put on a destroyer that was going to Wake Island but they received word that Wake was going to fall so they went to Johnston Island instead. At Johnston Island they pumped coral and built a runway. After leave back in the States, White went back to Hawaii and was …
Date: December 6, 2003
Creator: White, Euell
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Roland Eberhardt, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Roland Eberhardt, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roland Eberhardt. Eberhardt joined the Navy in 1937, and attended a watertender school in Philadelphia. He served as chief watertender aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36). Eberhardt was aboard the ship while it was docked in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He provides vivid details of his experiences through that fateful day, and the grounding of their ship. He was then assigned to the USS San Francisco (CA-38) for the remainder of the war. Later in December of 1941 they reinforced Wake Island. In August of 1942 they participated in the Battle of Savo Island, off Guadalcanal. They patrolled around the Aleutian Islands, Attu and Kiska, to keep the Japanese from reinforcing their bases. From there they went through the Marshall Islands in 1943 and the Mariana Islands in 1944. Eberhardt was then sent to Oil Burning School in Philadelphia, and then assigned to a base in Salamaua, Papua New Guinea. He was discharged in October of 1945.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Eberhardt, Roland
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Albert Montague, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Albert Montague, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Montague. Montague joined the Navy in August 1941 and went to boot camp at San Diego, California. He recalls being sent to the submarine base at Pearl Harbor and attending signal school. His first assignment was at the signal tower where incoming ships were assigned docking positions by the use of lights and signal flags. One of his frequent visitors was Admiral Chester Nimitz who would often take his daily walk in the area. His recollections of 7 December 1941 include returning from breakfast mess and seeing Japanese planes strafing. Montague describes the scene and tells of the actions he took. He went aboard the US Stingray (S-40) in 1943 and recollects the war missions they went on including mine laying, picking up downed flyers and a special mission to Luzon. He was transferred off the boat into the Shore Patrol and tells of his experiences. Montague returned to the United States in 1945 and was discharged in 1946.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Montague, Albert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Raymond Wiesmann, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Raymond Wiesmann, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Wiesmann. Wiesmann joined the Navy in June of 1939. He served aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Wiesmann recalls being ashore waiting for a church service to begin when the first Japanese planes attacked. Beginning August of 1942, he was transferred to the USS Boston (CA-69), and served on the deck force. He speaks of his shellback initiation, crossing the equator. Wiesmann also recalls their participation in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Wiesmann, Raymond
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Albert Voss, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Albert Voss, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Voss. Voss joined the Navy in late 1938. He completed Radio Signaling School, and served aboard USS West Virginia (BB-48), USS California (BB-44) during the attack on Pearl Harbor and USS New Mexico (BB-40) during the invasion of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the bombardment of Guam, Saipan and Tinian and the Aleutian Islands Campaign. Voss additionally served aboard USS Menifee (APA-202) during the invasion of Okinawa. He was discharged in 1945.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Voss, Albert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Jones, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Jones, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Jones. Jones joined the Navy in January of 1941. He served in the Fire Control Division and Gunner’s Gang aboard the USS Tennessee (BB-43). The ship was moored near Battleship Row during the attack on 7 December 1941. He recalls going through the Harbor and retrieving servicemen out of the water. He was transferred to the USS Massachusetts (BB-59). They supported the invasion of North Africa in October of 1942 and struck Iwo Jima for the invasion in February of 1945. Jones was discharged in late 1945.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Jones, John
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Warren Kimzey, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Warren Kimzey, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Kimzey. Kimzey joined the Coast Guard in September of 1939. He provides details of his training in Alameda, California, and service aboard a 75-foot patrol boat. He served as a gunnery pointer and gun captain. In 1940 he was assigned to the USCGC Taney (WHEC-37), where he remained for one year, patrolling at sea and completing search and rescue operations. They traveled to Hollandia, Johnston, Palmyra, Wake, Canton Island and others. Kimzey was then transferred to the buoy tender, USCGC Kukui (WAGL-225), serving as the ship’s cook, commissary chief and more. They maintained and replaced navigational buoys in the Hawaiian archipelago. They were at Sand Island on 7 December 1941, and Kimzey provides vivid details of what he witnessed and how he participated through that fateful day. He returned to the US in 1944 and was promoted to Chief Commissary Man. He was discharged in 1945 and joined the Coast Guard Reserves.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Kimzey, Warren
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Howard Gray, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Howard Gray, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Gray. Gray joined the Navy in September of 1939. Gray trained as an aviation mechanic. He worked with Squadron VP-14, using multi-engine seaplanes to relocate older seaplanes from water to land. Gray was one of 6 family members serving in the war, and stationed at Hawaii, during the attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. From spring through August of 1942, he worked as a plane captain aboard a PBY Catalina Patrol Bomber in Hawaii. From August through July of 1943, Gray served with Patrol Aircraft Service Unit 1-1 and was assigned to Guadalcanal to support the first Black Cat squadron, VP-12. In the summer of 1943 through the end of the war, he was assigned to a B-24 unit, overseeing advanced trouble-shooting and engine changes. He retired in 1959.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Gray, Howard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with MJ Cotter, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with MJ Cotter, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with M J Cotter. Cotter joined the Navy in March of 1941. After boot camp, he provided upkeep and maintenance of the 16-inch gun turret aboard the USS Maryland (BB-46). They traveled to Hawaii around July of 1941. The Maryland was present on Battleship Row during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Cotter was aboard the ship and describes his experiences through this fateful day, including their 50-caliber gunner taking down a Japanese plane. After repairs to their ship, they participated in the battles of Midway, Tarawa, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Cotter was discharged in July of 1946.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Cotter, MJ
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles Herndon, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charles Herndon, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Herndon. Herndon joined the Navy in January of 1940. In April he was assigned aboard USS San Francisco (CA-38). He maintained the decks of the ship and worked as a mess cook. They were in Pearl Harbor Navy Yard awaiting an overhaul of their engineering plant when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. In late 1943 Herndon was assigned to a beach landing party aboard the USS Oxford (APA-189). He served in visual communications, and assisted troops from ship to shore. They landed parties in the Philippine Islands and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Herndon, Charles
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bill Oliver, December 6, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bill Oliver, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Oliver. Oliver quit school at the age of sixteen and joined the Army in September 1939. He was sent to Hawaii, where he joined the 19th Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He attended cooks school in Honolulu for sixteen weeks then he drove trucks. He describes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and tells of clearing the beach area of vegetation and installing rolls of barbed wire in anticipation of a landing by Japanese forces. In June 1942 he was sent to Oklahoma where he spent two years working in Battalion Headquarters during the formation of a new Army infantry division. He was then sent to Fort Benning, Georgia where he was a non-jumper instructor at the parachute school. He was discharged in July 1945. Oliver concludes the interview by telling of his duties after being recalled into the Army during the Korean War.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Oliver, Bill F.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History