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Oral History Interview with Charles George, April 3, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charles George, April 3, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles George. George was born in East Portsmouth, Ohio 12 August 1927. Entering the Navy in 1945, he was sent to San Diego, California for boot training. Upon completion he was sent to Navy signal school. After finishing signal school he attended submarine school at Newline, Connecticut for two months. He was assigned to the USS Boarfish (SS-327). During his time on the Boarfish one of the missions was to chart an ice passage across the North Pole. He describes how sonar was used to determine the thickness of the ice above and where the ocean bottom was. He tells of the gear worn while top-side in the sub-zero weather. Later, when the Boarfish was in the process of being prepared for sale to Turkey he asked to be assigned to another submarine and joined the USS Cusk (SS-348) as a helmsman. The Cusk was a World War II submarine that was converted to experiment with the launching of captured German V-2 rockets and George discusses the procedures and results of the testing. The Cusk’s mission was classified and George tells of the measures taken to insure that …
Date: April 3, 2004
Creator: George, Charles
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles George, April 3, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Charles George, April 3, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles George. George was born in East Portsmouth, Ohio 12 August 1927. Entering the Navy in 1945, he was sent to San Diego, California for boot training. Upon completion he was sent to Navy signal school. After finishing signal school he attended submarine school at Newline, Connecticut for two months. He was assigned to the USS Boarfish (SS-327). During his time on the Boarfish one of the missions was to chart an ice passage across the North Pole. He describes how sonar was used to determine the thickness of the ice above and where the ocean bottom was. He tells of the gear worn while top-side in the sub-zero weather. Later, when the Boarfish was in the process of being prepared for sale to Turkey he asked to be assigned to another submarine and joined the USS Cusk (SS-348) as a helmsman. The Cusk was a World War II submarine that was converted to experiment with the launching of captured German V-2 rockets and George discusses the procedures and results of the testing. The Cusk’s mission was classified and George tells of the measures taken to insure that …
Date: April 3, 2004
Creator: George, Charles
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edward Person, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Edward Person, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Person. Person joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. He deployed to Samoa in February of 1943. He served with the 8th Marine Regiment in an antitank outfit, working with 37mm antitank guns. Beginning in November of 1943 through April of 1945, Person participated in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1966.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Person, Edward
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edward Person, April 29, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Edward Person, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Person. Person joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. He deployed to Samoa in February of 1943. He served with the 8th Marine Regiment in an antitank outfit, working with 37mm antitank guns. Beginning in November of 1943 through April of 1945, Person participated in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1966.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Person, Edward
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Fred Bergeron, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Fred Bergeron, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Bergeron. Bergeron joined the Navy in 1940 and was trained as a radioman. He joined VB-3 and served on SBDs. Bergeron was attached to the USS Saratoga (CV-3). Bergeron describes his observations flying over the recently attacked Pearl Harbor. He was then attached to the Enterprise (CV-6) and helped screen the task force that launched the Doolittle Raid. Bergeron then joined the USS Yorktown (CV-5) for the Battle of Midway where he would earn the Distinguished Flying Cross. He describes in detail the bombing runs that he was a part of and his brother getting wounded. Bergeron rejoined the Saratoga until it was torpedoed off Guadalcanal, after that he flew missions from Henderson Field. He rotated back to the US for advance radio school and then received an honorable discharge.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Bergeron, Fred
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Fred Bergeron, April 29, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Fred Bergeron, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Bergeron. Bergeron joined the Navy in 1940 and was trained as a radioman. He joined VB-3 and served on SBDs. Bergeron was attached to the USS Saratoga (CV-3). Bergeron describes his observations flying over the recently attacked Pearl Harbor. He was then attached to the Enterprise (CV-6) and helped screen the task force that launched the Doolittle Raid. Bergeron then joined the USS Yorktown (CV-5) for the Battle of Midway where he would earn the Distinguished Flying Cross. He describes in detail the bombing runs that he was a part of and his brother getting wounded. Bergeron rejoined the Saratoga until it was torpedoed off Guadalcanal, after that he flew missions from Henderson Field. He rotated back to the US for advance radio school and then received an honorable discharge.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Bergeron, Fred
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gordon Kimball, April 3, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gordon Kimball, April 3, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gordon Kimball. Kimball joined the Navy in August of 1943. He completed submarine and quartermaster school. After graduation, he trained aboard R Boats in Key West, Florida. Beginning December of 1944, Kimball served aboard the USS Lizardfish (SS-373). They deployed to Pearl Harbor in the spring of 1945. They completed war patrols around Saipan, in the Java Sea, Lombok Strait, Australia, Sunda Strait and the Philippines. Kimball continued his service after the war ended, and was discharged in 1947.
Date: April 3, 2004
Creator: Kimball, Gordon
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gordon Kimball, April 3, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Gordon Kimball, April 3, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gordon Kimball. Kimball joined the Navy in August of 1943. He completed submarine and quartermaster school. After graduation, he trained aboard R Boats in Key West, Florida. Beginning December of 1944, Kimball served aboard the USS Lizardfish (SS-373). They deployed to Pearl Harbor in the spring of 1945. They completed war patrols around Saipan, in the Java Sea, Lombok Strait, Australia, Sunda Strait and the Philippines. Kimball continued his service after the war ended, and was discharged in 1947.
Date: April 3, 2004
Creator: Kimball, Gordon
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004

Interview with Guinn Rasbury, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, being transferred around the United States, and finally returning to the Pacific theater. He explains how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life. He shares anecdotes about sounding "Taps" at a memorial service for President Roosevelt and being chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Graham, Eddie & Rasbury, Guinn
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guinn Rasbury. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, other transfers around the States, ending up back in the Pacific. He ancedotes how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life, sounding Taps at a memorial service for President Roosevelt, being Chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Rasbury, Guinn
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guinn Rasbury. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, other transfers around the States, ending up back in the Pacific. He ancedotes how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life, sounding Taps at a memorial service for President Roosevelt, being Chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Rasbury, Guinn
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004

Interview with H. L. Obermiller, a Pharmacist's Mate during World War II. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, where he served as a Pharmacist's Mate. He remembers having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting Navajo code talkers, and writing letters home.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Metzler, Ed & Obermiller, H. L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with H. L. Obermiller. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, and being a Pharmacist's Mate. He ancedotes about having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting a couple Navajo codetalkers, and writing letters back home.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Obermiller, H. L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with H. L. Obermiller. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, and being a Pharmacist's Mate. He ancedotes about having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting a couple Navajo codetalkers, and writing letters back home.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Obermiller, H. L.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Harold Johnson, April 16, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Harold Johnson, April 16, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Johnson. Johnson joined the Navy in April, 1941. After basic training in San Diego, he was assigned to USS Oklahoma (BB-37). During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Johnson was aboard the Oklahoma and at his battle station in one of the turrets when the ship rolled over. He made it into the water and was rescued by a boat. Soon after, Johnson was assigned to USS Worden (DD-352). He was aboard when the Worden sank in the Aleutians in January 1943. He was then assigned to patrol craft escort duty from Cuba to the Panama Canal. He did that for a year before being assigned to an LST, which transited to the Pacific and was involved in the invasion of the Philippines and Okinawa. Johnson rotated back to the US and was home when the war ended. He was recalled for the Korean War and served aboard an auxiliary transport until 1952.
Date: April 16, 2004
Creator: Johnson, Harold
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Harold Tetlie, April 5, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Harold Tetlie, April 5, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Tetlie. Tetlie joined the Army in February of 1945. He served with the 869th Ordnance Company as a radio operator aboard an M10 tank destroyer. He deployed to the Philippine Islands in August of 1945 aboard the USS President Jackson (APA-18). He worked as a typist at a base in San Fernando, La Union in the Philippines through September of 1946. Tetlie was discharged in December.
Date: April 5, 2004
Creator: Tetlie, Harold
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Harold Tetlie, April 5, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Harold Tetlie, April 5, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Tetlie. Tetlie joined the Army in February of 1945. He served with the 869th Ordnance Company as a radio operator aboard an M10 tank destroyer. He deployed to the Philippine Islands in August of 1945 aboard the USS President Jackson (APA-18). He worked as a typist at a base in San Fernando, La Union in the Philippines through September of 1946. Tetlie was discharged in December.
Date: April 5, 2004
Creator: Tetlie, Harold
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Herman Krehmeier, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Herman Krehmeier, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Herman Krehmeier. Krehmeier joined the Marine Corps in May of 1943. He served as a machine gunner with the 2nd Marine Division. He deployed in January of 1944 to Pearl Harbor. Beginning July of 1944 through April of 1945, Krehmeier participated in the Battles of Tinian and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Krehmeier, Herman
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Herman Krehmeier, April 29, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Herman Krehmeier, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Herman Krehmeier. Krehmeier joined the Marine Corps in May of 1943. He served as a machine gunner with the 2nd Marine Division. He deployed in January of 1944 to Pearl Harbor. Beginning July of 1944 through April of 1945, Krehmeier participated in the Battles of Tinian and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Krehmeier, Herman
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Irving Westbrook, April 22, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Irving Westbrook, April 22, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irving Westbrook. Westbrook joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in early 1940 and went to Idaho. He joined the Navy in January 1942. When he finished training, he was assigned to a degaussing unit in New Orleans as a signalman. He asked to go overseas and was then trained to be a beach master with the Marines. After getting to the Southwest Pacific, Westbrook participated in the invasion of Leyte in October 1944. He remained on Leyte until December 1945, eventually serving as harbor master as he set up a communications station. When he left he Navy, Westbrook joined the Air Force.
Date: April 22, 2004
Creator: Westbrook, Irving
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Irving Westbrook, April 22, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Irving Westbrook, April 22, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irving Westbrook. Westbrook joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in early 1940 and went to Idaho. He joined the Navy in January 1942. When he finished training, he was assigned to a degaussing unit in New Orleans as a signalman. He asked to go overseas and was then trained to be a beach master with the Marines. After getting to the Southwest Pacific, Westbrook participated in the invasion of Leyte in October 1944. He remained on Leyte until December 1945, eventually serving as harbor master as he set up a communications station. When he left he Navy, Westbrook joined the Air Force.
Date: April 22, 2004
Creator: Westbrook, Irving
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Surles, April 19, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Surles, April 19, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Surles. Surles was born in 1924 in Louisiana. In December, 1942 he joined the Navy. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After basic training, Surles was trained in fire control and naval gunnery in Washington, DC. Upon completing that, he reported aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January, 1944. Surles describes being aboard the Franklin when it was attacked in March, 1945 off the coast of Kyushu. Surles stayed with the ship all the way back to the US. He was discharged shortly before the end of the war.
Date: April 19, 2004
Creator: Surles, Jack
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Surles, April 19, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jack Surles, April 19, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Surles. Surles was born in 1924 in Louisiana. In December, 1942 he joined the Navy. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After basic training, Surles was trained in fire control and naval gunnery in Washington, DC. Upon completing that, he reported aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13) in January, 1944. Surles describes being aboard the Franklin when it was attacked in March, 1945 off the coast of Kyushu. Surles stayed with the ship all the way back to the US. He was discharged shortly before the end of the war.
Date: April 19, 2004
Creator: Surles, Jack
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Callanan, April 4, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Callanan, April 4, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Callanan. Callanan begins with some anecdotes about his family. He was working for General Electric and eschewed his deferment and joined the Navy in March, 1943. Once in the Navy, he went to radio school. Without having gone to submarine school, Callanan was assigned to the USS Sailfish (SS-192) in July 1944. After some patrolling, he was transferred to the USS Proteus (AS-19). Then he went aboard the USS Batfish (SS-310) and did more patrolling. He shares a few anecdotes about being on patrol and attacking Japanese shipping, including other submarines. When the war ended, he took his discharge and returned to GE.
Date: April 4, 2004
Creator: Callanan, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History