This recording is a part of the radio series “Toscanini: The Man Behind the Legend,” which was a tribute to conductor Arturo Toscanini. The broadcasts consist of music performed by the NBC Orchestra as well as interviews with composers, conductors, orchestra members, and other people associated with Toscanini. This segment includes performances of Rossini's William Tell Overture, Strauss's Blue Danube Waltz, an interview with Andre Kostelanetz, Brahms's Hungarian Dances, and Sibelius's Finlandia.

Recording of John Gilliland interviewing critic Ralph J. Gleason in Berkeley, California for the Pop Chronicles radio program series.

Sound recording of James V. Mink being interviewed by Bernard Galm about the history of the Oral History Association at Powell Library at UCLA in Los Angeles, California.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Warren S. Adams II. The day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Adams set aside his law career and joined the Marine Corps. Adams began his Marine career as an instructor, but wished for another assignment. He ended up on Saipan and describes his experiences there.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Aubrey Felder. Felder joined the Navy in February of 1943. He completed training and served as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate aboard the USS Wolverine (IX-64), a training ship at Naval Station Great Lakes. Beginning January of 1944 Felder worked aboard the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). They participated in the battles of Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Luzon and the Battle off Samar in the Philippine Sea. Their ship was hit by a kamikaze. Felder returned to the US and was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean Moel. Moel joined the Navy in September of 1943. He became a member of the commissioning crew of USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73). Moel was a crewman on a twin 40mm and describes coming under air attack. He describes in detail the Battle off Samar. Moel details seeing his ship get hit by battleship shells and the damage that resulted. He describes abandoning ship and his time in the water. Moel recalls seeing a Japanese ship pass by with its crewman at attention in an apparent sign of respect. He describes his rescue by an LCI and medical treatment that he received on an LST. Moel was eventually reassigned to a seaplane tender and discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Don Mc Nelly. McNelly was born in Brookville, Ohio on 11 November 1920. After graduating from high school he attended the General Motors Institute, studying to be an engineer. Employed in defense work, he received draft deferments until 1944. During June 1944 he joined the US Navy and received a commission, as he was a graduate engineer. He joined the USS Kyne (DE-744) at Ulithi as a deck and engineer officer. The ship’s mission was to escort convoys and perform anti-submarine duties. During December 1944 the ship was involved in Typhoon Cobra. He describes the terror of being in the typhoon, which sank three other American destroyers. Soon after the Japanese surrender, the Kyne was ordered to Tokyo Bay. McNelly went into Tokyo and saw plenty of destruction. Soon after the signing of the Peace Treaty, the Kyne returned to the United States where it was placed in the Mothball Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida. Mc Nelly was discharged in May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Donald Goldstein. He gives overviews of background on the battles of Pearl Harbor and Leyete Gulf.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doy Duncan. He begins by speaking about finishing high school in Arkansas, looking for work, joining the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), enrolling in junior college, joining the Navy and evetually taking Civilian Pilot Training before being called into the Navy. His battalion commander at Preflight School at Chapel Hill, North Carolina was Gerald R. Ford, the future president. He passed and evetually made it into dive bomber training in Glenview, Illinois where he practiced carrier landings on Lake Michigan. Before shipping out, he was switched to a fighter unit assigned to the USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). Duncan speaks of attacking targets on Peleliu with napalm. Next, Duncan describes his actions at the Battle off Samar. He speaks of attacking the ships of the Japanese Fleet pursuing Taffy 3. His plane was damaged and he had to make a water landing. His plane sank too fast for him to retrieve his life raft and he saw sharks beginning to circle. A torpedo bomber flew over and tossed out a life raft for him. Duncan managed managed to paddle to Samar in a few days where he fell in with …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with I.S. Fellner. Fellner joined the Navy in January of 1942. He was trained as a dive bomber pilot and went to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal in 1943. Fellner describes an emergency landing after being hit by flak over Bougainville. He then returned to the US and joined VB-13, attached to the USS Franklin (CV-13). Fellner describes another close call after a collision during a training mission. He discusses flying a photo reconnaissance mission over Peleliu and taking part on missions in support of the landings at Leyte. Fellner participated in an attack on the Japanese fleet at Surigao Straight and describes dive bombing a Japanese ship. He details the process of arming a bomb. Fellner discusses the kamikaze attack that damaged the Franklin. He returned to the US for shore duty and left the service soon after the surrender.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Yusen. Yusen joined the Navy around 1943. Beginning early 1944, he served as Seaman 2nd Class and worked on the deck force aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). They traveled to Pearl Harbor to complete additional training, then escorted a thirty-ship convoy to the Marshall Islands. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where the ship was badly damaged and sunk. Yusen was one of the surviving crewmembers. He was later transferred to Bremerton Naval Ammunition Depot for a year and half and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Michael Bak. Bak was born in Garfield, New Jersey on 14 March 1923. He joined the US Navy Reserve in 1942 and went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for ten months. He then attended quartermaster school for four months. Upon graduating, he was assigned to the USS Franks (DD-554). The ship was assigned to Division 94 along with the USS Haggard (DD-555), USS Hailey (DD-556) and USS Johnston (DD-557). After training in bombardment, torpedo and depth charge launching, the division went to Pearl Harbor. Bak was involved in the invasions of Tarawa and Kwajalein, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He saw the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) get hit by a Japanese torpedo and recalls escorting the USS Washington (BB-56), damaged in a collision with the USS Indiana (BB-58), back to Pearl Harbor. The Franks was often designated a plane guard ship, assigned to rescue downed pilots. Bak describes the procedure. During the invasion of Okinawa, the Franks collided with the USS New Jersey (BB-62). The Franks’ captain died of injuries suffered during the accident and the ship went to Bremerton, Washington for major repairs. Bak …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Austin. Austin was born in Texas and grew up on farms before joining the Texas National Guard. When his unit, the 144th Infantry Regiment, was federalized, he became a member of the 36th Infantry Division. He was training at Camp Bowie, Texas, when he received word Pearl Harbor had been attacked. His unit was detached and went to Fort Lewis, Washington, where it was spread out along the coast watching for a Japanese invasion. Austin eventually went to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He shipped overseas in September 1942. When he arrived in Hawaii, he was attached to the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. After more training in Australia, his unit moved to New Guinea and participated in the Hollandia invasion. After securing airfields, Austin’s unit was transported to Biak. Their next assignment took them to Leyte for the invasion. After the Leyte campaign, Austin went to Luzon and was attached to the 38th Infantry Division. In May, 1945, Austin returned to the US on leave and was discharged later in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard W. Roby. Roby was accepted for aviation cadet training and earned his wings at Pensacola in October, 1941. His first assignment was as a flight instructor at Corpus Christi. When Roby was finally assigned to the Fleet, He joined Composite Squadron 10 (United States. Navy. Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10)) aboard the USS Gambier Bay in April, 1944. He mentions combat missions over Guam, Tinian and Saipan. During the invasion of the Philippines, Roby was aboard the Gambier Bay, with Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy 3), in October, 1944. He describes attacking the Japanese Fleet off the coast of Samar. After several runs on the Japanese ships, Roby had to head for the airfield at Tacloban, where he refueld, rearmed and had some engine repairs done. He wasn't able to get back to a carrier for a few days. When he returned, he landed on the USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) and steamed to Pearl Harbor, then San Francisco aboard the USS California (BB-44). From there, he was attached to a squadron in training in Florida. He was finally assigned to a new squadron two days before the war ended. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Roy. Roy joined the Navy in 1939. He joined the engineering department on the USS Arkansas (BB-33). Roy practiced amphibious landings using the battleship motor launch alongside early Higgins landing craft. He was then sent to school to become a photographer’s mate. Roy was sent to the USS Yorktown (CV-5) where he operated motion picture cameras and worked in the photo lab. He mentions taking part in photo-reconnaissance missions over the Marshall and Gilbert islands. Roy describes his time on the bridge during the Battle of Coral Sea. He discusses how the captain maneuvered the ship to avoid incoming torpedoes. Roy details how the Yorktown was damaged and evacuated during the Battle of Midway. He describes how he was able to save three tins of film during the ordeal. Roy was then assigned as an instructor at the Naval School of Photography in Pensacola. He was then commissioned as an officer and went on to serve in intelligence and in the reserves.

Recital performated at UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

Transcript of an oral interview with Al Heigel. When Heigel finished high school in June, 1944, he joined the Navy at Little Rock, Arkansas and went for boot training at San Diego. He was assigned as a radar operator and reported aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) at Pearl Harbor. Heigel describes the light carrier and its construction and features. He also speaks of the time the Independence was hit by a torpedo off Tarawa in 1943. Heigel then describes events off Okinawa: watching the USS Franklin (CV-13) being bombed off Okinawa; locating and shooting down kamikazes; describing battle stations; aircraft water landings; being in a typhoon, etc. After the war ended, the Independence served as a troop transport taking GIs back home to the US. He describes bunks in the hangar deck and arriving in Portland, Oregon. As the Independence was being prepared for the Bikini Atoll atomic tests, Heigel got off becuase he had the requisite amount of points allowing him to be discharged. He then entered the lumber business, married and raised family.

Transcript of an oral interview with Charles H. Britten. Britten was drafted into the Marine Corps after he finished high school in June, 1944. He trained at San Diego and at Camp Pendleton as a Marine scout and sniper. He was eventually assigned to the Headquarters Company, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division. He trained more on Guadalcanal in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa. Britten shares several anecdotes about his time in battle on Okinawa. When the war ended, Britten and his unit were sent to China for occupation duty. He returned home in July, 1946 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Schaefer. Schaefer was drafted into the Army in April, 1943. Once in, he passed the exam to become an air cadet. Instead of becoming a pilot, he was trained as a tail gunner and went overseas to Tinian to join the 505th Bomb Group. He flew in B-29s on several missions to Japan mining harbors or dropping bombs. He flew on 13 combat missions before flyting on a few prisoner of war supply missions. When the war ended, Schaefer flew home on a B-29 and attended college on the GI Bill.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Clayton. Clayton was drafted into the United States Navy. After training, he joined the Amphibious Forces and was assigned to USS Alpine (APA-92). His crew made assaults on Guam and the Philippines. He was a yeoman for 2 years. He was aboard the Alpine when it was commissioned and decommissioned. After the war, the Alpine pulled troops out of battle zones in Japan and China. He was discharged in New Orleans.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Santiago Villanueva. Villanueva was born in Helena, Texas 7 February 1922. He was drafted into the Army in 1941and had basic training at Camp Adair, Oregon. Upon being assigned as a gunner in an 81mm mortar squad in the 1st Battalion, 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division he was sent to Obispo, California for amphibious training. He recalls being sent to Camp Stoneman, California prior to disembarking for overseas. Stopping in Hawaii the unit underwent jungle training for several weeks. The division was part of the invasion force that landed on Leyte in October 1944 and Villanueva remarks than many of his friends were killed during the action. The division also took part in the invasion of Okinawa and Villanueva tells of being subjected to banzai charges by the Japanese. He also witnessed Japanese paratroopers land on Okinawa. After the surrender of Japan he returned to the United States and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas R. Durham. Durham was born in Oklahoma 24 March 1924 and joined the Marine Corps 7 April 1944 and went to boot camp in San Diego, California. He recalls being on board a troop ship with 3000 Marine replacements for the 1st Marine Division after the battle of Peleliu. Landing on Okinawa 1 April 1945 he entered the battle and describes incidents that contributed to high casualty rates. Within his initial group of 43 men, thirteen were killed, the rest were wounded. Durham’s slight wound became very infected requiring a stay in the hospital. Returning to combat with his unit he describes an explosion that killed a close friend and gave him a severe concussion. He was hospitalized for combat fatigue and was sent home on leave. He recounts his experiences on the ship that carried him and sixty-four others who had been wounded twice as well as 1000 Japanese prisoners of war. Stopping in Hawaii, the POWs were taken off the ship and it proceeded to San Francisco. Durham was home on leave when Japan surrendered. Returning to Camp Pendleton, he performed various duties until he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Tsuneishi. Tsuneishi was living in California when the war started and was soon evacuated to a Japanese-American detention center. He joined his family at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming. He did not stay there long as he was allowed to attend Syracuse University. In 1943, he entered the Military intelligence Language School and studied Japanese to become an interpreter. He participated in the invasion of Leyte Island and worked as a translator and interpreter. Tsuneishi also went to Okinawa as a translator. Tsuneishi provides unique insight from the Japanese American perspective of his time in the Army.

Lecture given Monday, September 18, 2006, 8:30 AM at Abilene Christian University: "In the great prologue of the Gospel of John, we are told that the reality of this great declaration? Jesus calls His disciples to live "against the night.""