The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Mabel Miller. Miller was born 5 October 1925 near Floresville, Texas. She shares her recollections of her childhood, life during the war, and how she met her husband, who served in World War II. Miller provides details of her husband’s service in the war, and their life and family together.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Betty Kaiser. Kaiser was born in Glasgow, Scotland prior to World War II. She tells of hearing air raid warnings that signaled the approach of German bombers in the area and describes the air raid shelters in the local neighborhood and those at school. Recalling a normal day’s activities during those times, she reflects upon the shortages and of rationing many necessities.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dick Williams. Williams joined the Army Air Forces in May of 1943. He completed mechanic school, and served as an airplane and engine mechanic. He also completed infantry basic training and was assigned as a mechanic to the 13th Air Force. Williams did not participate in any ground fighting. He traveled to New Caledonia, Borneo, Palawan and Leyte. He was discharged in late 1946.

Interview with Ornell Balzer, beginning with the evolution of her career at M.D. Anderson. She recounts how she moved to Houston after graduating from nursing school and her return to M.D. Anderson. Ms. Balzer then details her memories of time spent working at Baker Estate and her interactions with colleagues and patients.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edwin Koehler. Koehler joined the Army in December of 1943. He completed basic training at Camp Fannin in Texas. He continued there through mid-1944 training new recruits. In February of 1945 he joined the 4th Infantry Division in Germany and fought against the German SS. He provides details of his combat experiences. Koehler continued serving in Germany after the war ended. He returned to the states in late 1945. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Carseth. 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 and flying materials over the Himalaya Mountains (the Hump) from Burma to Kunming, China. Carseth has anectdotes about meeting General Claire Chennault, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and a squadron mate who kept a baboon.

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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chester Gacek. Gacek joined the Navy in 1943. He was trained as a radioman and was assigned to the USS El Dorado (AGC-11). Gacek was aboard during the invasion of Okinawa and mentions how he recorded messages received in Morse Code. He was in Manila when the Japanese surrendered and describes transporting Japanese officers onboard the USS Okala (ARST-2) to war crimes trails.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Sagebiel. Sagebiel’s father was the nephew of Admiral Chester Nimitz. He recalls visiting the Admiral as a child. He joined the Navy in 1941. He completed dental work for the Marines. He worked at a Marine Corps base in Mojave, California. He traveled aboard the USS Rochambeau (AP-63) as an anesthesiologist to Bougainville and Guadalcanal. He remained in the Pacific for 3 years, traveling from island to island, wherever he was needed in anesthesiology and other medical operations. In mid-1945 he traveled to the Philippines. He returned home in late 1945 after the war ended, and remained in the Reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marion Kennedy. Kennedy joined the Army as a nurse in late 1941. She was assigned to the 20th General Hospital and traveled to India. Kennedy describes how the hospital supported the workers on the Ledo Road and later troops involved in combat. She describes how malaria was treated. Kennedy discusses the ration and supply situation. She also mentions how Chinese soldiers were fed and housed separately. Kennedy rotated back to the U.S. and was there when the war ended. She left the Army in 1946, but rejoined in 1953 and retired as a colonel in the early 1970s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Oscar Mitchell. Mitchell joined the Army in November of 1941. He completed Officer Candidate School and served as commander of an all-black engineer combat battalion. Beginning in 1943, they traveled to North Africa and Calcutta, India, and worked as drivers along the Ledo Road. He returned from India to the US, and was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Harold Ryan. Ryan joined the Army in September of 1944. He served with the 96th Infantry Division. He worked with and trained fellow servicemen on the M1 rifle. Ryan participated in the Battle of Okinawa. He was discharged in September of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Martin L. Clayton. Clayton was born in Marshall, Texas 23 September 1920. Joining the US Marine Corps 26 February 1942 he completed boot camp in six weeks. After undergoing intensified combat training he was placed in the 17th replacement outfit, at San Diego, Clayton was then shipped to Melbourne, Australia. He was assigned to 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Having spent twenty-five months in combat he describes conditions encountered on Peleliu, New Britain and Okinawa. He was subjected to a bayonet charge, witnessed injury and death of friends and personally capturing three Japanese soldiers.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Doreen G. Underwood. Underwood was born in England in September of 1920. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in August of 1940, completing clerical duties. She was stationed in England, France and Germany. Underwood was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Wilhelm. Wilhelm joined the Navy in April of 1944. He served as a Gunner’s Mate aboard USS El Dorado (AGC-11) from August of 1944 through August 1945. They served as a communications ship through the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Wilhelm was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Salvatore Rascati. Rascati was born in New Haven, Connecticut on 12 May 1925. Entering the Navy in 1943 he attended boot camp at Sampson, New York. He then attended electrical school for four months followed by several months of training at the motion picture technical school in Brooklyn, New York. He was then assigned to the USS El Dorado (AGC-11). In 1944 the ship went to Guam at which time Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner came on board with his staff. Rascati tells of the ship participating in the invasion of Iwo Jima and taking many of the Marine casualties on board. He also tells of the ship participating in the invasion of Okinawa and General Simon Bucker and Ernie Pyle being on board. Following the Okinawa operation the ship went to Manila. While there they heard about the atomic bomb attack. The ship returned to the United States soon after the Japanese surrender.

Faculty and guest artist recital presented at the UNT College of Music Lyric Theater.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arnold Spielberg. Spielberg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on 6 February 1917. His mother and father migrated from the Ukraine. He joined the United States Army and based on his experience as a “Ham” radio operator and knowledge of Morse code, he was assigned to the 442nd Signal Corps. Soon afterwards, he was assigned to the United States Army Air Forces and went aboard the SS Santa Paul in May 1942 bound for Karachi, India. After a short stint in supply, Spielberg was transferred to the 490th Bombardment Group where he set up a communications center at Ondal, India. The unit then moved to Bishnapur, India where he became the communications chief. During this time he was instrumental in setting up a rhombic directional antenna to improve communication with New Delhi. He describes instances where he went directly to the manufacturer for parts that were badly needed. Following his tour in India, Spielberg was assigned to research and development at Wright Field where he stayed until he was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Mose Davie. Davie was born in Clarksville, Tennessee on 12 July 1918. He graduated from high school in 1938 and attended Tennessee State University majoring in engineering. In 1941 he was drafted into the United States Army under the Selective Training and Service Act. Following basic training he was assigned to the 382nd Engineer Construction Battalion. He tells of the segregated unit boarding the USS Hermitage (AP-54) bound for Bombay, India. Once in India, the battalion was assigned the job of building the Ledo Road. Working in jungles, swamps and over mountains and rivers, malaria was prevalent and many of the men died. He relates how food and supplies were brought in by C-46 and C-47 transport planes that flew over The Hump and of being subjected to periodic Japanese air raids over the construction camps. Upon completion of the Ledo Road, the battalion returned to India. Davie also attended USO shows that featured Joe E. Brown and Hank Greenberg. Following the surrender of Japan, Davie returned to the United States and received his discharge in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Findley. Findley joined the Army Air Forces in July of 1942. He received pilot training at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona from both the Royal Air Force and United States. Upon graduation, Findley was eligible to wear the wings of both countries. He also completed Special Weapons Training. He served in Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Omaha, Nebraska setting up a missile safety program. Findley’s military career began with a year in India flying the Hump, where he made 103 missions. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1946, though continued his military career retiring from the USAF in 1973.

Interview with David Lee "Tex" Hill of San Antonio, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater. The interview includes Hill's personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of pre-war flight training in Florida, the Flying Tigers, and the Salween River Gorge attack.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Lee ""Tex"" Hill. He discusses his time with the Flying Tigers and with Air Force Fighter Groups flying missions in China, particularly the Salween Gorge bombing to keep the Japanese from crossing into China there.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Witts. Witts was born in Texas 13 December 1920. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Texas until 1941. Leaving college during his senior year, he joined the FBI as a special agent in training and before completing the training he resigned and joined the US Army Air Corps in October 1941. After training at various installations he became a navigator in 1944. Witts received combat training in PBY5A aircraft at Kessler Field, Mississippi. He tells of picking up an aircraft at Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia and flying to New Guinea where the plane and crew were assigned to the 13th Air Force. He describes the various types of missions flown and strong relationships the crew members formed. He tells of the living conditions encountered and the various types of landing strips from which they had to operate. Following the surrender of Japan he returned to the United States on a troop ship, received his discharge and reentered the University of Texas from which he graduated with a law degree.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dr. James E.T. Hopkins. Hopkins was born in Howard County, Maryland on 19 January 1915. Following high school, he attended The Johns Hopkins University graduating from the Medical School in 1941. He volunteered to go overseas with the Johns Hopkins Hospital Unit and was transported to Fiji aboard the SS President Coolidge (1931). On Fiji, they built the barracks out of reeds and bamboo and the hospital was a prefabricated building. In 1943 he volunteered to go to Guadalcanal and was assigned to the148th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion as a battle surgeon. On July 18 he was assigned to the 37th Infantry Division whose assignment was to capture Munda air field. He recalls the combat conditions encountered by the battalion and of the heroic actions of Private Roger Young, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He comments on the number of cases of war neurosis (shell shock) that were treated. Heeding a call by President Roosevelt for volunteers for a dangerous mission, James was sent to Bombay, India where he joined the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional). It was commanded by Frank D. Merrill and …