The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis Blake. Blake was born in Idaho and finished high school in Portland, Oregon. He then went to California for some college and worked in the mining industry in Arizona before joining the Marine Corps in August 1938. He trained at San Diego, then went to Sea School. Afterward, he was assigned to the USS Idaho (BB-42). He eventually became the captain's orderly and then an admiral's orderly while aboard the Idaho. Blake also served on Admiral Ernest King's flag allowance while King was Commander in Chief, US Fleet. Admiral King recommended Blake for a commission in the Marine Corps in June, 1943. When he got overseas, he was attached to the 3rd Marine Regiment prior to the invasion of Bougainville in an administrative support role. He performed similar duties on Guam during that invasion. When the 3rd MARDIV invaded Iwo Jima, Blake was an assistant to the G-1. When the war ended, he was back on Guam. He soon returned to the US and went to work discharging Marines. Blake retained his commission and stayed in the Corps. He served as marine detachment commanding officer aboard the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Irving Newton. Newton joined the Army Air Forces in mid-1941. He completed school for weather forecasting. He served as the forecaster at Marshall Field, Fort Riley, Kansas. In 1943 he was transferred to Hickman Field in Hawaii, and later to Tarawa, Okinawa, the Philippines and Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Schiller. Schiller joined the Navy in February of 1941. He entered Navy Flight School at Pensacola and upon commissioning was assigned as a pilot of a scout plane on USS Astoria (CA-34). When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the Astoria was at sea escorting USS Lexington (CV-2). The Astoria engaged in the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal where it was sunk off Savo Island in August of 1942. Subsequently, Schiller was assigned to USS Halford (DD-480) and later, became a Fighter Squadron Leader aboard USS Saginaw Bay (CVE-82), which covered the invasions in the Palau Islands, Leyte and Luzon. He served with a Composite Squadron VC-78. Schiller was discharged in October of 1945, though remained in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Commander.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Daniel Wentrcek. Wentrcek joined the Navy in July of 1941. He served as a Fireman aboard USS Nevada (BB-36) and deployed to Pearl Harbor in September. Wentrcek was aboard the ship when the Japanese attacked in December. He was later transferred to USS Chester (CA-27). They supported landings on Samoa, provided antiaircraft fire for the carriers during the Battle of the Coral Sea and supported operations in the Solomon Islands. From 1944 through mid-1945, Wentrcek served aboard the Chester during battle engagements in Alaska, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was discharged in November of 1945.

Interview with Lewis R. Hopkins, a pilot during World War II. He describes growing up on a farm in Georgia, going to college at Berry, and working for Sears, Roebuck, and the Royal Typewriter Company before joining the U. S. Navy. He tells an anecdote about joining the navy so he could go to New York to see the World's Fair, since he had heard the Atlanta Reserve would be making a trip to the Fair. He began flight training in Florida in December 1940, finished the next September, then drove cross-country to San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor attack. He eventually joined the USS Enterprise in April 1942 and saw the B-25 bombers in the Doolittle Raid take off. He was part of Bombing Squadron Six and trained under Commander Best to learn how to do scouting flights, navigation, and dive bombing. He then describes his participation in the Battle of Midway, the hours before take-off, his first view of the Japanese fleet, and his bombing mission. He was later assigned to the USS Hornet and had to fly off to a little island so that planes from the USS Wasp could land on the Hornet after their ship …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Mullen. Mullen joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He served as a nose gunner aboard a B-17 with the 2nd Bomb Group, 429th Bomb Squadron, 15th Air Force. He deployed to Italy in June of 1944, and completed 35 missions, including one over marshalling yards in Salzburg, Austria. Mullen received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Cross. Cross joined the Navy in August of 1944. He was trained as a yeoman. Cross served on a destroyer in the Atlantic. He describes how his ship screened convoys by disrupting an air attack by German planes and depth charging a suspected submarine. Cross also talks about his duties as a phone talker during general quarters and the type of work performed by a yeoman. He was discharged soon after he returned to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Hogg. Born in Louisiana 1 March 1926, Hogg joined the US Army Air Forces in 1944. After basic training at Amarillo, Texas he was selected for gunnery school and tells of training at various locations. Upon completion of gunnery training, he was assigned as a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber. He recalls that at 20 years of age the pilot and co-pilot were the oldest of the 10 crew members. Hogg boarded HMS Queen Elizabeth and sailed to Glasgow, Scotland, where he took a train to Norwich, England. There his crew was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group. He flew no combat missions during the three months he was in England. Returning to the United States, he was discharged 2 May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Peter Hammersen. Hammersen was born at the end of WWI and grew up in California. While going to school for premed in Pasadena, Hammersen joined the California Army National Guard and became a charter member of Company A, 115th Medical Regiment. He worked as a surgical technician in various hospitals until he was assigned to the 48th Station Hospital at Vila, Efate, and later to Henderson Field at Guadalcanal and finally to the 37th Portable Surgical Hospital in New Guinea. Hammersen shares a number of anecdotal stories.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Don Sumner. Born in 1927, he was inducted into the Navy in June 1945. As an apprentice seaman, he was trained in the Aviation Midshipman Program. He was in training when the war ended. He received his wings in 1948 and was assigned to fly PB4Y airplanes in a Bat guided bomb squadron. With the outbreak of the Korean War, he was sent to North Africa. He retired from the Navy after twenty-five years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Barg. Barg was born on 20 November 1918 in San Benito, Texas and graduated from high school in 1936. After hearing the Army Air Corps had an excellent school for aircraft maintenance, he joined the Army Air Corps on 20 June 1940 at Chanute Field, Illinois. After completing aircraft maintenance training, he was made an instructor. Barg served as an instructor for several years before he applied for and was accepted to Officer Candidate School at Boca Raton, Florida. He was then sent to Yale University for training as a Maintenance Engineering Officer. Upon completing the course in July 1943, he was commissioned. Barg then reported to the Boeing Aircraft plant in Seattle for additional training. He was then sent to the Pratt, Kansas Air Base where he received more training. The crew then went to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and picked up their B-29 and flew to Chakulia, India where they were assigned to the 20th Air Force, 58th Bomb Wing, 40th Bomb Group, 44th Bomb Squadron. The unit was based there for a year, during which they flew gasoline and other supplies into China as well …

Lecture recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Anderson. Anderson dropped out of college in 1941 and hitchhiked from Texas to San Diego. There he worked for Consolidated Aircraft, drafting plans for the B-32, B-36, and C-99. He then transferred to the Fort Worth plant, where he stayed until 1944, when he enlisted in the Navy. He was selected for radar technician training, and after boot camp he studied electronics in Chicago, followed by airborne radar training in Corpus Christi. He had a lifelong interest in flying and looked forward to his first duty assignment. But when the war ended in Japan, his radar conning class was cancelled and he was reassigned to the radar shop of CASU-5 at the Naval Air Station in San Diego. Anderson was discharged into the Armed Guard in March 1946, taking up work at the Fiscal and Disbursement Office of the Adjutant General at Camp Mabry. In 1950 he returned to school and joined the Army Reserves, retiring in 1966 as a lieutenant colonel.

Interview with James H. Gilbert, a member of the 1st Airborne Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. Gilbert gives lengthy answers and descriptions concerning his time in Vietnam, action he saw, weaponry, etc. Gilbert also shares some memorable stories, and his feelings towards the war as it was happening and in hindsight.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis R. Hopkins. He begins by describing growing up on a farm in Georgia, then going to college at Berry, then working for Sears and Roebuck and the Royal Typewriter Company before joining the Navy. He ancedotes about joining the Navy so he could go up to New York to see the World's Fair, since he heard the Atlanta Reserve was making a trip up to the Fair. He went into flight training in Florida in December 1940, finishing the next September, then driving cross-country to San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor attack, eventually joining the USS Enterprise in April 1942 and seeing the B-25 bombers in the Doolittle Raid take off. He was part of Bombing Squadron Six, trained under Commander Best learning how to do scouting flights, navigation and dive bombing. He then describes being in the battle of Midway, the hours leading up to taking off, his first view of the Japanese fleet, then flying over and dropping bombs on them. He was later assigned to the USS Hornet and had to fly off to a little island so planes from the USS Wasp could …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leon Geromanos. Geromanos joined the Army in November of 1940. He graduated from Parachute School in 1942. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Geromanos participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Felix “George” Appleton. Appleton was born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, 21 July 1924. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1943 and following boot camp, entered the hospital corps school. Later he went aboard USS LST-523 and sailed in convoy to England and witnessed submarine attacks and a number of ships being lost. He tells of participating in Operation Overlord with Omaha Beach being USS LST-523’s objective. He describes the carnage he witnessed both in the water and on the beach. After off-loading supplies, the ship was designated a hospital ship and he describes the various combat injuries he treated. The ship made numerous trips between England and the Normandy beaches until the ship struck a mine and sank. Numerous fatalities occurred among the doctors and medical staff. He was treated for minor wounds and ultimately returned to the United States on HMS Queen Elizabeth. He was assigned to the Lambert Naval Air Station at St. Louis, Missouri until his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Horner. Horner finished high school and immediately joined the Navy in 1944. After training, he was assigned as a Yeoman at Honolulu before joining the crew of USS Nashville (CL-43) in October, 1944. He was in the Philippines when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Martin Burl. Burl joined the Army in 1943. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Burl participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Day. Day was born in Olney, Texas 23 September 1921 and graduated from high school in Vivian, Louisiana in 1942. Upon joining the Navy 4 June 1942, he was sent to The Great Lakes Naval Training Station for boot training. Afterwards, Day was assigned to the Amphibious Forces at Solomons, Maryland for training where he learned navigation and signal communications. Completing the course in October 1942 he went to Redwood City, California for further training. Assigned to LCT(5)-62, he describes the size, propulsion, crew compliment and purpose of the craft. Day tells of breaking the LCT into sections that were put aboard an AKA and sailing to New Caledonia arriving in December 1942. On a trip to Guadalcanal he witnessed a Japanese plane dropping a bomb on the USS De Haven (DD-469). He recalls a night trip to New Georgia when he saw St. Elmo’s fire on the railing of his ship. At Tulagi on 7 April 1943, Day personally shot down an attacking Japanese plane. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and tells of being on the USS Estes (ACG-12) and describes an intense …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Guthrie. Guthrie joined the Army in September of 1940. He graduated from Parachute School in the spring of 1941. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Guthrie participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill McDonald. McDonald joined the Army in mid-1943. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, McDonald participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Bartlett. Bartlett was drafted March 3, 1943 and went to Camp Roberts for basic infantry training. From there he went to Fort Benning, Georgia for parachute training. Eventually, they were shipped to Brisbane, Australia and after some additional training in Australia they were shipped to Port Moresby, New Guinea to join the 503rd Regimental Combat Team (RCT). The 503rd jumped (from C-47s) onto Corregidor but there were so many causalities that many went in by boat. Bartlett's one combat jump was onto Corregidor. Before Corregidor, the 503rd RCT went onto Mindoro Island by sea. After Corregidor, they went to Negros Island, Philippines as regular infantry. They were there, moving around into different areas, until the war ended. Bartlett describes the Japanese surrendering on the island at the end of the war. He came home in December 1945 and was discharged on Christmas Day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R.E. Broadwell. Broadwell was born in Hamlin, Texas in 1921. In 1938 he joined the National Guard and was discharged in August 1941. In February 1942 he joined the US Army and was sent directly to jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduating, he reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he was assigned to the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In October, 1942, the regiment boarded the SS Poelau Laut for a forty-two day voyage to Australia. Upon arriving at their base in Gordonvale, they began advanced training and made practice jumps. On 5 September 1943 the battalion made a parachute assault on Nadzab, New Guinea. After three weeks at Nadzab, the battalion went overland to Lae, New Guinea to assist the 25th Infantry in clearing the area of Japanese forces. In July 1944, the regiment made a combat jump at Noemfoor, New Guinea. Broadwell describes a number of combat situations and was wounded by a sniper. After recovering, he rejoined his battalion and saw action on Mindoro, Philippines. Upon returning to the United States, he became a jump master at Fort Benning and remained at this …