Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

Concert presented at Winspear Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Concert presented at Winspear Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Recital performed at UNT Murchison Performing Arts Center, Winspear Hall on April 25, 2004 at 7:00 pm.

Interview with Alf Klaveness, a commanding officer on the destroyer USS Benham. Klaveness begins by discussing his family history after coming here from Norway and working for John Rockefeller; he answers questions about his role in the Navy and describes being in Tokyo Bay during the surrender of Japan on the USS Missouri.

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 …

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.

Interview with Ernest Hamilton, a veteran of World War II during the Battle of the Bulge, from Florence, Arkansas. Hamilton answers questions and explains his duties while in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge as well as time as a POW in Brandenburg. Hamilton says volunteered to go to Japan after the war was over and soon became involved in the Korean War.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Evans. Evans joined the Marine Corps in June of 1940. He was deployed to Pearl Harbor in September, and stationed at Naval Air Station Kaneohe. Evans helped put the station into commission in February of 1941. He was on watch at the station when the Japanese attacked. He shares memories of rescuers working to get to crewman aboard USS Oklahoma. Evans served with the 6th Marine Regiment. Beginning in January of 1943, he participated in the Battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan, where he was wounded. He returned to the US and was discharged in August of 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James W. Fisher. Fisher was born in Witt County, Virginia. On 7 February 1939 he joined the Navy and underwent boot camp at Norfolk, Virginia. He was then sent to San Diego where he was assigned to the USS Shaw (DD-373) as a deck hand. After a period of time he transferred to the USS Whitney (AD-4) for on the job training as a torpedo man. Upon completion of his training he was reassigned to the Shaw and sailed to Samoa. Upon the ship’s return to the United States in 1941, Fisher was placed in a hospital while the Shaw returned to Pearl Harbor. Fisher returned to Pearl Harbor aboard a tanker on 8 December and saw the destruction caused by the Japanese attack. On 14 December 1941 he was assigned to the USS Maury (DD-401) as a torpedo man. He was involved in the invasion of Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Iwo Jima as well as night surface action with Japanese ships. He recalls the ship being involved in rescuing survivors of the USS Honolulu after it was torpedoed. Fisher was discharged from the US Navy soon after World …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Cook. Cook joined the Army in March of 1943. He served as a private with C Battery, 414th Tank Battalion, 20th Armored Division. Cook’s job was to load the 105mm howitzer aboard the M7 tank. In February of 1945, they deployed to Le Havre, France. In April, Cook served in combat along the Rhine River in support of the 101st Airborne Division near Delhoven, Germany and the 82nd Airborne Division across the river from Hitdorf, Germany. He continued in combat from the Rhine into Munich. Upon entering Salzburg in May, hostilities ceased. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Olcott. Olcott joined the Navy in the spring of 1941. After training, he was assigned to USS Maury (DD-401) at Pearl Harbor. Olcott was at torpedo school at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. When Maury returned to port, Olcott went back aboard and was on the ship when it bombarded Wake Island and went to the Solomon Islands. Olcott stayed on Maury through 1944 and went back to torpedo school. Then, he was sent to a post office in New Guinea for a few months before going to the submarine base at Subic Bay. He was there when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Perry. Perry joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed armament school, and aerial gunner training. He served as a waist gunner aboard a B-17 with the 96th Bomb Group, 338th Bomb Squadron. They deployed to England, and Perry was shot down in March of 1944 during his fourth mission over Brunswick, Germany. He was contained as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 4 and 6, and liberated in April of 1945. Perry returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.