Lecture given Saturday, June 26, 2004 at Abilene Christian University

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 …

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.

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

Concert performed in UNT Murchison Performing Arts Center, Winspear Hall on November 2, 2011 at 8:00 pm.

Concert performed in UNT College of Music Recital Hall on October 29, 2004 at 8:00 pm.

Jazz concert performed at the UNT College of Music Kenton Hall.

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

Concert presented at the Lyric Theater at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Concert performed at UNT Murchison Performing Arts Center, Winspear Performance Hall on February 8, 2004 at 3:00 pm.

Interview with James F. Sansom, an officer in the U. S. Army during World War II. Sansom joined the Army in 1940 and began training on anti-aircraft guns in Florida. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1942. He was assigned to the 843rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Warning Battalion, which made its way to India via the Panama Canal and Australia. Shortly after reaching Calcutta, the unit moved to Myitkyina, Burma. After the war, Sansom was assigned to Sagumo Prison outside Tokyo where Japanese war criminals were being held while on trial for war crimes. He describes some of the routines and residents in the prison. Sansom taught Hideki Tojo how to play card games like gin rummy. Sansom also describes the process of executing convicted prisoners as he carried out some sentences. In all, he executed nine convicted war criminals.

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.

Interview with Sam H. Snoddy, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. After training, he participated in the initial landing at Saipan where he was wounded in the knees and shoulder on the beach by shell fragments. He was loaded onto a hospital ship with several other casualties before going to Hawaii to recuperate. He participated in the Okinawa campaign and spent time at Nagasaki on occupation duty. After being discharged, he went to college on the G. I. Bill, and eventually settled in Texas, where he worked in the oil industry.

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders, a pilot during World War II. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, and going to flight school for pilot training. He was stationed in India and flew supplies into China over the Himalayas (known by pilots as "the Hump"). In China, he traded items such as jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma. He also discusses his meetings with native Burmese and talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.

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.

Interview with Valentin R. Ybarra regarding his experiences during World War II. He discusses his wartime experiences in Peleliu and Okinawa as well as occupation duty in Japan and China. He also had an assignment in Spain. He remembers the Cuban Missile Crisis, the revolt in the Dominican Republic, and his service in Vietnam.

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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charlie Boswell. Boswell was born in Coryell County, Texas 4 September 1921. He quit high school, joined the Navy and went to boot camp in San Diego. Upon completing boot training he was assigned to the USS Tennessee (BB-43) as a member of the crew in the engine room. During battle stations, he served as an ammunition handler for a five inch gun. He was aboard the ship on 7 December 1941 and he describes his activities during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Tennessee received two bomb hits during the attack. Boswell recalls being at his battle station for twelve straight hours before being permitted to go topside. The ship went to Bremerton, Washington for repairs. In 1942 Boswell was assigned to the USS Waller (DD-466). The ship supported various landings in the Pacific before returning to the United States in 1944. After refitting, the ship supported landing in the Philippines. When the Japanese surrendered, the Waller went to Shanghai, where various work parties from the ship assisted in disarming the Japanese troops. Returning to the United States in December 1945, Boswell remained aboard as part …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wes Rhine. He was born in Amarillo, Texas, 27 February 1928 and was enlisted in the Marine Corps on 13 February 1945. After completing recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina and Camp LeJeune, North Carolina he was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California in June 1945. He describes shipping out to Guam in August 1945 and learning, while enroute, that the war was over. He recalls being transferred to Saipan and joining C Company, 1st Battalion, Second Marines. He next describes embarking on a troopship and sailing to Japan. In late August his Battalion landed at Nagasaki. His battalion was directed to a prisoner of war camp outside ground zero and he recalls seeing the former prisoners being removed as his battalion was approaching the camp to be bivouacked. He describes his duties while at Nagasaki and Kyushu, Japan. He recalls being transferred to the 2nd Motor Transport Battalion in Sasebo and his duties while there. In July 1946 he volunteered for duty in China where he was transferred to a mortar platoon in the 1st Division Marines located in a city outside of Peking. He recalls that …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edmond Drake. Drake joined the Navy in April of 1943. Beginning early 1944, he served as Electrician’s Mate aboard USS President Adams (APA-19). They transported troops and supplies during the Battle of Guam, the invasion Luzon and the Battle of Iwo Jima. He returned to the US in April of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Ramage. Ramage James D Ramage graduated from the Naval Academy in 1939. In 1943 he joined the USS Enterprise (CV-6), and became executive officer and later commanding officer of Bombing Squadron Ten (United States. Navy. Bombing Squadron 10 (VB-10)), flying the SBD Dauntless dive bomber. He saw his first combat in the Battle of Kwajalein in January 1944, and participated in the attack on Truk in February and landings at Hollandia in April. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, he led 29 aircraft from Enterprise in a maximum-range twilight attack against the Japanese fleet, and was personally credited with crippling a Japanese aircraft carrier. Ramage additionally participated in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was promoted to rear admiral in June of 1967, and retired in January of 1976.

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.