Oral History Interview with Jean Balch, October 12, 1996

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Interview with Navy veteran Jean Balch, including Balch's personal experiences about the Pacific theater, being a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II, boot camp, radio, radar, and gunnery school, operations during the Leyte invasion, missions over Luzon, and raids on Japanese installations on Formosa and Saigon, French Indo-China. Additionally, Balch talks about his plane being shot down on a raid to Hong Kong and his capture on January 16, 1945, interrogations and beatings by the Kempei-tai, imprisonment at Ofuna, Honshu, solitary confinement for six months and continued interrogation, beatings by Japanese prison guards, starvation diet, the end of the war and liberation, and his participation in the war crimes trials held by the International Military Tribunal.
Date: October 12, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Balch, Jean
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Richard Donley, February 22, 1997

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Interview with Navy veteran Richard Donley. The interview includes Donley's personal experiences about the Mediterranean Theater during World War II, boot camp, Fleet Torpedo School, encounters with German "F-lighter" armed barges and E-boats, various assignments, and combat against enemy destroyers. Donley also talks about screening operations for the invasions of Sicily and Salerno, operations along the coasts of northern Italy and southern France and the interdiction of German barge traffic, torpedo problems, commando and intelligence operations, returning to the States, his reassignment to the Motor Torpedo Boats Training Center, and transferring to Samar, Philippines.
Date: February 22, 1997
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Donley, Richard
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Billy Drawe, June 13, 2000

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Interview with dairyman and Marine Corps veteran Billy Drawe. The interview includes Drawe's personal experiences about the Pacific Theater during World War II, enlistment and boot camp, tank training, invading Guam, coming under Japanese mortar fire on Guam, invading Iwo Jima, hauling supplies ashore to the infantry on Iwo Jima, and returning to the states for training in the V-12 Program.
Date: June 13, 2000
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Drawe, Billy
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with William J. Fisk, December 26, 1996

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Interview with William J. Fisk, a Navy veteran (VPB-123), concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Assignment to the crew of a PB4Y-2; his unauthorized participation in a combat mission out of Okinawa over the Sea of Japan; battle damage to his plane; description of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from aerial observations after the dropping of the atomic bombs.
Date: December 26, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Fisk, William J.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Rudy Kiehne, March 3, 1999

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Interview with Rudy Kiehne, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences while aboard the battleship USS Maryland during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Date: March 3, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Kiehne, Rudy, 1919-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Naomie Rudelson, July 13, 2020

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Interview with Naomi Rudelson, a former department store executive from New Orleans, Louisiana. Rudelson discusses involvement with the fashion industry in Dallas, starting with work as an assistant to a personal shopper and eventually becoming vice president of several different department stores. Rudelson also describes designing a curriculum for students at the University of North Texas, and the work environment at Dalton's department store, Sanger-Harris, Winkleman's in Detroit, and May Company Los Angeles.
Date: July 13, 2020
Creator: Becker, Annette & Rudelson, Naomi
Object Type: Sound
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Nina Bermejo, April 26, 2013

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Transcript of an interview with Nina Bermejo, a Mexican-American woman concerning her childhood memories of living in California and Texas; of living in a military household and the diversity found on military bases; of her early school life; attending college; and having a family.
Date: April 26, 2013
Creator: Bravo, Francis & Bermejo, Nina, 1986-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Rick Dale, November 26, 2007

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Interview with U.S. Marine Corps Pilot Richard Dale as part of the Tarrant County War Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Dale's personal experiences of childhood, education at Baylor University and Texas A&M, attending training at Camp Pendleton, California, Quantico, Virginia, and officer candidate school. Additionally, Dale talks about his decision to enter the Marines aviation program, his assignments to various naval air stations, the particulars of "tailhook" aviation, and his civilian career with Northwest Airlines. The interview also includes an appendix with a photograph and an active duty summary.
Date: November 26, 2007
Creator: Bristow, Lauren & Dale, Richard C.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Laura Gonzalez, October 13, 2007

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Interview with Laura Gonzalez, Mexican-born immigrant to the U.S., immigrant rights activist, and professor of anthropology with expertise in immigrant communities from Guanajuato, Mexico. She discusses her childhood and education in Mexico city; the decision to pursue a career in the field of political anthropology; decision to open the Oak Cliff Center for Community Studies; work with Camposanto del Cemento Grande and other community organizations in Dallas; work to increase Hispanics’ access to college; and involvement in immigrant rights movements and local Mexican American political groups. This interview has Spanish and English translations.
Date: October 13, 2007
Creator: Calderon, Roberto & Laura, Gonzalez
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Beth Eakman, March 28, 1997

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Interview with Beth Eakman, a graduate student, concerning her experiences with the establishment of the Women's Studies Program at the University of North Texas. Her early introduction to feminism while a student at Texas Christian University, 1980s; activities with Planned Parenthood in Fort Worth; activities with Choice Dallas; involvement with the North Texas Democrats and Ann Richards's gubernatorial campaign, 1990; break-up of her marriage, 1991, and spousal abuse; stalking by her ex-husband; entry into therapy; enrollment in women's studies courses at the University of North Texas, 1994; organizing the Women's Studies Roundtable; her work with Barbara Rodman in establishing the Women's Studies Program, 1994; establishment of the Professing Women Award; establishment of the feminist newsletter, "The Gaze"; relations between the Women's Studies Roundtable and the Women's Collective; establishment of "Women's 'Her story' Month"; relations with Chancellor Alfred Hurley and the UNT administration; performance by Latina feminist poet Rosemary Meza; contributions of Dean Nora Kizer Bell to the Women's Studies Program; effects of English Department politics on the program; relations with Women's Programming at UNT; importance of maintaining a personal journal; her views of area studies as the future of higher education.
Date: March 28, 1997
Creator: Cook, Charles & Eakman, Beth
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with "Zeke" Campbell, September 14, 1996

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Interview with William M. "Zeke" Campbell, musician, concerning his experiences as a member of the "Light Crust Doughboys" western swing band, 1935-42. Campbell also discusses his early radio career, appearances in the movies of Gene Autry, and his musical influences. Includes a photocopy of a newspaper article from the Fort Worth Star Telegram dated June 17-18, 1981 written by Mike H. Price. Article is titled, "He may not be crusty but he's still in the swing" [1] page.
Date: September 14, 1996
Creator: Daniels, John D.; Schotte, Will & Campbell, William M.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Charles Leroy "Lee" Smith, December 20, 2018

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Transcript of an interview with Charles Leroy "Lee" Smith, U.S. Air Force veteran and private pilot. Smith recounts his experiences at the University of Alabama and in the US Air Force, Flight School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, and Basic Training in Mississippi. He speaks of his assignments in Keflavik, Iceland, Red Bluff, CA, and NORAD Sector as Captain in electronics and communications. He was Certified for the F-102 at Perrin Air Force Base, Sherman, TX. He tells of his experiences while assigned to combat squadron in Saigon during Vietnam War, and his life after Vietnam era and his work experiences flying world-wide for businesses and the private sector, particularly as pilot for Frank Sinatra.
Date: December 20, 2018
Creator: Ferguson, J. Michael & Smith, Lee (Charles Leroy), 1932-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with James F. Brede, 2011

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Interview with James F. Brede, dentist and U.S. Army Air Forces veteran. The interview includes his personal experiences in World War II as a B-17 co-pilot with the 8th Air Force in the European Theater, his childhood in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943, preliminary training in Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, his active service with the 379th Bomb Group in Kimbolton, England, combat experience in 35 missions, return to the U.S. and continued military service as a flight instructor in Lakeland, Florida and Wichita Falls, Texas, as well as the return to civilian life, marriage, dental school under the G.I. Bill, reenlistment in the Air Force as a dentist, his deployment to Korea, his discharge from the Air Force, and the establishment of his dental practice and experiences since retirement. The interview includes an appendix with a copy of his book.
Date: March 30, 2011
Creator: Fox, Lisa A. & Brede, James F.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Lisa Jane Lachance-Skier, March 14, 2013

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Interview with Lisa Jane Lachance-Skier, a Air Force veteran from Phoenix, Arizona. Lachance-Skier discusses growing up, participating in Junior ROTC, enlisting in the Air Force in 1976, experiences as a woman in a newly integrated Air Force, sexual harassment and assault in the military, service in England, attending ROTC and becoming an officer, her marriage, service in Germany, her work during the Gulf War, being forced out as part of a personnel drawdown, transitioning to the civilian world and her post-Air Force career, her involvement in the Grace After Fire program for assisting female veterans, problems facing female veterans and lack of support, the 2014 lifting of the combat ban on women in the US armed forces, the WASPs, and advice for servicewomen. In appendix is a summary of Lachance-Skier's USAF career, three photos of her Meritorious Service Medal certificates, and a Grace After Fire booklet.
Date: March 14, 2013
Creator: Hedrick, Amy & Lachance-Skier, Lisa Jane
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Ernest Kelley, February 20, 2003

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Interview with Ernest Kelley, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Antioch, Texas (now the Red River Army Depot), who served with the 112th Cavalry. Kelley discusses growing up in the Depression, joining the Guard, mobilization and training, horses, the Louisiana Maneuvers, deployment to New Caledonia, landing on Woodlark island and action there, the Battle of Arawe, redeployment to Australia, the Battle of Driniumor River in New Guinea, the Battles of Leyte and Luzon, returning to the United States, and reflections on his time in the Army. In appendix is a list of people and places named in the interview with lat/long coordinates, descriptions of military equipment, and the 112th's WWII service chronicle.
Date: February 20, 2003
Creator: Johnston, Glenn & Kelley, Ernest L.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with K. O. Dahlgren, May 28, 2002

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Interview with K.O. Dahlgren, civil engineer and Marine Corps veteran. The interview includes Dahlgren's personal experiences about being a PBJ co-pilot in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II, enlisting in the Navy, primary and secondary flight training through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, pre-flight training, basic and advanced flight training, and navigation school. Additionally, Dahlgren talks about his early interest in aviation, designation as an Aviation Cadet, the transition to multi-engine planes at Corpus Christi and his transfer to the Marine Corps, transferring to Cherry Point, North Carolina, crew formation and PBJ training at Cherry Point, advanced training, his personal views on combat and the Japanese, stationing to Green Island, "night heckling" missions to Rabaul, his assignment to and living conditions in Emirau, skip-bombing, strafing, and night bombing missions, rest and relaxation in Australia, his rotation back to the states, and his postwar career.
Date: May 28, 2002
Creator: Koontz, Christopher N. & Dahlgren, K. O.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Bennie G. Snider, June 10, 2002

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Interview with banker and Navy veteran Bennie G. Snider. The interview includes Snider's personal experiences about the Pacific Theater during World War II, youth and education in Denton, Texas, joining the Navy, and boot training and electrical engineering school. Snider talks about duties aboard the USS Hancock, his assignment to Task Group 58 and the invasion of the Philippines, as well as the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, kamikaze attacks and the Hancock being hit by a kamikaze, burials at sea, and his postwar duties aboard the Hancock as part of Operation MAGIC CARPET.
Date: June 10, 2002
Creator: Lane, Peter B. & Snider, Bennie, G.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Daniel Thomas, February 26, 1999

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Transcript of an interview with Daniel Thomas, a Navy veteran (4th Marine Division), concerning his experiences while attached to the 4th Marine Division as a medic in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Thomas discusses his decision to join the Navy in 1943; Hospital Corps School, San Diego, 1943; assignment to the Fleet Marine Force; Field Medical School, 1944; assignment to the 4th Marine Division, 1944; Iwo Jima, February, 1945; detailed description of casualties and their treatment during the battle for Iwo Jima; and the postwar effects of his Iwo Jima experience.
Date: February 26, 1999
Creator: Lane, Peter B.; Byrd, Richard W. & Thomas, Daniel B., 1925-2007
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Norman Benedict, May 7, 1996

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Interview with Norman Benedict, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences as an engineering officer with Submarine Division 46 and Submarine Division 106 in the Pacific Theater while stationed at Pearl Harbor during World War II. Assignment to the USS Cuttlefish, 1941; transfer to the Engineering and Repair Department, Pearl Harbor, 1942, as a division engineer; comments about submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization.
Date: May 7, 1996
Creator: Maglaughlin, Barry & Benedict, Norman
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with William Coffey, May 20, 1996

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Interview with William Coffey, a Navy WWII veteran from Hopkins County, Texas. Coffey discusses joining the Navy in 1937, boot camp in San Diego, service aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), transfer to submarines in the Philippines, the bombing of Cavite Navy Yard at the start of the war, assignment to the S-41 as a cook, combat around the Solomon Islands, attaining submarine qualifications, patrolling the northern Pacific, the character of the crew, transfer to the USS Sterlet (SS-392), patrols, medical leave, and service postwar.
Date: May 20, 1998
Creator: Maglaughlin, Barry & Coffey, William
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Ralph W. Nelson, April 18, 1996

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Transcript of an interview with Ralph W. Nelson, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences while aboard the submarines USS Batfish and USS Parche in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Submarine School, San Francisco, California, 1942; early torpedo problems; his responsibilities as a fire controlman; assignment to the Batfish, 1944; various patrols in the Luzon Strait and Makassar Strait; lifeguard duty off Palau for downed airmen; transfer to the Parche, 1945.
Date: April 18, 1996
Creator: Maglaughlin, Barry & Nelson, Ralph W.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with William E. Cooper, September 7, 1999

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Interview with business executive and Army Air Forces veteran William E. Cooper. The interview includes Cooper's personal experiences about being a B-29 pilot in the Pacific Theater, pre-flight and flight training, various assignments, and dropping supplies by parachute to prisoners-of-war. Cooper also talks about living on Guam, mechanical weaknesses of the B-29, his descriptions of Nagasaki and Hiroshima from the air after the dropping of the atomic bombs, his disappointment with not being able to fly combat missions, postwar duty as a test pilot on Guam, and his postwar civilian activities.
Date: September 7, 1999
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Cooper, William E.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Robert H. Flatley, October 27, 1999

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Interview with business executive and Army Air Forces veteran Robert H. Flatley. The interview includes Flatley's personal experiences about being a P-38 pilot in the Pacific Theater during the World War II, basic training, flight training, P-38 training, various assignments and missions, and the destruction of forty-seven locomotives. Flatley also talks about various missions to targets in the Philippines, activities between combat missions, postwar military activities in the Philippines, and postwar adjustments to civilian life.
Date: October 27, 1999
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Flatley, Robert H.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Jerome D. Fox, August 21, 2003

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Interview with Jerome D. Fox, an OS2U Kingfisher gunner aboard the cruiser USS Detroit in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The interview includes Fox's personal experiences about childhood on a ranch in West Texas, enlisting in the Navy, boot camp at San Diego, California, aerial gunner school at Naval Air Station, Modesto, California, his assignment to the OS2U crew aboard the USS Detroit, patrol duty in the Aleutian Islands, bombardment of the Kurile Islands, South American patrol, his assignment to the Central Pacific Theater as an escort for the Tanker Division in refueling carrier battle groups, kamikaze attacks, operations off Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, and his postwar activities.
Date: August 21, 2003
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Fox, Jerome D.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library