Oral History Interview with John C. Reas, June 23, 1998

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
Interview with John Reas, a Navy WWII veteran and POW from New Albany, Indiana, who survived the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30). Reas discusses his assignment to the Houston and prewar operations in the Pacific, the start of the war and convoy duty, being bombed by 54 Japanese planes, the Battle of Sunda Strait, the sinking, capture by the Japanese, experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Thanbyuzayat, work on the Burma Railway, the USS Houston Survivors List, liberation, and life after the war. In appendix is the USS Houston Survivors list, letters of his regarding the list, brief accounts written by Reas of different experiences in the war, a letter by Lanson H. Harris confirming how the list was given to OSS officers, and a photo of Reas' wallet that he carried through the war.
Date: June 23, 1998
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Reas, John C.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Forrest Biard, June 11, 1992

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
Interview with Forrest Biard, a United States Navy veteran from Bonham, Texas, regarding his experiences and memories of World War II while serving as a cryptanalyst. Biard discusses his education, learning Japanese in Japan right before the war hit, codes, Pearl Harbor, and Midway.
Date: June 11, 1992
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Biard, Forrest R.
System: The UNT Digital Library