Interview with Ornell Balzer, beginning with the evolution of her career at M.D. Anderson. She recounts how she moved to Houston after graduating from nursing school and her return to M.D. Anderson. Ms. Balzer then details her memories of time spent working at Baker Estate and her interactions with colleagues and patients.

Interview with David Lee "Tex" Hill of San Antonio, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater. The interview includes Hill's personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of pre-war flight training in Florida, the Flying Tigers, and the Salween River Gorge attack.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Reid Misenheimer. Misenheimer was born in Augusta, Arkansas 8 May 1922 and attended North Georgia College for two years before entering the Army in 1945. He took basic training at Smyrna Army Airfield, Tennessee, and was placed into a guard squadron after completing training. He recalls being transferred into the Army Specialized Training Program and being sent to the Citadel where he received training in basic engineering. The program was terminated and he was transferred into the infantry and sent to Fort Bragg, Kentucky for infantry basic. At the end of infantry training, he was transferred into the artillery and once again took basic training. Upon completion, he was sent to a 155mm Long Tom artillery unit at Brownsville, Texas and was assigned as a mechanic in the headquarters battalion. In January 1945 he went aboard a troop transport bound for La Havre, France. He relates various experiences in France. He returned to the United States in 1946 and received his discharge at Fort Bragg.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Doreen G. Underwood. Underwood was born in England in September of 1920. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in August of 1940, completing clerical duties. She was stationed in England, France and Germany. Underwood was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Merle Ainley. Ainley joined the Navy in September of 1944. He completed Radar School in Hawaii, and served as a Radar Specialist and navigator aboard USS Finch (DE-328). They traveled to Guam, Leyte and maneuvered along the China Coast, with a carrier task force. They transported prisoners-of-war from Taiwan and Formosa to Manila. They traveled to Saipan and completed occupation duty in Hong Kong, completing air sea rescue and charting harbors. He returned to the US and was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Martin L. Clayton. Clayton was born in Marshall, Texas 23 September 1920. Joining the US Marine Corps 26 February 1942 he completed boot camp in six weeks. After undergoing intensified combat training he was placed in the 17th replacement outfit, at San Diego, Clayton was then shipped to Melbourne, Australia. He was assigned to 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Having spent twenty-five months in combat he describes conditions encountered on Peleliu, New Britain and Okinawa. He was subjected to a bayonet charge, witnessed injury and death of friends and personally capturing three Japanese soldiers.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Kaney. Kaney joined the Navy in 1942. He completed Fleet Sonar School. He served as operator of sonar equipment for anti-submarine warfare activities aboard USS Finch (DE-328). They traveled to Algiers, North Africa, and escorted ships to Naples, Italy for Operation Dragoon. Kaney was later reassigned to USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697), where he remained through the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Thurmond. Thurmond joined the Navy around 1942. Beginning in December of 1943, he served as an Electrician’s Mate aboard the USS Finch (DE-328). He served in both the European and Pacific theaters. They escorted convoys to Africa, Britain, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Saipan and the Philippines. After the war ended, they transported former POWs from Formosa to Manila. He returned to the US and was discharged in the fall of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Gallant. Gallant was commissioned as an Army Infantry Officer in 1940 and was transferred to the Army Air Forces to serve as an Administration Officer. He discusses his duties at Randolph and Foster fields as a part of flight training. Gallant once was flown by a WASP and from one field to another. He was sent to China in 1945 to join the 327th Troop Carrier Squadron. Gallant tells how his flight over the Himalaya Mountains was delayed for two weeks due to bad weather. He describes how the Chinese people treated the American servicemen. Gallant discusses how his unit adopted an orphaned Chinese boy and raised a bear. He details the reception that his unit received when returning to the States. Gallant left active duty soon after, but remained in the reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Findley. Findley joined the Army Air Forces in July of 1942. He received pilot training at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona from both the Royal Air Force and United States. Upon graduation, Findley was eligible to wear the wings of both countries. He also completed Special Weapons Training. He served in Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Omaha, Nebraska setting up a missile safety program. Findley’s military career began with a year in India flying the Hump, where he made 103 missions. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1946, though continued his military career retiring from the USAF in 1973.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Norman. Born in 1919, he joined the Army Air Force in September 1941. He began his pilot training in early 1942. He served as a flight instructor in the Army Air Training Command at Marfa Army Airfield, Texas for two years. In September 1944 he was transferred to the Air Transport Command. He relates a story about landing a C-46 on Ascension Island en route to delivering it to England. Because he had experience flying four-engine airplanes, he was sent to India to fly C-87 and C-109 transport planes. He flew missions transporting fuel from Jorhat and Kermatola, India over ?the Hump? to Chengtu and Kunming for use by bombers and other airplanes operating out of China. He talks about the transport mission hazards, such as adverse weather conditions, the combustible nature of the cargo, mechanical failure, primitive navigation techniques, and flying at high altitudes over mountainous. He describes his plan of action in the event his plane crashed in the Himalaya Mountains. He mustered out when the war ended in 1945. The interview also contains information about his parents and siblings.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Romer. In 1943 he was a civilian single-engine flight instructor at an Army Primary Flying School in Helena, Arkansas. He then joined the Ferry Command in Memphis, Tennessee where he received twin-engine training and worked as a civilian pilot ferrying airplanes. He shares an anecdote about leading a flight of six airplanes from Brazil to Ascension Island. After attending four-engine flight school, he went to Mitchel Field in Long Island, New York. He describes the conversion of B-24 bombers into C-109 fuel transports. The Army gave him an appointment as a flight officer and sent him to Shamshernagar, India. He flew missions transporting fuel over ?the Hump? to Chengtu and Kunming for use by bombers and other airplanes operating out of China. He flew C-87 transport planes, which were converted B-24 bombers. He talks about the hazards involved in the transport missions over the Himalaya Mountains, such as encountering Japanese planes, adverse weather conditions, and engine failure. He relates a story about drifting off course as well a one about losing three engines. He also mentions Japanese radio propaganda. Additionally, he comments on some of the activities …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Oscar Mitchell. Mitchell joined the Army in November of 1941. He completed Officer Candidate School and served as commander of an all-black engineer combat battalion. Beginning in 1943, they traveled to North Africa and Calcutta, India, and worked as drivers along the Ledo Road. He returned from India to the US, and was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marion Kennedy. Kennedy joined the Army as a nurse in late 1941. She was assigned to the 20th General Hospital and traveled to India. Kennedy describes how the hospital supported the workers on the Ledo Road and later troops involved in combat. She describes how malaria was treated. Kennedy discusses the ration and supply situation. She also mentions how Chinese soldiers were fed and housed separately. Kennedy rotated back to the U.S. and was there when the war ended. She left the Army in 1946, but rejoined in 1953 and retired as a colonel in the early 1970s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Englert. Englert joined the Army in April of 1943. He traveled to Calcutta, India, and worked with the Military Police stationed there. He worked on patrol at the docks. He also joined the Z Force in Kunming, China, where he worked as a telephone operator, with the Red Cross, and as a librarian on the base. He returned to the US and was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Piester. Born in 1922, he joined the Army Air Force in 1942. He recounts being selected for Project #9 and transported to India. He was assigned to a fighter group to perform mechanics on P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts in India. The group?s mission was to destroy Japanese supply lines and air fields in Burma. He discusses the use and difficulties of Waco CG-4A gliders in the invasion of Burma. He also discusses the effect of the monsoon season on the mission and the movement of the air bases. When the war ended he returned to the United States on a troopship and was discharged in November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James E. Holden. Holden joined the Army and trained at Camp Swift, Texas in 1943. He was assigned to a replacement battalion and eventually shipped to Burma where he joined Merrill's Marauders. He joined them before the Myitkyina campaign. He got injured by a fall and was eventually evacuated back to Lido. He returned to his unit in time for them to relocate to Kunming. He was detached to temporary duty at Kweiyang helping build a Red Cross station. He was there when the war ended and witnessed some fighting between the Chinese Nationalists and communists. Holden was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Mabel Miller. Miller was born 5 October 1925 near Floresville, Texas. She shares her recollections of her childhood, life during the war, and how she met her husband, who served in World War II. Miller provides details of her husband’s service in the war, and their life and family together.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Young. Young was commissioned as a reserve officer with the Army Corps of Engineers. He was of Chinese descent and spoke Cantonese and Mandarin. Young was sent to China and served as an aide-de-camp for General Stilwell from February 1942 through the end of 1945. He discusses the difficulties of the relationship between Stilwell and Chiang Kai-Shek as well as the overall strategic situation. Young also describes how Chinese officers would often defer to Chiang. He also got to know Madame Sun Yat-Sen and describes their interactions. Young tells how he walked out of Burma with Stilwell during a retreat.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Hilton. Hilton joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed Photo School and served as a photographer aboard a B-29, taking photos for reconnaissance in the China Burma India Theater. He served with the 40th Bombardment Group. They completed the majority of their missions over China, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, including detailed mapping over Okinawa in preparation for the invasion. His group also completed several missions in the Mariana Islands. Hilton participated in bombing, mapping and photo reconnaissance missions from April of 1944 through July of 1945. He was discharged in October of 1945.