Resource Type

Transcript of Oral History Interview with Raul Rodriguez Arreola, November 28, 2011 (open access)

Transcript of Oral History Interview with Raul Rodriguez Arreola, November 28, 2011

Interview with Raul Rodriguez Arreola, a former postal worker from Kerrville, Texas. Mr. Arreola talks about growing up in the area, local places and people, serving in the Gideons, and working at the Post Office. Mr. Arreola's second wife, Irene, was present for the interview and makes a comments throughout. The interview transcript includes pictures of Mr. Arreola, his family, and the community, on pages 28-35.
Date: November 28, 2011
Creator: Collins, Francelle Robison; Stephens, Louis & Arreola, Raul Rodriguez
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Raul Rodriguez Arreola Narrative] (open access)

[Raul Rodriguez Arreola Narrative]

Autobiographical narrative written by Raul Rodriguez Arreola, a former postal worker from Kerrville. Mr. Arreola relates childhood memories, stories about his life and family, and some relevant local history.
Date: 2006
Creator: Arreola, Raul Rodriguez
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Jowdy. Jowdy enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age of 15, with his parents’ consent. His first assignment was pulling bodies out of sunken ships in Pearl Harbor. At Guadalcanal, his ship was torpedoed. Due to the presence of enemy subs, he could not be rescued initially and spent two weeks floating in a raft. Then he joined a rescue effort to aid the USS Wasp (CV-7), only to be torpedoed again, spending another four days in the water. Jowdy was then assigned to the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25), patrolling the Bering Sea and participating in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands as a second loader on a 40-millimeter. After witnessing the Marianas Turkey Shoot and also seeing MacArthur film his famous return, Jowdy participated in the bombardment of Iwo Jima, amidst kamikazes and suicide boats. After the war, he survived a typhoon and served occupation duty in Japan, later transporting troops as part of the demobilization effort before being discharged in January 1946.
Date: September 21, 2008
Creator: Jowdy, Al
System: The Portal to Texas History