Commissioner's Base Briefing Book - Naval Station Pascagoula - Pascagoula Mississippi Closure Recommendation June 2005

Advance critical mission capabilities of air and space expeditionary.

This book "is a compendium of America's Indian Wars and the mountain men, soldiers, cowboys and pioneers who took part in them" (dust-jacket). It includes information about all the major American Indian battles, the lives of notable men who fought in the battles, and the combat techniques employed. The index begins on page 247.

The first half of the scrapbook is composed of newspaper articles that have been pasted onto the pages and some that were inserted in between the book's pages. The articles are from Confederate states and contain news, poems, and stories centered around the Civil War and the time after. The second half of the book served as a ledger for the family to keep track of their expenses.

Interview with Michael Hurd, a journalist and member of the Texas Black History Preservation Project from Houston, Texas. Hurd discusses growing up in Texarkana and Houston, his education and service in the Air Force, work with the Houston Post and USA Today, Juneteenth, researching black history, the Texas Black History Preservation Project and related efforts, being an historian, the history of Juneteenth and emancipation in Texas, and civil rights. In appendix are photographs of Hurd, clippings of his reporting, and URLs to videos he was involved in.

Interview with landscape architect and Army veteran William Garbo Sr. The interview includes Garbo's personal experiences about the G Troop, 112th Cavalry, in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World-War II, growing up in an Italian-American family in Mississippi during the Great Depression, volunteering for the draft and processing at Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, basic training at Camp Lee, Petersburg, Virginia, being assigned to the 26th War Dog Platoon and to New Guinea in 1944, the Battle of the Driniumor River and his attachment to elements of the 32nd Infantry Division, jungle patrols on New Guinea with his dog, his transfer to Troop, 112th Cavalry and the invasion of Layte, Philippines, and the living condition in the Philippine jungles. Additionally, Garbo speaks about the fighting prowess of his comrades in the 112th Cavalry, jungle patrols on Leyte and Luzon, the 112th's activities around Marungko and Antipolo, Luzon, descriptions of cannibalism by Japanese soldiers, his wounds from artillery shrapnel and evacuation by helicopter, his return to the 112th Cavalry and preparations for the invasion of Japan, witnessing the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, occupation duty at Tateyama, Honshu, relations between Japanese civilians and American occupation troops, the destruction of Japanese defensive fortifications …

Interview with airline pilot and Army Air Forces veteran Robert W. Wilson. The interview includes Wilson's personal experiences about being B-25 pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II, basic training, college preparatory courses, flight training, and various missions. Wilson talks about his pre-war job experiences, flying conditions over the Owen Stanley Mountains, Operation OBOE, leave time in Sydney, Australia, the move to Palawan, Philippines, missions to French Indo-China, attitudes and feelings towards the deaths of comrades, and postwar adjustments. The interview includes an appendix with supplementary documents.

Interview with attorney and Army Air Forces veteran Edward J. Drake. The interview includes Drake's personal experiences about being a B-17 pilot in the European Theater during World War II, youth and education in Dallas, Texas, enlistment in the Aviation Cadet Program, various training programs, bombing transportation facilities during and after the Ardennes Offensive, crash-landing in Belgium after his plane was hit, and linking up with American troops. Additionally, Drake talks about his assignment to the 91st Bomb Group, the routine for a typical mission, formation flying, flying through enemy flak, rest and relaxation on-base and in London, recuperating from a collapsed lung, his return to combat for three more missions, and his return to the crash site of his plane 57 years later. The interview includes an appendix with "The Last Flight of 'Jezebel,'" written by Drake.

Interview with building contractor and Marine Corps veteran Donald Boots. The interview includes Boots' personal experiences about the Pacific Theater during World War II, childhood, boot camp, camouflage school, training in beachhead organization with the 4th Pioneer Battalion, mopping-up operations on Kwajalein, rest and retraining on Maui, being assigned as a BAR man, invading Saipan, and assaulting enemy caves on Saipan. Boots also talks about the stress of battle, returning to Maui for rest and retraining, the invasion of Iwo Jima, Japanese resistance on the Iwo Jima beaches, the rescue of his friend, his role in organizing the beach operation at Iwo Jima, establishing beach defenses on Iwo Jima, evacuating and returning to Maui, retraining and refitting for the invasion of the Japanese home islands, and the dropping of the atomic bombs.

Interview with Army veteran James Riley Chennault. The interview includes Chennault's personal experiences about the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II, childhood in Mississippi, moving to Texas in 1939, joining the 112th Cavalry, training, combat, and the Battle of Driniumor River. Chennault also talks about the mobilization of the Texas National Guard, Louisiana Maneuvers as part of the 3rd Army, rotation to the states, his assignment to a pack mule outfit, his discharge from the Army, and the daily routine of life in the horse cavalry. The interview includes an appendix with photographs.

Interview with James Chennault concerning his experiences while employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Chennault worked at a camp in Natchez, Mississippi (Company 1489).

Interview with Adolph Allen from Colfax, Louisiana concerning his experiences while employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression as well as his childhood and experiences leading up to joining the CCC. Allen worked at a camp in New Augusta, Mississippi (Company 5415).

Collection containing sketches of post-war life in East Texas, including descriptions of early recreations and games, stories about Southern food and cooking, religious anecdotes, Negro folk tales, a first-hand account of a Negro folk play about the life of Christ, and other miscellaneous folklore. The index begins on page 159.

Collection of musical scores, including Anglo-American love songs, ballads, comic songs, spirituals and party songs, as well as Afro-American spirituals and secular songs. The index begins on page 187.

Collection of popular folklore of Texas, including work songs, reptile myths, ballads and other folk songs of the South. The index begins on page 185.

This book "is a compendium of America's Indian Wars and the mountain men, soldiers, cowboys and pioneers who took part in them" (dust-jacket). It includes information about all the major American Indian battles, the lives of notable men who fought in the battles, and the combat techniques employed. The index begins on page 247.

Scrapbook documenting the life of John Logan Briggs Jr. and his friends, including photographs, menus, business cards, clippings, and tickets. The scrapbook also contains photographs of his travels, social gatherings and "The Experience."John Logan Briggs Jr. is the creator of "The Experience," a self-discovery workshop for the LGBT community.

Interview with Joseph M. Trest regarding his experiences while stationed at Kaneohe Naval Air Station during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and other installations on the island on December 7th, 1941.

Base Visit Book from BRAC Commissioner Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr.'s visit to Keesler Air Force Base, MS. Input includes; base summary sheet, military value chart, installation review, state map and statistical data, state closure history list, and press articles and correspondence.

Naval Station Pascagoula, MI, Recommendation for Closure Naval Station, Pascagoula, MI

Naval Station Pascagoula, MS, COBRA Realignment Summary Report

Naval Station Pascagoula, MS, Summary of Scenario Environmental Impacts (Disregard Restriction Header and Footer)

Naval Station Pascagoula, MS, Economic Impact Report containing charts and graphs. (Disregard Restriction Header and Footer)

Key Field Air Guard Station, MS: One Pager USAF(Disregard Restriction Header and Footer)