Wind Symphony concert performed at UNT Winspear Performance Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John E. Underwood. Underwood grew up on a farm in Georgia and volunteered for service in the US Navy when he was 15 years old in 1941. His mother signed for him and then he went to boot camp in Virginia. Upon completing training, Underwood was assigned VF-42 aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and assisted the airplane mechanics. Underwood discusses being aboard the Yorktown in May, 1942, during the Battle ofthe Coral Sea and witnessing the USS Lexington (CV-2) sink. Underwood also discusses making repairs in time to participate in the Battle of Midway in June, 1942. Underwood discusses the attack on the Yorktown that disabled the ship, and he describes abandoning her, but not before rescuing the contents of his locker, which included his watch, ring and poker winnings. He was soon rescued by a destroyer crewman. Once he returned to Hawaii, he stayed on in the office of the Commander, Air Force Pacific Fleet for the duration of the war and served as a driver for Admiral Forrest Sherman at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, until he was transferred to Washington, DC. Underwood discusses getting out of …

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur G Whitehead. Whitehead joined the Navy in October 1942, attending boot camp and receiving hospital corpsman training. Upon completion, he was assigned as a pharmacist’s mate, tending to wounded Marine fighter pilots. Whitehead was stationed in Ewe, Hawaii, before traveling to American Samoa, where he slept in a wooden hut plagued by mosquitos. Moving next to the Ellice Islands, Funafuti, his ship became stuck on the coral reef at low tide, in danger of Japanese submarine attack. He then was sent to Kwajalein, where he remained for nine months. On his first night, enemy planes struck a loaded bomber on the air strip, causing a massive explosion. Whitehead declined the Purple Heart he was offered for the resulting burn across his back. Whitehead transferred back to the States, where he began training on the relief of wounded during landing operations. The war ended as Whitehead arrived on Okinawa, which was surrounded by debris from a recent typhoon. He also visited Nagasaki. After a stay in Sasebo and Guam, Whitehead returned home and was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William R. Smith. Smith was born in April of 1921 and served in the Junior Naval Reserve as a teenager, joining the Naval Reserves around 1937 with a forged birth certificate. He received basic training by volunteering aboard USS Texas (BB-35) and USS Brooklyn (CL-40). By 1939, Smith was serving as a Chief Fire Control Technician aboard USS Clark (DD-361). They were docked in San Francisco on 7 December 1941 and took up antisubmarine patrol off Samoa by February of 1942. Smith reenlisted in April. The Clark escorted a tanker to Midway, a convoy to New Zealand and assisted with landings on Guadalcanal by November of 1942. In November of 1943, Smith transferred to USS Newcomb (DD-586), participating in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the invasion at Lingayen in January 1945. Smith also participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where the Newcomb was hit by 5 kamikaze planes on 6 April. Smith recalls a brief and positive encounter with Admiral Chester Nimitz. Around August of 1945 he was transferred to USS La Vallette (DD-448) and traveled to San Diego where he was stationed through April …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernice Shafer. Shafer was born in Ackley, Iowa 26 December 1926. She began nurse training at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Des Moines in 1941. Upon graduating in 1944, she entered the US Army Nurse Corps and began basic training at Camp Carson, Colorado. When she completed basic, she was assigned to Leonard General Hospital, Topeka, Kansas. After a period of time, she was shipped to Camp Pendleton, California in preparation for an overseas assignment. Shafer was assigned to the 311th Hospital Unit and boarded the USS Monterey (CVL-26), bound for Manila. She tells of the primitive conditions encountered in setting up the hospital. Designated as an operating room nurse, she describes working up to forty hours straight and the various types of battle casualties that were treated. She recalls that patients were transported to the hospital by ambulance, jeep and helicopter. In February 1946, Shafer returned to the United States aboard the USS West Point (AP-23), arriving at New York City after passage through the Panama Canal.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree.

Faculty recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

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

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with G. Earl Paulk. In 1933 Paulk completed 15 months with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Arizona, building roads and serving as a telephone linesman. He was drafted into the Navy in September of 1943. He completed diesel engine school in Chicago. He completed advanced mechanic school in Boston. Beginning in December of 1943 Paulk served as a Motor Machinists Mate aboard USS LST-1017. He also served as a 20mm antiaircraft gunner. He provides some details of the LST and the weapons on board. In 1944 they traveled to New Guinea and Mindanao to deliver fuel and supplies to the Army. They provided support and supplies for the battles of Leyte Gulf, Luzon and the invasion at Lingayen Gulf. After the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they transported Japanese Army soldiers back to Japan. Paulk was discharged in January of 1946.