The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kenneth Harrell. Harrell joined the Marine Corps in August 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division as a radio operator with the 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion and first encountered enemy fire during a practice landing on Goodenough Island. With Chesty Puller, he walked across Cape Gloucester amidst sniper fire. Harrell transferred to the 6th Amphibious Tractor Battalion, landing on Peleliu in the second wave. When his LV-2 Water Buffalo was hit twice in shallow water, Harrell’s shoes were blown off and he crawled ashore, shredding his hands and knees on the reef. After the air strip was secured, Harrell was put on shore patrol, deterring enemy barges. Holdouts remained in caves, and Harrell was bayoneted during a banzai charge. He killed his assailant and boarded a hospital ship. His battalion having been decimated, Harrell rejoined the 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion at Okinawa, taking fragments when a nearby Japanese soldier committed suicide by grenade and hiding amidst urns in native burial grounds. In September 1945, Harrell transferred to the 1st Motor Transport Battalion in north China, facilitating the disarmament of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Geoffrey Fiskin. When Fiskin first tried to enlist in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he was ordered to return to his farm, an essential duty at the time. He was accepted to the RNZAF on his second attempt and was assigned to the No. 205 Squadron, a flying boat squadron stationed in Singapore. He and other RNZAF personnel were then transferred to the RAF No. 243 Squadron, seeing their first action just one day after Pearl Harbor. Fiskin struck a Japanese Ki-27 which then exploded beneath his plane, causing Fiskin to fall into a tailspin for 5,000 feet. He survived that event only to later be shelled and wounded. He was erroneously reported missing and believed killed, which he learned while speaking to his mother by phone. Fiskin, though on crutches and with steel lodged in his hip, continued to fly. In March 1942 he joined the No. 14 Squadron as a P-40 pilot. In bad weather off New Caledonia, the whole unit made a sea landing and abandoned their planes. He later discovered on Guadalcanal that American troops had found his aircraft and salvaged it; he …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest J. Zellmer. Zellmer was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1940. When Zellmer received his commission in 1943, he opted for submarines and was sent to submarine school. Upon completion of the school in December 1943, Zellmer was assigned as the communications officer aboard the USS Cavalla (SS-244). Zellmer provides a thorough description of the interior of a Gato-calss submarine. He describes the action of the first war patrol in June 1944 arund the Mariana Islands and a torpedo attack on HIJMS Shōkaku. Zellmer describes several of the other war patrols and, in April 1945, was able to visit the San Miguel Brewery in Manila. Also, on one patrol, Zellmer describes how Cavalla assisted a damaged HMS Terrapin (P323) back to Fremantle, Australia. He married an Australian woman and was reassigned to the USS Cusk (SS-348) later in May. When the war ended, Zellmer resigned his commission and took one in the reserves. He began teaching engineering drawing at Washington University near St. Louis before joining the the CIA as a Soviet submarine analyst in 1950. He made a career of the CIA and retired in the …

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 Concert Hall in fulfillment of the Doctor of Music Arts (DMA) degree

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

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Graduate Artist Certificate in Music Performance.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Giles McCoy. McCoy joined the Marines in June of 1943. He served as a sniper. McCoy was assigned to the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He participated in the Invasion of Peleliu in September of 1944, as well as the battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He talks about his experiences with kamikaze planes at Okinawa. He then served as a Marine replacement and a hot shell man aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). McCoy provides vivid details of the ship sinking and his 4 days surviving in the Philippine Sea. He was discharged around late 1945.

A senior recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree

A senior recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

A senior recital presented at the UNT College of Music Merrill Ellis Intermedia Theater.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Hood. Hood was born on a farm near Crawfordville, Indiana on 3 October 1916. He completed high school in 1934 and graduated from Washburn University in 1938. He joined the Navy in September 1943 and received a direct commission as ensign. He received orders to Fort Pierce, Florida and several months later was assigned to Harvard University for a four month course in the supply corps school. Upon completion of the course he received orders to report aboard the USS Damon M. Cummings (DE-643) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in September, 1944. His job assignment was to supervise payroll activities as well direct food acquisition and preparation. His battle station on the ship was as the officer in charge of an anti-aircraft gun and he describes the actions of the gun in shooting down a kamikaze while on station off of Okinawa. Hood left the Damon M. Cummings in February 1946 and was discharged shortly thereafter. Hood was recalled into the Navy during the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Hood of Indianapolis, Indiana. He discusses entering the U.S. Navy in September of 1942 without basic training as he was a college graduate. After being sworn in at Wabash College he was sent to Harvard Business School for Supply Corps for 4 months before being assigned to a ship in Pearl Harbor despite having no sailing training. Mr. hood was assigned to the Cummings DE643, he was supposed to be on the Samuel B. Roberts but the naval officer over him changed his mind last minute and 37 days later the Roberts sunk. While in Tulagi, Mr. Hood was involved in shooting down a Kamikaze plane, even receiving a ribbon for it after the war. He was also involved in the Battle of Okinawa and even saved two shells and years later had them signed by U.S. pilot Paul Tibbets. Mr. Hood was discharged from the Navy on February 28th, 1946, at Santa Ana, California as a Full Lieutenant. He was recalled to the Navy for the Korean War on March 2nd, 1951, and discharged for the final time on March 30th, 1953, as a Lieutenant Commander.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Turner. Turner was commissioned as an officer in the Navy in April 1943. He trained as an aeronautical engineer and was assigned to Utility Squadron 2 (VJ-2). Turner discusses the missions his unit performed from target towing to personnel transport. He describes his duties repairing SN-1s and a time when he made emergency repairs on a Grumman Duck. Turner was stationed on several islands before being rotated back to the US. He left active duty in May 1946.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital 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 Master of Music (MM) degree.

Guest recital performed at the UNT Recital Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Carlyle Herring. Herring joined the Navy after high school, in 1937. His initial assignment was as a boatswain’s mate, in charge of anchors and small boats. Herring was aboard the Enterprise (CV-6) when Pearl Harbor was attacked. While sailing to Wake Island in the weeks before the Pearl Harbor attack, Herring was stationed at an anti-aircraft gun mount as Admiral Halsey announced that he anticipated imminent Japanese aggression, putting the ship at general quarters. While on the Enterprise, he was sent to work on the flight deck, pulling chocks from aircraft, putting him in dangerously close proximity to moving propellers. For a time, he worked with a dive bomber squadron until being erroneously court martialed for his buddies’ antics. During combat, Herring witnessed the sinking of other ships in his group, yet he never was afraid for his own life. Herring ended his service as an aviation machinist’s mate.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clarence Haverland. Haverland joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He went to aviation metalsmith school in Oklahoma. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) as a chock man, assisting in the maneuvering of planes aboard ship. While on his way ashore for liberty, a friend dared him to ignore rather than salute the first officer he passed. He agreed and immediately encountered 18 admirals, including Nimitz, Spruance, Fletcher, and Halsey. Haverland pretended to be busy inspecting cranes as they passed by. Later, Admiral Halsey found Haverland aboard ship and questioned him about the incident. Haverland explained the bet he had made with a friend, and Halsey replied that he was lucky it was a group of admirals and not ensigns that he passed. Haverland went on to serve in United States. Navy. Carrier Air Service Unit 1 (CASU-1) and CASU-38 as an aviation metalsmith. He returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Albert. Albert joined the Navy in 1941. Growing up in poverty with 12 siblings, enlisting was a way to ensure three square meals a day and to finally have his own bed. Albert was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) as a shipfitter, involved in routine maintenance and damage control. As such, he was appreciated by many people and often repaid with alcohol, which he would share with others before stowing the remainder inside the ship’s walls, welding the makeshift cubby shut each time. At Pearl Harbor, he conducted shore patrol and once broke up an altercation involving his own brother. The two of them, along with about 15 other pairs of brothers, worked together on the Enterprise, in the early days. Albert encountered many dangerous events, particularly surviving a weeklong typhoon, and watching from the crow’s nest as a kamikaze approached and blew out the number two elevator. In the aftermath, part of his duties in damage control included administering morphine to the wounded. Albert was discharged shortly before the war ended, having spent four years in the service. For a time thereafter, he suffered from …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Lyons. Lyons joined the Navy in October of 1940. He served briefly aboard the USS Nevada (BB-36) as a machinist mate working in the boiler room. He was then assigned to the Engineering Department aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) from December of 1940 to August of 1944, where he served as Fireman First Class in the boiler room. Lyons describes the intensely hot work in the boiler room, while stationed in the Pacific. The Enterprise was 150 miles south of Oahu, Pearl Harbor the morning of December 7, 1941. Lyons describes their participation in combating the Japanese. In February of 1942 the Enterprise group swept the central Pacific, attacking enemy installations on Wake and Marcus Islands. In April of that same year the Enterprise participated in the Battle of Midway. Beginning in August of 1942 they participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal, and a few months later Lyons was injured during the Battle of Santa Cruz. In July of 1943 Lyons was promoted to Second Class Watertender. In June of 1944 they participated in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign. In August of that same year, Lyons was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Glass. Glass was born in Forsyth, Georgia on 27 March 1924. Upon graduation from high school in 1941, he joined the Navy. After completing boot camp in Norfolk, Virginia he attended a radio operator school in Alameda, California. In June 1942, he was assigned to VF-6 aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). He was later assigned as to Bombing Squadron 10 (United States. Navy. Bombing Squadron 10 (VB-10)) as a radio operator aboard SBD dive bombers. Glass participated in various battles including Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In 1944 he was transferred off the ship and flew as the radio operator on PBYs. He was discharged in 1947 and enlisted in the Air Force. He briefly tells of the time spent in the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Barnhill. Barnhill joined the Navy after graduating from high school in 1940. Upon completion of bugle school, he was a regimental bugler until receiving orders to board the USS Enterprise (CV-6). He was assigned a second station as assistant photographer. Barnhill’s first voyage was to Hawaii in March 1941 for training. When news of the attack on Pearl Harbor arrived, Barnhill recalls sounding general quarters from the bridge with his bugle. His first mission was at the Marshall Islands, where the ship came under attack. As the war developed, Barnhill volunteered to fuse bombs, a task he performed with his younger brother, who had requested to be assigned with him. There were no less than a dozen sets of brothers on the ship at that time. At the Battle of Rennell Island, Barnhill remembers the ship was under strict orders to leave behind any men in the water, leaving them to be rescued by other ships. He left the Enterprise in July 1944 and enjoyed easy duty in Oregon, where his unit worked part-time civilian jobs at local factories, which was appreciated by the community as the …