[Aggie Muster Group Picture]

Photograph of Aggie Muster group somewhere in the Pacific on April 21, 1944. The men in the photo are wearing matching uniforms and are arranged into three rows. The top two rows are standing while the bottom row is sitting in fold out chairs.
Date: April 21, 1944
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from William Halsey, Jr., to the South Pacific Area, April 21, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from William Halsey, Jr., to the South Pacific Area, April 21, 1944]

Letter from Admiral William Halsey, Jr., to the South Pacific Area thanking them for a job well done with the South Pacific campaign nearing completion.
Date: April 21, 1944
Creator: Halsey, William, Jr.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Spartan School of Aeronatics]

Photograph of a group photo of a class at the Spartan School of Aeronautics. The class is divided into three rows and are standing in front of the radio laboratory of the school.
Date: February 21, 1941
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, December 21, 1901] (open access)

[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, December 21, 1901]

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz comments on the wintry weather in Annapolis. He also mentions his holiday schedule.
Date: December 21, 1901
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, April 21, 1908] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, April 21, 1908]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions taking the USS Decatur (DD-5) to Saigon soon and then Hong Kong. He anticipates getting to go home in August.
Date: April 21, 1908
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, December 21, 1902] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, December 21, 1902]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz sends a very brief Christmas greeting to his family in Fredericksburg. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.
Date: December 21, 1902
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, December 21, 1902] (open access)

[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, December 21, 1902]

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz sends a very brief Christmas greeting to his family in Fredericksburg.
Date: December 21, 1902
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, April 21, 1908] (open access)

[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, April 21, 1908]

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions taking the USS Decatur (DD-5) to Saigon soon and then Hong Kong. He anticipates getting to go home in August.
Date: April 21, 1908
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, December 21, 1901] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, December 21, 1901]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz comments on the wintry weather in Annapolis. He also mentions his holiday schedule. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.
Date: December 21, 1901
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Mary Birsh to Cecelia McKie - May 21, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Mary Birsh to Cecelia McKie - May 21, 1943]

Letter sent from Mary Birsh (Mrs. A. S. Birsh) to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message from her husband's brother and stating that Mrs. Cole, McKie's cousin, would like to hear from Cecelia. Envelope addressed to Mrs. William L. McKie, Sacramento, California from A. S. Birsh, Mount Vernon, New York.
Date: May 21, 1943
Creator: Birsh, Mary
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Walter Gallagher, July 21, 2022 captions transcript

Oral History Interview with Walter Gallagher, July 21, 2022

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Walter Gallagher. Gallagher joined the Navy after quitting high school and trained in aviation ordnance. In May, 1944 he was assigned to USS Franklin (CV-13) where he would arm dive bombers. Gallagher describes an injury he sustained while loading bombs as well as various enemy attacks on the Franklin, including a kamikaze. He was aboard when the Japanese bombed the Franklin in March, 1945. Gallagher recalls the attack and was ordered to transfer to USS Santa Fe (CL-60). From there, Gallagher spent six months at Hawaii before going back to the US.
Date: July 21, 2022
Creator: Gallagher, Walter
Object Type: Video
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Hensel, July 21, 2022 captions transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Hensel, July 21, 2022

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Hensel. Hensel was drafted into the Navy in June 1943. He trained as an aerial gunner and was eventually assigned to a crew aboard an Avenger. In early 1945, he went aboard USS Franklin (CV-13). In March, when the Franklin was attacked, Hensel was blown overboard and eventually made it onto a raft before being rescued by USS Hickox (DD-673). He went to a hospital at Ulithi to recover from burns before heading back to the US. He was undergoing more training when the war ended.
Date: July 21, 2022
Creator: Metzler, Ed
Object Type: Video
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Portrait of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, #1]

Portrait of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz from the chest up in front of a map. He is wearing a light-colored uniform and a dark tie featuring a five-star tie clasps matching the five stars pinned to either die of his collar. Handwritten on front: "21 January 1945 Dear Elizabeth - Happy Birthday ad a Happy 1945. Affectionately, C.W. Nimitz - Fleet Admiral USN"
Date: January 21, 1945
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Receives Award from Cardinal Spellman]

Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz receiving the 1946 Club of Champions Award of the Catholic Youth Organization of the Archdiocese of New York from Cardinal Francis Spellman. Chester W. Nimitz stands on the left in a dark Navy uniform with a white undershirt, a bow tie, six buttons on the front, four stripes and then a bigger band and a star on his sleeves. Cardinal Spellman is on the right pinning a medal to Adm. Nimitz in a long dark coat and clerical collar and glasses.
Date: January 21, 1947
Creator: United States. Navy
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Portrait of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, #2]

Portrait of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz from the chest up in front of a map. He is wearing a light-colored uniform and a dark tie featuring a five-star tie clasps matching the five stars pinned to either side of his collar.
Date: January 21, 1945
Creator: United States. Navy
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Watches Enlisted Sailor Pitch Horseshoes]

Photograph of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz watching an enlisted sailor, possibly Anthony Trifiletti, pitch horseshoes during picnic on the beach. Nimitz stands withs several other men in light-colored Naval uniforms under the cover of trees as Anthony Trifiletti stands in the center holding up a horseshoe. A black arrow is drawn underneath C. W. Nimitz on the border of the photograph.
Date: May 21, 1944
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Tom Gillespie, May 21, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Tom Gillespie, May 21, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tom Gillespie. Gillespie joined the Navy and went right to radio school because he was already a radio technician ion civilian life. He was assigned to Special Task Air Group 1 and trained with them to conduct drone strikes on Japanese targets. When he went overseas, he was based at Banika Island, near Pavuvu in the Russell Islands. They attempted a few strikes, but nothing ever came of the project, so the unit went back to the US before the war ended. Gillespie was discharged in November, 1945.
Date: May 21, 2008
Creator: Gillespie, Tom
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Vernon Oates, October 21, 1942 transcript

Oral History Interview with Vernon Oates, October 21, 1942

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon Oates. He discusses his childhood, education and growing up during the great depression. He talks about joining the US Army Air Corps, now called the Air Force, and the experiences he had at various different training camps around the country.
Date: October 21, 1942
Creator: Oates, Vernon
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James R. Hood, June 21, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with James R. Hood, June 21, 2007

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.
Date: June 21, 2007
Creator: Hood, James R.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Vernon Oates, October 21, 1942 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Vernon Oates, October 21, 1942

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon Oates. He discusses his childhood, education and growing up during the great depression. He talks about joining the US Army Air Corps, now called the Air Force, and the experiences he had at various different training camps around the country.
Date: October 21, 1942
Creator: Oates, Vernon
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with J. L. Summers, August 21, 1995 (open access)

Oral History Interview with J. L. Summers, August 21, 1995

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.L. Summers. While attending college, Summers entered the Army in November, 1940 when his unit, the headquarters battery in the 131st Field Artillery, was mobilized. Prior to that, Summers had been in the National Guard. En route to the Philippines, Summers' unit was redirected to Australia after the Japanese attack. From there, they went to Java. In March, 1942, Summers became a prisoner of war and wound up at Bicycle Camp in Batavia (Jakarta today). Summers describes life as a POW at Bicycle Camp. He was shipped out to the POW camp at Changi, Singapore in September, 1942 aboard the Dai Nichi Maru. In January a train trip and another hell ship ride occurred to Burma. Once there, Japanese trucks took Summers and the other POWs to 18 Kilo Camp where they were to build the railroad to Thailand. From there, he went to the 40 Kilo Camp in March, the 80 Kilo Camp in June, and the 100 Kilo Camp in late August. Throughout this time, Summers suffered from tropical ulcers on his legs, malaria, wet beriberi, dysentery and dengue fever. When the railroad was completed, Summers …
Date: August 21, 1995
Creator: Summers, J. L.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Owen Fluckey, August 21, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Owen Fluckey, August 21, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Owen Fluckey. He discusses his childhood and family and what led him to join the US navy. He describes his experiences in bootcamp at the Great Lakes Training Station in Indiana and his time in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.
Date: April 21, 2004
Creator: Fluckey, Owen; Tombaugh, John B. & Meter, Peggy Van
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James R. Hood, June 21, 2007 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James R. Hood, June 21, 2007

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.
Date: June 21, 2007
Creator: Hood, James R.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John L. Bates, Jr., September 21, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with John L. Bates, Jr., September 21, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John L. bates, Jr. where he discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the Army. He describes his experiences working for the Counterintelligence Corps in China during World War two.
Date: September 21, 2003
Creator: Bates, John L., Jr. & Alexander, William J.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History