Oral History Interview with Billy Wayne Sherrill, April 22, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Billy Wayne Sherrill, April 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Billy Sherrill. Sherrill was born in Houston, Texas in 1926 and joined the US Marine Corps on 26 December 1941. After undergoing boot training at San Diego, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Defense Battalion stationed on Palmyra Atoll for sixteen months. In 1943 he returned to the United States where he underwent six months of advanced training. Sherrill was then sent to Bougainville where he joined the 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He describes landing on the beach on Guam in an LVT and recalls combat situations in which he was involved that resulted in large numbers of dead and wounded. After the campaign, the division remained on Guam training for the invasion of Iwo Jima. He tells of landing on Iwo Jima on the third day of the invasion and gives a vivid description of actions in which he was involved. Sherrill was wounded on Iwo Jima and was sent to Oakland Naval Hospital where he spent a year in recovery. In 1946 he received a medical discharge.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Sherrill, Billy Wayne
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Billy Wayne Sherrill, April 22, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Billy Wayne Sherrill, April 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Billy Sherrill. Sherrill was born in Houston, Texas in 1926 and joined the US Marine Corps on 26 December 1941. After undergoing boot training at San Diego, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Defense Battalion stationed on Palmyra Atoll for sixteen months. In 1943 he returned to the United States where he underwent six months of advanced training. Sherrill was then sent to Bougainville where he joined the 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He describes landing on the beach on Guam in an LVT and recalls combat situations in which he was involved that resulted in large numbers of dead and wounded. After the campaign, the division remained on Guam training for the invasion of Iwo Jima. He tells of landing on Iwo Jima on the third day of the invasion and gives a vivid description of actions in which he was involved. Sherrill was wounded on Iwo Jima and was sent to Oakland Naval Hospital where he spent a year in recovery. In 1946 he received a medical discharge.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Sherrill, Billy Wayne
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Christensen, September 22, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Christensen, September 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Christensen. Christensen joined the Marine Corps in June of 1941. He joined Carlson's Raiders and later joined Edson’s Raiders. They trained through early 1942. He participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign beginning in August of 1942, including Carlson’s Long Patrol. He also served in the Battle of Guam in 1944. He traveled through the Solomon Islands and fought in the Bougainville Campaign. Christensen experienced much combat and provides some details of his experiences. He returned to the U.S. from the Pacific in 1946. His wife shares some of his experiences in Japan. He later served in the Vietnam War and retired from the military in 1969.
Date: September 22, 2015
Creator: Christensen, Jack
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Christensen, September 22, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jack Christensen, September 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Christensen. Christensen joined the Marine Corps in June of 1941. He joined Carlson's Raiders and later joined Edson’s Raiders. They trained through early 1942. He participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign beginning in August of 1942, including Carlson’s Long Patrol. He also served in the Battle of Guam in 1944. He traveled through the Solomon Islands and fought in the Bougainville Campaign. Christensen experienced much combat and provides some details of his experiences. He returned to the U.S. from the Pacific in 1946. His wife shares some of his experiences in Japan. He later served in the Vietnam War and retired from the military in 1969.
Date: September 22, 2015
Creator: Christensen, Jack
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Julius Erdos, December 22, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Julius Erdos, December 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Julius Erdos. Erdos joined the Army Air Forces in April, 1943. After basic, he went to Biloxi to train as an engine mechanic. In January 1944 Erdos went to Tinian to be a B-29 mechanic. He returned to the US in December. Erdos shares several anecdotes about his time in the service.
Date: December 22, 2015
Creator: Erdos, Julius
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Julius Erdos, December 22, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Julius Erdos, December 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Julius Erdos. Erdos joined the Army Air Forces in April, 1943. After basic, he went to Biloxi to train as an engine mechanic. In January 1944 Erdos went to Tinian to be a B-29 mechanic. He returned to the US in December. Erdos shares several anecdotes about his time in the service.
Date: December 22, 2015
Creator: Erdos, Julius
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Louis Justin, November 22, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Louis Justin, November 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Justin. Justin volunteered for service in the Army Air Forces in March, 1943 and took the photography course in Denver. He went overseas to Tinian in November, 1944 where he worked in the photo lab developing images. On Tinian, he developed the film from the Enola Gay. After the war, Young returned to the US in January and received his discharge in February. Justin has some help during the interview from his daughter.
Date: November 22, 2015
Creator: Justin, Louis
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Louis Justin, November 22, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Louis Justin, November 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Justin. Justin volunteered for service in the Army Air Forces in March, 1943 and took the photography course in Denver. He went overseas to Tinian in November, 1944 where he worked in the photo lab developing images. On Tinian, he developed the film from the Enola Gay. After the war, Young returned to the US in January and received his discharge in February. Justin has some help during the interview from his daughter.
Date: November 22, 2015
Creator: Justin, Louis
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Paul Medley, December 22, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Paul Medley, December 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Scott Medley. Medley joined the Navy around the spring of 1943. In late summer, he deployed to Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. He then served as Seaman First Class aboard USS Crescent City (APA-21), and traveled across the equator, where he shares his pollywog hazing stories. His battle station aboard the ship was loading ammunition in the anti-aircraft and five-inch guns. He shares combat experiences in shuttling Marines aboard a Higgins boat at Guadalcanal and for the invasions of Peleliu and Leyte. Medley shares experiences of kamikaze planes trying to attack the Crescent City. He returned home in late 1945.
Date: December 22, 2015
Creator: Medley, Paul
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Paul Medley, December 22, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Paul Medley, December 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Scott Medley. Medley joined the Navy around the spring of 1943. In late summer, he deployed to Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. He then served as Seaman First Class aboard USS Crescent City (APA-21), and traveled across the equator, where he shares his pollywog hazing stories. His battle station aboard the ship was loading ammunition in the anti-aircraft and five-inch guns. He shares combat experiences in shuttling Marines aboard a Higgins boat at Guadalcanal and for the invasions of Peleliu and Leyte. Medley shares experiences of kamikaze planes trying to attack the Crescent City. He returned home in late 1945.
Date: December 22, 2015
Creator: Medley, Paul
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ramon Galindo, June 22, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ramon Galindo, June 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ramon Galindo. Galindo was born on 29 May 1921 in Nuevo San Juan, Mexico. His parents brought him to the United States in 1922. He joined the Texas State National Guard in 1943, at the age of 22, and became an American citizen that same year. In 1944 he joined the 571st Anti-Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. He received training at Camp Wallace in Galveston. From 1944 to 1945 he served in Europe, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River Battle. He provides details of these battles and familiarized himself with the sound of the German cannons 88-mm cannons, and he knew to drop to the ground when he heard the whistling sound. In May of 1945, his battalion was stationed at Adolf Hitler’s headquarters, the Führerbau, where oversized pictures of Hitler and his top officers covered the walls. Part of Galindo’s mission was to protect these images. Galindo was honorably discharged in February of 1946.
Date: June 22, 2015
Creator: Galindo, Ramon
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ramon Galindo, June 22, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Ramon Galindo, June 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ramon Galindo. Galindo was born on 29 May 1921 in Nuevo San Juan, Mexico. His parents brought him to the United States in 1922. He joined the Texas State National Guard in 1943, at the age of 22, and became an American citizen that same year. In 1944 he joined the 571st Anti-Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. He received training at Camp Wallace in Galveston. From 1944 to 1945 he served in Europe, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River Battle. He provides details of these battles and familiarized himself with the sound of the German cannons 88-mm cannons, and he knew to drop to the ground when he heard the whistling sound. In May of 1945, his battalion was stationed at Adolf Hitler’s headquarters, the Führerbau, where oversized pictures of Hitler and his top officers covered the walls. Part of Galindo’s mission was to protect these images. Galindo was honorably discharged in February of 1946.
Date: June 22, 2015
Creator: Galindo, Ramon
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Feddersen, April 22, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Feddersen, April 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Feddersen. After finishing college in Iowa, Feddersen entered the Army with a ROTC commission in May 1941. He received further infantry training at Fort Benning. In March 1943, he went overseas and was assigned to the 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, which was engaged in combat in New Guinea. He stayed with the same outfit throughout the New Guinea campaign and headed for the Philippines with them. He had a few interactions with General MacArthur. When the war ended, he was at Subic Bay studying the plans for the invasion of Japan. His unit went to Japan for occupation duty at Kure. Feddersen was on hand when the Japanese surrendered their naval academy. He also visited Hiroshima and comments on the destruction. He also relates several other stories about being in occupied Japan before returning home in early 1946.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Feddersen, Richard T
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Feddersen, April 22, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Richard Feddersen, April 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Feddersen. After finishing college in Iowa, Feddersen entered the Army with a ROTC commission in May 1941. He received further infantry training at Fort Benning. In March 1943, he went overseas and was assigned to the 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, which was engaged in combat in New Guinea. He stayed with the same outfit throughout the New Guinea campaign and headed for the Philippines with them. He had a few interactions with General MacArthur. When the war ended, he was at Subic Bay studying the plans for the invasion of Japan. His unit went to Japan for occupation duty at Kure. Feddersen was on hand when the Japanese surrendered their naval academy. He also visited Hiroshima and comments on the destruction. He also relates several other stories about being in occupied Japan before returning home in early 1946.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Feddersen, Richard T
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Rocelia Madison, January 22, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Rocelia Madison, January 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rocelia Madison. Madison joined the WAVES in December 1943. She received basic training in New York and attended machinist school in Oklahoma. Upon completion, she was assigned to Corpus Christi, where she worked as an aviation machinist’s mate, servicing mostly PBMs and the occasional PBY. She got along well with her crewmates and received equal pay to the men. She married a sailor, Joe Wesley Harmon, and the two were discharged together. They bought their first house and attended school on the GI Bill, and Madison ran her own business for 30 years.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Madison, Rocelia
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Rocelia Madison, January 22, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Rocelia Madison, January 22, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rocelia Madison. Madison joined the WAVES in December 1943. She received basic training in New York and attended machinist school in Oklahoma. Upon completion, she was assigned to Corpus Christi, where she worked as an aviation machinist’s mate, servicing mostly PBMs and the occasional PBY. She got along well with her crewmates and received equal pay to the men. She married a sailor, Joe Wesley Harmon, and the two were discharged together. They bought their first house and attended school on the GI Bill, and Madison ran her own business for 30 years.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Madison, Rocelia
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History