Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bruce Williams. Williams was born in August 1920 in Pennsylvania. He entered the Navy’s V-7 program at Northwestern University in September 1943. Upon commissioning in December, Williams reported aboard the submarine chase USS SC-731 as the executive officer. He recalls experiences from around New Guinea and the Philippines. Part of his job included delivering supplies to Filipino guerrillas. When the war ended, Williams elected to go to seminary and stayed in the reserves and worked as a chaplain until retiring in 1975.
Date: August 27, 2020
Creator: Williams, Bruce
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bruce Williams, August 27, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bruce Williams. Williams was born in August 1920 in Pennsylvania. He entered the Navy’s V-7 program at Northwestern University in September 1943. Upon commissioning in December, Williams reported aboard the submarine chase USS SC-731 as the executive officer. He recalls experiences from around New Guinea and the Philippines. Part of his job included delivering supplies to Filipino guerrillas. When the war ended, Williams elected to go to seminary and stayed in the reserves and worked as a chaplain until retiring in 1975.
Date: August 27, 2020
Creator: Williams, Bruce
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Roy Barrera, April 27, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with Roy Barrera, April 27, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Barrera. Barerra grew up in Texas during the Depression and enlisted in the Army at 17 in 1944. He was assigned to the 6th Infantry Division and shipped out with the unit to Luzon in 1945. After the war, Barerra served in occupied Korea playing in the division band. He injured one of his finger badly and had to switch to playing trumpet. He used the GI Bill to finish law school upon being discharged in December 1946.
Date: April 27, 2020
Creator: Barrera, Roy
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Roy Barrera, April 27, 2020 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Roy Barrera, April 27, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Barrera. Barerra grew up in Texas during the Depression and enlisted in the Army at 17 in 1944. He was assigned to the 6th Infantry Division and shipped out with the unit to Luzon in 1945. After the war, Barerra served in occupied Korea playing in the division band. He injured one of his finger badly and had to switch to playing trumpet. He used the GI Bill to finish law school upon being discharged in December 1946.
Date: April 27, 2020
Creator: Barrera, Roy
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Henley Bennett, September 27, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Henley Bennett, September 27, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henley Bennett. Bennett joined the Navy in December 1943 and trained in San Diego. Upon completion he was assigned to USS Long Island (CVE-1) and went to the Marshall Islands. He was also stationed on Guam for a while. He served with utility Squadrons 7 and 17 while overseas. When the war ended, Bennett was discharged in June 1946.
Date: September 27, 2019
Creator: Bennett, Henley
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Henley Bennett, September 27, 2019 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Henley Bennett, September 27, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henley Bennett. Bennett joined the Navy in December 1943 and trained in San Diego. Upon completion he was assigned to USS Long Island (CVE-1) and went to the Marshall Islands. He was also stationed on Guam for a while. He served with utility Squadrons 7 and 17 while overseas. When the war ended, Bennett was discharged in June 1946.
Date: September 27, 2019
Creator: Bennett, Henley
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Miller, September 27, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Miller, September 27, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Miller. Miller joined the Junior Naval Reserves around 1936, at the age of 13. He joined the Navy in 1940, and served aboard USS Wyoming (BB-32) as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class. Shortly after the war started, he was transferred to USS Raven (AM-55) as a gunner. He recalls spotting and shooting at German U-boats along Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In early 1942, they escorted tankers along the east coast, up to Nova Scotia. Miller was transferred to VF-28, an F4F fighter squadron. Around October, they were assigned to USS Suwannee (ACV-27) and participated in the invasion of North Africa and the Battle of Casablanca in November. In December, they were transferred to USS Chenango (CVE-28). In early 1943, they supported the Guadalcanal campaign. Beginning in December, and through 1944, Miller served aboard USS Tulagi (CVE-72), participating in the invasion of Normandy. Miller discusses their activity during the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended.
Date: September 27, 2019
Creator: Miller, Robert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Miller, September 27, 2019 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Miller, September 27, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Miller. Miller joined the Junior Naval Reserves around 1936, at the age of 13. He joined the Navy in 1940, and served aboard USS Wyoming (BB-32) as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class. Shortly after the war started, he was transferred to USS Raven (AM-55) as a gunner. He recalls spotting and shooting at German U-boats along Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In early 1942, they escorted tankers along the east coast, up to Nova Scotia. Miller was transferred to VF-28, an F4F fighter squadron. Around October, they were assigned to USS Suwannee (ACV-27) and participated in the invasion of North Africa and the Battle of Casablanca in November. In December, they were transferred to USS Chenango (CVE-28). In early 1943, they supported the Guadalcanal campaign. Beginning in December, and through 1944, Miller served aboard USS Tulagi (CVE-72), participating in the invasion of Normandy. Miller discusses their activity during the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended.
Date: September 27, 2019
Creator: Miller, Robert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Orville Schwanger, September 27, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Orville Schwanger, September 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Orville Schwanger. Schwanger joined the Army Signal Corps around 1942. He completed radio repair training. From 1943 through the end of the war, Schwanger traveled to Brisbane, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Leyte Gulf. On the islands, he set up and worked in radio repair shops. He received his discharge in 1946.
Date: September 27, 2018
Creator: Schwanger, Orville
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Orville Schwanger, September 27, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Orville Schwanger, September 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Orville Schwanger. Schwanger joined the Army Signal Corps around 1942. He completed radio repair training. From 1943 through the end of the war, Schwanger traveled to Brisbane, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Leyte Gulf. On the islands, he set up and worked in radio repair shops. He received his discharge in 1946.
Date: September 27, 2018
Creator: Schwanger, Orville
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Ulery, July 27, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Ulery, July 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ulery. Ulery joined the Army in December of 1945. In March 1946 he was sent to Le Havre, France. He served with the 3rd Infantry Division, Artillery Band in Bad Wildungen, Germany. Ulery played the sousaphone in the band, and they traveled all over the American Zone of Germany. He was in Nuremberg when the war criminals were sentenced to death. Ulery shares details of his 13 months living and working in Germany after the war. He returned to the US and was discharged in June of 1947.
Date: July 27, 2018
Creator: Ulery, Robert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Ulery, July 27, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Ulery, July 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Ulery. Ulery joined the Army in December of 1945. In March 1946 he was sent to Le Havre, France. He served with the 3rd Infantry Division, Artillery Band in Bad Wildungen, Germany. Ulery played the sousaphone in the band, and they traveled all over the American Zone of Germany. He was in Nuremberg when the war criminals were sentenced to death. Ulery shares details of his 13 months living and working in Germany after the war. He returned to the US and was discharged in June of 1947.
Date: July 27, 2018
Creator: Ulery, Robert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack M. Lyons, April 27, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jack M. Lyons, April 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack M. Lyons. He discusses his childhood and growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the Us Naval Aviation program. He describes his experiences in flight school, basic training and fighting in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.
Date: April 27, 2018
Creator: Lyons, Jack M. & Misenhimer, Richard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack M. Lyons, April 27, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack M. Lyons, April 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack M. Lyons. He discusses his childhood and growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the Us Naval Aviation program. He describes his experiences in flight school, basic training and fighting in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.
Date: April 27, 2018
Creator: Lyons, Jack M. & Misenhimer, Richard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Oellerich, March 27, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Oellerich, March 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Oellerich. Oellerich joined the Navy in 1943 after he finished high school. After basic training, he attended quartermaster school to learn to navigate. Upon completion, he headed for Houston to join USS LSM-2. After training, they shaped course for Hawaii. After loading supplies, they headed for the Philippines to support the various invasions. He also made the invasion of Okinawa where his LSM ferried supplies from ship to shore for one month. He got ashore briefly and witnessed kamikaze attacks. Oellerich was discharged in April, 1946.
Date: March 27, 2018
Creator: Oellerich, Robert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Oellerich, March 27, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Oellerich, March 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Oellerich. Oellerich joined the Navy in 1943 after he finished high school. After basic training, he attended quartermaster school to learn to navigate. Upon completion, he headed for Houston to join USS LSM-2. After training, they shaped course for Hawaii. After loading supplies, they headed for the Philippines to support the various invasions. He also made the invasion of Okinawa where his LSM ferried supplies from ship to shore for one month. He got ashore briefly and witnessed kamikaze attacks. Oellerich was discharged in April, 1946.
Date: March 27, 2018
Creator: Oellerich, Robert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Reed, June 27, 2017 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Reed, June 27, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Reed. Reed was drafted into the Army in June 1945, while he was in ninth grade. He later received his diploma in 1949. He went to Sheppard Field, Texas, Ft. McClellan, Alabama and Ft. MacArthur, California for training. In California he was a medical technician, though received no formal training. He worked in a separation center, taking blood pressure. He was in the 9th Service Command and the 6th Army. He also worked as a longshoreman in San Pedro. From there he was shipped up to Camp Beall, California where he worked the remainder of his Army career as a medic, driving an ambulance and giving shots to inductees coming into the Army. He was discharged in December 1946 and he worked for the Pure Oil Station, and then later at the Veterans Hospital in Montgomery. He used his G.I. Bill to go to business school in Montgomery, Alabama while working at the Veterans Hospital.
Date: June 27, 2017
Creator: Reed, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Reed, June 27, 2017 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Reed, June 27, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Reed. Reed was drafted into the Army in June 1945, while he was in ninth grade. He later received his diploma in 1949. He went to Sheppard Field, Texas, Ft. McClellan, Alabama and Ft. MacArthur, California for training. In California he was a medical technician, though received no formal training. He worked in a separation center, taking blood pressure. He was in the 9th Service Command and the 6th Army. He also worked as a longshoreman in San Pedro. From there he was shipped up to Camp Beall, California where he worked the remainder of his Army career as a medic, driving an ambulance and giving shots to inductees coming into the Army. He was discharged in December 1946 and he worked for the Pure Oil Station, and then later at the Veterans Hospital in Montgomery. He used his G.I. Bill to go to business school in Montgomery, Alabama while working at the Veterans Hospital.
Date: June 27, 2017
Creator: Reed, James
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Rudolph Kraut, January 27, 2017 transcript

Oral History Interview with Rudolph Kraut, January 27, 2017

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudolph Kraut. Kraut joined the Navy in 1943. He volunteered for submarine duty and attended torpedo school in San Diego and submarine school in New London. He was assigned aboard USS Lizardfish (SS-373) and shares several anecdotes about his service aboard that boat. Kraut was transferred to USS Blueback (SS-326) before electing to be discharged on points.
Date: January 27, 2017
Creator: Kraut, Rudolph
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Rudolph Kraut, January 27, 2017 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Rudolph Kraut, January 27, 2017

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Rudolph Kraut. Kraut joined the Navy in 1943. He volunteered for submarine duty and attended torpedo school in San Diego and submarine school in New London. He was assigned aboard USS Lizardfish (SS-373) and shares several anecdotes about his service aboard that boat. Kraut was transferred to USS Blueback (SS-326) before electing to be discharged on points.
Date: January 27, 2017
Creator: Kraut, Rudolph
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Walter Hartman, January 27, 2017 transcript

Oral History Interview with Walter Hartman, January 27, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Hartman. Hartman joined the Navy in February of 1943. He trained to be a pilot in Pensacola, Florida and received his wings in February of 1944. He was commissioned and sent to Banana River Naval Air Station, Florida to fly PBMs. He joined Patrol Bombing Squadron 26 (VPB-26). Hartman served as both pilot and navigator. He provides some details of the PBM. His crew was sent to Okinawa to deliver a new PBM-5. They went to Saipan and were assigned to the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), and later assigned to the USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17). He gives his experiences of flying combat missions around Japan and the Yellow Sea. He served in the Navy for 27 years.
Date: January 27, 2017
Creator: Hartman, Walter
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Walter Hartman, January 27, 2017 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Walter Hartman, January 27, 2017

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Hartman. Hartman joined the Navy in February of 1943. He trained to be a pilot in Pensacola, Florida and received his wings in February of 1944. He was commissioned and sent to Banana River Naval Air Station, Florida to fly PBMs. He joined Patrol Bombing Squadron 26 (VPB-26). Hartman served as both pilot and navigator. He provides some details of the PBM. His crew was sent to Okinawa to deliver a new PBM-5. They went to Saipan and were assigned to the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), and later assigned to the USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17). He gives his experiences of flying combat missions around Japan and the Yellow Sea. He served in the Navy for 27 years.
Date: January 27, 2017
Creator: Hartman, Walter
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Meriwether, July 27, 2016 transcript

Oral History Interview with William Meriwether, July 27, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Meriwether. Meriwether was studying to become a doctor when he entered the Army Medical Corps in December, 1942. He continued training as a doctor and was discharged in 1946. He was recalled and commissioned in 1952 and spent one year in Korea as a pathologist with the 48th MASH unit and studied the cause of serious infectious diseases along the DMZ. Meriwether relates details of his career in Army medicine.
Date: July 27, 2016
Creator: Meriwether, William
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Meriwether, July 27, 2016 (open access)

Oral History Interview with William Meriwether, July 27, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Meriwether. Meriwether was studying to become a doctor when he entered the Army Medical Corps in December, 1942. He continued training as a doctor and was discharged in 1946. He was recalled and commissioned in 1952 and spent one year in Korea as a pathologist with the 48th MASH unit and studied the cause of serious infectious diseases along the DMZ. Meriwether relates details of his career in Army medicine.
Date: July 27, 2016
Creator: Meriwether, William
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History