Resource Type

Oral History Interview with Alan Hildebrandt, November 12, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Alan Hildebrandt, November 12, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alan Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt enlisted in the Army Air Forces in July of 1942. He describes the planes he flew during training, including the PT-19, the BT-13 and the UC-78. Hildebrandt was commissioned and received his pilot rating in November of 1943. Upon graduation he trained on the B-26 at Laughlin Field. Hildebrandt served as a pilot in the 95th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. They first traveled to Morocco, North Africa, then to northern Italy and Southern France. Their job was to bomb Marshaling yards, bridges and troop replacements. Hildebrandt describes some of his missions. He flew a total of 64 missions and was discharged in July of 1945.
Date: November 12, 2009
Creator: Hildebrandt, Alan
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Glenn E. McDuffie, January 21, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Glenn E. McDuffie, January 21, 2008

Interview with Glenn E. McDuffie, an Armed Guard in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He discusses lying about his age in order to join the navy at 15 and his experience in boot camp. He served as an Armed Guard on merchant ships that transported supplies across the Atlantic and remembers being in London while German bombers flew overhead. He transported German prisoners out of Marseilles and Naples shortly after the liberation of those cities. He remembers going to Times Square upon hearing that the Japanese had surrendered. He claims to have been the sailor in the iconic photo of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square on V-J Day. He describes how he proved he was the sailor in the photo, what he did after the war, and how he learned that his brother survived the Bataan Death March.
Date: January 21, 2008
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & McDuffie, Glenn E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Bean, November 15, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Bean, November 15, 2004

Interview with Robert Bean, a veteran who was wounded in action during World War II from Kirbyville, Texas. The transcript includes a list of questions, which focus on Bean's service with the 12th Armored Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in France and Germany, including his injuries and experience liberating two concentration camps.
Date: June 20, 2005
Creator: Gammon, Robert & Bean, Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Jennings, April 20, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Jennings, April 20, 2004

Interview with Richard Jennings, a member of a bomber squadron that flew missions during World War II in Europe, and a squadron commander during the Korean War, born near Charleston, West Virginia. Jennings answers questions concerning how he came to be in the Army, and where all he was stationed and trained. Most of his answers contain details of bombing missions he was a part of as well as his experiences during the Korean War.
Date: April 20, 2004
Creator: Nawaz, Muhammad & Jennings, Richard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Louis Belk, April 22, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Louis Belk, April 22, 2003

Interview with Louis Belk, a B-17 Waist Gunner who served with the U.S. Army Air Corps (Air Force) in World War II from San Antonio, Texas. Belk describes his time training in Texas and experiences serving in England. He also talks about what it was like returning home to the United States from the war.
Date: April 22, 2003
Creator: Heath, Amanda & Belk, Louis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Abelino Alviar, March 14, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Abelino Alviar, March 14, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Abelino Alviar. Alviar joined the Army in May of 1944. In early 1945, he joined the 778th Anti-aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. They deployed to Le Havre, France, and traveled to Munich, Germany, arriving after the Battle of the Ardennes. Alviar provided guard duty, and served as a gunner on the half-track supporting the 1st Infantry Division as they fought into Germany. He also worked as a translator and helped transport supplies to the front line. He returned home and was discharged in May of 1946.
Date: March 14, 2003
Creator: Alviar, Abelino
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clarence Martin, April 23, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Clarence Martin, April 23, 2002

Interview with Clarence Martin, a munitions expert in the US Navy during WWII. He describes his path in the military and answers questions about his time abroad.
Date: April 23, 2002
Creator: Vargas, Laura & Martin, Clarence
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Herman Berges, April 4, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Herman Berges, April 4, 2002

Interview with Herman Berges, a veteran of the U.S. Army who served as a medic in World War II. Berges describes his time in basic training in Texas, service in Germany and France, and general feelings on war and life after. He also talks about receiving the Silver Star, the third highest medal in the Army, from General Anthony McAuliffe.
Date: April 4, 2002
Creator: Sheldon, Jessica & Berges, Herman E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edward Nielsen, August 23, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Edward Nielsen, August 23, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Nielsen from Medaryville, Indiana. He discusses undergoing Amry training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being assigned as B Company of the 69th Army Regiment at Fort Knox as a private. Afterwards he got lucky and was assigned to drive a truck from Louisiana to North Carolina, Mr. Nielsen describes this as the best job he ever had in the Army. After Pearl Harbor he is transferred to the 1st Armored Division and Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He was then transported from fort Knox to Ireland then to England for a short time before being shipped out to Oran in North Africa. On the way to Oran, the ship he was on was almost hit by a missile shot by a German U-boat, but it instead hit another ship that was nearby. By the time Mr. Nielsen reached Oran he was a segreant Tank Commander. He also relays a time he warned his Company Commander about German Tiger Tanks being in their area and being ignored only for them to show up a few days later resulting in one captain deserting and being captured by German soldiers. Mr. Nielsen …
Date: August 23, 2001
Creator: Nielsen, Edward
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Adrian Miller, August 3, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Adrian Miller, August 3, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Adrian Miller. Miller was born in Winamac, Indiana 16 November 1924 and graduated from high school in 1942. He entered the Army in March, 1944 and took his basic training at Ft. Blanding, Florida. He volunteered for the paratroopers at Fort Benning, Georgia and describes the six weeks of rigorous training, which included jumps. In November, he joined the 101st Army Airborne and was assigned to the 505th Parachute Infantry, Company H. Miller was sent to Bastogne and describes the conditions and the high casualty rate. After being relieved in January he went to Lorraine, France, then to Berchtesgaden, Germany where he met his brother. Miller was in Paris when Germany surrendered. On 15 December 1945, he returned to the United States on the Queen Mary. He was discharged January 1946.
Date: August 3, 2001
Creator: Miller, Adrian
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Andrew Brosh, Sr., March 31, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Andrew Brosh, Sr., March 31, 2001

Interview with Andrew Brosh, Sr., a veteran of the U.S. Army from Karnes County, Texas who served in World War II. Brosh describes his time in basic training and experiences serving in Europe, as well as seeing American prisoners of war.
Date: March 31, 2001
Creator: Eakin, Elizabeth & Brosh, Andrew, Sr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Abe Santos, February 24, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Abe Santos, February 24, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Abe Santos. Santos joined the Navy in November of 1939. He served as a Fireman aboard the USS Astoria (CA-34). They participated in the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway and Savo Island, where the ship was sunk. He traveled back to Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Wharton (AP-7). Santos was placed on tugboat duty for six months, then transferred to Johnston Island as a Second-Class Machinist’s Mate. He assisted with airstrip construction. He later transferred back to headquarters at Pearl Harbor, and worked on staff for Admiral Robert L. Ghormley. He continued his service after the war ended.
Date: February 24, 2001
Creator: Santos, Abe
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Henry Kalinofsky, February 17, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Henry Kalinofsky, February 17, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Henry Kalinofsky of Annapolis, Maryland. He discusses when he was first inducted into the Navy and being a plank owner aboard DE 581. USS MCNULTY. He also discusses his time aboard the USS LSM(R) 198 manning the 40mm Twin Mount and loading rockets in Okinawa, Japan, after the invasion of Normandy. Mr. Kalinofsky describes an attack he was involved in off the coast of Okinawa.
Date: February 17, 2001
Creator: Kalinofsky, Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Medcalf, December 27, 2000 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Medcalf, December 27, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Geroge Medcalf from Greensville, South Carolina. He discusses his experience in training in Camp Mcoy in Wisconsin and meeting his wife there. He also discusses his time in the Second Infantry Division with the 38th Regiment, Company C, preparing for the Normandy Invasion. Mr. Medcalf also relays how he had to take over command of his Company during the invasion when he was injured by flying shrapnel and sent back to England for recuperation. He shares a story of how while advancing on Leipzig, Germany he was saved from German artillery fire when his sergeant offered him a piece of candy moving him away from the line of fire. The war ended while Mr. Medcalf was in Czechoslovakia, and after the war he received a purple heart and a cluster.
Date: December 27, 2000
Creator: Medcalf, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Macia, July 21, 2000 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Macia, July 21, 2000

Interview with James "Herb" Macia of San Antonio, Texas, who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces during World War Two. In the interview, Mr. Macia recalls memories about growing up as well as his days as a mining engineer, the Doolittle Raid, North Africa, Normandy, and D-Day.
Date: July 21, 2000
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Macia, James
System: The Portal to Texas History