Oral History Interview with Aaron Mendoza, September 7, 2012 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Aaron Mendoza, September 7, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron Mendoza. Mendoza joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He attended torpedo school and was assigned to an aircraft torpedo lab at Kaneohe Naval Air Station. There he filled warheads with air so the torpedo could be retrieved after test fires. Torpedoes that passed quality control would then be filled with explosive warheads and loaded into underground silos. After 14 months, his unit was dispersed. Mendoza was in Great Lakes awaiting further orders when the war ended. He was discharged in December 1945 and worked as a civilian employee at Kelly Air Force Base, retiring with a GS-12 ranking. He then worked as a salesman for Control Data, selling supercomputers to the likes of NASA and Texaco. He emphasizes the importance of staying active in retirement, and at the age of 88 he ranked number one nationally in Wii bowling.
Date: September 7, 2012
Creator: Mendoza, Aaron
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Aaron Mendoza, September 7, 2012 transcript

Oral History Interview with Aaron Mendoza, September 7, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron Mendoza. Mendoza joined the Navy in 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. He attended torpedo school and was assigned to an aircraft torpedo lab at Kaneohe Naval Air Station. There he filled warheads with air so the torpedo could be retrieved after test fires. Torpedoes that passed quality control would then be filled with explosive warheads and loaded into underground silos. After 14 months, his unit was dispersed. Mendoza was in Great Lakes awaiting further orders when the war ended. He was discharged in December 1945 and worked as a civilian employee at Kelly Air Force Base, retiring with a GS-12 ranking. He then worked as a salesman for Control Data, selling supercomputers to the likes of NASA and Texaco. He emphasizes the importance of staying active in retirement, and at the age of 88 he ranked number one nationally in Wii bowling.
Date: September 7, 2012
Creator: Mendoza, Aaron
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with A. N. Wiseman, March 29, 2011 (open access)

Oral History Interview with A. N. Wiseman, March 29, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Wiseman. Wiseman joined the Navy in 1942 and was assigned to the USS Greene (AVD-13). He served as a deck seaman and stood lookout while on watch. Wiseman discusses traveling as an escort to Brazil and then travelling to the Mediterranean. He describes taking part in the invasion of Southern France. The Greene was then sent to the Pacific and performed escort duty near Okinawa. He describes seeing several Japanese air attacks on ships that were nearby. Wiseman traveled to Japan at the end of the war to pick up POWs. He also visited Nagasaki. Wiseman describes how his ship was critically damaged when it ran aground during a typhoon in October of 1945. He served on two more ships working in engineering before getting out of the Navy in 1948.
Date: March 29, 2011
Creator: Wiseman, Al
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with A. N. Wiseman, March 29, 2011 transcript

Oral History Interview with A. N. Wiseman, March 29, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Wiseman. Wiseman joined the Navy in 1942 and was assigned to the USS Greene (AVD-13). He served as a deck seaman and stood lookout while on watch. Wiseman discusses traveling as an escort to Brazil and then travelling to the Mediterranean. He describes taking part in the invasion of Southern France. The Greene was then sent to the Pacific and performed escort duty near Okinawa. He describes seeing several Japanese air attacks on ships that were nearby. Wiseman traveled to Japan at the end of the war to pick up POWs. He also visited Nagasaki. Wiseman describes how his ship was critically damaged when it ran aground during a typhoon in October of 1945. He served on two more ships working in engineering before getting out of the Navy in 1948.
Date: March 29, 2011
Creator: Wiseman, Al
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Hiegel, September 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Al Hiegel, September 18, 2005

Transcript of an oral interview with Al Heigel. When Heigel finished high school in June, 1944, he joined the Navy at Little Rock, Arkansas and went for boot training at San Diego. He was assigned as a radar operator and reported aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) at Pearl Harbor. Heigel describes the light carrier and its construction and features. He also speaks of the time the Independence was hit by a torpedo off Tarawa in 1943. Heigel then describes events off Okinawa: watching the USS Franklin (CV-13) being bombed off Okinawa; locating and shooting down kamikazes; describing battle stations; aircraft water landings; being in a typhoon, etc. After the war ended, the Independence served as a troop transport taking GIs back home to the US. He describes bunks in the hangar deck and arriving in Portland, Oregon. As the Independence was being prepared for the Bikini Atoll atomic tests, Heigel got off becuase he had the requisite amount of points allowing him to be discharged. He then entered the lumber business, married and raised family.
Date: September 18, 2005
Creator: Heigel, Al
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Hiegel, September 18, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Al Hiegel, September 18, 2005

Transcript of an oral interview with Al Heigel. When Heigel finished high school in June, 1944, he joined the Navy at Little Rock, Arkansas and went for boot training at San Diego. He was assigned as a radar operator and reported aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) at Pearl Harbor. Heigel describes the light carrier and its construction and features. He also speaks of the time the Independence was hit by a torpedo off Tarawa in 1943. Heigel then describes events off Okinawa: watching the USS Franklin (CV-13) being bombed off Okinawa; locating and shooting down kamikazes; describing battle stations; aircraft water landings; being in a typhoon, etc. After the war ended, the Independence served as a troop transport taking GIs back home to the US. He describes bunks in the hangar deck and arriving in Portland, Oregon. As the Independence was being prepared for the Bikini Atoll atomic tests, Heigel got off becuase he had the requisite amount of points allowing him to be discharged. He then entered the lumber business, married and raised family.
Date: September 18, 2005
Creator: Heigel, Al
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[WASP Region 3 News] (open access)

[WASP Region 3 News]

Report from Betty Jane Williams relaying news and events within WASP Region 3. She discusses Janet Hargrave's memorial service, the recent discovery of artifacts at Marie Robinson's crash site, a new large-format film about fighter pilots, and the Women Military Aviators conference.
Date: March 17, 2005
Creator: Williams, Betty Jane
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Acencion Fernandez. Fernandez, a Texas farm boy born in 1924, was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the USS LCI-80 where he served as a loader on a 40-inch gun. At the Mariana Islands of Saipan and Tinian and at Iwo Jima, he was involved in strafing the beaches to enable Marines to land. Later his LCI landed Marines on Okinawa. He briefly mentions the presence of Navajo code talkers on the ship.
Date: February 19, 2005
Creator: Fernandez, Acencion
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Acencion Fernandez. Fernandez, a Texas farm boy born in 1924, was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the USS LCI-80 where he served as a loader on a 40-inch gun. At the Mariana Islands of Saipan and Tinian and at Iwo Jima, he was involved in strafing the beaches to enable Marines to land. Later his LCI landed Marines on Okinawa. He briefly mentions the presence of Navajo code talkers on the ship.
Date: February 19, 2005
Creator: Fernandez, Acencion
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Alan Fouts, December 6, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Alan Fouts, December 6, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alan Fouts. Fouts joined the Navy in 1939 and trained in San Diego. Upon completion of basic training, Fouts joined the USS Argonne (AG-31). Later, he was stationed at the submarine base at Pearl Harbor when the war started. He recalls witnessing the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. He managed to get guns operational on the USS Widgeon (AM-22) before it got underway during the attack. Between the attacks, Fouts went alongside the USS Arizona (BB-39) and measured the holes in the hull. He continued serving as a diver at Noumea and Samoa in 1942-1943. He volunteered for submarine duty and was made five war patrols aboard the USS Pogy (SS- 266). Fouts tells several submarine stories. After the war, Fouts remained in the Navy for thirty years.
Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Fouts, Alan
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Orland J. ""Bud"" Harris, August 22, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Orland J. ""Bud"" Harris, August 22, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Orland Harris. Harris went to Santa Anna, California for Aviation Cadet training in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He went to primary flying school in Visalia, California and then went to LaeMoore, California for more training. From there he went to replacement training units, flying the P-38, P-322 and P-39. Harris had take civilian pilot training for one year at college before he went into the service. He received his wings at Williams Field in Arizona 3 Nov 1943 and became an officer that day. He went to the South Pacific in a C-54, along wih about 30 other pilots, ending up in Nadzab, New Guinea with the 8th Fighter Group (part of the 5th Air Force). His P-38 missions included targets of opportunity around New Guinea, a cave on Corregidor and straffed ships on the way to Borneo, and the Philippines. Normally they flew cover missions for B-17s and B-24s but on occasion covered B-25s and A-20s. Harris was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) when he was flying out of Mindoro in the Philippines on a night mission (26 Dec 1944) attacking a Japanese task …
Date: August 22, 2000
Creator: Harris, Orland J.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: 'Our Daring Young Women': WWII role models guide women pilots] (open access)

[Clipping: 'Our Daring Young Women': WWII role models guide women pilots]

Photocopy of an clipping on the legacy of Women Airforce Service Pilots, their contributions to World War II, and their eventual fight to gain veteran status.
Date: November 1984
Creator: Watson, Liz
Object Type: Article
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Catherine A. Murphy to Mary Farley Tilton, June, 1984] (open access)

[Letter from Catherine A. Murphy to Mary Farley Tilton, June, 1984]

Schedule of events mailed from Catherine A. Murphy to Mary Farley Tilton for the Women Airforce Service Pilots' 1984 reunion in San Diego, California. A WASP fifinella is printed in the top right corner of the first page and a map is printed on the third page.
Date: June 1984
Creator: Murphy, Catherine A.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Freda M. Breise to Avenger Field Instructor, May 24, 1984] (open access)

[Letter from Freda M. Breise to Avenger Field Instructor, May 24, 1984]

Letter from Freda M. Breise to an Avenger Field Instructor discussing an upcoming WASP reunion in San Diego, from September 12, 1984 through September 16, 1984. The letter also includes a registration update with a tear-off form registration form.
Date: May 24, 1984
Creator: Breise, Freda M.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Scrapbook for The Experience, 1984-1987] (open access)

[Scrapbook for The Experience, 1984-1987]

Scrapbook containing color photographs, name tags, stickers, invitations, menus, articles, and tickets in relation to "The Experience", John Briggs life, and his trip to California between 1984 and 1987. John Logan Briggs Jr. is the creator of "The Experience," a self-discovery workshop for the LGBT community. The scrapbook also documents social gatherings Briggs held at his household.
Date: [1984..1987]
Creator: Briggs, John Logan, Jr.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Rangers Vs Cleveland] (open access)

[News Script: Rangers Vs Cleveland]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about the Texas rangers who opened up a road trip in Cleveland hoping to shake the troubles that had dropped them into a three game losing streak.
Date: August 16, 1974, 10:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Sports] (open access)

[News Script: Sports]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about Dallas which has 30 veterans in camp and is doing quite well in that category.
Date: August 10, 1974, 6:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Sports] (open access)

[News Script: Sports]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about the Tigers who wasted time in denting the scoreboard for a run.
Date: August 9, 1974, 10:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Sports] (open access)

[News Script: Sports]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about the Texas Rangers which had it within their own power to gain a little ground in the American league west division as they were playing host to the division leading Oakland A' s.
Date: August 6, 1974, 10:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Sports] (open access)

[News Script: Sports]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about the Rangers who are leading the Chicago white Sox in the 6 inning by a 12 to 7 score.
Date: August 5, 1974, 10:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Sports] (open access)

[News Script: Sports]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about despite the 6- 3 and 3- 10 losses to Chicago the bright spot continues to be the booming bat of Jeff Burroughs.
Date: August 4, 1974, 10:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Sports] (open access)

[News Script: Sports]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about the Chicago white Sox which exploded for six runs in the 8th inning to erase a 5- 5 Ranger advantage and salvage the final game of three between the two at Arlington stadium.
Date: July 27, 1974, 6:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Sports] (open access)

[News Script: Sports]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about Billy Martin who was not there to see victory but even without his help the Texas Rangers managed to get back in the win column with a two to nothing shut out of the New York Yankees.
Date: July 17, 1974, 10:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library
[News Script: Sports] (open access)

[News Script: Sports]

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about Texas rangers who are discovering that July may be one of the longest months of the year or is not.
Date: July 10, 1974, 10:00 p.m.
Creator: WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Object Type: Script
System: The UNT Digital Library