The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Voris C. Riley of Kingland, Texas. He discusses enlisting in the military while living in Abilene, Texas and getting sent to civil service for the Army before being offered to join the Navy. In the Navy he went through basic training in San Diego, California, then to St. Louis Electrical School and finally through firefighting training in Rhode Island. After he completed his training Mr. Riley was assigned to the U.S.S. Lake Champain, CB 39 and went on a shakedown cruise where 16 crewmen were lost for various reasons. In the Navy he was an electrician aboard the ship and dealt with setting up electricity onshore. He also dealt with Prisoners of War, being put in charge of a group of them to build a swimming pool. He was in New York City on temporary leave when the news of the wars end was released by President Truman. Mr. Voris also talks about serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps in New Mexico.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Voris C. Riley of Kingland, Texas. He discusses enlisting in the military while living in Abilene, Texas and getting sent to civil service for the Army before being offered to join the Navy. In the Navy he went through basic training in San Diego, California, then to St. Louis Electrical School and finally through firefighting training in Rhode Island. After he completed his training Mr. Riley was assigned to the U.S.S. Lake Champain, CB 39 and went on a shakedown cruise where 16 crewmen were lost for various reasons. In the Navy he was an electrician aboard the ship and dealt with setting up electricity onshore. He also dealt with Prisoners of War, being put in charge of a group of them to build a swimming pool. He was in New York City on temporary leave when the news of the wars end was released by President Truman. Mr. Voris also talks about serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps in New Mexico.

Photograph of Davis Mountains State Park, taken from Skyline Drive at twilight.

Photograph of cattle on the Sproul Ranch. The cattle lays down on the ground near a tree. There is a pile of wood to the right and behind the cattle.

Photograph of a head of cattle standing in front of trees on the Sproul Ranch. It has a roan coat, and a yellow tag with the number "20" in it in its left ear.

Photograph of two cattle on the Sproul Ranch. The red and white cow is laying down. The lighter cow is preparing to lay down.

Photograph of a cattle skull sitting on a bed of small rocks. It's crown is up against a large red rock, and there is a plant growing behind it.

Photograph of a Cholla cactus on the Sproul Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas.

Photograph of a cistern at the Sproul Ranch. It is behind a barbed wire fence, and there are many plants in the surrounding area.

Photograph of a deer hidden in the brush on Sproul Ranch. There is a pile of large rocks in front of the deer.

Photograph of a Desert Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus crooki. It is bending down to inspect something on the ground in front of a tree.

Photograph of a Desert Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus crooki, taken at Davis Mountains State Park. It is bending down.

Photograph of a Desert Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus crooki, taken at Davis Mountains State Park. It is bending down next to a tree.

McDonald Observatory as viewed from the Sproul Ranch

Photograph of a West Texas wash on the Sproul Ranch. A wash is the dry bed of an intermittent creek.

Photograph of a West Texas wash on the Sproul Ranch.

Photograph of a West Texas wash on the Sproul Ranch. A wash is the dry bed of an intermittent creek.

Photograph of a West Texas wash on the Sproul Ranch. A wash is the dry bed of an intermittent creek.

Photograph of a tree known as the Texas Madrone, Naked Indian and Lady's Leg. Texas Arbutus, Madrono, Arbutus xalapensis

Photograph of Mount Livermore, elevation 8206 latitude 303759N longitude 1041001W.

Photograph of Mount Livermore as seen from the Sproul Ranch.

Photograph of a NASA weather radar dish pointed directly at the sky on Sproul Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas. There is a building to the right of the satellite dish and mountains are visible in the background; part of an overhang is visible in the upper-right corner of the photograph as well as clouds in the sky.

Photograph of a NASA weather radar dish and building on Sproul Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas. The satellite dish is in a grassy field and is pointed directly up at the sky. Mountains are visible in the background and the sky is partly cloudy.

Close-up photograph of a NASA weather radar at Sproul Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas. The satellite dish is pointed up at the sky and scaffolding is visible beneath the dish, including two staircases to reach portions of the mechanism.