During World War II the United States mobilized its industrial assets to become the great “Arsenal of Democracy” through the cooperation of the government and private firms. The Dallas Story examines a specific aviation factory, operated by the North American Aviation (NAA) company in Dallas, Texas. Terrance Furgerson explores the construction and opening of the factory, its operation, its relations with the local community, and the closure of the facility at the end of the war. Prior to the opening of the factory in 1941, the city of Dallas had practically no existing industrial base. Despite this deficiency, the residents quickly learned the craft of manufacturing airplanes, and by the time of the Pearl Harbor attack the NAA factory was mass-producing the AT-6 trainer aircraft. The entry of the United States into the war brought about an enlargement of the NAA factory, and the facility began production of the B-24 Liberator bomber and the famed P-51 Mustang fighter. By the end of the war the Texas division of NAA had manufactured nearly 19,000 airplanes, making it one of the most prolific U.S. factories.

Joe Olexa enlisted in the US Army in December 1940, figuring that if he was going to be in a war, he might as well start training. Assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, nicknamed “The Big Red One,” he served in Company L of its 26th Infantry Regiment for the next four years. Along the way he trained with the division in maneuvers in the United States; shipped to England in 1942; landed at Oran, Algeria, in the Operation Torch landings of November 1942; and fought in Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Belgium, and Germany. Olexa was one of the first group of enlistees that brought the division up to full strength in the buildup prior to Pearl Harbor, and was a sergeant by the time he went overseas. He served as a squad leader, platoon sergeant, and acting platoon leader, outlasting nearly all the men in his company. His memoir features accounts of unusual adventures in Tunisia when his battalion was detached from the rest of the division, and presents a detailed and intense account of his platoon’s experiences at El Guettar. Later, Olexa became a “Sea Scout,” going ashore on Sicily the night before the invasion to provide signals to …

Photograph of rows of empty shelves at a local Walmart store on March 13, 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biweekly student newspaper from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas that includes news and information of interest to the college community along with advertising.

Photograph of staff preparing their trivia game during their pride tabling. The tv screen displays figures of music history and their relations to the LGBTQ community.

Photograph of UNT library employees setting up their tables for their divisions for Pride Week. Some of the tables are decorated with pride flags and rainbows and offer LGBTQ resources.

Photograph of two students visiting the special collections pride table and looking at the case exhibit filled with a medal, gavel, button, and a comic.

Photograph of four different bookmarks from the special collections department table during pride week. All the bookmarks are laid on top of a pride flag and are free for the taking.

Photograph of zines created by students and staff of UNT library. They are on the special collections department table and free to take during pride week.

Photograph of the pride table from the special collections department. On the table are free zines designed by student employees of the special collections.

Photograph of Jodi Rhinehart-Doty (left) and Gabby Milburn (right) carefully hanging up the pride week banner on the special collections department table.

Photograph of Gabby Milburn preparing a pride week banner for the special collections department table. Gabby can be seen sliding the small pennants onto the string to be hung on the side of the table.

Photograph of Jodi Rhinehart-Doty (left) and Gabby Milburn (right) carefully hanging up the pride week banner on the special collections department table.

Photograph of Meagan May folding zines to be passed at the pride week special collections department table. The zine was created by a student assistant and features food recipes from collection materials.

Photograph of the music library table set up for music trivia with LGBTQ+ composers and musicians. Featured on their table are samples of vinyl of musicians with LBGTQ backgrounds.

Photograph of CDs provided by the music library featuring artists and composers with LGBTQ+ backgrounds to show students during pride week.

Photograph of a student assistant hanging up a multi-pride flag banner on music libraries' table. The table has vinyl and trivia on LGBTQ+ composers.

Photograph of Jodi Rhinehart-Doty (left) talking with two students (right) on the resources provided by the special collections department during the pride tabling.

Photograph of multiple students stopping by different library divisions and talking with staff and faculty about the resources or materials they provide on LGBTQ+ backgrounds.

Photograph of vinyl provided by the music library featuring artists and composers with LGBTQ+ backgrounds to show students during pride week.

Photograph of a pride flag from the Division of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access given to those attending the pride week tabling event.

Photograph of UNT library staff and faculty laughing together as they are seated at their table with LGBTQ+ literature resources during the pride week tabling.

Photograph of the staff and faculty of the music library looking at a cell phone and laughing to themselves. They are preparing for their music library LGBTQ+ trivia game during the pride tabling event.

Photograph of staff and faculty from UNT library handing out a small paper flyer to a student during the pride tabling event.