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
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Phinney, July 15, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Phinney, July 15, 2010

Interview with James (Jim) Phinney, an aircraft electrician for the U. S. Navy during Wold War II. He discusses joining the Navy, going through boot camp and becoming an aircraft electrician. He was assigned to the USS Lexington but abandoned ship after it was hit by a torpedo. He was rescued and was then sent to San Diego to be reassigned to the USS Enterprise. He mentions being at Guadalcanal and later aboard a sub-chaser. The crew crossed the Equator and consequently participated in an initiation ceremony, during which time Admiral Halsey was nearly shot by one of the ship's pilots who forgot to lock his gun. He also recalls some of the food he ate while at sea.
Date: July 15, 2010
Creator: Cox, Floyd; Phinney, James & O'Konski, Susan
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with A. J. Dunn, July 13, 2011 (open access)

Oral History Interview with A. J. Dunn, July 13, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with A J Dunn. Dunn joined the Navy in 1940 and received basic training in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Oglala (CM-4) at Pearl Harbor. On the morning of 7 December 1941, he was returning from liberty when the attack began. Unable to find his ship, he jumped aboard the USS Mugford (DD-389) just as it was getting underway. After seven days of patrols, he returned to the harbor and was transferred to the USS New Orleans (CA-32). While on convoy duty to Brisbane, the ship received a warm welcome from Australian citizens. But one evening, the ship was nearly subject to friendly fire when a cruiser from New Zealand mistook the New Orleans for a Japanese ship. Dunn was transferred to the USS Indiana (BB-58) with Task Force 58, bombarding islands in the Gilberts and Marshalls. As a gunner’s mate, his duties included testing small arms ammunition in a surveillance oven to see whether it had expired. He was transferred to the USS Botetourt (APA-136), operating out of the Philippines until the end of the war. He sailed past the USS Missouri (BB-63) …
Date: July 13, 2011
Creator: Dunn, A. J.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Mary Schandua, July 9, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Mary Schandua, July 9, 2004

Interview with Mary Schandua, a riveter for the Boeing Company during World War II. Florence Reeves also participates in the interview. She began working for the Boeing Company as a riveter in Seattle after she married her husband John, who was in the service. She assembled wing sections on aircraft.
Date: July 9, 2004
Creator: Nichols, Chuck & Schandua, Mary
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Abel Ortega, July 15, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Abel Ortega, July 15, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Abel Ortega. Ortega was drafted into the Army in March, 1941 and was in the Philippines by November. Ortega was with a tank battalion on Luzon and recalls the retreat to and subsequent surrender on Bataan. Ortega also recalls how his Christian faith served him, and others around him, during captivity. He describes his experiences on the Bataan Death March. Ortega remained in the Philippines for over two years before being shipped to Japan to perform more slave labor. After the war, Ortega was repatriated and describes his return home to his parents.
Date: July 15, 2002
Creator: Ortega, Abel
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Abel Ortega, July 15, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Abel Ortega, July 15, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Abel Ortega. Ortega was drafted into the Army in March, 1941 and was in the Philippines by November. Ortega was with a tank battalion on Luzon and recalls the retreat to and subsequent surrender on Bataan. Ortega also recalls how his Christian faith served him, and others around him, during captivity. He describes his experiences on the Bataan Death March. Ortega remained in the Philippines for over two years before being shipped to Japan to perform more slave labor. After the war, Ortega was repatriated and describes his return home to his parents.
Date: July 15, 2002
Creator: Ortega, Abel
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Stremel, July 30, 2011 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Al Stremel, July 30, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Stremel. Stremel joined the Navy in October of 1940. Beginning in December, he served in the fire room aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). In April of 1942, they escorted USS Hornet (CV-8) on the Doolittle Raid. From June through November, they participated in the battles at Midway, the Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz and Guadalcanal. In January of 1944, Stremel was sent to Oil Burning School in Philadelphia. He was transferred to USS Swanson (DD-443). Stremel was honorably discharged in December of 1946.
Date: July 30, 2011
Creator: Stremel, Al
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Stremel, July 30, 2011 transcript

Oral History Interview with Al Stremel, July 30, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Stremel. Stremel joined the Navy in October of 1940. Beginning in December, he served in the fire room aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). In April of 1942, they escorted USS Hornet (CV-8) on the Doolittle Raid. From June through November, they participated in the battles at Midway, the Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz and Guadalcanal. In January of 1944, Stremel was sent to Oil Burning School in Philadelphia. He was transferred to USS Swanson (DD-443). Stremel was honorably discharged in December of 1946.
Date: July 30, 2011
Creator: Stremel, Al
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 4, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 4, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing enjoying his shooting practice, the mail service, having sympathy for Charlotte, who is sick again, and his joy at hearing that H.D. is coming home.
Date: July 4, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 11, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 11, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing shooting at a ground range, eating a good supper, and finding it interesting to talk with a man who has served in the army for three years, with most of that time being spent in the infantry.
Date: July 11, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 10, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 10, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing flying for the first time since starting gunnery school, enjoying the shooting he is doing, and apologizing for the stationery he is writing on.
Date: July 10, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 12, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 12, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing flying a short mission, receiving the mail, including two letters from her, and recalling the sleep they would lose when their friends visited them at home.
Date: July 12, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 14, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 14, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing completing a gunnery mission, watching a baseball game, and seeing a performance from the comedian Bob Hope.
Date: July 14, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 15, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 15, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing taking a test on the last day of gunnery school, flying a gunnery mission, seeing the movie "The Sultan's Daughter," and asking if she received the money he sent her.
Date: July 15, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 13, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 13, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing flying a gunnery mission, plans to see a performance from Bob Hope the next day, and expecting to move to another part of the island when he and his squadron finish gunnery school in a week.
Date: July 13, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 9, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 9, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing having his shoes repaired, seeing John Mendoza's youngest son, buying stationery, and missing her.
Date: July 9, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 7, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 7, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his enjoyment of shooting practice, playing baseball with his squadron, sharing his new address in California, and his hope that Catherine can meet his friends in the squadron.
Date: July 7, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 5, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 5, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing practicing his shooting, playing baseball, the mail service, Catherine's letters talking him out of drinking a beer, and celebrating Honey enlisting into the service.
Date: July 5, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 6, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 6, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the mail service, celebrating Holquin's birthday, and playing a game of baseball.
Date: July 6, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 3, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 3, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing enjoying his shooting practice, drinking a few beers with other men in his squadron, and playing ball after dinner.
Date: July 3, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 2, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 2, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the events of his trip to Honolulu with Holquin, including swimming at Waikiki beach, drinking beer with other men in their squadron, seeing the movie "Irene," and buying their dinner from the post exchange.
Date: July 2, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 1, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 1, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the mail service, his thoughts on Tooter and Weston renting Floy and Worth's house while they are away, a reminder to Catherine that she need not send him any packages, and watching Joe DiMaggio play baseball.
Date: July 1, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 17, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 17, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing receiving a three day pass from Captain Trewitt, seeing the movie "Shine on Harvest Moon," and spending the day at the beach.
Date: July 17, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 16, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - July 16, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing graduating from his second round of gunnery school, receiving the picture Catherine sent of her posing with their dog and cat, limiting his drinking, and missing southern cooking.
Date: July 16, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History