Oral History Interview with Arwin Bowden, September 9, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Arwin Bowden, September 9, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arwin Bowden. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment, then joining the battle of Saipan. He ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made and the time he had leave.
Date: September 9, 2000
Creator: Bowden, Arwin
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with W. G. (Bill) Campbell, April 21, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with W. G. (Bill) Campbell, April 21, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with W. G. (Bill) Campbell. Campbell grew up in Texas, attended Texas A&M, and married in 1939 before joining the Army in 1943. After training, he went to Australia, Dutch New Guinea, Palu, Leyte, and Mindanao. He describes riding in amphibious vehicles and interacting with the natives. He discusses various illnesses he had during the war and his interactions with his brother, an engineer. He also describes surveying work in some detail. After the war, Campbell eventually became a public school teacher.
Date: April 21, 2000
Creator: Campbell, W. G. (Bill)
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dean Caswell, December 8, 2021 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Dean Caswell, December 8, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dean Caswell. Caswell volunteered for the Marine Corps two weeks prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He eventually went to flight training before being assigned aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) from which he flew Corsairs. Caswell made over 100 combat flights from Bunker Hill, eventually becoming an ace with Marine Fighter Squadron 221 (VMF-221). He shares on anecdote about getting seven enemy planes in one mission. He also shares anecdotes from throughout his long career in the Marine Corps.
Date: December 8, 2021
Creator: Caswell, Dean
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Postal Card from Mrs. A. Chittick to Cecelia McKie - July 19, 1943] (open access)

[Postal Card from Mrs. A. Chittick to Cecelia McKie - July 19, 1943]

Postcard sent from Mrs. A. Chittick, Salem, Oregon to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message from her son and stating McKie's letter was sent to her from Mrs. Larsen. She states William Chittick's children are also prisoners and that Mrs. Larsen is Mrs. Chittick's mother.
Date: July 19, 1943
Creator: Chittick, Mrs. A.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Mary Christenson to Cecelia McKie - May 30, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Mary Christenson to Cecelia McKie - May 30, 1943]

Letter from Mary Christenson to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message from her husband and stating it had been over a year since she had heard from him. Envelope addressed to Mrs. W. L. McKie, Sacramento, California. Envelope postmarked Bremerton, Washington. Handwritten in upper center: 'Christenson'. Reverse side of envelope has been removed by creator.
Date: May 30, 1943
Creator: Christenson, Mary
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Mrs. T. P. Condy to Cecelia McKie - May 19, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Mrs. T. P. Condy to Cecelia McKie - May 19, 1943]

Letter sent from Mrs. T. P. Condy to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message from her husband and stating she had not heard from or about him since last year. Envelope addressed to Mrs. W. L. McKie, Sacramento, California. Envelope is postmarked from Sedro Woolley, Washington. Handwritten in pencil in lower left: 'Condy'. Reverse side of envelope has been removed by creator.
Date: May 19, 1943
Creator: Condy, Mrs. T. P.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia, July 21, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia, July 21, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia. He discusses being a navigator/bombardier on the 14th plane in the Doolittle Raid, including the training leading up to the raid, the trip on the USS Hornet, the raid itself, bailing out over China, the weeks spent there before making it out through India and Egypt and stories about other men in the Raiders. He also discusses meeting with Generalissimo and Madam Chiang Kai-Shek, seeing the Egyptian pyramids, crossing Africa then to Brazil before getting back to the US, landing in Miami, his later deployments in North Africa and Europe, his work after the war and reunions the Raiders have had since the war.
Date: July 21, 2000
Creator: Macia, James H. ""Herb""
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mary Christenson - May 11, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mary Christenson - May 11, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to Mary Christenson, recorded in the letter as 'Mrs. Joseph Christenson (?)', regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee 'Joseph Christenson'. Letter contains transcribed message broadcast to wife from internee on Radio Tokyo.
Date: May 11, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. A. Shithick - May 14, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. A. Shithick - May 14, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. A. Chittick, recorded in the letter as 'Mrs. Thomas Shithick' regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee William Chittick, recorded in the letter as 'William Alfred Shithick'. Letter contains transcribed message to mother from internee broadcast on Radio Tokyo. Letter also contains note dated July 8, 1943 to Mrs. Larsen from Cecelia McKie that asks Mrs. Larsen to forward the message to the P.O.W.'s family, as the letter was returned in the mail. She asks Mrs. Larsen for Canadian maps, as she is now hearing messages broadcast from Canadian prisoners.
Date: May 14, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. H. A. Linn - May 11, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. H. A. Linn - May 11, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to 'Mrs. H. A. Linn, Lovely, (?) (Laurel) (Douglas) (?) Washington', regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee 'Harold Linn'. Letter contains transcribed message broadcast to 'Ruth' from internee on Radio Tokyo. Letter was sent 'c/o Dave Lacleard'. Handwritten in pencil upper left: 'Langley?'.
Date: May 11, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. T. P. Condy - May 12, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. T. P. Condy - May 12, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. T. P. Condy, recorded in the letter as 'Mrs. E. C. Condy', regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee 'Thomas P. Condy'. Letter contains transcribed message broadcast from internee on Radio Tokyo.
Date: May 12, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James T. Murphy, October 1, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James T. Murphy, October 1, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James T. Murphy. Murphy grew up in Montana and joined the Army Air Corps in May 1941. Once he finished training, he was assigned to the 43rd Bomb Group, 63rd Bomb Squadron. He then went to reconnaissance for the Battle of Midway. He then rejoined the Pacific Theater and pacticipated in skip bombing and flying B17s. He tells the story of receiving his Silver Star from General Douglas MacArthur. He mentions returning to the Air Force in 1949 and remaining in service for 20 years, until he left to join NASA as a civilian. He also mentions writing a book on Skip Bombing in the 1990s.
Date: October 1, 2000
Creator: Murphy, James T.
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
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, September 10, 1894] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, September 10, 1894]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz mentions Otto, his younger brother, has an illness. He also mentions starting school again as well as his proficiency with his gun. He is also anticipating the arrival from Washington of his aunt. The letter is on St. Charles Hotel (Kerrville, Texas) stationery.
Date: September 10, 1894
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, September 10, 1894] (open access)

[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to his Grandfather, September 10, 1894]

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz mentions Otto, his younger brother, has an illness. He also mentions starting school again as well as his proficiency with his gun. He is also anticipating the arrival from Washington of his aunt.
Date: September 10, 1894
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James William Harrison, January 27, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with James William Harrison, January 27, 2005

Interview with James William "Bill" Harrison, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He explains how he joined the navy in San Diego without going to boot camp. He worked on an oil tanker that shipped out to Pearl Harbor a month after the attack there and transported fuel out of San Diego to various ships at sea. He was then transfered to Admiral Nimitz's public relations department. There he and two others wrote stories about the action in the Pacific theater, particularly about the Battle of Midway. They also contributed to a radio show and worked with the national press corps. He then worked at the Naval Air Station in Seattle before traveling to Hilo, Hawaii to meet with soldiers who had returned from Tarawa. In Texas, he attended officer training school and college at Southwestern University. After the war ended, he studied at the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma for law school. He recalls an incident in which his office released a story about a cat that had kittens on board a cruiser; they reported this good news from the Pacific prior to the Battle of Midway. He also met Admirals Nimitz …
Date: January 27, 2005
Creator: Parish, Brainerd & Harrison, James William
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dwight Pendleberry, June 21, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Dwight Pendleberry, June 21, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dwight Pendleberry. Pendleberry joined the Army with his brother prior to the outbreak of war with Japan. After training as an ordnance man in the artillery, Pendleberry's company was sent to the Philippines in September, 1941. Pendleberry describes the Japanese attack on the Philippines and the subsequent fall of Bataan. He escaped to Corregidor with a few other people only to be captured there one month later. After being taken to Manila, Pendleberry was sent to Cabanatuan. By that time, he had contracted malaria. From there, he was selected to be on a work detail loading and unloading Japanese ships in Manila. Pendleberry also describes executions, genral mistreatment and outright torture at the hands of the Japanese captors. Eventually, Pendleberry and many other POWs were shipped aboard the Noto Maru to Taiwan, then Japan. Pendleberry wound up at Omori prison camp in Tokyo Bay. He describes the low-level fire bombing mission over Tokyo, which took place one night in March, 1945. After that, Pendleberry was moved to northern Japan to work at a coal mine. After the war, Pendleberry was liberated and repatriated back to the US through …
Date: June 21, 2000
Creator: Pendleberry, Dwight
Object Type: Text
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
Oral History Interview with Cornelius D. Wiens, November 26, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Cornelius D. Wiens, November 26, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cornelius D. Wiens. Wiens grew up in Montana and Kansas and was drafted into the Army in 1944. After completing training, he departed about the Sea Snipe for the Philippines. His first landing was at Leyte, where he remained fighting for three months. He describes coming to land on the small landing craft. From Leyte he went to Negros, then Masbate, and finally Mindanao. He describes the Japanese soldiers who were unwilling to surrender. After Japan's surrender he also spent time in Korea as a radio operator.
Date: November 26, 2000
Creator: Wiens, Cornelius D.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History