[Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Beach in Hawaii]

Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz in patterned swim trunks in front of a barb wired fence at a beach in Hawaii. Printed below the image is the following "ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET, CHETSER W. NIMITZ. very few high officers in any of the services enjoyed the great respect of the men that Admiral Nimitz does. To a man, we had confidence in his ability, and respect for his authority. When away from his official duties, he was one of us, as this informal picture demonstrates. It was taken by Chuck Brenkus at a picnic the Battalion held at a beach in Hawaii.".
Date: 1944/1945
Creator: Brenkus, Chuck
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Postal Card from Basil B. Brooks to Cecelia McKie - May 17, 1943] (open access)

[Postal Card from Basil B. Brooks to Cecelia McKie - May 17, 1943]

Letter sent from Basil B. Brooks, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message from his brother. Envelope addressed to Mrs. W. L. McKie, Sacramento, California. Envelope postmarked from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. Reverse side of envelope has been removed by creator.
Date: May 17, 1943
Creator: Brooks, Basil B.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Albert Brown, March 2, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with Albert Brown, March 2, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Brown. Brown joined the Navy and served as a Radarman with amphibious forces at Guadalcanal for one year. In 1942, Brown worked aboard submarines as a specialist in surface attacks using radar. Admiral Chester Nimitz appointed him the officer in charge to create the Pacific Fleet Radar School for Senior Officers, and to instruct them in radar techniques. Brown completed this work through late 1945. He continued his service after the war ended.
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: Brown, Albert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Albert Brown, March 2, 2010 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Albert Brown, March 2, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Brown. Brown joined the Navy and served as a Radarman with amphibious forces at Guadalcanal for one year. In 1942, Brown worked aboard submarines as a specialist in surface attacks using radar. Admiral Chester Nimitz appointed him the officer in charge to create the Pacific Fleet Radar School for Senior Officers, and to instruct them in radar techniques. Brown completed this work through late 1945. He continued his service after the war ended.
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: Brown, Albert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bill Brown, June 26, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bill Brown, June 26, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Brown. Brown was studying at the University of Texas at El Paso whe nhe joined the Army Air Force in 1942. Brown discusses his flight training, which occurred throughout Texas. With training cmplete, Brown was sent to Hawaii where he continued training with the 45th Fighter Squadron, 7th Air Force. Soon his unit was shipped to Iwo Jima where they flew bomber escort for bombing missions over the home islands of Japan. Brown was shot down over Yokahama and bailed out over the Tokyo Bay, where he was resuced by the USS Pipefish (SS-388). Brown was taken to Hawaii to recover and was eventually shipped back to the US, where he was discharged in September, 1945.
Date: June 26, 2000
Creator: Brown, Bill
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Atys Daniel Brunson, February 22, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Atys Daniel Brunson, February 22, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Atys Daniel Brunson. He discusses his family history, childhood, education and what led him to joining the US Navy. He describes his experiences during bootcamp and in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.
Date: February 22, 2008
Creator: Brunson, Atys Daniel & Osborn, Oakley E.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Norman Apelt, September 23, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Norman Apelt, September 23, 2001

Interview with with Norman Apelt, an airplane mechanic during World War II. He discusses his service in the US Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic in Pampa, Texas. After the war ended, Apelt was assigned duty in occupied Japan.
Date: September 23, 2001
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Apelt, Norman
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lowell Dean Cox, February 1, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lowell Dean Cox, February 1, 2005

Interview with Lowell Dean Cox, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He discusses joining the Navy and serving aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35). He was on board when the cruiser was attacked by a Japanese submarine and survived for five days in the water before being rescued.
Date: February 1, 2005
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Cox, Lowell Dean
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with E. R. Dolinar, April 5, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with E. R. Dolinar, April 5, 2003

Interview with E.R. (Ed) Dolinar, a serviceman with the U. S. Navy during World War II. He discusses going to boot camp, torpedo school and submarine school. He was on the SSN Stingray as a torpedo crewman that offloaded supplies and guerillas in the Philippines. It picked up stranded Japanese sailors and transported them to Australia. The Stingray was then decomissioned. He was then part of a crew that studied and stripped captured German submarines, and he discusses the differences between the U-boats and the US submarines. He also discusses the Bolomen, Filipino guerillas who fought the Japanese during the occupation. He also talks briefly about his experience of being hit with depth charges and gives his opinions on General MacArthur and President Truman.
Date: April 5, 2003
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Dolinar, E. R.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., October 20, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., October 20, 2003

Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., a serviceman during World War II. He discusses his time aboard the USS Saratoga at the Battle of Midway and at Guadalcanal, where the ship sustained two torpedo attacks. He saw Pearl Harbor three days after the attack.
Date: October 20, 2003
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Smyth, Earl, Jr.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Harold Buell, September 30, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Harold Buell, September 30, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Buell. While attending college in Iowa, Buell took advantage of the Civilian Pilot Training program and earned a pilot's license in 1940. He volunteered for the Navy and went to flight school at Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his wings and a commission in November, 1941. He was assigned to go aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) as a member of Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5) and arrived in time for the Battle of the Coral Sea. His squadron suffered enough damage to be removed from the Yorktown prior to the Battle of Midway. Buell was assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and flew search and rescue missions from her during the Battle of Midway. After that battle, Buell was transferred to yet another carrier, the USS Enterprise (CV-6), prior to the invasion of Guadalcanal. While flying off the Enterprise, Buell and ten other pilots had to land on Guadalcanal at Henderson Field. They and their dive bombers then became members of the Cactus Air Force. Buell describes the living conditions on Guadalcanal as opposed to those aboard an aircraft carrier. His group finally got off Guadalcanal and returned …
Date: September 30, 2000
Creator: Buell, Harold
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Bumgarner, March 18, 1995 (open access)

Oral History Interview with John Bumgarner, March 18, 1995

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Bumgarner. He discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the US Army. He describes his experiences as a doctor during World War Two and how he was captured and lived in a Japanese POW camp.
Date: March 18, 1955
Creator: Bumgarner, John & Marcello, Ronald E.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Burnet, March 16, 2021 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Burnet, March 16, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Burnet. He discusses his childhood growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the chemical warfare service of the US Army. He describes all the different training camps he was sent to around the US and eventually being deployed in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.
Date: March 16, 2021
Creator: Burnet, George & Misenhimer, Richard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Burnet, March 16, 2021 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Burnet, March 16, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Burnet. He discusses his childhood growing up during the Great Depression and what led him to join the chemical warfare service of the US Army. He describes all the different training camps he was sent to around the US and eventually being deployed in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.
Date: March 16, 2021
Creator: Burnet, George & Misenhimer, Richard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Geraldine Byrom & Others Sit Around a Small Table]

Photograph of Geraldine Byrom and two other unknown women, and three unknown officers sitting around a small, checkered table. Geraldine Byrom is the woman on the far right.
Date: [1941..1945]
Creator: Byrom, Geraldine
Object Type: Photograph
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 Bill Cantrell, September 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bill Cantrell, September 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Cantrell, where he discusses his childhood and education and what led to his decision to join the Marines. He describes his experiences flying airplanes and living on ships in the Pacific Theatre of World War Two.
Date: September 2001
Creator: Cantrell, Bill & Nichols, Chuck
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Carnes, March 28, 2022 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Carnes, March 28, 2022

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Carnes. Carnes joined the Navy in 1944 before he finished high school. In the Navy, he became a signalman and was assigned to USS Norton Sound (AVM-1). Carnes was aboard when the ship went to Okinawa, where he describes being attacked by kamikaze aircraft. When the war ended, Carnes went to Japan briefly before returning to the US and receiving his discharge.
Date: March 28, 2022
Creator: Carnes, James
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Goldia Lee Carr to Lt. Comdr. E. E. Roberts Jr. - December 27, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Goldia Lee Carr to Lt. Comdr. E. E. Roberts Jr. - December 27, 1944]

Typed letter from Goldia Lee Carr to Lt. Comdr. E. E. Roberts, dated December 27, 1944. She thanks Roberts for writing to her about the death of her husband, Paul Henry Carr, during the Battle off Samar on the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts. She mentions Paul was awarded the Navy Cross postmortems and asks for any of Paul’s personal belongings to be sent back to her.
Date: December 27, 1944
Creator: Carr, Goldia Lee
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Transcript of Letter from Goldia Lee Carr to Lt. Comdr. E. E. Roberts Jr. - December 27, 1944] (open access)

[Transcript of Letter from Goldia Lee Carr to Lt. Comdr. E. E. Roberts Jr. - December 27, 1944]

Typed letter from Goldia Lee Carr to Lt. Comdr. E. E. Roberts, dated December 27, 1944. She thanks Roberts for writing to her about the death of her husband, Paul Henry Carr, during the Battle off Samar on the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts. She mentions Paul was awarded the Navy Cross postmortems and asks for any of Paul’s personal belongings to be sent back to her.
Date: December 27, 1944
Creator: Carr, Goldia Lee
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lester Carvey, January 29, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Lester Carvey, January 29, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lester Carvey where he discusses his childhood and what compelled him to join the Navy. He describes his experiences during the war in the Pacific Theatre working in a Navy hospital.
Date: January 29, 2005
Creator: Carvey, Lee D.; Tombaugh, John B. & Meter, Peg Van
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
[Letter from Mrs. Childers to Dr. William McKie - June 1, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Mrs. Childers to Dr. William McKie - June 1, 1943]

Letter sent from Mrs. Childers to Dr. William McKie thanking him for the message from her son and stating he has been there (Manila) for three years. Envelope addressed to 'Dr. William C. McKie', Sacramento, California from Mrs. R. A. Childers, Garrett, Indiana.
Date: June 1, 1943
Creator: Childers, Mrs.
Object Type: Letter
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