[9th Infantry Barracks]

Photograph of the 9th infantry barracks at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
Date: unknown
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[9th Infantry Christmas]

Photograph of a Christmas party for the 9th infantry in 1936 at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The room is filled with decorated tables and tinsel and streamers hanging from the ceiling. Three men can be seen standing to the side of the room.
Date: 1936-12~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[9th Infantry March]

Photograph of the 9th infantry marching at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonion, Texas. The men are wearing matching military uniforms and are arranged into several identical lines. A platform stands behind the men and holds several uniformed men on top. A band is lined up on one side of the march, and behind the band, several identical building can be seen.
Date: unknown
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[The Alamo]

Photograph of the battle of Flowers Parade in San Antonio, Texas in 1936. The Alamo can be seen in the background of the photo with eight uniformed men standing in front of it. On the left, a pair of bleachers filled with people face a lineup of soldiers in uniform preparing to march.
Date: April 24, 1936
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Chester Bernard Nimitz]

Portrait of Chester Bernard Nimitz, father of Chester W. Nimitz. He is wearing a dark suit jacket with large lapels, a white under shirt with a popped collar, and a messy bowtie. The image is blurred and cut off at the shoulders.
Date: 18XX
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Chester W. Nimitz and Catherine Nimitz at Fiesta, San Antonio, #1]

Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Catherine Freeman Nimitz at a Fiesta in San Antonio. Admiral Nimitz stands at his wife's side in a dark Navy uniform with six buttons on its front, ribbon bars above his pocket, stripes and a star on each sleeve and black dress shoes. He is leaning over Mrs. Nimitz who sits to his right in a light embroidered shirt, dark embroidered skirt and patterned scarf tied around her head. Handwritten on front: "Fiesta San Antonio 1948 To Catherine and Junior with love from Dad and Mother".
Date: April 1948
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Chester W. Nimitz and Catherine Nimitz at Fiesta, San Antonio, #2]

Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Catherine Freeman Nimitz at a Fiesta in San Antonio. Admiral Nimitz stands at his wife's side in a dark Navy uniform with six buttons on its front, ribbon bars above his pocket, stripes and a star on each sleeve and black dress shoes. He is leaning over Mrs. Nimitz who sits to his right in a light embroidered shirt, dark embroidered skirt and patterned scarf tied around her head.
Date: April 1948
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Christmas Eve 1936]

Photograph of the 9th infantry eating a Christmas eve meal together at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
Date: December 24, 1936
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Christmas Eve 1936 Group Photo]

Photograph of the 9th infantry on Christmas eve at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonion, Texas. The group is divided between three rows and facing towards the camera. Several other groups can be seen gathered around in the background of the photo.
Date: December 24, 1936
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Honorable Discharge Certificate, #2] (open access)

[Honorable Discharge Certificate, #2]

Honorable discharge certificate for expiration of service presented to Clifford R. Baird.
Date: June 9, 1938
Creator: Fleu, G. M. & White, Lenny R.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Honorable Discharge Expiration of Service Certificate, #2] (open access)

[Honorable Discharge Expiration of Service Certificate, #2]

Honorable discharge certificate for expiration of service presented to Clifford R. Baird.
Date: February 24, 1936
Creator: United States. Army.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, September 27, 1904] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, September 27, 1904]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz, writing from San Antonio, discusses his travel plans to return to Annapolis. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.
Date: September 27, 1904
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, January 1905] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, January 1905]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions the upcoming exams prior to graduation. He is also confident of passing his physical exam. He also provides details about his leave. Nimitz also mentions the parties he plans on hosting and attending in connection with graduation. He also adds a word of about his moderate behavior at these parties. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.
Date: 1905-01~
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, October 3, 1902] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, October 3, 1902]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz relates his experiences while returning to the Academy for his second year. He mentions marching in the Grand Army of the Republic parade in Washington in the near future. Nimitz relates a story about arriving at the Academy wearing a giant sombrero he purchased in San Antonio while returning. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.
Date: October 3, 1902
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Aaron C. Kulow transcript

Oral History Interview with Aaron C. Kulow

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron C. Kulow. Kulow grew up in Michigan and enlisted in the Navy in 1942. After training, he joined the ship USS Pollux AKS-4 at Norfolk, Virginia. Initially the ship runs trips down to the Carribbean and Brazil but in 1943 is fitted with radar and sent to the Pacific Theater. In the Pacific, the general stores issue ship visited Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, and the New Hebrides Islands. He then returned to San Francisco in 1944 where his wife met him to get married. He left for the Pacific again and in 1945 traveled to the Philippines. In 1945 Kulow met survivors of the Bataan Death March that had been liberated. He remembers going to a friend's burial in the Philippines. On V-J Day Kulow was at Manila Harbor. He left for America in October 1945 and was discharged in New York December 12, 1945.
Date: unknown
Creator: Kulow, Aaron C.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Aaron C. Kulow (open access)

Oral History Interview with Aaron C. Kulow

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Aaron C. Kulow. Kulow grew up in Michigan and enlisted in the Navy in 1942. After training, he joined the ship USS Pollux AKS-4 at Norfolk, Virginia. Initially the ship runs trips down to the Carribbean and Brazil but in 1943 is fitted with radar and sent to the Pacific Theater. In the Pacific, the general stores issue ship visited Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, and the New Hebrides Islands. He then returned to San Francisco in 1944 where his wife met him to get married. He left for the Pacific again and in 1945 traveled to the Philippines. In 1945 Kulow met survivors of the Bataan Death March that had been liberated. He remembers going to a friend's burial in the Philippines. On V-J Day Kulow was at Manila Harbor. He left for America in October 1945 and was discharged in New York December 12, 1945.
Date: unknown
Creator: Kulow, Aaron C.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Abelino Alviar, March 14, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Abelino Alviar, March 14, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Abelino Alviar. Alviar joined the Army in May of 1944. In early 1945, he joined the 778th Anti-aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. They deployed to Le Havre, France, and traveled to Munich, Germany, arriving after the Battle of the Ardennes. Alviar provided guard duty, and served as a gunner on the half-track supporting the 1st Infantry Division as they fought into Germany. He also worked as a translator and helped transport supplies to the front line. He returned home and was discharged in May of 1946.
Date: March 14, 2003
Creator: Alviar, Abelino
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Abelino Alviar, March 14, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Abelino Alviar, March 14, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Abelino Alviar. Alviar joined the Army in May of 1944. In early 1945, he joined the 778th Anti-aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. They deployed to Le Havre, France, and traveled to Munich, Germany, arriving after the Battle of the Ardennes. Alviar provided guard duty, and served as a gunner on the half-track supporting the 1st Infantry Division as they fought into Germany. He also worked as a translator and helped transport supplies to the front line. He returned home and was discharged in May of 1946.
Date: March 14, 2003
Creator: Alviar, Abelino
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Acencion Fernandez. Fernandez, a Texas farm boy born in 1924, was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the USS LCI-80 where he served as a loader on a 40-inch gun. At the Mariana Islands of Saipan and Tinian and at Iwo Jima, he was involved in strafing the beaches to enable Marines to land. Later his LCI landed Marines on Okinawa. He briefly mentions the presence of Navajo code talkers on the ship.
Date: February 19, 2005
Creator: Fernandez, Acencion
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Acencion Fernandez, February 19, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Acencion Fernandez. Fernandez, a Texas farm boy born in 1924, was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was assigned to the USS LCI-80 where he served as a loader on a 40-inch gun. At the Mariana Islands of Saipan and Tinian and at Iwo Jima, he was involved in strafing the beaches to enable Marines to land. Later his LCI landed Marines on Okinawa. He briefly mentions the presence of Navajo code talkers on the ship.
Date: February 19, 2005
Creator: Fernandez, Acencion
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Adolph Krchnak, May 23, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Adolph Krchnak, May 23, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Adolph Krchnak. Krchnak joined the Army in December of 1944. He completed parachute school. In late 1944, early 1945 he was stationed in the Philippines with the 11th Airborne Division. They served in a traditional infantry role in the Philippines. His division participated in the Liberation of Manila in the spring of 1945. In August of 1945 they traveled into southern Japan as part of the occupation force. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Date: May 23, 2015
Creator: Krchnak, Adolph
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Adolph Krchnak, May 23, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Adolph Krchnak, May 23, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Adolph Krchnak. Krchnak joined the Army in December of 1944. He completed parachute school. In late 1944, early 1945 he was stationed in the Philippines with the 11th Airborne Division. They served in a traditional infantry role in the Philippines. His division participated in the Liberation of Manila in the spring of 1945. In August of 1945 they traveled into southern Japan as part of the occupation force. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Date: May 23, 2015
Creator: Krchnak, Adolph
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Jowdy. Jowdy enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age of 15, with his parents’ consent. His first assignment was pulling bodies out of sunken ships in Pearl Harbor. At Guadalcanal, his ship was torpedoed. Due to the presence of enemy subs, he could not be rescued initially and spent two weeks floating in a raft. Then he joined a rescue effort to aid the USS Wasp (CV-7), only to be torpedoed again, spending another four days in the water. Jowdy was then assigned to the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25), patrolling the Bering Sea and participating in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands as a second loader on a 40-millimeter. After witnessing the Marianas Turkey Shoot and also seeing MacArthur film his famous return, Jowdy participated in the bombardment of Iwo Jima, amidst kamikazes and suicide boats. After the war, he survived a typhoon and served occupation duty in Japan, later transporting troops as part of the demobilization effort before being discharged in January 1946.
Date: September 21, 2008
Creator: Jowdy, Al
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Al Jowdy, September 21, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Jowdy. Jowdy enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age of 15, with his parents’ consent. His first assignment was pulling bodies out of sunken ships in Pearl Harbor. At Guadalcanal, his ship was torpedoed. Due to the presence of enemy subs, he could not be rescued initially and spent two weeks floating in a raft. Then he joined a rescue effort to aid the USS Wasp (CV-7), only to be torpedoed again, spending another four days in the water. Jowdy was then assigned to the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25), patrolling the Bering Sea and participating in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands as a second loader on a 40-millimeter. After witnessing the Marianas Turkey Shoot and also seeing MacArthur film his famous return, Jowdy participated in the bombardment of Iwo Jima, amidst kamikazes and suicide boats. After the war, he survived a typhoon and served occupation duty in Japan, later transporting troops as part of the demobilization effort before being discharged in January 1946.
Date: September 21, 2008
Creator: Jowdy, Al
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History