Oral History Interview with Peter Chu, November 1, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Peter Chu, November 1, 2003

Interview with Peter Chu regarding his experiences in China during World War II. Peter's son Alan Chu also participates in this interview. Peter Chu discusses the Japanese occupation in Nanking (Nanjing), China in 1937 when he was 10 years old.
Date: November 1, 2003
Creator: Nichols, Chuck & Chu, Peter
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Bennett, November 15, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Bennett, November 15, 2001

Interview with Richard (Dick) Bennett, a pilot during World War II. He discusses his enlistment in the Army Air Corps, basic training and flight school. He then went to a base in South Carolina to learn to fly B-25s. At Fort Myers, Florida he flew B-26 bombers and trained to fly them off of aircraft carriers so they could drop torpedos on the Japanese fleet during naval battles. He traveled across the Pacific to Brisbane only to be told that they didn't have B-26s for the crews; the colonel there knew nothing about the plan to launch B-26s from aircraft carriers, so they were sent to New Guinea to fly B-17s and supplement the crews for those bombers. From there they made bombing runs or "Washing Machine Charlie"-type runs to keep people awake at night on various Japanese targets in the islands, particularly the base at Rabaul. In fall of 1943, the Army grounded the B-17s due to the damage they had incurred and replaced them with B-24s. The men received manuals and were given only a few days to familiarize themselves with the new planes. They were then sent on bombing runs. He finished his tour of duty at …
Date: November 15, 2001
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Bennett, Richard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, November 24, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, November 24, 2006

Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He discusses his background, including the day he and seven of his friends skipped school to see a movie. In order to provide a believable excuse for their absence to their principal, they went to a recruiting office to get informational forms. The principal then gave them permission to graduate early to join the Marines. He discusses his experiences in boot camp and other training programs and the Battle of Iwo Jima, including hygiene during the battle and the famous flag-raising there. He shares some stories about one of the flag-raisers, Harlan Block, who had been part of the group that enlisted in the Marines with him. He also recalls returning to the United States on a ship full of Section-8 soldiers (PTSD victims), meeting German prisoners of war, and living with Jim Crow laws.
Date: November 24, 2006
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Cleckler, J. Glen
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 12, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a visit with Joyce who stayed the night and went out with her, questions about his missions based on a previous letter, and missing a visit from Dan J. who was home briefly but will be back in Janaury.
Date: November 12, 1944
Creator: Davis, Catherine Dawe
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 9, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe where she asks for more information about the Air Medal that he sent to her and describes the reactions of their friends. She also updates him about the various things that she has sent him or received, and describes the friends that she has been spending time with.
Date: November 9, 1944
Creator: Davis, Catherine Dawe
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 15, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a visit with Evelyn and plans to stay in and play cards with friends, as well as the winter weather. She also mentions that she has received letters from him and asks about the Air Medal he was awarded.
Date: November 15, 1944
Creator: Davis, Catherine Dawe
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 13, 1944] (open access)

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

First page of an incomplete letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including the fact that she has been busy but is planning to go visit Jenny after the 7:00 mail and that Mathew has bought half interest in the market.
Date: November 13, 1944
Creator: Davis, Catherine Dawe
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 18, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 18, 1944]

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including the weather and the fact that she has been taking the bus to Gonzales because her car needs new tires. She also congratulates him on his promotion and asks if he liked the Christmas gifts she sent him, as well as letting him know about things that he should expect from others.
Date: November 18, 1944
Creator: Davis, Catherine Dawe
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 10, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including the weather, work she has been doing, and helping Lorraine set up a bassinet for a baby due in December. She also provides updates on various people who are serving.
Date: November 10, 1944
Creator: Davis, Catherine Dawe
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 30, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 30, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the Christmas packages he received, gambling with the other soldiers, buying a $10 war bond, and seeing 14 enemy planes shot down.
Date: November 30, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 29, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 29, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his joy at receiving his Air Medal, opening his Christmas packages, struggling to find time to write back to people other than Catherine, and seeing the movie "Marriage Is a Private Affair."
Date: November 29, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 27, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 27, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his uneventful day including beginning to build a little house to store guns in, deciding not to play poker, and taking some pictures to mail to her.
Date: November 27, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 25, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 25, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing watching the movie "Casanova Brown" the night before, an improvement in the food, and the doctor telling him to take vitamins to prevent his hair graying.
Date: November 25, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 24, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 24, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing having good food for Thanksgiving, going on a tour of the island, and encouraging cathine to invite her friends over for a bridge game.
Date: November 24, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 23, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 23, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine responding to her previous letter and discussing the reelection of President Roosevelt, whom Joe favored.
Date: November 23, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 26, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 26, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing swimming at the coral reefs with other men in his squadron, watching the movie "The Iron Major," and wearing the shorts she sent him.
Date: November 26, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 21, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 21, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing an uneventful day, in which Joe played a game of poker with his squadron, played catch with Holquin, and ate a good dinner. Joe writes that he plans to mail Catherine ten yen for her scrapbook.
Date: November 21, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 20, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 20, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the rainy weather, playing poker, good meals, taking a shower, and planning to write letters to his friends back home.
Date: November 20, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 15, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing the rainy weather, receiving the candy Wootsie sent him, and winning $4 in a game of poker.
Date: November 15, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 13, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing making food with the other men in his squadron rather than going to the mess hall, the poor mail service, having completed 15 missions, and seeing the movie "Hail the Conquering Hero."
Date: November 13, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 14, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing getting a haircut, sending Catherine some money, playing a game of poker, and watching the movie "Janie."
Date: November 14, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 11, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing his hope for the war to end soon, the good mail service, and an uneventful day spent chatting with his squadron.
Date: November 11, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 10, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing seeing the movie "Mr. Winkle Goes to War," receiving Christmas well wishes from Jessamon, and his wish to be at home with Catherine.
Date: November 10, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 9, 1944] (open access)

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

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing how good the mail service is, receiving news about the French warfront from J.D., and his joy at Catherine getting a raise.
Date: November 9, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History