Resource Type

Oral History Interview with Rose Dern, March 31, 2022 transcript

Oral History Interview with Rose Dern, March 31, 2022

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rose Dern. Dern enlisted in the WAVES and went to Madison Wisconsin to train in communications. After training, Dern was stationed close to home at Floyd Bennett Field in New York City. She then went to a communications station on Maui. Dern was discharged when the war ended.
Date: March 31, 2022
Creator: Dern, Rose
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Carnes, March 28, 2022 transcript

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
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Warren, March 28, 2022 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Warren, March 28, 2022

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Warren. Warren was born in Frisco, Texas in February 1921. After graduating from high school, he attended Texas A&M participating in the ROTC program for two years. Upon graduation in 1942 he applied for a commission in the United States Army Air Forces and was accepted. After participating in various stages of flight training, he was assigned as a C-47 pilot. Flying the Northern Route over Greenland, he joined the 439th Troop Carrier Wing, 94th Squadron, 9th Air Force in England. He tells of being involved in Operation Market Garden and of crossing the Rhine, where he pulled Waco CG-4 gliders, and of the Battle of the Bulge where he hauled fuel for General Patton’s tanks.
Date: March 28, 2022
Creator: Warren, Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guy Longshore, March 19, 2021 transcript

Oral History Interview with Guy Longshore, March 19, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Guy Longshore. Longshore joined the U.S. Army Forces in 1941, before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a B-29 .50 caliber machine gunner with the 73rd Bombardment Wing, 2nd Air Force. He was stationed in Saipan, Tinian and Guam. He participated in bombing missions and missions to drop supplies to prisoner-of-war camps throughout Japan. His crew was one of the 200 B-29s who flew over Tokyo Bay on the day the surrender was signed. They completed over 30 missions. His discharge date is not noted.
Date: March 19, 2021
Creator: Longshore, Guy
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Norman Riggsby, March 18, 2021 transcript

Oral History Interview with Norman Riggsby, March 18, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Norman Riggsby. Riggsby was drafted into the Army in October of 1943. He served as a bugler at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. In January of 1944, he was deployed to Scotland, then England, and assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, 175th Infantry Regiment. Riggsby trained on the anti-aircraft guns. He participated in the invasion of Normandy, landing at Omaha Beach. He describes the events and combat of this day, and how he got wounded. In July, Riggsby and his division participated in the Battle of St. Lô, where he was struck by a German Tiger tank shell, spending several weeks in a coma. He woke up back in England. He earned two Purple Hearts. In late 1945, Riggsby was assigned to the 759th Military Police Battalion in France. He served during the Nuremberg Trials and left Berlin in 1946.
Date: March 18, 2021
Creator: Riggsby, Norman
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 interview with Dr. George Burnet. Burnet joined the Army on May 16, 1944. He studied chemical warfare, and was trained on the 4.2 inch mortar battalion. He served as a forward observer with the 99th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Around mid-1944, they were deployed to the Philippines and participated in the Battle of Leyte. He recovered from malaria around June and July of 1945. Beginning in September, they served in the occupation of Japan, providing military support to the U.S. government and completing 8 months of demilitarization duties. In mid to late 1946, they occupied a Japanese military base in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture. He continued his service, and received his discharge in December of 1947.
Date: March 16, 2021
Creator: Burnet, George
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
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Joseph Brown, March 15, 2021 transcript

Oral History Interview with Joseph Brown, March 15, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Brown. Brown was born in 1925. In 1942, at age seventeen, he joined the US Navy. Following his training as an Electricians Mate he was assigned to USS LST-47 and he tells of participating in the Operation Overlord, at Omaha Beach, as well as Operation Dragoon. He also tells of being at Okinawa and witnessing attacks by kamikazes. Brown returned home after the war ended.
Date: March 15, 2021
Creator: Brown, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Heinz Bachman, March 8, 2021 transcript

Oral History Interview with Heinz Bachman, March 8, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Heinz Bachman. Bachman was born in Germany in 1921 and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1924. Upon graduating from high school in 1939, he joined the Army Air Corps and underwent basic training in Hawaii. Bachman trained as an auto mechanic and was assigned to Hickam Airfield, Hawaii. He tells of his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Later, he was selected for flight training and recalls the disappointment he felt when he washed out of the program. In 1945 he was sent to England and was as a member of the United States Strategic Bombing Survey teams to serve as an interpreter.
Date: March 8, 2021
Creator: Bachman, Heinz
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles Sloan, March 2, 2021 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charles Sloan, March 2, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles William Sloan. Sloan joined the Navy in mid-1942. He completed torpedo school in San Diego, California. He landed in Noumea, New Caledonia in January of 1944, then transferred to Tulagi where he worked in a torpedo shop, conducting inspections on Mark 15 torpedoes and preparing them to go aboard submarines and destroyer escorts. Sloan served as Third-Class Torpedoman, working specifically on torpedo engines, air flaps, afterbodies, warheads and exploders. He provides vivid details of his work, and life on Tulagi. He returned to the U.S. in February of 1945 for medical reasons, and received his discharge.
Date: March 2, 2021
Creator: Sloan, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Nolan, March 30, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Nolan, March 30, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James C. Nolan. Nolan joined the Navy on October 19, 1943. He completed Landing Craft School, and served as Landing Craft Coxswain, Seaman First-Class aboard the USS Pierce (APA-50). They traveled to Kwajalein, Palaus, Guadalcanal, Leyte, New Guinea, Lingayen Gulf, Subic Bay and Okinawa. Nolan made eight total landings aboard landing craft boat number 13. He recalls his combat experiences landing on Leyte on October 20, 1944 in the third wave. After the war ended, the Pierce traveled to Seoul, Korea and Japan to pick up and transfer troops back to the U.S. He received his discharge on January 26, 1946.
Date: March 30, 2020
Creator: Nolan, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William C. Smith, March 12, 2020 transcript

Oral History Interview with William C. Smith, March 12, 2020

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Smith. Smith joined the Marine Corps in April 1944. After basic training, Smith went to Sea School where he trained in 40mm antiaircraft gunnery. Upon completion, he was assigned to USS Iowa (BB-61).
Date: March 12, 2020
Creator: Smith, William C
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Milford, March 30, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Milford, March 30, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Milford. Milford joined the Royal Australian Air Force around mid-1942. He served as a wireless air gunner aboard a Wellington bomber in 205 Group, 150 Squadron, participating in campaigns in North Africa in early 1943 and Italy in December. He completed 38 missions, his last in June of 1944.
Date: March 30, 2019
Creator: Milford, Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ernest Andrus, March 29, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ernest Andrus, March 29, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Andrus. Andrus joined the Navy in June of 1942. Beginning in November, he served as a medical corpsman in the sick bay aboard USS Rochambeau (AP-63), transporting troops throughout the Pacific islands. Around January of 1944, he transferred to the sick bay aboard USS LST-124 in New Caledonia. Andrus shares his experiences through the Battle of Tinian in July. They traveled to Guadalcanal for ferry duty, and provided transportation for supplies and men throughout the islands. Andrus left USS LST-124 in mid-1945 and went ashore in New Caledonia. He transferred back to the US around August, and recalls the celebration in the streets of downtown Los Angeles when the war ended. He received his discharge in December.
Date: March 29, 2019
Creator: Andrus, Ernest
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Owen Jones, March 29, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Owen Jones, March 29, 2019

United States. Navy; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Philippines--Luzon.; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Japan--Okinawa Island; World War, 1939-1945--South Pacific.; LST-747
Date: March 29, 2019
Creator: Jones, Owen
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Liban Brillantes, March 26, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Liban Brillantes, March 26, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Liban Brillantes. Assisting Brillantes with the interview is his daughter Peda, and his granddaughter Precious Ross. Brillantes was born in the Philippine Islands in 1916. He joined the 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment around 1934. Following the occupation of the Philippines by the Japanese, he joined the Filipino Guerillas and he tells of life under Japanese occupation. He describes participating in the annihilation of a column of Japanese soldiers and the method of burial by the Japanese command. He also comments on the rumor that looted gold was buried by General Yamashita and that Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos was involved in its recovery.
Date: March 26, 2019
Creator: Brillantes, Liban
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Louis Strang, March 22, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Louis Strang, March 22, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Louis Strang. Strang joined the Marines around mid-1942. He completed Radio and Radar School in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was transferred to a Marine air station on the east coast where he studied aircraft radar and transmitters. Strang was then deployed to a Marine air station at Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 4, and they traveled aboard a troop ship to Guadalcanal in February of 1945. They followed the 1st Marine Division on their Okinawa landing April 1, and provided ground to air communications support during the Battle of Okinawa through July. He describes living and working on the island, and the surrounding combat with the Japanese. Around early August, Strang describes going through a typhoon aboard a cargo ship. After the war ended, Strang and his crew were assigned with the 1st Marines to occupation duty in China. He returned to the U.S. and received his discharge in early 1946.
Date: March 22, 2019
Creator: Strang, Louis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Peter Williams, March 22, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Peter Williams, March 22, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Peter Williams. Williams joined the Navy in July of 1946, at the age of 17. He served as Radioman 2nd Class aboard USS Montague (AKA-98). They operated off the east coast through January of 1948. He was then transferred to the USS Winston (AKA-94), where he remained until his discharge in May.
Date: March 22, 2019
Creator: Williams, Peter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Morgenroth, March 19, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with William Morgenroth, March 19, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Morgenroth. Morgenroth joined the Marine Corps in April of 1944. He shares details of his training in Hawaii, learning weaponry and practicing beach landings. He served in demolition with the 5th Marine Division, 26th Marines. They participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He received his discharge in April of 1946.
Date: March 19, 2019
Creator: Morgenroth, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Joseph Baumbach, March 18, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with Joseph Baumbach, March 18, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Baumbach. Baumbach joined the Marine Corps in November of 1942. Beginning around mid-1943, he served as a Radioman with the First Armored Amphibious Battalion, Company D. In January of 1944, they deployed to Kauai, Hawaii. They participated in the battles of Kwajalein, Guam and Okinawa. Baumbach returned to the US and received his discharge in December of 1945.
Date: March 18, 2019
Creator: Baumbach, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Gillespie, March 14, 2019 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Gillespie, March 14, 2019

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Gillespie. Gillespie joined the Navy in late 1944. Beginning around mid-1945, he served on Corregidor Island, Philippines as Radarman 2nd Class. He worked guard duty and serviced a radar atop a mountain on the island. He recalls his time living and working on Corregidor, and the removal of Japanese prisoners-of-war from the island. He continued his service after the war ended, returning to the US in the spring of 1946 to receive his discharge.
Date: March 14, 2019
Creator: Gillespie, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Oellerich, March 27, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Oellerich, March 27, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Oellerich. Oellerich joined the Navy in 1943 after he finished high school. After basic training, he attended quartermaster school to learn to navigate. Upon completion, he headed for Houston to join USS LSM-2. After training, they shaped course for Hawaii. After loading supplies, they headed for the Philippines to support the various invasions. He also made the invasion of Okinawa where his LSM ferried supplies from ship to shore for one month. He got ashore briefly and witnessed kamikaze attacks. Oellerich was discharged in April, 1946.
Date: March 27, 2018
Creator: Oellerich, Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Alvin Lebsack, March 23, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Alvin Lebsack, March 23, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvin Lebsack. Lebsack joined the Army Air Corps in November of 1940. He trained in aircraft mechanics, and served with the 58th Bomb Wing as a B-29 Crew Chief and Flight Chief. They participated in the China Burma India Theater, and were stationed at a base in India. Lebsack completed bombing missions over Japan in 1944. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.
Date: March 23, 2018
Creator: Lebsack, Alvin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Thomas Morgan, March 22, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Thomas Morgan, March 22, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Morgan. Morgan joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He served with the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Regiment, L Company. In August of 1942 they were assigned to Guadalcanal, where they reinforced the 1st Marine Division, and supported assaults on Tulagi Island. In June of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Saipan and in April of 1945, the Battle of Okinawa. After the war ended, Morgan and his division were sent to China to oversee the surrender of the Japanese and their return to Japan. Morgan returned to the US and was discharged in 1946. He continued serving in the Reserves and participated in the Korean War.
Date: March 22, 2018
Creator: Morgan, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History