A Master's recital performed at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

Chamber orchestra concert performed at UNT Winspear Performance Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ernest Botard. Botard was born on a Texas ranch 28 December 1916. Graduating from high school in 1935, he attended Texas A&M University. He was called to active duty in February 1942, reporting to the Army’s 4th Calvary at Manhattan, Kansas where he received intensive training with horses. He was then sent to Fort Meade, South Dakota where his unit began training with vehicles. After spending six months training in the desert at Blithe, California the unit was sent to Camp Maxey at Paris, Texas. Here they prepared for overseas duty. Botard was placed in charge of D company and he describes the type of equipment the unit had. Departing the US in a large escorted convoy, they arrived in Portsmouth, England and began preparation for the invasion of Normandy. Botard landed at Utah Beach on 7 June 1944 and describes the problems getting the tanks and other equipment ashore. He describes in detail the battles in which he was involved and the difficulties presented by the hedgerows in the movement of his tanks. He recounts an incident where his column of tanks was proceeding down a road …

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with J. Lloyd Abbot. Abbot received a commission in the Navy in 1939 and served two months aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) before being tasked to bring an old destroyer, the USS Gilmer (DD-233), out of mothballs. He stayed on it for a while before going to flight school in Pensacola. He earned his wings in November, 1941. Due to some accidents and illnesses, Abbot was disallowed to fly from carriers. He was assigned to shore-based anti-submarine patrol squadron, VS-1D-14, in December 1942. In April 1943, the squadron was divided into two and Abbot was placed in command of VS-66 on Wallis Island. At the end of 1943, his squadron inherited some SBD dive bombers and they moved to a new base on Tarawa. In March 1944. Abbot was assigned to the staff of the Chief of Naval Air Training at Pensacola. He was there when the war ended. After the war, Abbot commanded VF-41 aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42). Throughout his career, he served as the operation officer aboard carriers, worked at the Pentagon, was commander of the Antarctic mission and commander of a carrier division …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Hanlon. Hanlon was born and raised in Bronx, New York, and joined the Navy at age seventeen. Following boot camp, he served aboard USS Texas (BB-35) from December 1941 through May 1947. The Texas served as a support ship during the invasion of Normandy and Hanlon describes the death and destruction he observed at Omaha Beach. He also recalls the ship being damaged by shore artillery during the landing at Cherbourg. The ship then traveled to the Pacific where it participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He recollects the attacks on the fleet by kamikazes and the recovery of an injured kamikaze pilot. Hanlon was discharged in 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Ira. Ira joined the Navy in 1943 at the age of 17. He completed boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago. Ira served as a deckhand and gunner aboard USS Texas (BB-35). He tells of the ship accompanying convoys through the North Atlantic. He recalls his admiration for General Eisenhower who visited the ship prior to the Normandy Invasion and of the actions of the Texas during the invasion. This action was followed by participation in the Battle of Cherbourg. He relates his experiences there and tells of the damage to the Texas by German shore batteries. After returning to the States, the ship proceeded through the Panama Canal into the Pacific. There, the ship participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He returned to US in 1946 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Stoneley. Stoneley joined the Navy around mid-1943. From 1943 through mid-1945, he served with the deck force aboard the USS Texas (BB-35). Stoneley shares his experiences through the Normandy Invasion, the Battle of Cherbourg, Operation Dragoon, the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa. He returned home after the war, and received his discharge around January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Anthony Arrington. Arrington joined the Navy in June 1942 and received basic training in Norfolk. He was assigned to the USS Texas (BB-35), serving as a waiter during trips to Casablanca and the British Isles. While he was onshore being treated for a shoulder injury, the Texas moved on to another port. Arrington was subsequently given landing craft training and reassigned to the USS Sims (APD-50). He was present for the entire Battle of Okinawa, operating a landing craft as a taxi for military personnel. A few weeks after the bombing of Hiroshima, he transported a group of scientists to the blast site, which was completely flattened, save for two partially damaged concrete structures. Arrington returned home and was discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Eddleman. Eddleman joined the Navy in January of 1942. He completed Bugle Master School. He served aboard the USS Texas (BB-35), and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Normandy, Cherbourg, Italy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Eddleman witnessed numerous battles atop the navigation bridge. He returned to the US in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gordon W Jones. Jones joined the Navy in late 1943. Through 1944, he worked at the Norfolk Naval Base as an assistant to the Provost Marshal, and served on base security patrol. Beginning in October, Jones served aboard the USS Texas (BB-35) as Seaman First Class. He worked as a deckhand and with the fire crew. Jones participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended, serving in the Naval Reserve.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Orlan Scott. Scott joined the Navy in 1944. He completed amphibious force training. Scott served aboard USS Texas (BB-35) beginning in March of 1945, participating in the Battle of Okinawa. He returned to the US and received a discharge in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Hillyer. Hillyer joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and received basic training at Parris Island and further training at Camp Lejeune. Upon completion, he was sent to Kwajalein and Roi-Namur. During a rest period at Hickam Field, he was brought aboard the USS Texas (BB-35) along with a detachment of Marines. He manned an M1 rifle from the crow’s nest at Okinawa, shooting down kamikazes and detonating floating bombs disguised as ammunition cans. He watched as the flag was raised on Mount Suribachi, and recalls the beauty of all the ships lit against the night sky when the war ended and blackouts were lifted. Hillyer returned home and was discharged in September 1945.

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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Wander. Wander joined the Army and received basic training at Camp Wheeler. He went on to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in 1942. He then worked as a platoon leader all over the United States. He went as a replacement to the Americal Division, working beside Filipinos to capture Japanese holdouts. After the war ended, he was reassigned to the Eighth Army in Yokohama as head of military police. Wander returned home and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Sebacher. Sebacher’s son David assists with the interview. Sebacher enlisted in the Navy in December of 1942. He completed boot camp in Chicago. He volunteered for submarine training in New London, Connecticut. He boarded the USS Picuda (SS-382) at Pearl Harbor in January of 1944. He served as the electrician on board. From Pearl Harbor they went to Midway Island. He made six patrols and sunk Japanese ships on every patrol. He provides detail of these patrols and sinking around 26 ships. They also traveled to Saipan. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond S. Pugh. Pugh enlisted in the Navy when he was 17 in August, 1941. Pugh begins describing his career in the Navy with his activities on Tulagi. Pugh then shifts to discussing his role aboard the USS Hornet (CV-8) during the Doolittle Raid. He describes watching the pilots practicing taking off the carrier's deck in Chesapeake Bay before sailing through the Panama Canal, loading sixteen B-25s on the Hornet's deck at Alameda and rendezvousing with the USS Enterprise (CV-6) in the Pacific. Pugh recounts a story of encountering his brother at Pearl Harbor close to the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R.V. Burgin. Burgin was born in Marquez, Texas 13 August 1922 and joined the Marine Corps in March 1941. Completing boot camp, he went to Camp Elliott, California for training with 60mm mortars. He boarded the USS Mount Vernon (AP-22) and went to Melbourne, Australia. Upon arrival, he was assigned to K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Eugene B. Sledge, author of With the Old Breed, served in K/3/5 with Burgin). On 1 January 1944 he landed on Cape Gloucester, New Britain. Burgin describes repelling a number of Japanese banzai charges. Burgin also describes the invasion of Peleliu and comments on the high casualty rate. Once the island was secured his unit went to Pavuvu for rest. On 1 April 1945 he landed on Okinawa. During the battle, Burgin was wounded. After being treated at a field hospital he returned to the front lines and remained there until the island was secured.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William C. Beyer. Beyer grew up in Texas and joined the Marines in January 1942. After training, he was assigned to the third division in artillery. He departed on the USS Mount Vernon for New Zealand. He anecdotes about meeting with some Maori people. Then he departed on the Cresent City for Guadalcanal in May 1943. From Guadalcanal he left for Bougainville in November 1943. He describes being caught in a foxhole for two days without communication. He also listened to Tokyo Rose on the radio. The Army relieved the Marines January 15, 1944, and his unit returned to Guadalcanal. On July 21, 1944, they landed on Guam and went into battle. Next Beyer left for Iwo Jima. The Third Marine Division was assigned to the central area of the island. He witnessed the raising of the flag. On the 50th anniversary of the war, Beyer and his wife returned to New Zealand and Guam.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert E. Galer. Galer was born in Seattle 23 October 1913. In 1935, he graduated from the University of Washington, having earned a commission through ROTC. During flight training at Pensacola, he accepted a regular commission in the Marine Corps. His classmate at Washington was Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, who also trained with him at Quantico. During the ensuing years, Galer became carrier qualified and flew sea planes in the Virgin Islands, had a tour of duty with a fighter squadron in San Diego, and had fighter training in Honolulu. He watched the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor from a friend’s house. Galer went to Guadalcanal in late August 1942, where he flew interdiction missions in the Grumman F4F Wildcat. In fighting for Henderson Field, Galer was shot down three times, was credited with shooting down 11 ½ Japanese planes, and received the Medal of Honor. After receiving the award, he went on speaking tours to sell war bonds. Afterwards, he attended the Army Command and Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. In early 1945, he was assigned as the co-leader of a 25-man team responsible for evaluating a new radar …

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Master of Music (MM) degree.

Ensemble Concert at the UNT College of Music Winspear Hall.

A symphonic orchestra concert at the UNT College of Music Winspear Hall

Podcast from the University of North Texas Music Library highlighting materials from their collections. This episode chronicles the formation of the Moonmaids vocal ensemble as the Swingtet at what was then North Texas State Teachers College, and their rise to national fame in the late 1940s with big band leader Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra. The podcast includes selections featuring the singers on WFAA radio in Dallas, at the former Camp Howze in Gainesville, TX, and live from Denton with Vaughn Monroe in 1949.

Interview with Don Hibbitts, a Camp Wood resident.