Oral History Interview with Richard Byler, April 30, 2021 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Byler, April 30, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard E. Byler. Byler joined the Navy on March 12, 1943. He completed radio operator training at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and became proficient in Morse Code. In 1943, he deployed to Hawaii. In February of 1944, he was transferred to Kwajalein and worked at Navy Base 824. He was on board a transport ship during the Battle of Kwajalein. Once the fighting ceased, he worked as a Radioman Second-Class on the island, translating Morse Code. He continued his service through the end of the war, and shares details of his work and life on the island. Byler returned to the U.S. and received his discharge in February of 1946.
Date: April 30, 2021
Creator: Byler, Richard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Byler, April 30, 2021 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Richard Byler, April 30, 2021

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard E. Byler. Byler joined the Navy on March 12, 1943. He completed radio operator training at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and became proficient in Morse Code. In 1943, he deployed to Hawaii. In February of 1944, he was transferred to Kwajalein and worked at Navy Base 824. He was on board a transport ship during the Battle of Kwajalein. Once the fighting ceased, he worked as a Radioman Second-Class on the island, translating Morse Code. He continued his service through the end of the war, and shares details of his work and life on the island. Byler returned to the U.S. and received his discharge in February of 1946.
Date: April 30, 2021
Creator: Byler, Richard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lloyd Rex Travis, April 30, 2014 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lloyd Rex Travis, April 30, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lloyd Travis. Travis joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and received basic training at Parris Island and further training at Camp Lejeune. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 6th Marine Division and sent to the Pacific. He fought on the north end of Okinawa for more than two weeks. Rather than sleep in a wet foxhole, he stayed in caves that were used as burial sites in peacetime. He left the island on 21 June and awaited further orders on Guam. Travis finished his tour of duty in Tsingtao as recreation coordinator for his unit. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to his job as a geologist with Exxon Mobil. He worked there until 1981 and then ran his own consulting firm, retiring at the age of 88.
Date: April 30, 2014
Creator: Travis, Lloyd Rex
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lloyd Rex Travis, April 30, 2014 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Lloyd Rex Travis, April 30, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lloyd Travis. Travis joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and received basic training at Parris Island and further training at Camp Lejeune. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 6th Marine Division and sent to the Pacific. He fought on the north end of Okinawa for more than two weeks. Rather than sleep in a wet foxhole, he stayed in caves that were used as burial sites in peacetime. He left the island on 21 June and awaited further orders on Guam. Travis finished his tour of duty in Tsingtao as recreation coordinator for his unit. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to his job as a geologist with Exxon Mobil. He worked there until 1981 and then ran his own consulting firm, retiring at the age of 88.
Date: April 30, 2014
Creator: Travis, Lloyd Rex
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ray C. Essig, April 30, 2014 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ray C. Essig, April 30, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Essig. Essig joined the Army in 1943. He received basic training at Camp Hahn and advanced training in the Mojave Desert. He was pulled out of the Army Specialized Training Program early in 1944 and assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division. While fighting in Europe he was captured by Germans and sent to Stalag IVB, near Dresden. He found Kurt Vonnegut’s depiction of life as a prisoner of war to be extremely accurate. Essig returned home safely, but his time as a prisoner left him with lifelong PTSD. He felt that it was socially unacceptable to have been captured rather than killed; therefore, he never spoke openly about his experience or sought treatment.
Date: April 30, 2014
Creator: Essig, Ray C
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ray C. Essig, April 30, 2014 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Ray C. Essig, April 30, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Essig. Essig joined the Army in 1943. He received basic training at Camp Hahn and advanced training in the Mojave Desert. He was pulled out of the Army Specialized Training Program early in 1944 and assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division. While fighting in Europe he was captured by Germans and sent to Stalag IVB, near Dresden. He found Kurt Vonnegut’s depiction of life as a prisoner of war to be extremely accurate. Essig returned home safely, but his time as a prisoner left him with lifelong PTSD. He felt that it was socially unacceptable to have been captured rather than killed; therefore, he never spoke openly about his experience or sought treatment.
Date: April 30, 2014
Creator: Essig, Ray C
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Hugo Werner, April 30, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with Hugo Werner, April 30, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hugo Werner. Werner joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He received training as a radio operator and gunner. Werner was then sent to Attu, Alaska to become a crewman on a B-25 with the 77th Bomb Squadron. He took part in missions over the Kuril Islands in Northern Japan. He shot down an attacking Japanese fighter during one mission. Werner served with the 77th for the rest of the war and left the service soon after the surrender only to rejoin in October of the same year.
Date: April 30, 2010
Creator: Werner, Hugo
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Hugo Werner, April 30, 2010 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Hugo Werner, April 30, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hugo Werner. Werner joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He received training as a radio operator and gunner. Werner was then sent to Attu, Alaska to become a crewman on a B-25 with the 77th Bomb Squadron. He took part in missions over the Kuril Islands in Northern Japan. He shot down an attacking Japanese fighter during one mission. Werner served with the 77th for the rest of the war and left the service soon after the surrender only to rejoin in October of the same year.
Date: April 30, 2010
Creator: Werner, Hugo
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Scott, April 30, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Scott, April 30, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert M. Scott. Scott was born in Chicago 30 September 1926 and spent part of his youth in foster homes. He quit school and joined the Navy in July 1943 and took boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Upon completing boot camp he went to Pleasanton, California where he received orders sending him to New Guinea. Upon arriving after a two week trip he did stevedore work for a period of time and then worked as a switchboard operator. He was then assigned as a yeoman in naval intelligence. Scott contracted malaria while on Guadalcanal. After eighteen months he was sent back to the United States and went on leave. After returning from leave he was assigned to the newly constructed USS Glynn (APA-239) as a yeoman. After shuttling around various islands in the Pacific the ship returned to the United States. Scott was discharged June 1946.
Date: April 30, 2010
Creator: Scott, Robert M.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Scott, April 30, 2010 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Scott, April 30, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert M. Scott. Scott was born in Chicago 30 September 1926 and spent part of his youth in foster homes. He quit school and joined the Navy in July 1943 and took boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Upon completing boot camp he went to Pleasanton, California where he received orders sending him to New Guinea. Upon arriving after a two week trip he did stevedore work for a period of time and then worked as a switchboard operator. He was then assigned as a yeoman in naval intelligence. Scott contracted malaria while on Guadalcanal. After eighteen months he was sent back to the United States and went on leave. After returning from leave he was assigned to the newly constructed USS Glynn (APA-239) as a yeoman. After shuttling around various islands in the Pacific the ship returned to the United States. Scott was discharged June 1946.
Date: April 30, 2010
Creator: Scott, Robert M.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Taylor Wilson, April 30, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Taylor Wilson, April 30, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Taylor Wilson. Wilson joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He served as a bombardier in B-29s and worked with radar. Wilson was in the 45th Bombardment Squadron, 40th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force. He and his crew went to India and Tinian. They bombed Singapore, Rangoon, Osaka amongst others. He lists his crew members and their jobs. He discusses how bombardiers are trained. He provides some of his experiences flying in the B-29. He was discharged in 1945.
Date: April 30, 2005
Creator: Wilson, Taylor
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004

Interview with Guinn Rasbury, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, being transferred around the United States, and finally returning to the Pacific theater. He explains how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life. He shares anecdotes about sounding "Taps" at a memorial service for President Roosevelt and being chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Graham, Eddie & Rasbury, Guinn
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guinn Rasbury. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, other transfers around the States, ending up back in the Pacific. He ancedotes how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life, sounding Taps at a memorial service for President Roosevelt, being Chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Rasbury, Guinn
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guinn Rasbury. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, other transfers around the States, ending up back in the Pacific. He ancedotes how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life, sounding Taps at a memorial service for President Roosevelt, being Chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Rasbury, Guinn
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004

Interview with H. L. Obermiller, a Pharmacist's Mate during World War II. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, where he served as a Pharmacist's Mate. He remembers having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting Navajo code talkers, and writing letters home.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Metzler, Ed & Obermiller, H. L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with H. L. Obermiller. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, and being a Pharmacist's Mate. He ancedotes about having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting a couple Navajo codetalkers, and writing letters back home.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Obermiller, H. L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with H. L. Obermiller. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, and being a Pharmacist's Mate. He ancedotes about having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting a couple Navajo codetalkers, and writing letters back home.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Obermiller, H. L.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Laudell Raper, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Laudell Raper, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Laudell Raper. Raper joined the Marine Corps in early 1942. In the summer, he deployed to New Zealand and served with the 8th Marine Regiment. Beginning in August of 1942 through August of 1944, Person served as a Corporal in a machine gun section during the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. Raper contracted malaria on Tinian and returned to the US in late 1944. He later completed Non-Commissioned Officer School and joined the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, participating in combat on Guam. Raper was then assigned to duty at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was discharged around late 1945.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Raper, Laudell
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Laudell Raper, April 30, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Laudell Raper, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Laudell Raper. Raper joined the Marine Corps in early 1942. In the summer, he deployed to New Zealand and served with the 8th Marine Regiment. Beginning in August of 1942 through August of 1944, Person served as a Corporal in a machine gun section during the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. Raper contracted malaria on Tinian and returned to the US in late 1944. He later completed Non-Commissioned Officer School and joined the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, participating in combat on Guam. Raper was then assigned to duty at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was discharged around late 1945.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Raper, Laudell
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert L. (Bob) Groves, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert L. (Bob) Groves, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Grove. He discusses joining the Marine Corp, shipping out to New Zealand before landing on Guadacanal a few days after the invasion started there, then going to Tarawa, getting malaria, returning to Hawaii for more training before going to fight on Saipan, getting hit by shrapnel and shot in the leg. He describes battle conditions, getting caught in storms abroad ships crossing the Pacific, returning to the states after being wounded and attending reunions and being involved in the 2nd Marine Division Association after the war.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Groves, Robert L. (Bob)
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert L. (Bob) Groves, April 30, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert L. (Bob) Groves, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Grove. He discusses joining the Marine Corp, shipping out to New Zealand before landing on Guadacanal a few days after the invasion started there, then going to Tarawa, getting malaria, returning to Hawaii for more training before going to fight on Saipan, getting hit by shrapnel and shot in the leg. He describes battle conditions, getting caught in storms abroad ships crossing the Pacific, returning to the states after being wounded and attending reunions and being involved in the 2nd Marine Division Association after the war.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Groves, Robert L. (Bob)
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Wilbur Huston, April 30, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Wilbur Huston, April 30, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wilbur Huston. Huston joined the Navy in August of 1943. He worked as a Hospital Corpsman at the Special Naval Advanced Group (SNAG) Upper 56th Hospital in southern England through October of 1944. He later served as First-Class Hospital Apprentice aboard the USS Navarro (APA-215). They transported troops and cargo to Guadalcanal and for the invasion of Okinawa. They traveled into Yokohama and conducted worked through the allied occupation. Huston returned to the US and was discharged in December of 1945.
Date: April 30, 2002
Creator: Huston, Wilbur
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Wilbur Huston, April 30, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Wilbur Huston, April 30, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wilbur Huston. Huston joined the Navy in August of 1943. He worked as a Hospital Corpsman at the Special Naval Advanced Group (SNAG) Upper 56th Hospital in southern England through October of 1944. He later served as First-Class Hospital Apprentice aboard the USS Navarro (APA-215). They transported troops and cargo to Guadalcanal and for the invasion of Okinawa. They traveled into Yokohama and conducted worked through the allied occupation. Huston returned to the US and was discharged in December of 1945.
Date: April 30, 2002
Creator: Huston, Wilbur
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Webb, April 30, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with William Webb, April 30, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Webb. Webb was born in Houston, Texas on 11 March 1923. He participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program while attending Sam Houston State University. Upon earning his pilot’s license in 1942, he entered into the Navy Flying Cadet program. After three months of primary flight training at Lambert Field, Missouri he went to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in Texas for the final phase of training. Upon graduating, he elected to go into the US Marines and was sent to Opa Loca, Florida to begin training in fighters. He was then sent to Santa Barbara, California where he joined VMF-112. After a year of carrier training, VMF-112 was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20) where Webb flew F4U fighter planes. He recalls flying missions over Japan as well as participating in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He also recalls shooting down a Japanese plane. He also cites the experience of crashing into the sea soon after takeoff and being rescued and transferred back to his carrier by a Breeches Buoy. The Bennington went to the Philippines for repair after being damaged during a typhoon …
Date: April 30, 2001
Creator: Webb, William
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History