Oral History Interview with Zenji Abe, May 4, 1993 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Zenji Abe, May 4, 1993

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Zenji Abe. Zenji was born in Honshu on 18 August 1916 and graduated from the Japanese Naval Academy in March 1937. He received a year of training on various combat vessels as a midshipman. In March 1938 he was promoted to ensign and assigned to the destroyer Uzuki. In August he was sent to flight school and became a dive bomber pilot. After serving aboard the Soryu, he was transferred to the Akagi as a squadron leader of Val dive bombers. He was a squadron leader in the second wave of dive bombers assigned to attack the American carriers at Pearl Harbor. Since the carriers were absent, his squadron attacked battleships instead. His next combat action was bombing Darwin, Australia in February 1942. He also recalls sinking British heavy cruisers HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall, as well as the carrier HMS Hermes, in the Indian Ocean in April 1942. Flying from the Junyo in June, he attacked Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians. He transferred next to the carrier Hiyo. He was aboard until she broke down and Zenji’s squadron was transferred ashore to southern Bougainville Island. From Bougainville …
Date: May 4, 1993
Creator: Abe, Zenji
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bob Addobate, May 18, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bob Addobate, May 18, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Addobate. Addobate joined the Navy in June of 1941. Beginning in August, he served as a Signalman Second-Class aboard the USS Solace (AH-5), arriving in Pearl Harbor in October. They were docked in the Harbor when the Japanese attacked. From March to August of 1942 they traveled through the Pacific to Australia, and discharged patients. From August of 1942 through May of 1943, they cared for fleet casualties and servicemen wounded in the island campaigns. From June through August, they operated as a station hospital at Noumea, New Caledonia. In April of 1945, during a typhoon, Addobate had his leg crushed by a crane, which had to be amputated. He returned to the US and was medically discharged in January of 1946.
Date: May 18, 2001
Creator: Addobate, Bob
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bob Addobate, May 18, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bob Addobate, May 18, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Addobate. Addobate joined the Navy in June of 1941. Beginning in August, he served as a Signalman Second-Class aboard the USS Solace (AH-5), arriving in Pearl Harbor in October. They were docked in the Harbor when the Japanese attacked. From March to August of 1942 they traveled through the Pacific to Australia, and discharged patients. From August of 1942 through May of 1943, they cared for fleet casualties and servicemen wounded in the island campaigns. From June through August, they operated as a station hospital at Noumea, New Caledonia. In April of 1945, during a typhoon, Addobate had his leg crushed by a crane, which had to be amputated. He returned to the US and was medically discharged in January of 1946.
Date: May 18, 2001
Creator: Addobate, Bob
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Adkins, May 25, 2012 transcript

Oral History Interview with Al Adkins, May 25, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Adkins. Adkins joined the Marine Corps in the fall of 1942. He served with the 6th Marine Division, 22nd Marine Regiment. They participated in the Battle of Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. On Guadalcanal, they formed the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, participating in the Battle of Guam until they disbanded in September of 1944. Continuing on with the 22nd Marines, Adkins served in the Battle of Okinawa. He returned to the US and received his discharge in September of 1945.
Date: May 25, 2012
Creator: Adkins, Al
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Adkins, May 25, 2012 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Al Adkins, May 25, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Al Adkins. Adkins joined the Marine Corps in the fall of 1942. He served with the 6th Marine Division, 22nd Marine Regiment. They participated in the Battle of Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. On Guadalcanal, they formed the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, participating in the Battle of Guam until they disbanded in September of 1944. Continuing on with the 22nd Marines, Adkins served in the Battle of Okinawa. He returned to the US and received his discharge in September of 1945.
Date: May 25, 2012
Creator: Adkins, Al
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Eddie Albert, May 1, 1993 transcript

Oral History Interview with Eddie Albert, May 1, 1993

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eddie Albert. Albert was born in Rock Island, Illinois on 22 April 1908 and joined the Navy in 1942. Following officer training at Cornell University, he was shipped to the South Pacific. Albert recalls spending a night in November 1943 with Lieutenant Colonel Evans Fordyce Carlson (of Carlson’s Raiders fame) in a hole during the Battle of Tarawa. After the battle he relates that he was called to Washington, DC for duties relating to public relations and was sent around the United States selling war bonds. He recalls that by the end of the war he also had produced at least six war-related training films.
Date: May 1, 1993
Creator: Albert, Eddie
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Eddie Albert, May 1, 1993 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Eddie Albert, May 1, 1993

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eddie Albert. Albert was born in Rock Island, Illinois on 22 April 1908 and joined the Navy in 1942. Following officer training at Cornell University, he was shipped to the South Pacific. Albert recalls spending a night in November 1943 with Lieutenant Colonel Evans Fordyce Carlson (of Carlson’s Raiders fame) in a hole during the Battle of Tarawa. After the battle he relates that he was called to Washington, DC for duties relating to public relations and was sent around the United States selling war bonds. He recalls that by the end of the war he also had produced at least six war-related training films.
Date: May 1, 1993
Creator: Albert, Eddie
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dayton L. Alverson, May 10, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Dayton L. Alverson, May 10, 2001

Transcript of an oral inerview with Doctor Dayton L. Alverson. He was born in 1924 in the San Diego Naval Hospital. He joined the Navy and received training in radio interception. Went to Washington, DC where he volunteered for assignment to the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO) as a Radioman First Class. Left Newport News in July 1944 and sailed to Bombay, India and took the train to Calcutta. He was flown on a DC-3 over "The Hump" and into Kunming, China. He volunteered for duty near Amoy Island, which was occupied by the Japanese and was flown to Zhangping and traveled to a small encampment 25 miles north of Amoy. He recounts his time intercepting Japanese code and sending it to Chungking and provides details about breaking the code. He next describes taking 38 days to travel 18,000 miles on foot, in sampans and on trucks to reach the camp. He describes the methods by which the Chinese moved the sampans up and down the rivers. He was then assigned to a group making a raid on a small island adjacent to Amoy. He traveled by sampan down the river to Shima, China in order to deliver two 50-caliber machine …
Date: May 10, 2001
Creator: Alverson, Dayton L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dayton L. Alverson, May 10, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Dayton L. Alverson, May 10, 2001

Transcript of an oral inerview with Doctor Dayton L. Alverson. He was born in 1924 in the San Diego Naval Hospital. He joined the Navy and received training in radio interception. Went to Washington, DC where he volunteered for assignment to the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO) as a Radioman First Class. Left Newport News in July 1944 and sailed to Bombay, India and took the train to Calcutta. He was flown on a DC-3 over "The Hump" and into Kunming, China. He volunteered for duty near Amoy Island, which was occupied by the Japanese and was flown to Zhangping and traveled to a small encampment 25 miles north of Amoy. He recounts his time intercepting Japanese code and sending it to Chungking and provides details about breaking the code. He next describes taking 38 days to travel 18,000 miles on foot, in sampans and on trucks to reach the camp. He describes the methods by which the Chinese moved the sampans up and down the rivers. He was then assigned to a group making a raid on a small island adjacent to Amoy. He traveled by sampan down the river to Shima, China in order to deliver two 50-caliber machine …
Date: May 10, 2001
Creator: Alverson, Dayton L.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Envelope Addressed to Cecelia McKie, May 10, 1943] (open access)

[Envelope Addressed to Cecelia McKie, May 10, 1943]

Envelope addressed to Mrs. William L. McKie, Sacramento, California from Mrs. Leslie D. Ames (Mary C. Ames), Camden, Maine.
Date: May 10, 1943
Creator: Ames, Mary C.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Mary C. Ames to Cecelia McKie - May 18, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Mary C. Ames to Cecelia McKie - May 18, 1943]

Letter sent from Mary C. Ames (Mrs. Leslie D. Ames) to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message and stating she believes the message from her son is genuine.
Date: May 18, 1943
Creator: Ames, Mary C.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dana Anderson, May 13, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Dana Anderson, May 13, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dana Anderson. Anderson was born in Manhattan, Kansas on 30 November 1924 and joined the Navy on 2 December 1942. After completing boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois he was sent to San Diego where he trained on the Diesel engines on LCMs. After the training was complete he was assigned to USS Ashland (LSD-1), which was capable of carrying 18 LCMs. After making practice landings in Hawaii with the 2nd Marine Division, the Ashland participated in the invasion of Tarawa. Anderson’s LCM was left on the beach as it was disabled by Japanese shellfire. He returned to the Ashland and later participated in the invasions of Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Returning to the United States, he was sent to Cleveland, Ohio where he received additional training with Diesel engines. He was then assigned to an ocean-going tug hauling concrete forms to the Philippines. This tug was pulling another ship back to the US when the war ended.
Date: May 13, 2004
Creator: Anderson, Dana
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dana Anderson, May 13, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Dana Anderson, May 13, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dana Anderson. Anderson was born in Manhattan, Kansas on 30 November 1924 and joined the Navy on 2 December 1942. After completing boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois he was sent to San Diego where he trained on the Diesel engines on LCMs. After the training was complete he was assigned to USS Ashland (LSD-1), which was capable of carrying 18 LCMs. After making practice landings in Hawaii with the 2nd Marine Division, the Ashland participated in the invasion of Tarawa. Anderson’s LCM was left on the beach as it was disabled by Japanese shellfire. He returned to the Ashland and later participated in the invasions of Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Returning to the United States, he was sent to Cleveland, Ohio where he received additional training with Diesel engines. He was then assigned to an ocean-going tug hauling concrete forms to the Philippines. This tug was pulling another ship back to the US when the war ended.
Date: May 13, 2004
Creator: Anderson, Dana
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Harold Angel, May 22, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Harold Angel, May 22, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ruth Fowler. Fowler was teaching in Big Spring, Texas, when she went out for the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. She was accepted and was trained to fly. She evetually became an instructor. She also discusses rationing.
Date: May 22, 2004
Creator: Angel, Harold
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Harold Angel, May 22, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Harold Angel, May 22, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ruth Fowler. Fowler was teaching in Big Spring, Texas, when she went out for the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. She was accepted and was trained to fly. She evetually became an instructor. She also discusses rationing.
Date: May 22, 2004
Creator: Angel, Harold
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with W. T. Appleton, May 22, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with W. T. Appleton, May 22, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with W. T. Appleton. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of sixteen in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes being transported to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the USS Shasta (AE-6). He was transferred to the USS Smith (DD-378) where he served as a member of a 5-inch gun crew. He talks about the role of the USS Smith in protecting the aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise (CV-6). He describes the crashing of a Japanese torpedo plane into the Smith and its aftermath. While serving on the Smith, he went to New Guinea and participated in the bombardment of locations such as Port Moresby, Finschhafen, and Buna in preparation for Marine landings. He recounts an attack by Japanese Betty Bombers and the deployment of a smoke screen for cover. He also discusses the sinking of the USS Hornet (CV-8). He returned to the United States where he was assigned to the USS Hank (DD-702) and sent again to the Pacific Theater. He describes kamikaze attacks while on the USS Hank near Taiwan. He also describes being on patrol in Japan after the atomic bombs were …
Date: May 22, 2004
Creator: Appleton, W. T.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with W. T. Appleton, May 22, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with W. T. Appleton, May 22, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with W. T. Appleton. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of sixteen in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes being transported to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the USS Shasta (AE-6). He was transferred to the USS Smith (DD-378) where he served as a member of a 5-inch gun crew. He talks about the role of the USS Smith in protecting the aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise (CV-6). He describes the crashing of a Japanese torpedo plane into the Smith and its aftermath. While serving on the Smith, he went to New Guinea and participated in the bombardment of locations such as Port Moresby, Finschhafen, and Buna in preparation for Marine landings. He recounts an attack by Japanese Betty Bombers and the deployment of a smoke screen for cover. He also discusses the sinking of the USS Hornet (CV-8). He returned to the United States where he was assigned to the USS Hank (DD-702) and sent again to the Pacific Theater. He describes kamikaze attacks while on the USS Hank near Taiwan. He also describes being on patrol in Japan after the atomic bombs were …
Date: May 22, 2004
Creator: Appleton, W. T.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Rogers Aston, May 4, 1993 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Rogers Aston, May 4, 1993

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Rogers Aston. Aston joined the Navy in July 1942 and was assigned to USS LST-446 as a gunnery officer. They delivered trucks to Guadalcanal on his first cruise. He recalls a time USS LST-446 came alongside the USS Kanawah (AO-01) to help fight its fires after it was hit. Aston relates several anecdotes about operating an LST in the Solomon Islands. He recalls meeting Admiral Nimitz one day at Pearl Harbor. He also remembers hauling Japanese prisoners of war in the Solomons. When the war ended, Aston elected to be discharged.
Date: May 4, 1993
Creator: Aston, Rogers
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Arlos L. Awalt, May 29, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Arlos L. Awalt, May 29, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arlos L. Awalt. He was born in Brady, Texas, drafted into the Army, and inducted at Ft. Sam Houston, in San Antonio. After basic training at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas, he took a troop train to New York Harbor and boarded the Louis S. Pasteur to Southhampton, England where he was assigned to the 106th Infantry Division, 424 Regiment, in the 81mm mortars in H Company, a heavy weapons company. They went right into the Battle of the Bulge where he suffered frost bite and pneumonia. Later assignments included the following: the occupation army in charge of prisoner of war camps interviewing POWs and displaced persons, serving at General Eisenhower's headquarters building in a little red schoolhouse in Rheims, France (where peace was later signed), in the Grand Hotel in Bad Nauheim, Germany where General Patton was officed, and in Renea Lanay, France. He served 22 months in the Army, 19 overseas - returning as a corporal. He received the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and two medals from the Belgian government.
Date: May 29, 2007
Creator: Awalt, Arlos L. (Curly)
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Arlos L. Awalt, May 29, 2007 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Arlos L. Awalt, May 29, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arlos L. Awalt. He was born in Brady, Texas, drafted into the Army, and inducted at Ft. Sam Houston, in San Antonio. After basic training at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas, he took a troop train to New York Harbor and boarded the Louis S. Pasteur to Southhampton, England where he was assigned to the 106th Infantry Division, 424 Regiment, in the 81mm mortars in H Company, a heavy weapons company. They went right into the Battle of the Bulge where he suffered frost bite and pneumonia. Later assignments included the following: the occupation army in charge of prisoner of war camps interviewing POWs and displaced persons, serving at General Eisenhower's headquarters building in a little red schoolhouse in Rheims, France (where peace was later signed), in the Grand Hotel in Bad Nauheim, Germany where General Patton was officed, and in Renea Lanay, France. He served 22 months in the Army, 19 overseas - returning as a corporal. He received the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and two medals from the Belgian government.
Date: May 29, 2007
Creator: Awalt, Arlos L. (Curly)
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Beverly Bagley, May 3, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Beverly Bagley, May 3, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Beverly Bagley of Fullerton, California. She discusses where she was when Pearl Harbor was bombed and recalls hearing President Roosevelt's speech about the incident. Mrs. Bagley also talks about how her father wanted to volunteer for the military, but her mother refused to sign off on it, so he was barred from joining the war. Mrs. Bagley recalls having to save everything from aluminum cans to chewing gum wrappers and the war time rationing that occurred. She also recounts her time spent in the hospital during the war, in 1943, due to Polio. Mrs. Bagley tells the interviewer that there was no celebration when Germany surrendered, but there was one when the bombs were dropped over Japan and the peace treaty signed, signifying the real end of World War 2. She also talks about her cousins and her husband who were enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
Date: May 3, 2018
Creator: Bagley, Beverly Kolman
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Beverly Bagley, May 3, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Beverly Bagley, May 3, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Beverly Bagley of Fullerton, California. She discusses where she was when Pearl Harbor was bombed and recalls hearing President Roosevelt's speech about the incident. Mrs. Bagley also talks about how her father wanted to volunteer for the military, but her mother refused to sign off on it, so he was barred from joining the war. Mrs. Bagley recalls having to save everything from aluminum cans to chewing gum wrappers and the war time rationing that occurred. She also recounts her time spent in the hospital during the war, in 1943, due to Polio. Mrs. Bagley tells the interviewer that there was no celebration when Germany surrendered, but there was one when the bombs were dropped over Japan and the peace treaty signed, signifying the real end of World War 2. She also talks about her cousins and her husband who were enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
Date: May 3, 2018
Creator: Bagley, Beverly Kolman
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Postal Card from E. Ansel Bailey to Cecelia McKie - May 22, 1943] (open access)

[Postal Card from E. Ansel Bailey to Cecelia McKie - May 22, 1943]

Postcard sent from E. Ansel Bailey, Marcellus, New York, to Mrs. W. L. McKie, thanking her for the message from his brother, Fay Cook Bailey. Postcard postmarked from Syracuse, New York.
Date: May 22, 1943
Creator: Bailey, E. Ansel
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Baker, May 18, 2016 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Baker, May 18, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Baker. Baker joined the Army Air Forces around 1942. He completed flight school and served as a bomber pilot. He was selected to serve as a B-24 pilot instructor in Courtland, Alabama. He flew B-29s. Baker was discharged in August of 1946 and remained in the Reserves.
Date: May 18, 2016
Creator: Baker, John
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History