The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Maddux. Maddux joined the Navy in December 1942. He was sent to the USS Argonne (AS-10). Maddux describes his role as a deck seaman, coxswain, and boatswain’s mate. He also details the capabilities of the ship as well as the repair and supply work that it performed. Maddox describes the fatal explosion that occurred aboard the USS Mount Hood (AE-11) and how he was blown over the side of his own ship which was anchored 100 yards away. He mentions that 1,300 pounds of metal from the Mount Hood was recovered on the Argonne and finding a shell-shocked survivor clinging to a buoy two days later. Maddux describes how his ship converted PT boats from torpedo boats to gun boats and describes test driving one. He left the service in January 1946.

Transcript of an oral interview with J. Whitfield Moody. He discusses joining the Navy to become a pilot, going through flight school and training at various bases in the States before joining the USS Chenango (CVE-28) in February of 1945 as part of squadron VT-260 flying TBM's and TBF's. The Chenango went to Guadalcanal to join the invasion force for Okinawa, where Moody flew submarine patrols, dropped bombs on the island, other surrounding islands and on Formosa to prevent the Japanese from using airstrips there to resupply Okinawa troops or make counterattacks from there. Moody also discusses having to land on Okinawa after getting hit by shrapnel from a bomb he dropped when he was flying too close to the ground, using fuel tanks taken from the Japanese to fuel up to get back to the carrier, and getting hit by ground fire after a bombing run over one of the surrounding islands, but managing to limp the plane back to the carrier. After Okinawa, Moody returned to the states for leave before reporting for duty at the Landing Signal Officer's school in Jacksonville, Florida, and being home on leave when the Japanese surrendered.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Battifarano. Battifarano enlisted in the Navy during his senior year of high school in 1943. He served for 2 years as Signalman 3rd Class aboard the USS Guitarro (SS-363). They traveled to the Panama Canal operating with a destroyer and to the South Pacific. They made 4 successful war patrols, have 15 Japanese flags on their battle flag, laid 25 mines and recorded a 95-day war patrol. He discusses life aboard a submarine and their war patrol experiences. They traveled to Taiwan, Australia, the South China Sea, Philippines, Japan and Saipan. They participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Pat Hemphill. Hemphill’s father was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on 7 December 1941. Although she was only three years of age, she recalls being taken with other children out of the area on a school bus, while covered by mattresses as a means of protection. She also tells of the actions taken by her family during air-raid alerts.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Erfurth. Erfurth joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed Armament and Aerial Gunnery training. He served as a B-24 Armorer with the 8th Air Force, 392nd Bombardment Group. They deployed to England and Erfurth completed 27 bombing missions over Germany and France. He received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Hanley. Hanley joined the Navy in January of 1941. He served as a Pharmacist’s Mate aboard the USS Houston (CA-30), providing general first aid and administering shots to the soldiers. In February of 1942 they participated in the Battle of Sunda Strait, where the Houston was sunk. Hanley describes his experiences through the sinking of their ship, getting captured by the Japanese, surviving in the POW camp and providing medical care for his fellow captives. In 1945 he was sent to a camp in Thailand working in a medical pool. He was liberated there and returned to the US and was discharged in February of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Cook. Cook joined the Navy in November of 1939, and completed submarine school. Beginning April of 1942, he served as a fireman aboard the USS Silversides (SS-236). He traveled to Japan and Truk participating in 2 successful war patrols. From November of 1944 through April of 1945 he was assigned to the USS Flasher (SS-249), traveling to the South China Sea and completing war patrols five and six, sinking two Japanese destroyers, Kishinami and Iwanami. After the war ended, Cook enlisted in the Army, when he was discharged as Chief Petty Officer in August of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with L.C. Finger. Finger was born in Garner, Texas. Drafted into the Army in 1943, he was sent to Camp Wolters, Texas for three weeks of basic training. He was then sent to Camp Mackall, North Carolina where he joined the 11th Airborne Division, volunteering for parachute training. He made five practice jumps before deploying overseas. Arriving at Leyte in June 1944 they made three practice jumps and conducted routine patrols. He recalls in December a Japanese force came out of the jungles and attacked an airfield and an engineering group killing many Americans. Elements of Finger’s division searched and were successful in finding and destroying the enemy force. That evening the Japanese dropped paratroopers to take the local airfield and he tells of seeing them come down, highlighted by white parachutes, enabling the Americans to kill many of them as they landed. The division retook the airfield the next day. While participating in the action, Finger was seriously wounded by a Japanese sniper. He was taken to an aid station and then to a field hospital where doctors removed his right leg. He was taken to Biak, New …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Everett E Knebel. Knebel joined the Navy in January 1942 as an experienced carpenter. He received basic training at Great Lakes and was among the first Seabees to be deployed in the war. When his unit left the island, Knebel stayed behind to have an appendectomy. He returned to duty on the island, climbing 40 feet in the air to construct a parachute drying tower, and operating the backhoe to install a sewage system. His working hours were ordinary and regular, just as in civilian life, only he would pause to make way for Polynesian natives whenever they held a traditional burial ceremony. He describes their singing in the procession, carrying a body wrapped in yellow on their shoulders. After two years, Knebel returned to the States. He was stationed at Port Hueneme when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Haschel. Haschel was born in Winamac, Indiana in 1918 and grew up during the Depression. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy in September 1941. Upon completing basic training at Great Lakes, he was assigned to the USS Honolulu (CL-48) a few days following the Japanese attack. The Honolulu was damaged in the attack and went to Mare Island for repairs. Over the following months he describes the Honolulu serving as a convoy escort for troop ships sailing back and forth from Pearl Harbor to New Caledonia and Fiji. Next, the ship sailed to the Aleutians in mid-1942 for gunfire support followed by a transit to Espiritu Santo, where the Honolulu provided escort duty for Marine and Army troops landing on Guadalcanal. Haschel recalls the night of 30 November when the Honolulu, with the USS Northampton (CG-26) and other vessels, disrupted an attempt to resupply Japanese troops on Guadalcanal during the Battle of Tassafaronga. His next assignment was shore duty in Miami training sub chaser and patrol boat crews. He was transferred to the USS Augusta (CA-31) in 1945. Haschel was aboard when the …

Transcript of a presentation by Forrest Biard. Biard grew up in Texas and attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 1934. Biard learned Japanese in Japan from 1939 to 1941. The training was rigorous. He describes interactions with the local women. Biard also traveled in Japan. He describes how sentiment gradually changed in Japan after the Japanese Army invaded China. He also describes how more and more Germans started traveling to Japan. Biard relates that the U.S. was warned that Japan would attack Pearl Harbor by the Peruvian ambassador but ignored it. He also mentions meeting Richard Sorge. He also talks about being followed everywhere by two plainclothes police officers, who at one point even searched his bags. He arrived in Pearl Harbor shortly before it was bombed. Biard was immediately assigned to be a cryptologist to break Japanese code under Commander Joe Rochefort, without any instruction. He describes working on breaking JN-25. He also identifies the 3 code-breaking sites as Washington DC, Corregidor, and Pearl Harbor. He describes in detail how many warnings and mistakes happened prior to Pearl Harbor. He was also on the USS Yorktown and describes difficulties when trying to warn Admiral Fletcher about an attack. Next, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Kurt Muller. Muller joined the Marine Corps soon after 7 December 1941. He describes his training as an officer candidate. Muller was sent to the 2nd Marine Division as a replacement and landed on Saipan and Tinian. He describes the brutal combat including a large scale banzai charge on Saipan. Muller was sent to Nagasaki as a part of the occupation and describes the damage caused by the atomic bomb.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with L.T. Tracy. Tracy completed Machinist School prior to entering the service. Tracy joined the Navy in December of 1940 and immediately went aboard the USS Lexington (CV-2). He participated as a gunner in the Battle of the Coral Sea. His spine was injured during this battle. In late 1942 Tracy was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36). They participated in the invasions of Attu and Kiska, as well as supporting the Normandy and Marseilles landings. Tracy was then transferred to the USS Texas (BB-35). They provided gunfire support during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was discharged for medical reasons in January of 1947.

On side 1, Willis Conover hosts a program advertising the holdings of EnBee Record Sales, at 1016 7th St NW in Washington, D.C. The theme song is Stan Kenton's "Machito,"and other selections include Roy Milton's "Camille's Boogie"; Duke Ellington, "Minnehaha Part 2"; Reverend Utah Smith, "God's Mighty Hand;" and Herb Jeffries, "When I Write My Song." Side 2 contains a labor arbitration hearing between the Bakery and Confectionary Union Local 350 AFL, an employer (Mr. C), and a former employee (Mr. A). Arbitrators include Dr. Jane Emmel Gorman of Hunter College, and John A. Zellers, former president of the New York Board of Trade.

A senior recital presented at the UNT College of Music Voertman Hall.

Recording of Shah Rahim Khan discussing different festivals celebrated in Yasin. He gives his narrative in the Yasin dialect of Burushaski.

Tyler Utt eliciting the paradigm of the verb 'give' with Sumshot Khular.

Tyler Utt eliciting the paradigm of the verb 'know' with Sumshot Khular.

Tyler Utt eliciting the paradigm of the verb 'give' with Sumshot Khular.

Tyler Utt eliciting tone in verbs with Sumshot Khular.

Tyler Utt eliciting the tones of various rimes with Sumshot Khular.

Recording of Raja Jamsheed Ali Khan reciting "Maghlot ke Girkits" ('weasel and rat') in the Srinagar dialect. In this popular story two boys are born conjoined, and are separated by a knife. The two brothers are raised by two separate clans, always meeting in constant contention with each other, giving them the nicknames Maghlot ('weasel') and Girkits ('rat') for their physical and behavioral traits. Knowing the brothers would create instability, the king separates the kingdom into two halves, creating the divide between the Hunza and the Nagar people.

Recording of Dr. Faiz Aman discussing Burusho society in the Yasin dialect of Burushaski.

Doctoral recital presented at the UNT College of Music Voertman Hall.