Oral History Interview with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi, June 17, 1996 transcript

Oral History Interview with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi, June 17, 1996

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents oral interviews with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi. Hill and Burken go into great detail regarding an issue of LIFE Magazine with a picture of General Claire Lee Chennault on the cover and a drawing of a panda bear dressed like a cowboy, as Hill was a member of the Panda Bear squadron of the Flying Tigers. Burken then visits with Joe Robert about a print that Joe is looking to sell and a LIFE Magazine that Joe is featured in, sitting on the wing of the P-40. They also discuss some events with the Japanese and the Pappy Boyington book titled Tonya. Robert was in the same squadron as Boyington. They also visit some on the history of the Flying Tigers and the Burma campaign. Beginning on page 44 through the end of the interview Burken speaks with Dick Rossi. They visit about Flying Tiger pilot Robert T. Smith and a letter from filmmaker Ron Howard in regards to a movie about the Flying Tigers. They also discuss some events with Flying Tiger pilot Freeman Ricketts.
Date: June 17, 1996
Creator: Hill, Tex; Robert, Joe & Rossi, Dick
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gregorio Borja, June 21, 1997 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gregorio Borja, June 21, 1997

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gregorio Borja. Borja lived a tranquil life under American governance in Sumay until the Japanese invaded. Borja’s family home was seized and occupied for over a year. Natives' travel was restricted and Borja was treated harshly in school. His father and brother were forced into labor, and his brother along with several of his family and friends were killed in the Fena Massacre. Other relatives of Borja were taken to Japan as prisoners. Borja and his surviving family members were placed in a concentration camp in Manenggon, with little food or water, but were soon liberated by the 77th Infantry Division. With their homes destroyed during the preceding bombardment, they were relocated to the new village of Santa Rita. Under post-war military rule, Borja lived a happy life.
Date: June 21, 1997
Creator: Borja, Gregorio
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bernard Hollander, June 18, 1997 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bernard Hollander, June 18, 1997

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with Bernard Hollander. Hollander was commissioned in the Naval Reserve in May 1942. His first assignment was aboard the USS SC-1065 before he switched ships to command the USS SC-1066 and headed for the Western Pacific. There, he was involved in the invasions of the Marshall Islands and the Mariana Islands before being assigned to the USS Medea (AKA-31) as navigator. He participated in the invasion of Okinawa and transported troops ashore at Tokyo Bay during the surrender. Hollander recalls several anecdotes about his experiences in the Navy aboard small vessels. He received his discharge in February, 1946.
Date: June 18, 1997
Creator: Hollander, Bernard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Schley, June 22, 1999 (open access)

Oral History Interview with John Schley, June 22, 1999

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Schley. Schley enlisted in the Naval Reserve in August of 1940. He was assigned to 5 destroys and served as skipper on 3 of these. He was commissioned in March of 1941 and sent to the USS Rhind (DD-404), serving as assistant engineer. He describes their supporting the British war effort. They traveled to Bermuda maintaining a destroyer tender, providing convoy escort, carrier screening and anti-submarine warfare services. They joined a Task Force commanded by the British and operating out of Scapa Flow. They moved up the Norwegian coast to Murmansk battling German bombers, torpedo planes and submarines. He describes an encounter with the German battleship Tirpitz. He provides narrative details of the sinking of HMS Punjabi. In August of 1942 they traveled to the North African landings with his destroyer division. They provided support in the advance up to Italy. By early 1944 Schley was sent to the Pacific as executive officer of the USS Stringham (APD-6). He later became the commanding officer of this ship. They escorted the main force to the Palau Islands. He describes the Pearl Harbor West Loch explosion. He became a lieutenant …
Date: June 22, 1999
Creator: Schley, John
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Hal Olsen, June 30, 1999 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Hal Olsen, June 30, 1999

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and interview with Hal Olsen. Olsen joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939 and went to Utah. When the war started, Olsen was a toolmaker. His deferment expired so he joined the Navy in January 1943. He attended aviation machinist school in Memphis before being assigned to the Bunker Hill Naval Air Station in Indiana. He eventually specialized in instrument repair. In January 1945, he shipped overseas to Tinian. On the side, he painted nose art. Olsen was discharged in February 1946.
Date: June 30, 1999
Creator: Olsen, Hal
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi, June 17, 1996 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi, June 17, 1996

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents oral interviews with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi. Hill and Burken go into great detail regarding an issue of LIFE Magazine with a picture of General Claire Lee Chennault on the cover and a drawing of a panda bear dressed like a cowboy, as Hill was a member of the Panda Bear squadron of the Flying Tigers. Burken then visits with Joe Robert about a print that Joe is looking to sell and a LIFE Magazine that Joe is featured in, sitting on the wing of the P-40. They also discuss some events with the Japanese and the Pappy Boyington book titled Tonya. Robert was in the same squadron as Boyington. They also visit some on the history of the Flying Tigers and the Burma campaign. Beginning on page 44 through the end of the interview Burken speaks with Dick Rossi. They visit about Flying Tiger pilot Robert T. Smith and a letter from filmmaker Ron Howard in regards to a movie about the Flying Tigers. They also discuss some events with Flying Tiger pilot Freeman Ricketts.
Date: June 17, 1996
Creator: Hill, Tex; Robert, Joe & Rossi, Dick
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gregorio Borja, June 21, 1997 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Gregorio Borja, June 21, 1997

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gregorio Borja. Borja lived a tranquil life under American governance in Sumay until the Japanese invaded. Borja’s family home was seized and occupied for over a year. Natives' travel was restricted and Borja was treated harshly in school. His father and brother were forced into labor, and his brother along with several of his family and friends were killed in the Fena Massacre. Other relatives of Borja were taken to Japan as prisoners. Borja and his surviving family members were placed in a concentration camp in Manenggon, with little food or water, but were soon liberated by the 77th Infantry Division. With their homes destroyed during the preceding bombardment, they were relocated to the new village of Santa Rita. Under post-war military rule, Borja lived a happy life.
Date: June 21, 1997
Creator: Borja, Gregorio
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with C. Douglas Dillon, June 11, 1998 (open access)

Oral History Interview with C. Douglas Dillon, June 11, 1998

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with C. Douglas Dillon where he discusses his childhood and education and what led him to join the Navy. He describes his career in the navy serving out of various ports across the US.
Date: June 11, 1998
Creator: Dillon, C. Douglas & Weed, Peter B.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History