Oral History Interview with Don Alfred, August 1, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Don Alfred, August 1, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Alfred. Alfred joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He was stationed on Tinian Island, and served as a B-29 navigator with the 6th Bombardment Group. He flew 27 missions over Japan.
Date: August 1, 2015
Creator: Alfred, Don
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Rose, August 4, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Rose, August 4, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Rose. Rose joined the Navy in July 1942 out of a desire to fly Corsairs. After being selected as an aviation cadet, he ultimately landed at an advanced fighter training base at Kingsville. Upon completion of flight training he became an instructor. After qualifying in carrier landings, he was transferred to Attack and Bombing Squadron 98 (VBF-98) at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station. After spotting a Corsair at fleet repair, he offered them his services as a test pilot, which soon became his primary duty. After the war, he earned a college degree and later joined the reserves. Rose was rather unique in that he accumulated hundreds of hours in various WWII aircraft. As such, he was later interviewed for a documentary for the aircraft museum in Seattle. As such, he was later interviewed for a documentary for the aircraft museum in Seattle.
Date: August 4, 2015
Creator: Rose, James
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with E. Grover Pearson, August 4, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with E. Grover Pearson, August 4, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E Grover Pearson. Pearson joined the Navy in mid-1942. He completed training as an aviation gunner and radioman. He served for one year in the submarine patrol off the West Coast. Beginning September of 1944, Pearson served as a flight aviation radioman aboard USS San Francisco (CA-38). Catapulting off the cruiser, he and his flight crew participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, providing air cover for the first group of Marines invading Okinawa. After the war ended, his ship was assigned show-of-force duty along the east coast of Asia. Pearson received an honorable discharge in January of 1946.
Date: August 4, 2015
Creator: Pearson, E. Grover
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Hanks, August 3, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jack Hanks, August 3, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Hanks. Hanks joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He received his wings in February of 1944. Hanks was assigned to Malden, Missouri to teach troop carrier training, where he served as a pilot instructor for the remainder of the war. He was discharged around February of 1946.
Date: August 3, 2015
Creator: Hanks, Jack
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Everett Smiley, August 14, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Everett Smiley, August 14, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Everett Smiley. Smiley volunteered for service in the Army Air Forces in January 1943 and trained as a pilot. He earned a commission and his wings in December. After flight training, he reported for duty in Hobbs, New Mexico to learn to fly B-17s. Once he was stationed in Italy in July, 1944, he flew 51 combat missions before returning to the US in May. Smiley flew missions over Italy, Austria, Germany and other points in Europe and shares anecdotes about his experiences.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Smiley, Everett
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lawrence Huet, August 11, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Lawrence Huet, August 11, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lawrence Huet. Huet joined the Navy in late 1942 and trained at Great Lakes. With training complete, he was assigned to USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in May 1943 and served as flight deck crewman. In 1944, after some leave, Huet was assigned to the USS Flint (CL-97). Huet was discharged in 1946.
Date: August 11, 2015
Creator: Huet, Lawrence
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Thomas Pugh, August 4, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Thomas Pugh, August 4, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Pugh. Pugh joined the Marine Corps in August, 1941 and trained at San Diego. In October, he was assigned to a headquarters and service company in the 2nd Engineer Battalion, Fleet Marine Force. He went to Hawaii briefly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but broke his wrist and returned to San Diego to go to scout sniper school. Then he was assigned to another H & S company in the 19th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He went overseas with them and helped build docks and roads on Guadalcanal and Bougainville. He also was at Guam for the invasion in July, 1944. Thomas received some leave and returned to the US in May, 1945. He was discharged later in September and surprised his mother upon his homecoming.
Date: August 4, 2015
Creator: Pugh, Thomas
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Roy Beck, August 6, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Roy Beck, August 6, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Beck. Beck was drafted into the Army in September, 1943 and went to basic training in Missouri. From there, he went to a trade school in New York to become an electrician. His first assignment was in the Aleutian Islands at Amchitka where he worked as an electrician rigging wiring and working on poles. He also went to Attu and helped build a landing strip on Shemya Island before returning to the US and being discharged in June 1946.
Date: August 6, 2015
Creator: Beck, Roy
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lester Harrell, August 12, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Lester Harrell, August 12, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lester Harrell. Harrell joined the Navy in 1942. In 1943, he completed Midshipman School. In 1944, Harrell served on the starboard anti-aircraft guns aboard USS New Mexico (BB-40). He later served as an ensign in the plotting room aboard USS Canberra (CA-70), where he was stationed when the ship was torpedoed in October of 1944. His next assignment was on a Landing Ship Medium (LSM). He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.
Date: August 12, 2015
Creator: Harrell, Lester
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Hawley, August 27, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Hawley, August 27, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Hawley. Hawley graduated from Culver Military Academy, Indiana, and joined the Navy in July of 1944. He completed Quartermaster School. In early 1945, he served aboard a yard oiler, YOG-33 and traveled to the Russell Islands, Guadalcanal, the Cook Islands, the Fiji Islands, replenishing oil as needed. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in July of 1946.
Date: August 27, 2015
Creator: Hawley, James
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Donald Andrew, August 30, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Donald Andrew, August 30, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Andrew Alfred. Alfred was born on 28 July 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen. He served as a navigator with the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29, called Dearly Beloved. In late 1944, they were stationed on Tinian and flew 27 missions over Japan, including Iwo Jima and Tokyo. After the war ended, they dropped supplies to American troops in Japan. Alfred returned to the US and received his discharge on 4 January 1946.
Date: August 30, 2015
Creator: Alfred, Donald
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lee White, August 18, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Lee White, August 18, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lee White. White was born 14 August 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in August 1943. He joined the Aviation Cadet Program. White completed pre-flight training in the summer of 1944, then basic flying training, and became a Flight Officer in March 1945. In the summer, he was assigned to glider training in North Carolina, where he was located when the war ended. White continued his service, and went on to have a career in the Air Force as an aviator and flight instructor, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1970.
Date: August 18, 2015
Creator: White, Lee
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with T. Fred Harvey, August 3, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with T. Fred Harvey, August 3, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Harvey. Harvey was born in Memphis, Texas on 29 October 1923. He relates some of the hardships the family of eight children endured during the Great Depression. Upon quitting high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942. Following boot camp, he was selected for the Paramarines and relates his experiences during his training as a Marine paratrooper. He remembers the conditions aboard the transport ships, the mission to Vella Lavella and incidents on Bougainville and New Caledonia, including an overdose of Atabrine. He recalls landing on Iwo Jima and his experiences there including being severely wounded.
Date: August 3, 2015
Creator: Harvey, T. Fred
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Don Alfred, August 1, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Don Alfred, August 1, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Alfred. Alfred joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He was stationed on Tinian Island, and served as a B-29 navigator with the 6th Bombardment Group. He flew 27 missions over Japan.
Date: August 1, 2015
Creator: Alfred, Don
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Rose, August 4, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Rose, August 4, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Rose. Rose joined the Navy in July 1942 out of a desire to fly Corsairs. After being selected as an aviation cadet, he ultimately landed at an advanced fighter training base at Kingsville. Upon completion of flight training he became an instructor. After qualifying in carrier landings, he was transferred to Attack and Bombing Squadron 98 (VBF-98) at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station. After spotting a Corsair at fleet repair, he offered them his services as a test pilot, which soon became his primary duty. After the war, he earned a college degree and later joined the reserves. Rose was rather unique in that he accumulated hundreds of hours in various WWII aircraft. As such, he was later interviewed for a documentary for the aircraft museum in Seattle. As such, he was later interviewed for a documentary for the aircraft museum in Seattle.
Date: August 4, 2015
Creator: Rose, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with E. Grover Pearson, August 4, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with E. Grover Pearson, August 4, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E Grover Pearson. Pearson joined the Navy in mid-1942. He completed training as an aviation gunner and radioman. He served for one year in the submarine patrol off the West Coast. Beginning September of 1944, Pearson served as a flight aviation radioman aboard USS San Francisco (CA-38). Catapulting off the cruiser, he and his flight crew participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, providing air cover for the first group of Marines invading Okinawa. After the war ended, his ship was assigned show-of-force duty along the east coast of Asia. Pearson received an honorable discharge in January of 1946.
Date: August 4, 2015
Creator: Pearson, E. Grover
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Hanks, August 3, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Hanks, August 3, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Hanks. Hanks joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He received his wings in February of 1944. Hanks was assigned to Malden, Missouri to teach troop carrier training, where he served as a pilot instructor for the remainder of the war. He was discharged around February of 1946.
Date: August 3, 2015
Creator: Hanks, Jack
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Everett Smiley, August 14, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Everett Smiley, August 14, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Everett Smiley. Smiley volunteered for service in the Army Air Forces in January 1943 and trained as a pilot. He earned a commission and his wings in December. After flight training, he reported for duty in Hobbs, New Mexico to learn to fly B-17s. Once he was stationed in Italy in July, 1944, he flew 51 combat missions before returning to the US in May. Smiley flew missions over Italy, Austria, Germany and other points in Europe and shares anecdotes about his experiences.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Smiley, Everett
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lawrence Huet, August 11, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lawrence Huet, August 11, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lawrence Huet. Huet joined the Navy in late 1942 and trained at Great Lakes. With training complete, he was assigned to USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in May 1943 and served as flight deck crewman. In 1944, after some leave, Huet was assigned to the USS Flint (CL-97). Huet was discharged in 1946.
Date: August 11, 2015
Creator: Huet, Lawrence
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Thomas Pugh, August 4, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Thomas Pugh, August 4, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Pugh. Pugh joined the Marine Corps in August, 1941 and trained at San Diego. In October, he was assigned to a headquarters and service company in the 2nd Engineer Battalion, Fleet Marine Force. He went to Hawaii briefly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but broke his wrist and returned to San Diego to go to scout sniper school. Then he was assigned to another H & S company in the 19th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He went overseas with them and helped build docks and roads on Guadalcanal and Bougainville. He also was at Guam for the invasion in July, 1944. Thomas received some leave and returned to the US in May, 1945. He was discharged later in September and surprised his mother upon his homecoming.
Date: August 4, 2015
Creator: Pugh, Thomas
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Roy Beck, August 6, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Roy Beck, August 6, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Roy Beck. Beck was drafted into the Army in September, 1943 and went to basic training in Missouri. From there, he went to a trade school in New York to become an electrician. His first assignment was in the Aleutian Islands at Amchitka where he worked as an electrician rigging wiring and working on poles. He also went to Attu and helped build a landing strip on Shemya Island before returning to the US and being discharged in June 1946.
Date: August 6, 2015
Creator: Beck, Roy
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lester Harrell, August 12, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lester Harrell, August 12, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lester Harrell. Harrell joined the Navy in 1942. In 1943, he completed Midshipman School. In 1944, Harrell served on the starboard anti-aircraft guns aboard USS New Mexico (BB-40). He later served as an ensign in the plotting room aboard USS Canberra (CA-70), where he was stationed when the ship was torpedoed in October of 1944. His next assignment was on a Landing Ship Medium (LSM). He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.
Date: August 12, 2015
Creator: Harrell, Lester
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Hawley, August 27, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Hawley, August 27, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Hawley. Hawley graduated from Culver Military Academy, Indiana, and joined the Navy in July of 1944. He completed Quartermaster School. In early 1945, he served aboard a yard oiler, YOG-33 and traveled to the Russell Islands, Guadalcanal, the Cook Islands, the Fiji Islands, replenishing oil as needed. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in July of 1946.
Date: August 27, 2015
Creator: Hawley, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Donald Andrew, August 30, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Donald Andrew, August 30, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Andrew Alfred. Alfred was born on 28 July 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen. He served as a navigator with the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29, called Dearly Beloved. In late 1944, they were stationed on Tinian and flew 27 missions over Japan, including Iwo Jima and Tokyo. After the war ended, they dropped supplies to American troops in Japan. Alfred returned to the US and received his discharge on 4 January 1946.
Date: August 30, 2015
Creator: Alfred, Donald
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History