Oral History Interview with George Minick, November 24, 2010 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Minick, November 24, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Minick. Minick joined the Navy in 1942 and was trained as an electrician. He was assigned to the USS Thorn (DD-647) and worked in the E division. Minick became a searchlight operator and a member of a repair party. He describes the electrical systems aboard the Thorn. Minick was aboard the destroyer as it served as an escort for Task Force 38 and fired star shells during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He describes the ship searching for several days for survivors of the USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95), but finding none. Minick was aboard when the Thorn went through a typhoon and experienced 72-degree rolls. He visited Tokyo after the surrender and describes the burned city and the civilians he encountered. Minick also boarded HIJMS Nagato and mentions the engine room and souvenir hunting. He left the service after he returned to the States.
Date: November 24, 2010
Creator: Minick, George
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Henry Frank Vojtek, November 24, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Henry Frank Vojtek, November 24, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Frank Vojtek. Vojtek joined the Navy in September of 1942. Beginning in April of 1943, he served as a Helmsman aboard the USS Murray (DD-576). They participated in the invasions of Bougainville, Tarawa, Aitape, New Guinea, Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: November 24, 2008
Creator: Vojtek, Henry Frank
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Haw, November 24, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Haw, November 24, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Haw. Haw joined the Navy in April of 1943. He completed Hospital Corps and Operating Room technician training. He completed Amphibious Training with the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton in California. In 1945 he traveled with the 5th Marine Division aboard the USS Hansford (APA-106) to participate in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Haw was wounded during the battle by an explosion. From Iwo he participated in the Battle of Okinawa. Haw provides details of his training and aiding the wounded during battles. He was discharged in 1946.
Date: November 24, 2009
Creator: Haw, Richard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, November 24, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, November 24, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J. Glen Cleckler. He begins by discussing his background and how he and 7 buddies went to a recruiting offices to get forms to have an excuse for the principal for why they skipped school that day (it was actually to go see a movie) and ended up with the principal allowing them to graduate early to join the Marines. He discusses going through boot camp and other training programs, the battle of Iwo Jima, hygiene during a battle, seeing one of the flags raised on Iwo and a couple stories about Harlan Block, one of the flag raisers and part of the group he joined the Marines with. He ancedotes about getting a ride back to the States on a ship full of Section-8 soldiers (PTSD victims), meeting German prisoners of war and Jim Crow laws.
Date: November 24, 2006
Creator: Cleckler, J. Glen
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack C. Henthorn, November 24, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack C. Henthorn, November 24, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack C. Henthorn. Henthorn joined the Army Air Forces in March 1944. He was sent to gunnery school and describes how he was trained as a ball turret gunner. Henthorn was sent to England as a part of a B-24 crew to serve with the 564th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group. He briefly mentions having Jimmy Stewart as a commanding officer. Henthorn discusses getting an infection from a cut and how he was treated. He describes participating in four missions just before the end of the war. Henthorn details the trip back to the US. He was discharged soon after his return, but remained in the reserves.
Date: November 24, 2003
Creator: Henthorn, Jack C.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, November 24, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, November 24, 2006

Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He discusses his background, including the day he and seven of his friends skipped school to see a movie. In order to provide a believable excuse for their absence to their principal, they went to a recruiting office to get informational forms. The principal then gave them permission to graduate early to join the Marines. He discusses his experiences in boot camp and other training programs and the Battle of Iwo Jima, including hygiene during the battle and the famous flag-raising there. He shares some stories about one of the flag-raisers, Harlan Block, who had been part of the group that enlisted in the Marines with him. He also recalls returning to the United States on a ship full of Section-8 soldiers (PTSD victims), meeting German prisoners of war, and living with Jim Crow laws.
Date: November 24, 2006
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Cleckler, J. Glen
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Haw, November 24, 2009 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Richard Haw, November 24, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Haw. Haw joined the Navy in April of 1943. He completed Hospital Corps and Operating Room technician training. He completed Amphibious Training with the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton in California. In 1945 he traveled with the 5th Marine Division aboard the USS Hansford (APA-106) to participate in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Haw was wounded during the battle by an explosion. From Iwo he participated in the Battle of Okinawa. Haw provides details of his training and aiding the wounded during battles. He was discharged in 1946.
Date: November 24, 2009
Creator: Haw, Richard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Minick, November 24, 2010 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Minick, November 24, 2010

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Minick. Minick joined the Navy in 1942 and was trained as an electrician. He was assigned to the USS Thorn (DD-647) and worked in the E division. Minick became a searchlight operator and a member of a repair party. He describes the electrical systems aboard the Thorn. Minick was aboard the destroyer as it served as an escort for Task Force 38 and fired star shells during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He describes the ship searching for several days for survivors of the USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95), but finding none. Minick was aboard when the Thorn went through a typhoon and experienced 72-degree rolls. He visited Tokyo after the surrender and describes the burned city and the civilians he encountered. Minick also boarded HIJMS Nagato and mentions the engine room and souvenir hunting. He left the service after he returned to the States.
Date: November 24, 2010
Creator: Minick, George
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Henry Frank Vojtek, November 24, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Henry Frank Vojtek, November 24, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Frank Vojtek. Vojtek joined the Navy in September of 1942. Beginning in April of 1943, he served as a Helmsman aboard the USS Murray (DD-576). They participated in the invasions of Bougainville, Tarawa, Aitape, New Guinea, Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: November 24, 2008
Creator: Vojtek, Henry Frank
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, November 24, 2006 (open access)

Oral History Interview with J. Glen Cleckler, November 24, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J. Glen Cleckler. He begins by discussing his background and how he and 7 buddies went to a recruiting offices to get forms to have an excuse for the principal for why they skipped school that day (it was actually to go see a movie) and ended up with the principal allowing them to graduate early to join the Marines. He discusses going through boot camp and other training programs, the battle of Iwo Jima, hygiene during a battle, seeing one of the flags raised on Iwo and a couple stories about Harlan Block, one of the flag raisers and part of the group he joined the Marines with. He ancedotes about getting a ride back to the States on a ship full of Section-8 soldiers (PTSD victims), meeting German prisoners of war and Jim Crow laws.
Date: November 24, 2006
Creator: Cleckler, J. Glen
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack C. Henthorn, November 24, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jack C. Henthorn, November 24, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack C. Henthorn. Henthorn joined the Army Air Forces in March 1944. He was sent to gunnery school and describes how he was trained as a ball turret gunner. Henthorn was sent to England as a part of a B-24 crew to serve with the 564th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group. He briefly mentions having Jimmy Stewart as a commanding officer. Henthorn discusses getting an infection from a cut and how he was treated. He describes participating in four missions just before the end of the war. Henthorn details the trip back to the US. He was discharged soon after his return, but remained in the reserves.
Date: November 24, 2003
Creator: Henthorn, Jack C.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 24, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Catherine Davis to Joe Davis - November 24, 1944]

Letter from Catherine to her husband Joe discussing news from home, including a lazy day off work, reports in the newspapers about the bombing of Tokyo, plans to spend the weekend at home with Mother and Jessie, and Wootsie asking after him.
Date: November 24, 1944
Creator: Davis, Catherine Dawe
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 24, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Joe Davis to Catherine Davis - November 24, 1944]

Letter from Joe to his wife Catherine discussing having good food for Thanksgiving, going on a tour of the island, and encouraging cathine to invite her friends over for a bridge game.
Date: November 24, 1944
Creator: Davis, Joseph Emmett
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz During Change of Command Ceremony]

Photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz standing at a wooden podium and microphone during change of command ceremony on board U.S.S. Menhaden, Pearl Harbor. Typewritten label: "133. Fleet Admiral C. W. Nimitz is relieved as Cincpac-Cincpoa by Adm. R. A. Spruance on board U.S.S. Menhaden (SS 377), Pearl Harbor, 24 Nov. 1945.". Flt. Adm. Nimitz is wearing a white Naval uniform with a high collar, epaulettes, ribbon bars pinned above his pocket, and a brimmed hat with the Navy's emblem. Five men in the same white uniform stand to Flt. Adm. Nimitz's right.
Date: November 24, 1945
Creator: United States. Navy
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Admiral Raymond A. Spruance and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Command Change Ceremony]

Photograph of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance standing at a wooden podium with two microphones in front of him during the Change of Command ceremony on board the U.S.S. Menhaden at the Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz is standing behind him with his arms down by his side. There are four men lined up on the right side of the photo identified as Vice Admiral J. H. Newton, U.S.N., Rear Admiral Dewitt C. Ramsey U.S.N., Cdr. James Loo, U.S.N. and Lieut. Sam L. Bernard. They're all wearing white Navy uniforms, Navy ribbon bars above their pocket, epaulettes with stripes and a star on them and white hats with black brims and the Navy's emblem.
Date: November 24, 1945
Creator: United States. Navy
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History