Oral History Interview with George Fortmeyer, November 7, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Fortmeyer, November 7, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Fortmeyer. Fortmeyer joined the Navy in February of 1945. He served as Fireman First Class aboard the USS Chickasaw (AT-83). They conducted salvage and rescue operations around Wake Island, the Hawaiian Islands, and along the coast of the United States. Fortmeyer continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in 1946.
Date: November 7, 2018
Creator: Fortmeyer, George
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edwin Stewart, November 1, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Edwin Stewart, November 1, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edwin Stewart. Stewart joined the Navy in November of 1943. He completed sonar school in mid-1944, and served as Sonar Man Third Class aboard the USS Wyman (DE-38). They conducted anti-submarine warfare through Saipan, where Stewart recalls sinking Japanese submarines. They also conducted escort duty of their fleet ships between Ulithi and the Philippines. In early to mid-1945, they supported the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Stewart returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.
Date: November 1, 2018
Creator: Stewart, Edwin
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clinton Langstaff, November 1, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Clinton Langstaff, November 1, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clinton Langstaff. Langstaff joined the Navy in early 1943 and qualified for the V-12 program and received college instruction in pre – med in Montana, then at Northwestern University. Upon commissioning and some anti-submarine warfare officer training, Langstaff was scheduled to go aboard a vessel when the war ended. He stayed in the reserves and was eventually discharged in the 1950s.
Date: November 1, 2018
Creator: Langstaff, Clinton
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Odd Aarstad, November 4, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Odd Aarstad, November 4, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Odd Aarstad. Aarstad joined the Navy in August 1944 and trained to be a corpsman. Upon completion of training, Aarstad reported to the Annapolis Naval Hospital where he served and treated wounded and sick patients. Eventually, Aarstad worked on artificial limbs for amputees. He also served at a rehabilitation station in Philadelphia where people were being fitted for prosthetic legs. Aarstad was discharged in October 1946.
Date: November 4, 2018
Creator: Aarstad, Odd
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Knight, November 10, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Knight, November 10, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James O., Cotton, Knight. Knight joined the Army in July of 1943. He served as Technician Fourth-Class with the 3197th Engineer Pipeline Detachment, Combat Engineers. They were deployed to New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, operating a tank farm that pumped gasoline for military planes and vehicles. He then served on Emirau Island for 13 months, where their job was to cut the supply line of the Japanese base located 80 miles from their base. In early 1945, they traveled to Leyte to work a tank farm. where they were located when the war ended. Knight returned to the U.S. in January of 1946 and received his discharge in February.
Date: November 10, 2018
Creator: Knight, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Foster, November 12, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Foster, November 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Foster. Foster received an agriculture deferment for two years afer he finished high school in 1942. He was drafted into the Army and trained in Florida before being shipped overseas to Hawaii, then Saipan, and finally Okinawa where he joined the 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division as a replacement. He shares several anecdotes about his experiences fighting on Okinawa. Toward the end of the war, Foster was reassigned to the 86th Infantry Division in the philippoines and was there when the war ended.
Date: November 12, 2018
Creator: Foster, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Kenneth Doolittle, November 13, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Kenneth Doolittle, November 13, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Doolittle. Doolittle was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1930. His father was a doctor at the Queen’s Medical Center. He was an 11-year-old boy, living with his family in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Doolittle shares details of his experiences through that fateful day, and his life in general living on the island before, during and after the war. He graduated high school in 1948 and served in the Army with the 101st Airborne Division.
Date: November 13, 2018
Creator: Doolittle, Kenneth
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Bacastow, November 16, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jack Bacastow, November 16, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Bacastow. Bacastow joined the Navy in March of 1943. He completed Aviation Ordnance School. He assisted with setting up an air base in the South Pacific to service carriers. He joined the Aviation Construction Ordnance Repair Navy 28 (ACORN 28) unit, serving in the Admiralty Islands from March through October of 1944. Bacastow was transferred to the USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), where he served through the battles of Leyte Gulf and Luzon. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in March of 1946.
Date: November 16, 2018
Creator: Bacastow, Jack
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Huffman, November 30, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with William Huffman, November 30, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Huffman. Huffman joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He served as a B-24 Navigator, stationed in Virginia. He flew throughout the US during the war, and did not go overseas. Huffman received his discharge in late 1945.
Date: November 30, 2018
Creator: Huffman, William
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Frederick Valentine, November 12, 2018 transcript

Oral History Interview with Frederick Valentine, November 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frederick Valentine. Valentine graduated from high school in 1940. He worked as a mechanic for the General Aviation Company in Canton, Massachusetts. In early 1942, he joined the Army Air Forces, and served as a chief instructor at the Aviation Company’s civilian mechanics school and was in the reserve. The company began manufacturing parts for the CG-4 Glider, and he worked on the production line training welders. In April of 1944, Valentine was called to active duty and sent to Greensboro, North Carolina for basic. He describes playing on the baseball team with Charles Ruffing and Joe DiMaggio. He was later transferred to Pollock Field, Louisiana. In December of 1945, he was deployed to France, then to Wiesbaden, Germany, where Valentine completed parts inspections and repairs of various types of aircraft. He returned to the US in June of 1946 and received his discharge.
Date: November 12, 2018
Creator: Valentine, Frederick
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Fortmeyer, November 7, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Fortmeyer, November 7, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Fortmeyer. Fortmeyer joined the Navy in February of 1945. He served as Fireman First Class aboard the USS Chickasaw (AT-83). They conducted salvage and rescue operations around Wake Island, the Hawaiian Islands, and along the coast of the United States. Fortmeyer continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in 1946.
Date: November 7, 2018
Creator: Fortmeyer, George
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edwin Stewart, November 1, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Edwin Stewart, November 1, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edwin Stewart. Stewart joined the Navy in November of 1943. He completed sonar school in mid-1944, and served as Sonar Man Third Class aboard the USS Wyman (DE-38). They conducted anti-submarine warfare through Saipan, where Stewart recalls sinking Japanese submarines. They also conducted escort duty of their fleet ships between Ulithi and the Philippines. In early to mid-1945, they supported the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Stewart returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.
Date: November 1, 2018
Creator: Stewart, Edwin
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clinton Langstaff, November 1, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Clinton Langstaff, November 1, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clinton Langstaff. Langstaff joined the Navy in early 1943 and qualified for the V-12 program and received college instruction in pre – med in Montana, then at Northwestern University. Upon commissioning and some anti-submarine warfare officer training, Langstaff was scheduled to go aboard a vessel when the war ended. He stayed in the reserves and was eventually discharged in the 1950s.
Date: November 1, 2018
Creator: Langstaff, Clinton
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Odd Aarstad, November 4, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Odd Aarstad, November 4, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Odd Aarstad. Aarstad joined the Navy in August 1944 and trained to be a corpsman. Upon completion of training, Aarstad reported to the Annapolis Naval Hospital where he served and treated wounded and sick patients. Eventually, Aarstad worked on artificial limbs for amputees. He also served at a rehabilitation station in Philadelphia where people were being fitted for prosthetic legs. Aarstad was discharged in October 1946.
Date: November 4, 2018
Creator: Aarstad, Odd
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Knight, November 10, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Knight, November 10, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James O., Cotton, Knight. Knight joined the Army in July of 1943. He served as Technician Fourth-Class with the 3197th Engineer Pipeline Detachment, Combat Engineers. They were deployed to New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, operating a tank farm that pumped gasoline for military planes and vehicles. He then served on Emirau Island for 13 months, where their job was to cut the supply line of the Japanese base located 80 miles from their base. In early 1945, they traveled to Leyte to work a tank farm. where they were located when the war ended. Knight returned to the U.S. in January of 1946 and received his discharge in February.
Date: November 10, 2018
Creator: Knight, James
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Foster, November 12, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James Foster, November 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Foster. Foster received an agriculture deferment for two years afer he finished high school in 1942. He was drafted into the Army and trained in Florida before being shipped overseas to Hawaii, then Saipan, and finally Okinawa where he joined the 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division as a replacement. He shares several anecdotes about his experiences fighting on Okinawa. Toward the end of the war, Foster was reassigned to the 86th Infantry Division in the philippoines and was there when the war ended.
Date: November 12, 2018
Creator: Foster, James
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Kenneth Doolittle, November 13, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Kenneth Doolittle, November 13, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Doolittle. Doolittle was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1930. His father was a doctor at the Queen’s Medical Center. He was an 11-year-old boy, living with his family in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Doolittle shares details of his experiences through that fateful day, and his life in general living on the island before, during and after the war. He graduated high school in 1948 and served in the Army with the 101st Airborne Division.
Date: November 13, 2018
Creator: Doolittle, Kenneth
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jack Bacastow, November 16, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jack Bacastow, November 16, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Bacastow. Bacastow joined the Navy in March of 1943. He completed Aviation Ordnance School. He assisted with setting up an air base in the South Pacific to service carriers. He joined the Aviation Construction Ordnance Repair Navy 28 (ACORN 28) unit, serving in the Admiralty Islands from March through October of 1944. Bacastow was transferred to the USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), where he served through the battles of Leyte Gulf and Luzon. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in March of 1946.
Date: November 16, 2018
Creator: Bacastow, Jack
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Frederick Valentine, November 12, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Frederick Valentine, November 12, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frederick Valentine. Valentine graduated from high school in 1940. He worked as a mechanic for the General Aviation Company in Canton, Massachusetts. In early 1942, he joined the Army Air Forces, and served as a chief instructor at the Aviation Company’s civilian mechanics school and was in the reserve. The company began manufacturing parts for the CG-4 Glider, and he worked on the production line training welders. In April of 1944, Valentine was called to active duty and sent to Greensboro, North Carolina for basic. He describes playing on the baseball team with Charles Ruffing and Joe DiMaggio. He was later transferred to Pollock Field, Louisiana. In December of 1945, he was deployed to France, then to Wiesbaden, Germany, where Valentine completed parts inspections and repairs of various types of aircraft. He returned to the US in June of 1946 and received his discharge.
Date: November 12, 2018
Creator: Valentine, Frederick
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Huffman, November 30, 2018 (open access)

Oral History Interview with William Huffman, November 30, 2018

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Huffman. Huffman joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He served as a B-24 Navigator, stationed in Virginia. He flew throughout the US during the war, and did not go overseas. Huffman received his discharge in late 1945.
Date: November 30, 2018
Creator: Huffman, William
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History