Interview with Albert Bouley, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He discusses his enlistment in the Marines just after Pearl Harbor; his assignment to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division; the battle of Guadalcanal; malaria and dysentery; the battle of Cape Gloucester; the use of Pavuvu as a base; the battle of Peleliu; his return to the United States; guard duty at the Brooklyn Naval Yard and his service as an instructor in a heavy weapons school before the end of the war. He joined the Air Force 2 1/2 years later to be able to fly and work on planes, then retire to become a teacher in California, and finally settled in Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Stokesberry. Stokesberry joined the Navy in April 1940 and was stationed at Kaneohe Bay on 7 December 1941. He was out early collecting garbage from various stations on the base that morning and was among the first to see Japanese planes approaching. After the attack, he repaired damaged water lines. October 1942, he was sent to Johnston Island as an aviation metalsmith. After a brief assignment at Pearl Harbor doing overhaul and repair work, he was assigned to USS Independence (CVL-22). There he modified planes and landing craft to make night operations inconspicuous, such as adding flame dampeners to fighter planes and giving landing signal officers reflective clothing. He also outfitted planes with tubes filled with foil that when dropped would confuse Japanese radarmen. To give the impression that the 3rd and 5th fleet had two sets of aircraft, he painted planes with unique colors for each operation. He recalls the Independence participating in the sinking of HIJMS Musashi at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and he saw several kamikazes try to hit the Independence off Okinawa. After the war ended, he spent the rest of his …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harry Depoy. He was born in Pulaski County, Indiana on April 1, 1920. He recalls joining the Army in the spring 1944 and being assigned to the 670th Field Artillery Battalion. He describes how he had two brothers and both were assigned to different batteries in the 670th. He recalls shipping out from Boston to Le Havre, France. His unit trained in the mountains of France and then joined up with the 1st Army under General Bradley. Next he describes his unit fighting with the 3rd Army under General Patton. He describes some near encounters with V-1 Bombs. He describes getting caught behind enemy lines near Dusseldorf for ten days. Near Berlin, he describes how the Russians fired upon both the surrendering German troops and the Americans. He recalls hearing Patton ordering the Americans to return the fire and the Russians finally ceasing fire. He got to know General Patton very well and describes several instances of direct contact. He describes taking German prisoners, many of whom were SS, and very difficult to deal with. He recalls that he was in Yugoslavia when Germany surrendered. He says he …

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Forrest Goble. In December, 1942, Goble was drafted into the Army. After training, Goble was assigned to the 924th Field Artillery Battalion in the 99th Infantry Division. He shipped overseas in September 1944 to Europe. His unit arrived in France in November. Goble was serving as a supply sergeant for his unit. On 18 December, he was captured in a small Belgian town by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. He marched and was railroaded to Stalag 13C. Goble was being marched toward Bavaria when his group was liberated by elements of the 99th ID.

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 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Hubenthal. Hubenthal joined the Navy in November of 1942. He provides details of his flight training and the various planes he flew. He graduated in 1944. They traveled to Hawaii and Ulithi, where he was assigned to fly fighters off the USS Essex (CV-9). Hubenthal participated in both the Okinawa and Japan campaigns. He shares vivid details of his experiences through these battles. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Claud Grizzell. Grizzell was born in Denison, Texas on 19 June 1916 and joined the Navy in 1939. He attended machinist mate school following basic training in June 1940 and was assigned to the USS Cushing (DD-376) at Pearl Harbor. Upon returning to Hawaii, Grizzell describes the devastation at Pearl Harbor. He remembers the Cushing escorting various combatants to the South Pacific and arriving at Espiritu Santo Island. He recalls that the Cushing was sunk by a Japanese battleship the night of 13 November 1942 while in a task force sailing out to intercept the Japanese Fleet during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. He says that one-third of the crew was lost and that he and the others spent the night in the water before being picked up by landing craft. He recounts several experiences on the island over the following weeks while he and the other survivors were awaiting transportation back to the States on Survivors’ Leave. Grizzell recalls that he was assigned to the commissioning crew of USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) in September 1943. He recalls that the carrier alternated submarine patrol duty in the South …

Transcript of an oral interview with Albert Bouley. He discusses joining the Marines just after Pearl Harbor, being in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, the battle of Guadalcanal, getting malaria and dysentery, the battle of Cape Gloucester, using Pavuvu as a base, the battle of Peleliu, shipping back to the States, doing guard duty at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, becoming an instructor in a heavy weapons school before then end of the war. He joined the Air Force 2 1/2 years later to be able to fly and work on planes, then retiring and becoming a teacher in California before settling in Texas.

Ensemble performance at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

Audio recording of "Hondo's Song" and "Come Down to Texas" by Steven Fromholz and Willie Nelson.