Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

Interview with Boyd K. Miller, a draftsman and pilot during World War II. He discusses being drafted out of college and working as an artist and draftsman. Since he studied art in college, he worked on diagrams and charts. He then transferred to the Air Corps to become a pilot and trained in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama, New York, Georgia, Florida and Texas.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

Ensemble concert presented at the UNT College of Music Kenton Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arnold Shidler. Shidler joined the Army in 1944. He served with the 80th Infantry Division, 318th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion. In July of 1944, they deployed to England. They were in active duty through France, and into Germany, participating in the Battle of the Bulge. After receiving frostbite on his feet, he was sent back to England in early 1945. Shidler was later stationed in La Havre, France until the end of the war. Shidler returned to the US and was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Piester. Born in 1922, he joined the Army Air Force in 1942. He recounts being selected for Project #9 and transported to India. He was assigned to a fighter group to perform mechanics on P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts in India. The group?s mission was to destroy Japanese supply lines and air fields in Burma. He discusses the use and difficulties of Waco CG-4A gliders in the invasion of Burma. He also discusses the effect of the monsoon season on the mission and the movement of the air bases. When the war ended he returned to the United States on a troopship and was discharged in November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Young. Young was commissioned as a reserve officer with the Army Corps of Engineers. He was of Chinese descent and spoke Cantonese and Mandarin. Young was sent to China and served as an aide-de-camp for General Stilwell from February 1942 through the end of 1945. He discusses the difficulties of the relationship between Stilwell and Chiang Kai-Shek as well as the overall strategic situation. Young also describes how Chinese officers would often defer to Chiang. He also got to know Madame Sun Yat-Sen and describes their interactions. Young tells how he walked out of Burma with Stilwell during a retreat.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Hilton. Hilton joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed Photo School and served as a photographer aboard a B-29, taking photos for reconnaissance in the China Burma India Theater. He served with the 40th Bombardment Group. They completed the majority of their missions over China, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, including detailed mapping over Okinawa in preparation for the invasion. His group also completed several missions in the Mariana Islands. Hilton participated in bombing, mapping and photo reconnaissance missions from April of 1944 through July of 1945. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Peter Tringham. Tringham was born in London, England in 1920. He graduated from high school in 1936, and completed an engineering degree in college by 1939. He joined England’s Territorial Army, similar to the US National Guard, in February of 1939. He volunteered as a driver in the Royal Engineers, and later traveled to France to join the British Expeditionary Force. Tringham served as a British Army captain through the China Burma India Theater campaign. He was discharged in April of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hazel Tringham. Tringham joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service towards the beginning of World War II in England. She worked as a radar operator on gun sites in London. Tringham served from June of 1942 through June of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Pederson. Pederson joined the Army Air Forces in December of 1942. In 1943, he completed Cadet School in Meteorology, and Tropical Meteorology School. He was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base in Florida for one year, practicing simulated bombings of Berlin. Beginning in December of 1944, he served in the China Burma India Theater. He was assigned to an Air Force station in Chabua, India. He worked as a load master, loading planes bound for China with proper weights and balances. Pederson continued his service after the war ended, and remained in the reserves until 1968.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Peter Lutken. Lutken received his commission in the Army via the ROTC program when he graduated from Mississippi State College in 1941. He was attached to the 703rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. He went overseas aboard the SS Santa Paula (1932) headed for India, but stopped in South Africa briefly before arriving in Karachi. Before long, they went to Assam and set up their anti-aircraft guns around the airfield.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ruth Lutken. Lutken was a legal secretary in the Civil Service. She worked in Jackson, Mississippi in a U.S. Attorney’s office. Lutken describes the local environment and situations she observed. She briefly mentions alien registration for civilians from enemy nations and an interview with a German POW. Lutken also volunteered at the American Red Cross. She left her position a few years after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bryce Brown. Brown joined the Army around 1942. He trained with the Medical Corps and served as a Medical Clerk. Brown was stationed in China, in the field of malaria control. He returned to the US and was discharged in 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ivan Haselby. Haselby joined the Army in July of 1944. He completed Officer Candidate School and served as a first lieutenant in the First Cavalry Division, Eighth Cavalry Regiment. He worked at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas through May of 1945. Beginning in July, he was deployed to Japan and served with the occupation forces. He was stationed in the Chiba Prefecture, occupying and investigating schools. Haselby returned to the US and was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Finnegan. Finnegan joined the Marine Corps without finishing high school right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He went to Parris Island to train in February 1942. At New River, North Carolina, Finnegan was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, First Marine Division. Finnegan was among the first Marines to arrive on Guadalcanal in August, 1942. He participated in the Battle of the Tenaru River. After leaving Guadalcanal, Finnegan went to Melbourne, Australia with the rest of the First Marine Division. From there, he landed on Cape Gloucester and recalls an engagement with the Japanese. After that, he went to Pavuvu prior to landing on Peleliu. He describes landing on Peleliu and his experiences in combat there. Finnegan was wounded and evacuated after a week on Peleliu. He spent time at a hospital on Manus and then was returned to the US in November, 1944. Upon recovery, he was sent to an ammunition station in Indiana to perform guard duty. The war ended and he was discharged in November, 1945. He re-enlisted in 1948 and was on hand to go to Korea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Boyd K. Miller. He discusses being drafted out of college, working as an artist/draftsman making diagrams and charts since he studied art in college, then transfering to the Air Corps to become a pilot, and the various training he went through in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama, New York, Georgia, Florida and Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Homer Buck and Dub Ramsel. Buck joined the Marine Corps in October of 1942, and served as a B-25 pilot. He was assigned as a replacement on Mindanao, Philippines. He completed patrol missions, searching for Japanese PT boats. Buck was discharged in early 1946. Ramsel was called to active duty in September of 1942. He received his wings and commission in August of 1943, and served as a Corsair pilot. In early 1944, Ramsel served with Marine Fighting Squadron 215 (VMF-215). He deployed to Hawaii as a replacement, completed around 900 hours of flight time, though never participated in any war campaigns. Ramsel was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Allen McKean. McKean was born in Staples, Texas 20 May 1924. Joining the Navy in December 1942, he underwent boot camp at San Diego, California. He was then sent to Norton Heights, Connecticut to attend Merchants Signal School. Upon completion, he was assigned to the SS Glen White (1918) as a signalman. Later, he was assigned to a Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO) beach party team. McKean tells of landing with the 6th Marine Division on Okinawa on 1 April 1945 and the duties they performed. He was discharged soon after the surrender of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Glen Holder. Holder joined the Army Air Forces in August of 1940. Beginning August of 1943, Holder served as a P38 pilot with the 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, completing 153 missions in the Pacific. He completed combat missions over New Guinea, Cape Gloucester, the Philippines and Morotai. He recalls Charles Lindbergh flying with his squadron, teaching them methods to double their fuel over water. He returned to the US and was discharged in mid-1945. Holder continued his service after the war, retiring from the reserves around 1972.

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Main Auditorium in partial fulfillment of the Master of Music (MM) degree.