Symphonic Band performance at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard R. Brandenburge. In January 1942 he transferred into the Army Air Force and began basic training at Shepherd Field and finished at Foster Field, graduating in February 1944. He received his wings and commission. He went to California and flew P38s, P39s, P40s and P51s. He loaded the P51s onto a small carrier in Pearl Harbor and moved to Tinian Island in March 1945. After Iwo Jima was secured they flew there to serve as escorts between the islands in their P51s. He discusses his experiences with Japanese bonsai raids, flying missions over Japan, escorting B29s, shooting at Japanese fighters and unfortunate casualties of planes and crew. His first mission as escort began April 1945, and he completed 26 missions overall. After he was discharged he had to stay in the reserves and completed a tour in the Korean War. He joined the reserves unit in San Antonio at Kelly Air Force Base, flying transports: C-46s, C-119s and C-124s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Sims. Sims was born in Sanger, Texas on 15 August 1921. He quit school and joined the US Marine Corps in September 1940. After completing boot training at Camp Pendleton, California he was sent to Iceland. After eight months, he returned to San Diego. Soon after his arrival he was among fourteen Marines selected for duty on American Samoa. After sixteen months, they were sent to Pearl Harbor for four months of training. As Sims had contracted elephantiasis while in Samoa, he was put into a hospital in San Francisco. Upon recovering he was sent to the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas where he performed guard duty for four months. He went to Guam for a short time, was involved in limited action on Eniwetok and was sent to China following the surrender of Japan. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Blanchard. Blanchard joined the Navy in February, 1943. His first assignment after boot camp was in an office at the Norfolk (Virginia) Naval Air Station. In early 1945, Blanchard reported aboard USS Franklin (CV-13). Blanchard was aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) when she was hit by Japanese bombs. He was below decks during the attack, suffered from smoke inhalation and was eventually transferred to USS Santa Fe (CL-60). Blanchard returned to the Franklin at Ulithi and went with it to Brooklyn. He was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Harker. Harker entered the Navy with a direct commission in July 1944. Upon arriving at Pearl harbor, he assumed duties as the engineering officer aboard USS LCI(G)-474, going aboard in November. When Harker’s LCI went close to shore to support the underwater demolition teams prior to the landing at Iwo Jima, his ship was shot up by shore batteries and had to retire from the line. After everyone transferred to a destroyer, the 474 rolled over and sank. Harker was transferred to USS LCI(G)-449 and travelled back to Saipan. Before the war ended, Harker was assigned to LST-226. He shares a few anecdotes about being aboard it. He was recalled for the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn G. Morgan. He was a bugler aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) and discusses a kamikaze attack during the Okinawa campaign, carrying a crate to Tinian that contained the first atomic bomb, the ship's sinking, and the four days/five nights he spent in a life raft waiting to be rescued.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Burry. Burry was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado 28 March 1924. He was inducted into the Army Air Forces in January 1943 and received flight training at various bases. After completing gunnery school, he was assigned to the 45th Fighter Squadron, which flew P-47 fighter planes. Traveling by merchant ship, Burry arrived at Iwo Jima in February 1945. He relates an incident where the Japanese made a banzai attack on the air field resulting in several pilots of the 15th Fighter Group being killed. He describes being on a strafing mission to Japan when his plane suffered engine failure and he bailed out. He tells of tying himself to his rubber dingy and surviving a typhoon. On his sixth day at sea he was picked up by the crew of the submarine USS Trutta (SS-421). He was transferred to the USS Peto (SS-265) and taken to Guam. After going to Hawaii for R & R he returned to Iwo Jima and received orders to return to the United States. He was discharged in September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with June Brandenberger. Brandenberger finished high school in 1943 and was married later I n1944 to an officer in the Army Air Forces. She worked for a telephone company in San Antonio during the war. Brandenberger shares what it was like to be married with a small child and a husband overseas toward the end of the war. She describes his homecoming and what life was like after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Deward Terry. Terry was born in Bristol, Missouri in 1925. After graduating from high school, he attended business school for six months at Southeast Missouri College. He joined the Marine Corps in August 1943 and underwent boot training at San Diego. Upon graduating, he went to Camp Pendleton, where he joined the 5th Marine Division and attended the Communications School. He then went to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii for training with a forward observation team with the artillery. He recalls landing at Red Beach on Iwo Jima and being unable to move for four days due to heavy mortar and artillery fire from the Japanese defenders. He had a close encounter with a Japanese soldier and recalls the death of a close friend. After the surrender of Japan, Terry’s unit went to Japan where they performed guard duties for six months before returning to the United States. Upon his return, Terry was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Dyches. Dyches joined the Marine Corps in 1943. After boot training, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Division. He landed at Iwo Jima and served as a BAR man carrying the Browning Automatic Rifle. He landed on the first day of the invasion and was wounded and evacuated on the fifth day. His wounds kept in various hospitals for over a year. He was discharged in August, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charlie Adams. Adams enlisted in the Marine Corps in March, 1943 and after training was assigned to the Fifth Marine Division. He landed late on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima. He remained there for 36 days. He served as a radio operator and describes much of the combat conditions he encountered on the island as well as some of the Japanese tactics. He was one of 13 of his original company of 248 men to walk off Iwo Jima unhurt. Adams also describes some of his experiences in Nagasaki, Japan during the occupation. He returned to the US and was discharged in March, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Bowell. Bowell entered service in the Navy in February 1942 and trained as a signalman and on sonar. In February, 1944 he was assigned to USS Defense (AM-317). Bowell speaks about the relationships he developed aboard ship. He also mentions minesweeping and kamikaze attacks off Okinawa and talks about fire support for the Marines on Iwo Jima. Bowell also recalls going into the water to rescue men from other vessels. When the war ended, Bowell’s ship swept mines off Japan. He remembers a typhoon off Okinawa and being discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral history with Marcus Worde. Worde enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September, 1941. He was in flight school at Uvalde, Texas when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He trained in B-17s, B-24s and B-29s. He served as a flight instructor for B-24s. When, Worde went overseas, he was assigned to the 421st Bomb Squadron, 504th Bomb Group on Tinian. From there, Worde flew combat missions over Japan in a B-29 until he was shot down in May, 1945 and became a prisoner of war. Worde describes his experiences as a Japanese POW and the treatment he endured until the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cull W. ?Bud? Forbus. Born in 1924, he joined the Marine Corps in June 1942. He was transported on the USS George F. Elliott (AP-105) to Noumea, New Caledonia in December 1943. He was a Browning Automatic Rifleman in the 3rd Marine Division, 34th Replacement Battalion. He discusses the formation of the 3rd Marine Division and the division colors. He recounts waiting for the 77th Infantry Division to arrive prior to the invasion of Guam. He describes being injured at night by a knife-wielding Japanese soldier as well as his evacuation and medical care. When he recovered from his wounds, he was assigned to the 81st Mortar Section of the 4th Marine Division. He describes the landings on Guam using an LVT (Landing Vehicle, Tracked) and on Iwo Jima using an LST (Landing Ship, Tank). He discusses battleship artillery support at Iwo Jima, the landing at Boat Basin, and the Japanese bunkers and tunnels. He describes being injured on Iwo Jima, his evacuation, and medical treatment. After his recovery, he was assigned to guard duty at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. He was discharged in …

Interview with Glenn G. Morgan, a bugler in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He was a bugler aboard the USS Indianapolis and experienced a kamikaze attack during the Okinawa campaign. He also describes transporting the crate that contained the first atomic bomb to Tinian, the ship's sinking, and the four days and five nights he spent in a life raft waiting to be rescued.