The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Cy Heinrich. Heinrich entered the Navy and served with the VF-41 Night Fighter Squadron, aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) as a Landing Signal Officer. Around January 1944 he was assigned to Las Alamedas to work with Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 33, CASU-33. He helped implement reflective material down the legs of their flight suits in order to see one another more easily during night landings. Heinrich was assigned back to the Independence around July of 1944, where his squadron was assigned to take new aircraft aboard. He provides some details of this work, including the tedious work of serving as a Landing Signal Officer. They struck Okinawa, Formosa, and the Philippines. He provides details of how the Independence became a night operating carrier.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James M. Van de Hey. Born in Maribel, Wisconsin 15 March 1916, Van de Hey attended a one room school for eight years before graduating from high school in Antigo, Wisconsin. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps for two years before joining the Army Air Corps in 1936. Upon entering the Air Corps, he went to Chanute Field, Illinois for aircraft and maintenance school. While there he took examinations and was accepted for flight training. Van de Hey received training at several air fields and upon graduating, went to Hawaii. Arriving at Wheeler Field, he joined the 78th Pursuit Squadron. Recalling the attack on Pearl Harbor, he describes what he observed and tells of the damage to the planes. After receiving more aircraft and training all the personnel and equipment were loaded onto the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and taken to Midway. He was stationed on Midway twice and spending several months on Baker Island. During these tours, he shot down two Japanese aircraft. Van de Hey was made the squadron commander and they began flying P-51 fighters at Guam and Iwo Jima. While there he led the first …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Burley. Burley joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He completed armament school, and was assigned to the 1025th Training Squadron. Burley worked at the gunnery range, ensuring each gun remained operable for training. He was sent to a B-29 gunnery school at Lowry Field in Colorado, and was later stationed at the Red Cross Office in Biloxi, Mississippi performing routine maintenance on armament for an emergency rescue unit. Burley was discharged in January of 1946.

Guest symphonic band concert performed at the UNT College of Music Winspear Hall

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dick Schumacher. He was born in 1916 in Canton, Ohio. In about 1941, he received a Navy commission and was sent to Navy Supply Corps School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His first duty assignment was to the Supply Department at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard during the building of the USS New Jersey (BB-62) and the USS Wisconsin (BB-64). He was assigned to the USS Ashland (LSD-1) in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater until June 1945. He describes the living conditions on the ship. He shares his concern about being blown up while transporting large amounts of ammunition. Prior to his discharge in February 1946, he was assigned to the Naval Storehouse in Baltimore, Maryland. He shares anecdotes about being required to have a sword; the crew brewing alcoholic beverages on the ship; the ship hitting the dock at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and experiencing a typhoon while at sea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles A. Thuet. Thuet was born in Wilmington, Delaware 21 August 1921. In 1940 he began working in the local shipyard. In 1942 he volunteered for the Navy and underwent six weeks of boot training at Newport, Rhode Island. Afterward, he was assigned to the USS Wainwright (DD-419) and became served as an orderly for Commodore D.P. Moon. He recalls being in Convoy PQ-17 to Murmansk, Russia that was attacked by German air and naval forces. Twenty-four of the thirty-five cargo ships in the convoy were sunk. In August 1942 he was transferred to the USS Wichita (CA-45) where he flew as the observer aboard SOC aircraft. He describes the landing and takeoff procedures of the planes. He also served as a parachute rigger. During November 1942, the Wichita bombarded Casablanca. The ship received damage from a shore battery and retired to Brooklyn Navy Yard for repairs. The ship then proceeded through the Panama Canal to Noumea, New Caledonia with a convoy. Thuet recalls the Wichita bombarded various islands including Kwajalein, Hollandia and Saipan. In April 1943 the ship was part of the invasion force assigned to retake …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gordon Lively. Lively joined the Navy in the fall of 1943. He served as Sonarman Third Class aboard the USS Walker (DD-517) in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. They served in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October of 1944. In March of 1945 they bombarded Kyushu, to neutralize and weaken Japanese air power, and Lively was sent back to the US that same month. He worked in the States for the remainder of his service and was discharged in April of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Bloedorn. Bloedorn joined the Marine Corps in June of 1944. He traveled to Guam and served with the 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima from February through April of 1945. He was discharged in July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Caronna. Caronna joined the Navy in June of 1944. He was assigned to specialized beach battalion training, including landing LCVPs, setting explosives, completing booby trap school and bayonet fighting. In November of 1944 Caronna was assigned to the USS Neshoba (APA-216), working the 40mm antiaircraft gun. From December of 1944 through March of 1946 he served aboard the USS Natrona (APA-214). They participated in the Battle of Okinawa. They transported Japanese prisoners to Guam and a Seabee unit to Samar. Caronna was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joseph Garofalo. Garofalo worked for Elco as a carpenter at the beginning of the war. He then joined the Navy to become a Seabee. Garofalo was assigned to the 121st Construction Battalion and was attached to the 4th Marine Division. He describes the combat landings on Roi-Namur, Saipan, and Tinian. Garofalo discusses the combat and conditions that he encountered in each battle. He mentions a close call with a Japanese grenade, being pushed out of cover into sniper fire by his commanding officer, and a large explosion of a torpedo bunker which caused many casualties on Rio-Namur. Garofalo details his experiences on Saipan including helping load casualties on landing craft and seeing the Japanese commit large-scale suicide at the end of the battle. He also describes working on the airstrip on Tinian and the lack of rations that were available. Garofalo returned to the US at the end of the war and describes an encounter with Bob Hope.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harry Ogg. Ogg joined the Navy in June of 1941. Beginning around September he served as Boatswain’s Mate First Class aboard USS Neosho (AO-23). They transported high octane fuel to the Naval Air Station on Ford Island, and just prior to leaving, the attack on Pearl Harbor commenced. In early 1942 Ogg was transferred to New York City to work on new construction and complete Minesweeping School. From May of 1944 through March of 1945 he served aboard USS Hazard (AM-240). They traveled to Hawaii, Corregidor, Eniwetok, Ulithi, Okinawa and Kerama Retto, minesweeping and providing anti-submarine patrols. Ogg was discharged in the summer of 1946.

Choir concert performed at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree

Lecture recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and oral interview with Douglas A. Skinner. Born 13 January 1923 in Fleetwood, Oklahoma, Skinner joined the Army 1 April 1943 and was sent to Fort Hood, Texas for basic training. Upon completion of basic, he volunteered for the Parachute Infantry and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for airborne training. He describes the training they received. Assigned to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division he was sent to England. On 6 June 1944 the unit participated in the invasion of Normandy. He recalls the plane in which he was aboard being hit by anti-aircraft fire and going down in flames. Skinner was able to bail out before it crashed. He remembers that only he and two others on the plane survived. Briefly discussing the action in which he was involved, Skinner tells of being wounded. As a result of his wound, he spent six months in the hospital. He was discharged from the Army 2 December 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Nellis Verhey. Verhey joined the Army in April of 1943. He served with G Company, 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. In 1944 they traveled to England. Verhey parachuted into Normandy on D-Day in June and into Belgium during Operation Market Garden in September. Verhey was discharged in December of 1945. After the war ended, he served on Honor Guard duty for both Eisenhower and Truman.

Repertoire Orchestra concert performed at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall

Women's and Men's Chorus concert performed in UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

Recital performed at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree

Chamber music concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Hall

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.

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.