The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herman L. Bell. Bell worked in a shipyard in California at the beginning of the war and describes his duties as a welder. He joined the Navy in April 1943 and discusses his time in boot camp at Farragut, Idaho and the additional training that he received as a firefighter. Bell was sent to the USS Independence (CVL-22). He describes his duties and some of the work he performed. Bell discusses when his ship was hit with a torpedo off Tarawa and the damage control work he performed including how he helped save a trapped sailor. He also discusses an incident when emergency repairs were performed during a typhoon and another when a large bomb broke free from its restraints. Bell also discusses seeing the massive flyover during the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay. He left the service in November 1945.

Faculty recital presented at the UNT College of Music Organ Recital Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arthur Bertanzetti. Bertanzetti joined the Army in February of 1941. After 2 years he transferred to the Army Air Forces. He was commissioned in 1943. He flew B-24s and was assigned to the 489th Bomb Group, 846th Bomb Squadron. In 1944 Bertanzetti traveled to England and completed 31 combat missions. On the last mission his plane went down. He and the crew bailed out over Germany, were captured and taken as prisoners of war to Stalag Luft III. He was a POW for 10 months, then liberated by Patton???s 3rd Army. Serving later in the reserves, Bertanzetti was discharged from the service in October of 1967.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Bloomfield. Bloomfield joined the Navy in 1942 as a Naval Aviation Cadet. In June of 1943 he received his wings. Beginning around August, Bloomfield joined Fighter Squadron Six (VF-6), with Butch O’Hare. He served as tail-end Charlie of O’Hare’s division, flying the Grumman F6F-Hellcat. Bloomfield participated in the carrier raids around Marcus Island and Wake Island. He later served as a wing man to Harry Harrison. In late 1943, Pearl Harbor served as his base of operations. From there they completed missions, participated in raids and supported landings in the Solomons, Coral Sea, Rabaul, New Hebrides, Espiritu Santo, Tarawa, the Marshall Islands and the Gilbert Islands. He was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Weston Bonney. Bonney joined the Navy in August of 1943. He served as Chief Storekeeper aboard USS Kendrick (DD-612) beginning in March of 1944. They provided gunfire in support of ground troops advancing northward through Italy. He participated in the invasion of southern France in August, and escorted a convoy to the Mediterranean Sea in November, returning to the US in December. In August of 1945 they traveled to Pearl Harbor, where Bonney transferred to the USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858). They trained with aircraft carriers in the Pacific and completed a tour of occupation duty, traveling to Yokosuka Harbor in Japan, Qingdao in China and Korea. He was discharged in May of 1946.

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

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

Interview with Durwood Allen "Boss" Merritt, a descendant of the Merritt and Foster families, from Hunt, Texas. Merritt speaks of his life in the rural area of Hunt, his family history, his time serving in the army during World War II, and founding the Hunt Methodist Church.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Angelo Gagliano. Gagliano joined the Navy in August 1942. He describes his experiences in basic training at Newport, Rhode Island. Gagliano was assigned to an air service unit and then transferred to the USS Langley (CVL-27). He became an aviation storekeeper and also served as an ammunition handler on a 40mm gun. Gagliano describes a time when he was a passenger on a TBF that catapulted off of the ship and how he blacked-out. He also discusses shipboard life and his duties. Gagliano describes seeing USS Princeton (CVL-23), USS Franklin (CV-13), and USS Lexington (CV-16) all take serious damage in battle. He also discusses what it was like to go through a typhoon and how several destroyers were lost. He was transferred to shore duty in New York and then Alameda where he signed off on returning aviators who were returning their gear. Gagliano left the Navy in March 1946.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

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

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Horn. Horn was drafted into the Army in February of 1943. Horn was assigned to Company H, 2nd Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was first gunner in a machine gun squad. In March they traveled to Africa. Horn provides details of the water-cooled 30mm machine gun he fired. Theirjob in Africa was to move the remaining Germans out. Later in 1943 they traveled to Sicily, then Salerno. In September of 1943 Horn was wounded in Salerno by a 20mm gun. After being wounded he was sent back to Anzio. He later participated in the Normandy landings in June of 1944. Ernie Pyle worked with their group. In December of 1944 they participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged in October of 1945.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Main Auditorium in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree.

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

Faculty recital presented at the UNT College of Music Kenton Hall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Jeter. Jeter was drafted into the Navy in 1943. He found boot camp to be tough, and some men committed suicide there. Jeter attended fire-control school in Bainbridge and then boarded USS New York (BB-34) as a fire controlman, working with highly classified computers and gyroscopes. Because his commanding officer was a childhood friend, Jeter turned down promotions to avoid misperceptions of favoritism. He instead served as the telephone man and orderly for the captain. In combat, Jeter served as the main battery director, witnessing the bloody aftermath of friendly fire from his battle station at Iwo Jima. After a kamikaze attacked the ship at Okinawa, Jeter saved the rising sun emblem from its wing as a souvenir. Upon returning to the States, Jeter guarded German prisoners at Norfolk. After his discharge, he earned a degree in physics on the GI Bill, later befriending several Japanese colleagues through his work.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree.

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree.

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

A faculty and guest artist recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

University of North Texas Chamber Choir performance at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall with a guest conductor in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree.

Wind symphony concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

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