The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert White. White finished high school in 1934 and shares several anecdotes about making a living during the Great Depression. During most of the war, White was working in an essential oil and gas industry job and was deferred from military service, until he was drafted into the Army in early 1945. He shipped out for occupation duty in Japan, arriving in November, 1945. WHite eventually received a hardship discharge because hi wife was going to have a surgery.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Enright. Enright joined the Navy in 1943. In 1944, he served as a yeoman at Pearl Harbor. He recalls observing the work being done on USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and USS Arizona (BB-39). He volunteered for sea duty, and served with the 24th Transport Division aboard USS Callaway (APA-35), an attack transport manned by the US Coast Guard. Enright recalls supporting the invasions on Saipan, Leyte, and at Lingayen Gulf. He recalls the ship being hit by a kamikaze in January of 1945. Around April, Enright was transferred to USS Olmsted (APA-188), transporting troops and supplies in support of amphibious operations, noting the close calls by kamikaze aircraft at Okinawa. He returned to the US in May of 1945 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Russell Pitzer. Pitzer was drafted into the Marine Corps in August 1944. In 1945 he traveled aboard USS Iowa (BB-61), fighting in the Battle of Okinawa and participating in the bombardment of Tokyo Bay and Japanese islands. Upon the Japanese surrender, Pitzer was assigned as a bodyguard to Admiral Chester Nimitz, and accompanied the admiral on a post-surrender tour of Japan that included Hiroshima. After the war, he returned home to West Virginia.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Daron Reedy. Reedy joined the 36th Infantry Division with the Texas National Guard when they mobilized in November of 1940. He served as an assistant supply sergeant. In 1943, he joined the Army Air Forces, completed flight training and worked as a P-39 and P-40 fighter pilot with the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Observation Group. Reedy deployed to the Pacific Theater in New Guinea, flew 158 strafing missions, survived 4 plane crashes, jungle fever and malaria. He flew combat missions against Japanese installations and airfields, while supporting ground forces on New Guinea and Biak. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with P B Snyder. Snyder graduated from high school in 1944 and enlisted in the Navy in early 1945 and trained at San Diego. He was still in training when the war ended and was assigned to USS Arenac (APA-121). Snyder describes what life was like on a troop/cargo transport in the Pacific right after the war ended. He shares several anecdotes about being aboard and traveling the Pacific with stops in Manila, Ulithi, Japan and other places. He amde three round-trip crossings of the Pacific bringing soldiers home from the war during Operation MAGIC CARPET.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Glenn W. Taylor. Taylor joined the Army in July 1941. He graduated from flight school in June of 1942 and served with the 345th Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force as a B-25 pilot, completing over fifty low-level combat missions in New Guinea. Around 1944, he returned to the US as a B-25 instructor. In late 1944, early 1945, Taylor went to the China Burma India Theater, where he flew over fifty more low-level attack missions. Taylor became the squadron commander and returned to the US in November of 1945. He continued his career in the military, retiring in 1968.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Ponder. Ponder joined the Army Air Forces in January 1942. He received basic training and aviation mechanic training at Sheppard Field. He was then sent to a B-25 manufacturing plant for advanced mechanical training. Upon completion, he was assigned as a flight engineer to the 345th Bomb Group in South Carolina. At Port Moresby and Clark Field, he supervised the ground maintenance of B-25s. Ponder returned home and was discharged in October 1945. He became a full-time employee of the Texas Air National Guard, retiring as chief of aircraft maintenance.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Salvatore Coviello. Coviello joined the Navy in August, 1942 and went to basic training in Rhode Island. Then he went to Diesel engine school in Chicago. Afterwards, he was assigned to USS LST-454 and was aboard when it was commissioned and was assigned to the 7th Fleet in the Southwest Pacific. They made several combat landings at New Guinea. Coviello worked in the engine room. He was discharged in December, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred Lee. Lee was born in Portland, Oregon in Chinatown in 1924. His mother and father moved from China to Oregon in 1918, when his father was hired to work on the railroad from Oregon to California. Lee shares his family history, his experiences growing up in segregated schools and his Japanese friends going to holding camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In March of 1943, Lee joined the Army Reserves. He completed training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1944, Lee completed the Army Specialized Training Program in North Carolina. He later deployed to England to work as a topographer. In late 1944 through the spring of 1945, Lee created maps from aerial photographs for General Patton’s 3rd Army as they advanced through Belgium and Germany. After the war ended, Lee served in Frankfurt, Germany on a Bomb Disposal Squad, returning to the US in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doyle Ebel. Ebel was drafted into the Army Air Forces in March, 1943 and trained at Miami Beach before going to radio operator school in Missouri. He also attended gunnery school before becoming a crewmember on a B-24 and shipping overseas in July 1944. He was assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group at Saipan in October. Ebel recalls an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. He flew 37 combat missions before the war ended and returned to the US in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Calvin Beem. Beem volunteered for the Navy in September, 1943 and trained at Farragut, Idaho. After training, Beem was assigned to USS LST-454 as a motor machinist. He was aboard in time for the invasion of Cape Gloucester and for several other invasions along New Guinea. He also recalls landings in the Philippines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Anthony Giglio. Giglio joined the navy in September, 1942 and trained in Virginia. He was assigned to USS LST-454 just prior to commissioning and served as a gunner’s mate. He stayed aboard for 49 months and made 13 invasions. Giglio relates several experiences he had while aboard. He returned to the US after the war and was discharged in December, 1945.

Choir concert performed at the UNT College of Music Winspear Hall.

A guest artist recital performed at the UNT College of Music Voertman Hall.