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

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Q. Landis. Landis joined the Navy around April of 1944. He served as a quartermaster aboard USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2). They traveled to New Guinea, and he assisted the ship’s captain in undercover scouting work that other crew members completed aboard LSTs and LCTs. They also traveled to Leyte in the Philippine Islands. Around late 1944, early 1945, Landis transferred to USS Henry T. Allen (APA-15). They were located in Manila Bay when the war ended, then they traveled to Japan to assist with occupation duties. They returned to the US in December and Landis received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Most. Most joined the Marine Corps in late 1944 and went to basic training at Parris Island. After further training in North Carolina, he shipped overseas to Guam where he joined replacements fro the 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division. He joined them in time for their move from Okinawa to China after he war ended. While in CHina on occupation duty, Most was made a clerk typist. he remained in that postition until he was discharged in November 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John W. Smith III. Jean assists with the interview. Smith was born 15 February 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He speaks about his father’s participation with the Manhattan Project. Smith’s father, John W. Smith II, was an electrician and completed contract work for the government at Huntsville Arsenal in Alabama, Oak Ridge in Tennessee and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Smith recalls traveling with his family each time his father was relocated for work. He was 12 years old when the war in the Pacific started, and he shares memories of life in the US as a child during wartime. He served in the Navy from 1946 through 1947, then entered the Air Force. He was assigned as a navigator with the 764th Bombardment Squadron, 461st Bombardment Wing. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, retiring in 1970.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Murphy. Murphy joined the Navy in late 1942. After boot training at Great Lakes, he went to quartermaster school in Rhode Island. Upon completion, Murphy was assigned to USS Carlson (DE-9). He was on the commissioning crew and rode it through the Panama Canal to the Pacific. He was transferred off the ship, underwent further training, and was assigned to ACORN-44 and sent to Okinawa. He arrived at Okinawa when the fighting was winding down and set up a seaplane base on Buckner Bay. He remained on Okinawa until he had enough points t oreturn to the US and be discharged in January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Abe. Abe’s wife Yukiko is helping with this interview. Abe was born 29 May 1934 in Ewa, Hawaii, to Japanese immigrant parents. His father was the supervisor of the Ewa Sugar Plantation. He and his family were living on the island, 8 miles west of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked. Abe was 7 years old at the time, and he provides vivid details of his experiences, witnessing the bombing of military installations, being confined to his house, blackouts and his parents being directed to destroy any documents written in Japanese. From 1956 through 1958, Abe served in the US Army, 4th Infantry Division.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with O. Harold Mainer. Mainer joined the Navy in October, 1940 and trained at San Diego. He was then assigned as a deckhand to USS Helena (CL-50) and caught the ship in Hawaii in late 1940 and was still aboard during the attack on Pearl Harbor, which he describes. Mainer was aboard when Helena sank at Kula Gulf. Then, Mainer was transferred to USS Munsee (ATF-107), an ocean going tug, for the remainder of the war. He was discharged in January 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Don Woodard, Sr. Woodard joined the Navy in March 1944. He completed Yeoman School in San Diego. Beginning in August, he served as the captain’s yeoman aboard USS Bowie (APA-137). They transported troops and cargo throughout the Philippines and to Okinawa in May of 1945. After the war ended, they delivered occupation troops to Sasebo, Japan. He returned to the US in early 1946 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Benton Askins. Askins joined the Army in July 1942. He was trained in radio installation and repair and sent to Australia, then to New Gunea where he joined the 997th Signal Service Battalion at Hollandia. He stayed there until the war ended. He returned to the US and was discharged in January 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Pedro Alvarez Vasquez. Vasquez was drafted into the Army around 1943 and assigned to the 87th Armored Field Artillery. In 1944, they were deployed to England. Vasquez traveled throughout France and Germany with the tanks, in charge of gasoline, ammunition, serving as an assistant driver and working the machine guns. He recalls his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to the US in November of 1945 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Francis Kellems. Kellems joined the Navy in September 1943. After boot camp, he was assigned to USS Hubbard (DE-211). He served as a baker aboard the ship and recalls antisubmarine partols in the Atlantic.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dale Perry. Perry joined the Navy at seventeen in August, 1943 before finishing high school. After basic training, he went to various schools to learn about torpedo operations before going to motor torpedo boat school in Rhode Island. He shipped to the Mediterranean Sea area and was assigned to PT-309. He shares several anectdotes about his time aboard the vessel. In 2020, Perry visiteed the museum and was allowed to go aboard his old boat one more time, PT-309.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Miller. Miller joined the Junior Naval Reserves around 1936, at the age of 13. He joined the Navy in 1940, and served aboard USS Wyoming (BB-32) as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class. Shortly after the war started, he was transferred to USS Raven (AM-55) as a gunner. He recalls spotting and shooting at German U-boats along Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In early 1942, they escorted tankers along the east coast, up to Nova Scotia. Miller was transferred to VF-28, an F4F fighter squadron. Around October, they were assigned to USS Suwannee (ACV-27) and participated in the invasion of North Africa and the Battle of Casablanca in November. In December, they were transferred to USS Chenango (CVE-28). In early 1943, they supported the Guadalcanal campaign. Beginning in December, and through 1944, Miller served aboard USS Tulagi (CVE-72), participating in the invasion of Normandy. Miller discusses their activity during the Battle of Okinawa. He continued his service after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henley Bennett. Bennett joined the Navy in December 1943 and trained in San Diego. Upon completion he was assigned to USS Long Island (CVE-1) and went to the Marshall Islands. He was also stationed on Guam for a while. He served with utility Squadrons 7 and 17 while overseas. When the war ended, Bennett was discharged in June 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Archie Kellems. Kellems joioned the navy in December 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After some training and being shipped to Hawaii, Kellems contracted the measels and was hospitalized for a while. When he was released, he was assigned to USS O'Brien (DD-415). He was aboard the O'Brien when she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine along with USS Wasp (CV-7). He was rescued and then later assigned to USS Fullam (DD-474) in March 1943. In march 1945, he joined USS Niagara (APA-87) in time to take some troops to Okinawa. After the war ended, Kellems was discharged in early 1946, but was back i nthe Navy within six months. He made a career of hte Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Morrison. Morrison entered the Army on 1 September, the day before the war ended, and trained at Fort Bragg. He had an assignment at the US Military Academy at West Point and also attended a radio repair school in Oklahoma before being discharged in October 1946. He returned to the University of Nebraska and resumed his education. After the war, Morrison entered the Naval Reserve.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jerold Cox. Cox joined the Marine Corps in January of 1942. He served with the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Defense Battalion on Guadalcanal. He later served with the 2nd Marine Division, 3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery (formerly Defense) during the Bougainville Campaign. Cox assisted with carrying ammunition and unloading the ships. He contracted malaria, and was sent back to the US around August of 1944 for recovery. He received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Neece. Neece was drafted into the Army in July, 1943 and had basic training in New Orleans. After basic training, Neece went to Illinois for radio school, then to Florida for radar school. He was then sent to the Pacific and joined the 864th Bomb Squadron as a radar operator. He flew out of Saipan and Okinawa prior to the war's end. When it was over, he spent a little while in Japan before going bakc to the US and being discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Melvin Pratt. Pratt joined the Navy in April of 1944. He served as Seaman 3rd Class with the gunnery gang aboard the minesweeper USS Strength (AM-309). In December, they arrived in Pearl Harbor, and began training in preparation for the Iwo Jima invasion. On 16 February 1945, they began sweeping off Iwo Jima to clear the way for the invasion fleet. In late March, they assisted in clearing the approaches to the beaches off Okinawa for the impending assault. After the war ended, they participated with occupation forces in Japan, sweeping mines around Sasebo. He received his discharge in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Schultz. Schultz joined the Marine Corps in in late 1942. He completed radio/telephone school. He joined the 3rd Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO), and was shipped to Guadalcanal and assigned to Headquarters 3rd Marine Division. In July of 1944, they participated in the Battle of Guam. As part of JASCO, Schultz helped coordinate and control naval gunfire and close air support of landings on the island. After receiving injury to his leg, he was shipped back to the US. He received his discharge in July of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Lippard. Lippard joined the Army in mid-1943. He served as a combat engineer with the 82nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, and deployed to England in late 1943. They participated in the invasion of Normandy, landing on Omaha Beach, then traveled into Germany. Lippard fought as an infantryman, helped replace bridges, clear mine fields and liberate several small French towns. His division was close to Berlin when the war ended. He returned to the US in December of 1945, and received his discharge in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jay Rutherford. Rutherford joined the Navy in early 1943. He served as a Boatswain's mate aboard USS Harris (APA-2). In April, they traveled to the Aleutians, participating in the Battle of Attu. In December, after the Battle of Tarawa, they went to Pearl Harbor. While there, Rutherford had unexpected blindness, was treated and remained in service aboard the Harris. They participated in the Battle of Kwajalein in January 1944. Then, Rutherford was transferred to Pearl Harbor, and served with a flotilla under Rear Admiral Eugene Coffin. Later, he was assigned to the USS USS LCI(R)-644, where he participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the war, Rutherford continued his service with the occupation forces in Yokohama, Japan. He returned to the US in February of 1946 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Russell J Judah. Judah joined the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, New York, in 1944. He graduated in August of 1945. He was immediately commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, serving mostly in the Philippines and occupied Japan. He traveled aboard the SS Mission Loreto (1944), a type T2 tanker. Judah was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Dahlstrom. Dahlstrom joined the Navy around June of 1943. He served with the deck crew aboard USS Mississippi (BB-41). In November of 1943, they bombarded Makin Island, providing fire support. He talks of the mass casualties amongst the crew members during combat. Dahlstrom shares his experiences through the Battle of Surigao Strait in October of 1944, the Battle of Lingayen Gulf in January of 1945 and the kamikaze attacks during the Battle of Okinawa in mid-1945. He was aboard the Mississippi in the Tokyo Bay, during the signing of the surrender documents. They returned to the US and Dahlstrom received his discharge in late 1945.