Oral History Interview with James F. Brede, 2011

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Interview with James F. Brede, dentist and U.S. Army Air Forces veteran. The interview includes his personal experiences in World War II as a B-17 co-pilot with the 8th Air Force in the European Theater, his childhood in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943, preliminary training in Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, his active service with the 379th Bomb Group in Kimbolton, England, combat experience in 35 missions, return to the U.S. and continued military service as a flight instructor in Lakeland, Florida and Wichita Falls, Texas, as well as the return to civilian life, marriage, dental school under the G.I. Bill, reenlistment in the Air Force as a dentist, his deployment to Korea, his discharge from the Air Force, and the establishment of his dental practice and experiences since retirement. The interview includes an appendix with a copy of his book.
Date: March 30, 2011
Creator: Fox, Lisa A. & Brede, James F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Thomas A. Whitehead, February 2, 1977 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Thomas A. Whitehead, February 2, 1977

Interview with Thomas Whitehead, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Wichita Falls, Texas. Whitehead discusses his experiences as a member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, the "Lost Battalion" captured on Java in March 1942, including: joining the National Guard; participation in the Louisiana Maneuvers; departure for the Philippines and diversion to Brisbane; assignment to Sangosari Airfield near Malang; the surrender of American forces; internment at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Prison in Singapore, several camps on the Burma Railway, and Non Pladuk and Ubon Airfield, Thailand; and liberation.
Date: February 2, 1977
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Whitehead, Thomas A.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Tyrel James Billingsley, October 18, 2007

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Interview with Tyrel James Billingsley, an Airman in the US Air Force Reserves from Dallas, Texas. Billingsley discusses his childhood and education, enlisting in the Air Force, basic training and technical school, his duties as a Aircraft Armament Systems specialist, memorable experiences, and plans for the future.
Date: October 17, 2007
Creator: Bonine, Rebecca & Billingsley, Tyrel James
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with James N. Hall, November 10, 1999

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Interview with James N. Hall, a Army Air Force WWII veteran from Burkburnett, Texas. Hall discusses joining the Air Force from college, basic training, classification, flight training, the P-47, fighter tactics, deplyoment to Le Culot Airfield in Belgium, his first mission, briefings and intelligence, Air Support Parties, close air support, flak, bomber escort, air-to-air encounters, casualties, logistics, German civilians, crash landings, V-E Day, and return to civilian life.
Date: November 10, 1999
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Hall, James N.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Atzhiri Acosta, November 7, 2015

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Interview with Atzhiri Acosta, a Mexican-American immigrant from Wichita Falls, Texas. Acosta discusses moving to Wichita Falls, Texas, his upbringing there and adjusting to American life, his first jobs, being an "illegal immigrant" and immigration rhetoric, his family, the DREAM Act, Donald Trump, his work, deportation, and Christmas traditions.
Date: November 7, 2015
Creator: Barber, Zach & Acosta, Atzhiri
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with M. T. Harrelson, May 9, 1985 (open access)

Oral History Interview with M. T. Harrelson, May 9, 1985

Interview with M. T. Harrelson, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Wichita Falls, Texas, who was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion"). Harrelson discusses National Guard training and operations before the war, deployment to the Pacific and diversion to Java, the Japanese invasion, surrender and initial confinement, internment at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Changi Camp in Singapore, and the end of the war.
Date: May 9, 1985
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Harrelson, M. T., 1919-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Jess Stanbrough, April 15, 1985 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jess Stanbrough, April 15, 1985

Interview with Jess Stanbrough, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Wichita Falls, Texas, who served and was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion.") Stanbrough discusses his time in the Guard before the war, deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and being captured, experiences in internment at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, operating a clandestine radio, transfer to Japan, being an iron smelter at Kamaishi, Honshu, American air and naval bombardment, and liberation.
Date: April 15, 1985
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Stanbrough, Jess
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Michael Crone, December 9, 2007

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Interview with Michael Crone, veteran of Operation of Iraqi Freedom, as part of the Tarrant County Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Crone's personal experiences of childhood in Texas, enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, boot camp at Camp Pendleton, California, training as a diesel mechanic, and being deployed to Kuwait and Al Asad, Iraq. Crone also talks about his family's tradition of military service, realizing that he would be activated and shift in reservist training following September 11 attacks, the birth of his first child while in Iraq, aspects of daily life for American soldiers stationed in Iraq, his work as a repair mechanic, and returning to the U.S. and his family.
Date: December 9, 2007
Creator: Elizondo, Kristina & Crone, Michael
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Ikard Smith, January 7, 1983 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Ikard Smith, January 7, 1983

Interview with Ikard Smith, President and senior chairman of board, Mcclurkan’s, Wichita Falls, Texas. Smith shares concerning his family background; father’s employment with McClurkan’s store in Denton and Krum; father’s experiences opening and managing McClurkan’s store in Wichita Falls, 1907; comments on grandfather W. S. Ikard’s ranching activities in Clay County and relationship with Comanche chief, Quanah Parker; educational and social experiences at Wharton School; entry into business with father, 1946; expansion and modernization of facility; comments on popularity of hats and ball point pens, 1946; views on development of shopping malls and discount businesses; expansion into shopping center, Wichita Falls, 1956; comments on changes in retailing; training of salespeople; establishment of store in Golden Triangle Mall, 1981; personnel selection for Denton store; design of Denton store; comments on merger with Dunlap Company of Fort Worth, 1982; comments on growth of sales; views on profitability of downtown Wichita Falls store; comments on advertising; involvement in trade associations and civic activities.
Date: January 7, 1983
Creator: Jenkins, Floyd & Smith, Ikard
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Rula Walid Bibi, April 24, 2011

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Interview with Rula Walid Bibi, Palestinian-born immigrant to Plano, Texas, for the DFW Metroplex Immigrants Oral History Project. The interview includes Bibi's personal experience with discrimination of Palestinians in the Middle East, childhood in Kuwait City, education at the University of Kuwait and Midwestern State University, family experiences during the First Gulf War and circumstances surrounding her immigration to Texas in 1990, thoughts on religion, experiences as a single mother as well as experiences of living in Wichita Falls, Dallas, Richardson, Garland, and Plano. Bibi talks about her first impressions of the U.S., her career in medical technologies, her marriage to an American man and his conversion to Islam, her involvement with political organizations, and thoughts on American education and foreign policy.
Date: April 24, 2011
Creator: Abigail, R. Matthew & Bibi, Rula Walid
System: The UNT Digital Library