Oral History Interview with Raymond F. "Hap" Halloran, March 15, 1998

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Interview with Raymond F. "Hap" Halloran, businessman and U.S. Army Air Force WWII Veteran (878th Bomb Squadron, 499th Bomb Group, 73rd Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force) concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.
Date: March 15, 1998
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Halloran, Raymond F.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Leonard Bock, August 7, 1997

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Interview with Leonard Bock, a Navy veteran (PC-1135 and PC-1128), concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Date: August 7, 1997
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Bock, Leonard
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with William Alexander Hatcher, December 4, 2008

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Transcript of an interview with William Hatcher, a World War II Army veteran (29th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force). Hatcher discusses concerning his his childhood and education; family's experiences in the Great Depression; decision to attend University of Tennessee-Knoxville and major in mechanical engineering; memories of Pearl Harbor attack; decision to join U.S. Army Enlisted Reserve Corps in 1942; 1943 call-up; basic training at Ft. Belvoir, Va.; instruction in engineering, communications, and radar repair at City College of New York and Chanute Field, Ill.; assignments to Truax Field, Wis., and Boca Raton, Fla.; meeting future wife, Jean E. Sheppard, at USO Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.; transfer to B-29 unit and bases in Neb. And Kan.; deployment to Guam with 29th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force, March 1945; details of high-altitude radar repair work; aspects of daily life for American soldiers stationed in Guam; descriptions of devastation of Japan, including Hiroshima; transfer to base on Tinian; return to U.S. in February 1946; wedding; return to UT-Knoxville using GI Bill benefits; work at Oak Ridge; decision to transfer to University of New Mexico for Mrs. Hatcher's health; career with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Convair Corp. of Fort Worth; …
Date: December 4, 2008
Creator: Hegi, Benjamin & Hatcher, William Alexander, 1923-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with John Rich, October 12, 1996

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Transcript of an interview with John Rich, journalist and Marine Corps veteran (4th Marine Division), concerning his experiences as a Japanese language interpreter/interrogator in the Pacific Theater during World War II and his observations as a journalist while covering the proceedings of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Rich discusses his pre-war career in journalism; U.S. Navy Japanese Language School, University of Colorado, 1942-43; assignment to the 4th Marine Division, 1943; Roi-Namur and Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, 1944; interrogation of Japanese prisoners-of-war; Saipan and Tinian, Mariana Islands, 1944; Iwo Jima, 1945; coverage of the Tokyo war crimes trials for International News Service, 1946; reminiscences about covering Franklin D. Roosevelt's meeting with the press after the Atlantic Conference with Winston Churchill off Argentia, Newfoundland, August 10-15, 1941.
Date: October 12, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Rich, John, 1917-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Fiske Hanley, October 13, 1999

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Transcript of an interview with Fiske Hanley, an aeronautical engineer and Army Air Forces veteran (398th Bomb Squadron, 504th Bomb Group, 313th Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force), concerning his experiences during World War II, including as a flight engineer aboard B-29s in the Pacific Theater and as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese.
Date: October 13, 1999
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Hanley, Fiske, II, 1920-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with James G. Turner, August 7, 1999

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Transcript of an interview with James G. Turner, Marine Corps veteran (Regimental Headquarters Company, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division), concerning his experiences on Saipan in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Turner discusses his decision to join the Marine Corps, December 7, 1942; boot camp, Parris Island; formation of the 4th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, 1943; preparations on Maui for the invasion of Saipan; the amphibious landings on Saipan, June 15, 1945; his duties with the Motor Transport Section and Headquarters Company; return to Maui.
Date: August 7, 1999
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Turner, James G.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with George Charland, December 7, 1998

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Transcript of an interview with George E. Charland, a Native American Marine Corps veteran, concerning his experiences during World War II. Charland discusses his experiences with the 3rd Marine Defense Battalion during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; his experiences with the 2nd Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, at Guadalcanal, 1942; his experiences with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, at Tarawa, 1943; his experiences with the 4th Marine Division at Saipan and Tinian, 1944, and Iwo Jima, 1945; medical discharge in April, 1945.
Date: December 7, 1998
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Charland, George E.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with John Lloyd Ruddick, September 9, 1994

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Transcript of an interview with John Ruddick, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences while aboard the destroyer USS Melvin during World War II in the Pacific Theater. Ruddick discusses the Marianas invasion, the Carolines invasion, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Battle of Surigao Strait, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Kurile operations, and the occupation of Japan.
Date: September 9, 1994
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Ruddick, John Lloyd, 1923-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Lewis J. Michelony, Jr., May 2, 1993

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Interview with First Sergeant Lewis J. Michelony, Jr., a Marine Corps veteran, concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II and the Korean War. Michelony discusses his assignment to the 6th Marines in 1943, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Tinian, as well as Korea and the Chosin Reservoir.
Date: May 2, 1993
Creator: Daniels, John D. (John David), 1946- & Michelony, Lewis. J., 1920-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Edmund T. Thomassen, May 4, 1993

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Transcript of an interview with Commander Edmund Thomassen, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences as a naval officer in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Thomassen discusses the New York State Merchant Marine Academy in 1941, his assignment to the USS Sheridan (APA 51), Tarawa landing, Marshall Island landings, Saipan landing, his assignment to Newport, Rhode Island, his assignment to the USS Dutchess for amphibious landings, and his Korean War experiences.
Date: May 4, 1993
Creator: Byrd, R. W. (Richard W.) & Thomassen, Edmund T., 1924-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with George Duncan, October 9, 1994

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Interview with Captain George Duncan, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Duncan discusses his pilot training at Pensacola Naval Air Station in 1941, his assignment to Air Group 9 on the carrier Essex, the Hellcat fighter, the sinking of Fubuki-class destroyer in June of 1944 off of Pagan Island, the Marianas Campaign in 1944, the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot," the Philippines Campaign and the attack on the Japanese battleship Musashi, and his postwar naval career.
Date: October 9, 1994
Creator: Christman, Calvin L. & Duncan, George, 1917-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, September 18, 1945] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, September 18, 1945]

Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing recent correspondence with friends, buying bonds, almost quitting the Red Cross, spending time with freed prisoners of war, work, giving her father power of attorney, her brother (?) John leaving the Navy, going to the movies, visiting Saipan, and supplies.
Date: September 18, 1945
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 26, 1945] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 26, 1945]

Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing a recent letter, swimming and breakfast, flying a Beechcraft from Guam to Saipan, battlescars on the landscape, dinner, packages, and correspondence with friends. Typed on Red Cross stationary.
Date: November 26, 1945
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, October 2, 1945] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, October 2, 1945]

Letter from Cornelia Yerkes discussing her friends Phyl and Buzz leaving Guam for Saipan, two Red Cross girls getting into a road accident in a Jeep, delivering food, washing clothes, and being invited to an indigenous person's wedding.
Date: October 2, 1945
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

Oral History Interview with David Braden, October 8, 1994

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Interview with David Braden, an Army Air Force WWII veteran from Dallas, Texas. Braden served as a navigator/radar-bombardier on a B-29 Superfortress in the Pacific; he recounts being in ROTC at North Texas Agricultural College and signing up for the Air Corps Reserves, flight training, the B-29, his crewmates, assignment to Saipan, organization of a bombing mission, the jetstream, flak and fighters, being shot down, switching crews, targets, briefings, recreation, Japanese holdouts on Saipan, fighter escorts, returning stateside, and leaving the service. In appendix is a letter sent to Dr. Marcello by Braden containing some corrections for the interview.
Date: October 8, 1994
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Braden, David, 1924-
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with William Coffey, May 20, 1996

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Interview with William Coffey, a Navy WWII veteran from Hopkins County, Texas. Coffey discusses joining the Navy in 1937, boot camp in San Diego, service aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), transfer to submarines in the Philippines, the bombing of Cavite Navy Yard at the start of the war, assignment to the S-41 as a cook, combat around the Solomon Islands, attaining submarine qualifications, patrolling the northern Pacific, the character of the crew, transfer to the USS Sterlet (SS-392), patrols, medical leave, and service postwar.
Date: May 20, 1998
Creator: Maglaughlin, Barry & Coffey, William
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with J. O. Horn, April 11, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with J. O. Horn, April 11, 2001

Interview with Master Sergeant J. O. Horn, a veteran of World War II in the Pacific Theater. Horn answers questions and goes into great detail about his training and experience overseas including living conditions during his time on Saipan. Horn also discusses his like back home once he was discharged from the service after the war was over.
Date: June 16, 2003
Creator: York, Ann Marie & Horn, J. O.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with J. O. Horn, April 11, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with J. O. Horn, April 11, 2001

Interview with Master Sergeant J. O. Horn, a veteran of World War II in the Pacific Theater. Horn answers questions and goes into great detail about his training and experience overseas including living conditions during his time on Saipan. Horn also discusses his like back home once he was discharged from the service after the war was over.
Date: April 11, 2001
Creator: York, Ann Marie & Horn, J. O.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Arwin Bowden, March 9, 2000 transcript

Oral History Interview with Arwin Bowden, March 9, 2000

Interview with Arwin Bowden, a marine during World War II. He begins by discussing his training in San Diego and New Zealand before the Battle of Tarawa. He describes being wounded in the battle, the casualties he saw, and being shipped back to Pearl Harbor for treatment before joining the battle of Saipan. He describes ancedotes about Japanese killing themselves rather than surrendering, eating food from a garden watered from rainwater running down from outhouses, the wages he made, and the time he had leave.
Date: March 9, 2000
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Bowden, Arwin J.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Carl Peltier, March 4, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Carl Peltier, March 4, 2001

Interview with Carl Peltier, a U. S Marine during World War II. He begins by discussing his reaction to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He then joined the Marines when he was old enough. He trained in San Diego before shipping out to Hawaii where he joined the 2nd Marine Division. Further training included heavy weapons and mortars. Later, he landed on Saipan and describes his small arms and rations. He witnessed General Simon Buckner getting killed on Okinawa. He was later wounded on Okinawa. After the war ended, Peltier served in the Pentagon during the Korean War.
Date: March 4, 2001
Creator: Nichols, Chuck & Peltier, Carl
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Cleatus A. LeBow, May 2, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with Cleatus A. LeBow, May 2, 2006

Interview with Cleatus A. LeBow, a serviceman in the U. S. Navy during World War II. LeBow joined the navy in 1943 and went from Lubbock, Texas to San Diego for recruit training. He shipped out to Pearl Harbor aboard an LST from San Francisco. At Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to a work detail aboard the USS Oklahoma, which had just been righted. Shortly thereafter, he boarded the USS Indianapolis to serve as a range finder operator on one of the gun turrets. Upon leaving Hawaii, the Indianapolis went to Tarawa and then the Marshall Islands. LeBow witnessed Japanese civilian suicides on Saipan. He also witnessed the flag-raising on Iwo Jima from his range finder position aboard the ship. LeBow describes being hit by a kamikaze off Okinawa. He also discusses delivering atomic bomb components to Tinian and being torpedoed on the way to the Philippines. He describes abandoning the ship and spending five days in the water, including his faith in God, hallucinations, rescue, and his recovery.
Date: May 2, 2006
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Lebow, Cleatus A.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jerell E. Crow, August 24, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jerell E. Crow, August 24, 2002

Interview with Jerell E. Crow. He entered the Coast Guard in 1940 and trained in Florida and New York City. He served aboard a Landing Ship, Tank (LST) when those ships were first introduced. He traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Neville Island Shipyard operated by the Dravo Corporation as part of a crew that brought an LST down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. From there, the crew practiced operations at Biloxi, Mississippi. Eventually, Crow travelled to San Diego aboard the LST through the Panama Canal. From there, he went to Guadalcanal and unloaded tanks. Eventually, his ship was hit at Saipan and he was wounded. He also served aboard an LST during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Afterwards, Crow's LST was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. He visited Hiroshima while on occupation duty after the atomic bomb was dropped. Eventually, his LST made its way back to San Francisco where he was discharged.
Date: August 24, 2002
Creator: Rabalais, Larry & Crow, Jerell E.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Floyd Mumme, April 12, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Floyd Mumme, April 12, 2002

Interview with Floyd Mumme, a medic during World War II. He discusses boot camp, being deployed to Saipan, Japanese trying to steal food, working in the Army Medical Corps, and treating wounds in combat.
Date: April 12, 2002
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Mumme, Floyd C.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with H. L. Obermiller, April 30, 2004

Interview with H. L. Obermiller, a Pharmacist's Mate during World War II. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, where he served as a Pharmacist's Mate. He remembers having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting Navajo code talkers, and writing letters home.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Metzler, Ed & Obermiller, H. L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History