Oral History Interview with Commander Alex Vraciu, October 9, 1994

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Interview with Cmdr. Alex Vraciu, a Navy WWII veteran and Navy Cross recipient from East Chicago, Indiana. Vraciu discusses his family and educational background, naval flight training, Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the F6F Hellcat, various combat operations throughout the Pacific, his actions at the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," being awarded the Navy Cross and time stateside, and returning to combat. In appendix is an autobiographical sketch by Vraciu, including a picture of him and his Hellcat with visible victory markings on the fuselage.
Date: October 9, 1994
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Vraciu, Alexander
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Anna K. Schelper, October 24, 2007

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Interview with Major Anna K. Schelper, a Army WWII veteran from San Antonio, Texas. Schelper discusses her parents, growing up, her education and becoming a nurse, joining the Army Nurse Corps, experiences serving throughout the Pacific Theater, service in hospitals after the war, continued education and promoting, and reflections on her career and being a servicewoman. In appendix are Schelper's Army service record, a letter from two former patients to the 23rd Field Hospital, a scan of some of her letters which were printed in a book, and a scan of some sections from The Army Nurse Corps: Yesterday and Today by Mary M. Roberts.
Date: October 24, 2007
Creator: Quick, Janice & Schelper, Anna K.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with John C. Reas, June 23, 1998

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Interview with John Reas, a Navy WWII veteran and POW from New Albany, Indiana, who survived the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30). Reas discusses his assignment to the Houston and prewar operations in the Pacific, the start of the war and convoy duty, being bombed by 54 Japanese planes, the Battle of Sunda Strait, the sinking, capture by the Japanese, experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Thanbyuzayat, work on the Burma Railway, the USS Houston Survivors List, liberation, and life after the war. In appendix is the USS Houston Survivors list, letters of his regarding the list, brief accounts written by Reas of different experiences in the war, a letter by Lanson H. Harris confirming how the list was given to OSS officers, and a photo of Reas' wallet that he carried through the war.
Date: June 23, 1998
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Reas, John C.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Ernest Kelley, February 20, 2003

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Interview with Ernest Kelley, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Antioch, Texas (now the Red River Army Depot), who served with the 112th Cavalry. Kelley discusses growing up in the Depression, joining the Guard, mobilization and training, horses, the Louisiana Maneuvers, deployment to New Caledonia, landing on Woodlark island and action there, the Battle of Arawe, redeployment to Australia, the Battle of Driniumor River in New Guinea, the Battles of Leyte and Luzon, returning to the United States, and reflections on his time in the Army. In appendix is a list of people and places named in the interview with lat/long coordinates, descriptions of military equipment, and the 112th's WWII service chronicle.
Date: February 20, 2003
Creator: Johnston, Glenn & Kelley, Ernest L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with William E. Painter, December 21, 1998

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Interview with William Painter, a UNT professor and Army WWII veteran from New Bloomfield, Missouri. Painter discusses growing up in the Depression, being a conscientious objector and feeling pressure to join the war, getting drafted into the infantry and training at Camp Hood and Fort Ord, deployment to the Pacific with the 32nd Infantry Division, operations on Luzon and the Villa Verde Trail, the end of the war, occupation duty in Japan, and returning home. In appendix is a letter to Marcello with a correction for the interview.
Date: December 21, 1998
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Painter, William E.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Willie Fred Sander, May 22, 2002

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Interview with Willie Fred Sander, a Navy WWII veteran from Brenham, Texas. Sander discusses his background and life before the war, joining the Navy and aviator training, flying PBM patrol bombers throughout the Pacific, and his family life after the war.
Date: May 22, 2002
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Sander, Willie Fred
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Fred Vogel, August 8, 2001

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Interview with Fred Vogel, a Army WWII veteran from Austin, Minnesota. Vogel discusses his family and upbringing, football and college, working as a lawyer, joining the Army and basic training, attending Officer Candidate School, infantry training, deployment to New Guinea with the 33rd Infantry Division, the invasion of Morotai, combat around Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines, and occupation duty in Japan.
Date: June 13, 2001
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Vogel, Fred
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Jake Guiles, June 20, 1972 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Jake Guiles, June 20, 1972

Interview with Jake Guiles, a Army Air Corps WWII veteran and POW from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Guiles discusses joining the service, training, being stationed at Nichols Field in the Philippines, the Japanese invasion and American retreat to Bataan, fighting as infantry, surrender at Marivales, the Bataan Death March, experiences in internment at Camp O'Donnell and Cabantuan, transit to Japan, internment at Hitachi mining camp, liberation, and reflections. In appendix is a notebook kept by Guiles, containing names of fellow prisoners, a self-made Japanese dictionary, a diary, and other recordings.
Date: June 20, 1972
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Guiles, Jake
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Martin J. Rodgers, June 22, 1988 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Martin J. Rodgers, June 22, 1988

Interview with Martin J. Rodgers, a Army WWII veteran from Butler, New Jersey, who was at the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Rodgers discusses joining the Army and training, assignment to coastal artillery at Fort Shafter, operations there, work in communications, alerts, life in the peacetime Army, the morning of December 7th and reaction to the attack, handling communications at battalion HQ, the aftermath and following days, and his subsequent service in the Pacific War. In appendix is a letter by Rodgers to his mother of December 31, 1941, and a journal of his experiences typed during the war.
Date: June 22, 1988
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Rodgers, Martin J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with L. B. Smith, February 20, 1989 (open access)

Oral History Interview with L. B. Smith, February 20, 1989

Interview with L. B. Smith, a Army WWII veteran from Magnolia, Mississippi, who was present at the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Smith discusses entering the Army and training, events prior to the attack, the morning of December 7th and the bombing of Schofield Barracks, the aftermath and defensive preparations, and his later service in the Pacific Theater.
Date: February 20, 1989
Creator: Cruse, Stephen & Smith, L. B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Eugene Nielsen, December 11, 1989 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Eugene Nielsen, December 11, 1989

Interview with Eugene Nielsen, a Army WWII veteran and POW from Logan, Utah. Nielsen discusses his prewar assignment to Corregidor Island, the Battles of Bataan and Corregidor, capture by the Japanese, experiences in internment at Bilibid Prison, Cabanatuan, and Palawan, surviving the Palawan Massacre, and his rescue by Filipinos and American forces. Included is Nielsen's obituary of February 6, 2011.
Date: December 11, 1989
Creator: Burlage, George & Nielsen, Eugene
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Rufus Smith, June 13, 1989 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Rufus Smith, June 13, 1989

Interview with Rufus Smith, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Hughes Springs, Texas, who survived the Palawan Massacre. Smith discusses joining the Marines, the bombing of Cavite Naval Yard, his capture at Corregidor and internment at Cabanatuan, transfer to Palawan and experiences in captivity there, the massacre and escaping, rescue by Filipinos and traveling with them, evacuation, returning to the United States, and life after the war.
Date: June 13, 1989
Creator: Burlage, George & Smith, Rufus
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Glen McDole, October 10, 1996

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Interview with Glen McDole, a Marine Corps WWII veteran and POW from Des Moines, Iowa. McDole discusses joining the Marines in 1940, assignment to the 1st Separate Marine Battalion and deployment to Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines, the Japanese attack on December 8th, 1941, withdrawal to Corregidor, Douglas MacArthur, the surrender, experiences in internment at Cabanatuan, transfer to Palawan, American bombing raids, surviving the Palawan massacre, rescue by Philippines civilians, the American liberation, and testifying about his former captors after the war.
Date: October 10, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & McDole, Glen
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Dave C. Sanford, February 25, 1999

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Interview with Dave C. Sanford, a Army WWII veteran from Carter, South Dakota, who served as a mortarman in the 37th Infantry Division. Sanford discusses growing up, his experiences in the Great Depression, being drafted and training, the New Georgia, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Philippine campaigns, being wounded and discharged, and life afterwards.
Date: February 25, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Sanford, Dave C.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Davis Porter Newton, October 12, 1996

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Interview with Davis Porter Newton, Army WWII veteran of the Pacific Theater from Birmingham, Alabama. Newton discusses his family background, working during the Depression and his education, commissioning into the Army, assignment to the 346th Harbor Craft Company and deployment to Finschhafen, New Guinea, acting as defense counsel in a court martial, sea-transport operations around New Guinea and the Philippines, working with POWs, and investigating war crimes.
Date: October 12, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Newton, Davis Porter
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Gale E. Nevill, March 23, 1999

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Interview with Gale E. Nevill, a Army WWII veteran from Houston, Texas. Nevill discusses his family background and upbringing, jobs in the oil business, joining the National Guard, attending Rice University, getting commissioned, overseeing a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, working through the Depression, activation and assignment to 6th Army HQ, deployment to Brisbane, 6th Army operations in the South Pacific and Philippines, the end of the war and life afterwards.
Date: March 23, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Nevill, Gale Erwin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with George Burlage, November 18, 1970 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Burlage, November 18, 1970

Interview with George Burlage, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Visalia, California. Burlage was stationed in the Philippines before the war and fought at Corregidor in 1942 before his capture by the Japanese, after which he was interned at Camp Cabanatuan #3 in Central Luzon, Las Pinas airfield near Manila, and Moji, Japan.
Date: November 18, 1970
Creator: Marcello, Ronald & Burlage, George
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Billy Allen, March 1, 1976 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Billy Allen, March 1, 1976

Interview with Billy Allen, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Van Alstyne, Texas. Allen discusses his entry into the Marine Corps, deployment to Shanghai with the China Marines in 1940-41, arrival in the Philippines, the Japanese attack on Mariveles Navy Yard, the retreat to Corregidor, capture by the Japanese, and experiences in internment at Bilibid Prison in Manila, Cabanatuan, Osaka, and Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.
Date: March 1, 1976
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Allen, Billy
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with J. L. Sherman, March 4, 1976 (open access)

Oral History Interview with J. L. Sherman, March 4, 1976

Interview with J. L. "Smokey" Sherman, an Army WWII veteran and POW from Ponder, Texas. Sherman discusses joining the Army in 1940, going to the Philippines and being stationed on Corregidor, the siege and fall of the island, his escape from capture and time as a guerrilla, surrender, and experiences in internment at Cabanatuan and Kobe.
Date: March 4, 1976
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Sherman, J. L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with John B. Brush, February 3, 1998

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Interview with John Brush, a businessman and WWII POW from White Plains, New York. Brush discusses his family history, school, work for Procter & Gamble Company, marriage, moving to Manila in 1941, the lead up to war, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, internment by the Japanese army at Santo Tomas Prison Camp, survival with his family, censorship and propaganda, shanties and villages, fake identities to help US servicemen survive, move to Los BaƱos camp, liberation, and return to the US.
Date: February 3, 1998
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Brush, John B.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Thomas P. Emery, February 21, 1995

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Interview with Thomas P. Emery, a US Army WWII veteran from Solana Beach, California, who served as a pathfinder in the 6th Army Special Special Recon Unit. Emery discusses joining the Army and airborne training, assignment to G-2, scout and pathfinder training, attending OCS, deployment to New Guinea, formation of the Alamo Scouts, learning to live and fight in the jungle, his first mission, raids and harassing Japanese troops, traveling aboard the USS Missouri, and fighting in the Philippines.
Date: February 21, 1995
Creator: Alexander, Wm. J. & Emery, Thomas P.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Oral History Interview with Howard Charles, March 25, 1998

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Interview with Howard Charles, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Partridge, Kansas. Charles discusses growing up in the Great Depression; joining the Marine Corps and training; assignment to the USS Houston (CA-30) at Manila as a heavy machine gunner and events before the war; the Battle of Sunda Strait and sinking of the Houston; capture by the Japanese and being held at Serang, Java; experiences in internment and forced labor at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, various camps along the Burma Railway, and Saigon; liberation; psychological treatment, trauma, and adjusting to civilian life. In appendix is a letter written by Charles to Marcello including additional information for the interview.
Date: March 25, 1998
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Charles, Howard R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with William G. Adair, May 27, 1971 (open access)

Oral History Interview with William G. Adair, May 27, 1971

Interview with Major William G. Adair, an Army WWII veteran and POW from Birmingham, Alabama. Stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded in December 1941, Adair was captured, survived the Bataan Death March, and interned at Cabanatuan before going to Osaka and Zentsuji, Japan for the remainder of the war.
Date: May 27, 1971
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Adair, William G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Loren H. Brantley, November 19, 1971 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Loren H. Brantley, November 19, 1971

Interview with Loren Brantley, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Daingerfield, Texas. Brantley discusses being stationed in Shanghai before the war, his experience in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked on December 8th, the Battle of Corregidor, and his internments at Bilibid Prison, Cabanatuan, and a coal mine near Nagasaki.
Date: November 19, 1971
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Brantley, Loren H.
System: The UNT Digital Library