Oral History Interview with Marion Adams, April 10, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Marion Adams, April 10, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Marion Adams. Adams was drafted into the Army in July of 1941. He served in the 43rd Engineer Construction Battalion, building roads, hospitals and kitchens. In 1942 he traveled to Australia, where he helped build three airstrips. They traveled to Oro Bay, Papua New Guinea, building railroads and airstrips. Adams was also trained as a medic, serving in the First Aid station. He provides details of both work experiences in engineering and building and assisting the sick and injured. He recalls helping the many wounded in Manila, as well as delivering supplies to the prison camps. He was discharged in June of 1945.
Date: April 10, 2009
Creator: Adams, Marion
System: The Portal to Texas History

Senior Recital: 2007-04-24 - Lucas Frank Albano, percussion

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
A senior recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree.
Date: April 24, 2007
Creator: Albano, Lucas Frank
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Joel D. Alderson, April 10, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Joel D. Alderson, April 10, 2007

Transcript of an oral interview with Joel Alderson and his wife Nila. He discusses going to boot camp in Texas, shipping off to France in early 1945 and working as an engineer, constructing bridges and demolishing German fortifications for the Army as it made it's way through Germany, blowing up Hilter's bunker in Salzburg, Austria and using bulldozers to cover piles of dead Jews the Germans left in the open (likely at Dachau). He ancedotes about meeting Eisenhower, carrying fuel up to Patton's limo when it ran out of gas, seeing Bob Hope, soldiers getting poisoned from confiscated alcohol, and getting met by his family and the town sheriff when he came home after the war.
Date: April 10, 2007
Creator: Alderson, Joel D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Nila Jackson Alderson, April 23, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Nila Jackson Alderson, April 23, 2007

Transcript of an oral interview with Nila Jackson Alderson. Born in 1925, Alderson describes life before and during the war in rural Texas as well as in the town of Burnet, Texas . Her husband, Joe Alderson, served in the military in Europe. They both discuss the mail service during the war. The interview includes information about her parents and siblings.
Date: April 23, 2007
Creator: Alderson, Nila Jackson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Alebis, April 20, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Alebis, April 20, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Alebis. Alebis was born in Detroit, Michigan on 7 February 1926 to immigrant Lithuanian parents. Upon entering the Army Air Forces in May 1944, he was sent to Shepherd Field, Texas for basic training. After three weeks of training he was sent to gunnery school at Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes the training he received as a gunner. Upon completion of gunnery training he was sent to Ellsworth Field, North Dakota where he was assigned to a B-17 bomber crew as right waist gunner. The crew flew a B-17 to Capital Stone, England, arriving on 5 April 1945. Upon arrival Alebis was assigned to the 398th Bomb Group, 605th Bomb Squadron. He flew three bombing missions and describes them from the beginning of the day to the return to base. Following the surrender of Germany the unit began flying survey mission over Europe and he describes the devastation he saw. On 1 June 1945 he returned to the United States and was sent to McDill Field, Florida to begin training as a gunner on a B-29. With the surrender of Japan, his training was curtailed and he …
Date: April 20, 2002
Creator: Alebis, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Zeb Alford, April 13, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Zeb Alford, April 13, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Zeb Alford. Alford joined the Navy V-12 Program in July of 1943. He trained as an engineering officer. He entered the Naval Academy in 1944 and graduated in 1947, providing details of his schooling at the Academy. He served for two years aboard the USS Charles R. Ware (DD-865). He graduated from Submarine School in 1949. Alford retired from the Navy in September of 1973 as a captain.
Date: April 13, 2007
Creator: Alford, Zeb
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Preston Allen, April 4, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Preston Allen, April 4, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Preston Allen. Allen was born in Columbus, Indiana on 6 January 1926. Upon enlisting in the Navy, he went to Great Lakes Naval Training Station for boot training. After graduation, he was assigned to the USS New York (BB-34). He made several trips across the Atlantic aboard the New York before requesting submarine duty. He then went to submarine school in New London, Connecticut. From there he attended diesel school at Groton, Connecticut. Upon graduating as a motor machinist, he was assigned to the USS Perch (SS-313). After conducting sea trials the boat departed to Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal. On their first patrol they sunk a Japanese tanker and were subjected to depth charge attack by destroyers. The next day they sank a Japanese patrol boat with gun fire. On their second patrol one of their main engines required major repairs. The engine room crew worked seventy-two hours straight to get it repaired. As the boat returned to Midway, a PBY dropped a bomb inflicting no to the boat. Allen suffered a ruptured eardrum from the explosion. After the Perch returned to Pearl Harbor, Allen was …
Date: April 4, 2003
Creator: Allen, Preston
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Antonio Amador, April 25, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Antonio Amador, April 25, 2001

Interview with Antonio Amador, a veteran who was wounded in action as a sniper with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. It includes a list of questions, which include a focus on Amador being shot and his experiences while serving and back at home.
Date: April 25, 2001
Creator: Amador, Y. & Amador, Antonio
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with W. R. Barker, April 25, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with W. R. Barker, April 25, 2001

Interview with W. R. Barker, a veteran who served as a combat engineer with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II. It includes a conversation with Barker as he talks freely about his time in basic training at Camp Cook, when Bob Hope visited jungle training in Hawaii, and interactions between U.S. soldiers and the native islanders. He also discusses the Marines mission on Pelilu Island and meeting his brother in the Philippines.
Date: April 25, 2001
Creator: Amador, Yacel & Barker, W. R.
System: The Portal to Texas History

Senior Recital: 2007-04-15 - Jessica Angle, mezzo-soprano

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
A senior recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree
Date: April 15, 2007
Creator: Angle, Jessica
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with Rocky Argusti, April 1, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Rocky Argusti, April 1, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rocky Agrusti. Argusti was born on 7 July 1924 in Waterville, New York into a family of nine children. Four of the boys and one of the girls served during World War II. Two of the boys were killed in action during the war. Prior to being drafted, he worked as a steam engine fireman with the New York Central Railroad. Upon entering the US Army in 1943, he was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas for basic training. After receiving advanced training at several other bases, he was assigned to the 701st Railway Grand Division, 721st Railway Operations Battalion. In December 1943 the battalion was sent to the West Coast where they boarded the SS Mariposa bound for Bombay, India. Upon their arrival in India, Argusti went by train to Parbatpur, India. He recalls that the barracks, called bashas, were constructed of straw. A fire occurred that burned down the majority of the dwellings. He tells of operating railroad engines transporting supplies to Ledo, India for shipment into the interior of China by air transport or overland by the Ledo Burma Road. Following the surrender of Japan, …
Date: April 1, 2005
Creator: Argusti, Rocky
System: The Portal to Texas History

Doctoral Recital: 2007-04-18 - Alfredo Arjona, piano

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree
Date: April 18, 2007
Creator: Arjona, Alfredo
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with H. James Avery, April 11, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with H. James Avery, April 11, 2001

Transcript of an oral interview with James Avery. Mr Avery was a junior at the University of Illinois when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He signed up with the Army Air Corps since they would let him finish his degree before they would take him. However, the Army Air Corps was not able to honor its commitment since they needed pilots badly. In March 1943, they called him up and sent him to Lackland Air Base for the preflight program. From there, Avery went to Fort Stockton where he learned to fly in a Fairchild PT-19 and then to Goodfellow Field in San Angelo to learn to fly a BT-13. After two months of basic training, he went to Reese Air Base in Lubbock to train in the AT-17 and got his wings there in January 1944. Avery wanted to fly the B-26 and he got his wish; reporting first to Del Rio and then to Barksdale Field where he got his crew assigned. There were six of them in the crew. After about three months at Barksdale, they went to Savannah, Georgia to pick up a brand new airplane. However, they had to wait six weeks for their ship; Martin …
Date: April 11, 2001
Creator: Avery, H. James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ken Babcock, April 10, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ken Babcock, April 10, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ken Babcock. Babcock served as a civilian flight instructor for two years employed by the Army Air Forces. He describes the training he provided and how he worked with his students. Babcock volunteer to join the Army Air Forces when the training program was discontinued. He became a flight officer and served as a ferry pilot and then was transferred to China where he flew with the 2nd Air Transport Squadron. Babcock describes transporting supplies and Chinese soldiers in his C-46. He also details a typical flight over the Hump. Babcock discusses the types of food that made up his diet and how they were instructed not to eat locally grown crops. He left the service in 1946.
Date: April 10, 2007
Creator: Babcock, Kenneth
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Paul Barbee, April 4, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Paul Barbee, April 4, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Paul Barbee. Barbee joined the Navy in February of 1944. He completed submarine school. Beginning January of 1945, Barbee served as Third-Class Electrician aboard USS Steelhead (SS-280). They completed war patrols at Pearl Harbor, Midway Island and Japan, and helped with rescue missions of downed pilots and crews. Barbee continued his service after the war ended, and received his discharge in May of 1946.
Date: April 4, 2004
Creator: Barbee, Paul
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Allen Barker, April 29, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Allen Barker, April 29, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Allen Barker. Barker was born 29 July 1922 in Sairlie, Texas. He joined the Army Air Corps in August 1942. Following completion of basic training in Greenville, Texas he was assigned to the signal corps. He was shuttled around to various bases in the United States and finally boarded a troop ship, USS General A.E. Anderson for a 30 day sea trip to Bombay, India. His unit built a base about 60 miles northwest of Imphal, India. After the Japanese surrender he was involved in closing various bases in India until being shipped back to the United States and receiving his discharged in 1946.
Date: April 29, 2008
Creator: Barker, Allen
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Batterson, April 27, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Batterson, April 27, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert E. Batterson. Batterson was born on 5 May 1921 in Mason City, West Virginia. Following graduation from high school in 1938, he joined the Navy. After competing boot camp at Norfolk, Virginia, he was assigned to the USS Philadelphia (CL-41). During battle stations, he was a powder man on a six inch gun. The ship was anchored at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and he describes what he saw on that day. In 1942, he was selected to enter the V-5 Naval Aviation Program. In January 1943 he began at the University of Southern California. Upon completing the first phase of the training he went to the University of New Mexico for initial flight training followed by pre-flight at Del Monte, California. From there he began flight training at Hutchinson Naval Air Station, Kansas. He was then sent to Corpus Christi, Texas for instrument and advanced training before joining a squadron at Daytona Beach, Florida. After several months, he went to Glennville Naval Air Base, Illinois to learn carrier landing. Upon being qualified as a carrier pilot, he was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20). He …
Date: April 27, 2004
Creator: Batterson, Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Fred Bergeron, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Fred Bergeron, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Bergeron. Bergeron joined the Navy in 1940 and was trained as a radioman. He joined VB-3 and served on SBDs. Bergeron was attached to the USS Saratoga (CV-3). Bergeron describes his observations flying over the recently attacked Pearl Harbor. He was then attached to the Enterprise (CV-6) and helped screen the task force that launched the Doolittle Raid. Bergeron then joined the USS Yorktown (CV-5) for the Battle of Midway where he would earn the Distinguished Flying Cross. He describes in detail the bombing runs that he was a part of and his brother getting wounded. Bergeron rejoined the Saratoga until it was torpedoed off Guadalcanal, after that he flew missions from Henderson Field. He rotated back to the US for advance radio school and then received an honorable discharge.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Bergeron, Fred
System: The Portal to Texas History

Graduate Artist Certificate Recital: 2009-04-25 – Christian Bester, baritone

Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Graduate Artist Certificate in Music Performance.
Date: April 25, 2009
Creator: Bester, Christian
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oral History Interview with L. B. Blackmon, April 10, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with L. B. Blackmon, April 10, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with L. B. Blackmon. He discusses his time in boot camp in San Diego, getting shipped to Pearl Harbor, his experiences during the attack and later training cadets in Corpus Christi.
Date: April 10, 2007
Creator: Blackmon, L. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles Boesch, April 1, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charles Boesch, April 1, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Boesch. After high school Boesch went to summer school at the University of Texas at Austin, joined the enlisted reserve corps and was eventually 'called up'. He had basic training in Cheyenne, Wyoming and learned to drive a truck. In what he calls 'casual status', he was shipped (like cargo) on a Liberty ship which landed in Canistel, North Africa. Conditions on board the ship were atrocious - little food, water, etc. They were drilled, exercised and run in North Africa; conditions were pretty deplorable there too. They were then put on a convoy ship which landed in Bombay, India. From there they took a train (last class) to Calbutta, then Passam and finally Ledo where he was assigned to the 195th Engineering Company. Interview contains good descriptions of his living conditions during this time - they lived off the land, had some air drops and some supp,ies trucked in. Boesch contracted malaria and jungle rot during this time. He was working on the Burma Road when the war ended.
Date: April 1, 2005
Creator: Boesch, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Paul Bonilla, April 15, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Paul Bonilla, April 15, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral Interview with Paul Bonilla. Bonilla was born on 18 September 1921 in San Luis Obispo, California. He enlisted in the Navy in May, 1942 and took boot training in San Diego. He trained to be an aviation ordnanceman in San Diego and Millington, Tennessee. After training he was assigned to an SBD Dauntless dive bomber flying anti-submarine patrols from the air craft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16). He was aboard the Lexington when a Japanese attack damaged the ship’s steering mechanism, jamming the rudder and forcing the ship to sail in a circle while still under attack. He participated in attacks on Mille Island, Tarawa, Wake Island, Truk Island, Saipan, Hollandia and Guam. During an attack on Guam, his plane was damaged and crashed into the ocean. He was picked up by the submarine USS Skate (SS-305). While on board, Bonilla stood watch. He returned home in July 1944 and was assigned to flight school, from which he was discharged in 1945. Fifty years later when attending a Skate reunion he was presented with a submarine pin and was considered a member of the crew.
Date: April 15, 2007
Creator: Bonilla, Paul
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Raymond D. Carter, April 26, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Raymond D. Carter, April 26, 2002

Interview with Raymond D. Carter, a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War who served as a bosun's mate on LSTs. Carter describes his experiences in basic training and his impressions of the war.
Date: April 26, 2002
Creator: Bottoms, Aaron & Carter, Raymond D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Edward Harris, April 26, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Edward Harris, April 26, 2002

Interview with Robert Edward Harris, a veteran of World War II, serving in India at the time. Harris answers questions relating to his training, duties, and activities while over in India towards the end of the war; Harrs also answers questions concerning his feelings towards the war and his enemies.
Date: April 26, 2002
Creator: Bottoms, Aaron & Harris, Robert Edward
System: The Portal to Texas History