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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
Oral History Interview with Sam H. Snoddy, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Sam H. Snoddy, April 29, 2004

Interview with Sam H. Snoddy, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. After training, he participated in the initial landing at Saipan where he was wounded in the knees and shoulder on the beach by shell fragments. He was loaded onto a hospital ship with several other casualties before going to Hawaii to recuperate. He participated in the Okinawa campaign and spent time at Nagasaki on occupation duty. After being discharged, he went to college on the G. I. Bill, and eventually settled in Texas, where he worked in the oil industry.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Smith, Ned & Snoddy, Sam H.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004

Interview with Guinn Rasbury, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, being transferred around the United States, and finally returning to the Pacific theater. He explains how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life. He shares anecdotes about sounding "Taps" at a memorial service for President Roosevelt and being chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Graham, Eddie & Rasbury, Guinn
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Valentin R. Ybarra, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Valentin R. Ybarra, April 29, 2004

Interview with Valentin R. Ybarra regarding his experiences during World War II. He discusses his wartime experiences in Peleliu and Okinawa as well as occupation duty in Japan and China. He also had an assignment in Spain. He remembers the Cuban Missile Crisis, the revolt in the Dominican Republic, and his service in Vietnam.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Ybarra, Valentin R.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gordon Kimball, April 3, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gordon Kimball, April 3, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gordon Kimball. Kimball joined the Navy in August of 1943. He completed submarine and quartermaster school. After graduation, he trained aboard R Boats in Key West, Florida. Beginning December of 1944, Kimball served aboard the USS Lizardfish (SS-373). They deployed to Pearl Harbor in the spring of 1945. They completed war patrols around Saipan, in the Java Sea, Lombok Strait, Australia, Sunda Strait and the Philippines. Kimball continued his service after the war ended, and was discharged in 1947.
Date: April 3, 2004
Creator: Kimball, Gordon
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Charles George, April 3, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Charles George, April 3, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles George. George was born in East Portsmouth, Ohio 12 August 1927. Entering the Navy in 1945, he was sent to San Diego, California for boot training. Upon completion he was sent to Navy signal school. After finishing signal school he attended submarine school at Newline, Connecticut for two months. He was assigned to the USS Boarfish (SS-327). During his time on the Boarfish one of the missions was to chart an ice passage across the North Pole. He describes how sonar was used to determine the thickness of the ice above and where the ocean bottom was. He tells of the gear worn while top-side in the sub-zero weather. Later, when the Boarfish was in the process of being prepared for sale to Turkey he asked to be assigned to another submarine and joined the USS Cusk (SS-348) as a helmsman. The Cusk was a World War II submarine that was converted to experiment with the launching of captured German V-2 rockets and George discusses the procedures and results of the testing. The Cusk’s mission was classified and George tells of the measures taken to insure that …
Date: April 3, 2004
Creator: George, Charles
Object Type: Sound
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
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Callanan, April 4, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Callanan, April 4, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Callanan. Callanan begins with some anecdotes about his family. He was working for General Electric and eschewed his deferment and joined the Navy in March, 1943. Once in the Navy, he went to radio school. Without having gone to submarine school, Callanan was assigned to the USS Sailfish (SS-192) in July 1944. After some patrolling, he was transferred to the USS Proteus (AS-19). Then he went aboard the USS Batfish (SS-310) and did more patrolling. He shares a few anecdotes about being on patrol and attacking Japanese shipping, including other submarines. When the war ended, he took his discharge and returned to GE.
Date: April 4, 2004
Creator: Callanan, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Thomas Young, April 17, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Thomas Young, April 17, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Thomas Young. Young joined the Army and served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne, and participated in the Normandy landings. In September, Young made the invasion in Holland.
Date: April 17, 2004
Creator: Young, Thomas
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Grimm, April 28, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Grimm, April 28, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Grimm. Grimm joined the Navy in November 1941. He was sent to USS Maury (DD-401) and served as a signalman and anti-aircraft gunner. Grimm describes seeing Pearl Harbor soon after the attack and participating in the Battle of Coral Sea. He also mentions the signal that he was ordered to fly at the beginning of the Battle of Midway. Grimm describes seeing the USS Porter (DD-356) get hit at Santa Cruz and then taking part in the naval battles in the Solomon Islands where he helped recover casualties from the USS New Orleans (CA-32) and rescue crewman from the USS Helena (CL-50). He goes into detail on a close-call at the Battle of Kolombangara. At Vella Lavella, Grimm spotted the approaching Japanese fleet and describes how his ship launched torpedoes that sank three ships. He also discusses seeing the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) get hit by a torpedo that passed under the Maury. Grimm also took part in the landings at Leyte and Lingayen Gulf where the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) was damaged by a near miss from a kamikaze. He was in New York at the …
Date: April 28, 2004
Creator: Grimm, Richard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Fisher, April 28, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Fisher, April 28, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James W. Fisher. Fisher was born in Witt County, Virginia. On 7 February 1939 he joined the Navy and underwent boot camp at Norfolk, Virginia. He was then sent to San Diego where he was assigned to the USS Shaw (DD-373) as a deck hand. After a period of time he transferred to the USS Whitney (AD-4) for on the job training as a torpedo man. Upon completion of his training he was reassigned to the Shaw and sailed to Samoa. Upon the ship’s return to the United States in 1941, Fisher was placed in a hospital while the Shaw returned to Pearl Harbor. Fisher returned to Pearl Harbor aboard a tanker on 8 December and saw the destruction caused by the Japanese attack. On 14 December 1941 he was assigned to the USS Maury (DD-401) as a torpedo man. He was involved in the invasion of Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Iwo Jima as well as night surface action with Japanese ships. He recalls the ship being involved in rescuing survivors of the USS Honolulu after it was torpedoed. Fisher was discharged from the US Navy soon after World …
Date: April 28, 2004
Creator: Fisher, James W.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Olcott, April 28, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Olcott, April 28, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Olcott. Olcott joined the Navy in the spring of 1941. After training, he was assigned to USS Maury (DD-401) at Pearl Harbor. Olcott was at torpedo school at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. When Maury returned to port, Olcott went back aboard and was on the ship when it bombarded Wake Island and went to the Solomon Islands. Olcott stayed on Maury through 1944 and went back to torpedo school. Then, he was sent to a post office in New Guinea for a few months before going to the submarine base at Subic Bay. He was there when the war ended.
Date: April 28, 2004
Creator: Olcott, John H.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James Evans, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with James Evans, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Evans. Evans joined the Marine Corps in June of 1940. He was deployed to Pearl Harbor in September, and stationed at Naval Air Station Kaneohe. Evans helped put the station into commission in February of 1941. He was on watch at the station when the Japanese attacked. He shares memories of rescuers working to get to crewman aboard USS Oklahoma. Evans served with the 6th Marine Regiment. Beginning in January of 1943, he participated in the Battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan, where he was wounded. He returned to the US and was discharged in August of 1944.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Evans, James
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert L. (Bob) Groves, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert L. (Bob) Groves, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Grove. He discusses joining the Marine Corp, shipping out to New Zealand before landing on Guadacanal a few days after the invasion started there, then going to Tarawa, getting malaria, returning to Hawaii for more training before going to fight on Saipan, getting hit by shrapnel and shot in the leg. He describes battle conditions, getting caught in storms abroad ships crossing the Pacific, returning to the states after being wounded and attending reunions and being involved in the 2nd Marine Division Association after the war.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Groves, Robert L. (Bob)
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Guinn Rasbury, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guinn Rasbury. He discusses joining the Marines, being part of the invasion force at Florida and Tulagi Islands, having multiple malaria attacks, being transferred to Maine to cure his malaria, other transfers around the States, ending up back in the Pacific. He ancedotes how being sick with malaria and getting bumped from a plane ride home saved his life, sounding Taps at a memorial service for President Roosevelt, being Chairman of the Second Marine Division Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Rasbury, Guinn
Object Type: Sound
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
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Sam H. Snoddy, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Sam H. Snoddy, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam H. Snoddy. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division. After training, he participated in the initial landing at Saipan where he was wounded in the knees and shoulder on the beach by shell fragments. He was loaded onto a hospital ship with several other casualties before returning to Hawaii to recuperate. He participated in the Okinawa campaign and spent time at Nagasaki on occupation duty. After being discharged, he went to college on the GI Bill, evetually settling in Texas working in the oil industry.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Snoddy, Sam H.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Herman Krehmeier, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Herman Krehmeier, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Herman Krehmeier. Krehmeier joined the Marine Corps in May of 1943. He served as a machine gunner with the 2nd Marine Division. He deployed in January of 1944 to Pearl Harbor. Beginning July of 1944 through April of 1945, Krehmeier participated in the Battles of Tinian and Okinawa. He was discharged in January of 1946.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Krehmeier, Herman
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Edward Person, April 29, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Edward Person, April 29, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Person. Person joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. He deployed to Samoa in February of 1943. He served with the 8th Marine Regiment in an antitank outfit, working with 37mm antitank guns. Beginning in November of 1943 through April of 1945, Person participated in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1966.
Date: April 29, 2004
Creator: Person, Edward
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

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with H. L. Obermiller. He discusses his involvement in the Battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, and being a Pharmacist's Mate. He ancedotes about having Spam for Thanksgiving, meeting a couple Navajo codetalkers, and writing letters back home.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Obermiller, H. L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Laudell Raper, April 30, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Laudell Raper, April 30, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Laudell Raper. Raper joined the Marine Corps in early 1942. In the summer, he deployed to New Zealand and served with the 8th Marine Regiment. Beginning in August of 1942 through August of 1944, Person served as a Corporal in a machine gun section during the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. Raper contracted malaria on Tinian and returned to the US in late 1944. He later completed Non-Commissioned Officer School and joined the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, participating in combat on Guam. Raper was then assigned to duty at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was discharged around late 1945.
Date: April 30, 2004
Creator: Raper, Laudell
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Jesse Cook, April 8, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Jesse Cook, April 8, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Cook. Cook joined the Army in March of 1943. He served as a private with C Battery, 414th Tank Battalion, 20th Armored Division. Cook’s job was to load the 105mm howitzer aboard the M7 tank. In February of 1945, they deployed to Le Havre, France. In April, Cook served in combat along the Rhine River in support of the 101st Airborne Division near Delhoven, Germany and the 82nd Airborne Division across the river from Hitdorf, Germany. He continued in combat from the Rhine into Munich. Upon entering Salzburg in May, hostilities ceased. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.
Date: April 8, 2004
Creator: Cook, Jesse
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert B. Norman, April 19, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert B. Norman, April 19, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert B. Norman. Norman grew up in North Carolina and finished two years at NC State in Raleigh before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940. Shortly after the war started, Norman qualified for cadet flying school and earned his wings in December, 1942. He shares his experiences while in flight training. Norman had an advantage as he had learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Program while at NC State. Upon graduating, Norman was made an instructo and sent to Marfa, Texas. in 1944, Norman was reassigned to the Air Transport Command and flew C-46 cargo planes and spare parts to India. Norman spent the remainder of the war flying 4-engine C-109 airplanes loaded with fuel for the fighter group in China over the Himalaya Mountains. When the war ended, Norman was discharged.
Date: April 19, 2004
Creator: Norman, Robert B.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Perry, April 16, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Perry, April 16, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Perry. Perry joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He completed armament school, and aerial gunner training. He served as a waist gunner aboard a B-17 with the 96th Bomb Group, 338th Bomb Squadron. They deployed to England, and Perry was shot down in March of 1944 during his fourth mission over Brunswick, Germany. He was contained as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 4 and 6, and liberated in April of 1945. Perry returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.
Date: April 16, 2004
Creator: Perry, John
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History