The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Henry Hauschild. Hauschild joined the Army in January 1942 and received basic training at Fort Ringgold. He received chemical warfare training in Maryland. Upon completion, he became an instructor on how to survive phosgene and tear gas attacks. At Mitchel Field he trained P-47 pilots in creating smoke screens. While in Delaware as a chief chemical warfare officer, he was ordered to administer a surprise tear gas attack on the barracks at dawn. He was against the idea, because of the likelihood of chaos and potential injuries. He reluctantly followed orders, and fortunately no one was injured.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William W. Wright. He was born in Arlington, Virginia on 15 July 1918 and joined the Marine Corps Reserve in May 1938, receiving his commission in October 1941. In February 1942 he was sent to Camp Lejeune as the Executive Officer of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division. Wright recalls boarding the MS John Ericsson in San Francisco and sailing to Wellington, New Zealand where they transferred cargo to the USS McCawley (APA-4) and practiced amphibious landings. He landed in the second wave at Guadalcanal on 7 August 1942 and his battalion guarded against a Japanese landing. Wright recounts his involvement in action over the ensuing months during which he was awarded the Silver Star. On 15 December 1942 he sailed to Brisbane, Australia where his unit was bivouacked for two weeks before an infestation of mosquitoes forced them to move to Melbourne. On 30 December 1943 his company participated in the landing at Cape Gloucester. He describes his experiences on New Britain and then recalls that he was transferred back to Camp Lejeune on 30 January 1944 where he spent the next year training recruits. When …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Waldrip. Born in Texas in 1923, he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in May 1942. After training, he was sent to England where he was assigned to the 490th Bomb Group. He served as a crewmember on a B-17 aircraft. Other members of the crew were Charles Smelser, Neil Johnson, Leonard Kail, and Jake Jackson. He talks about ?buzz bombs?, the living conditions, and flight suits. He describes the airplane weaponry as well as the logistics of bombing missions. He recounts a story of his plane going off course due to bad weather when returning from a bombing mission during the Battle of the Bulge. He was involved in missions to bomb strategic targets in Germany. He describes bombing missions to Berlin and Merseburg, Germany. He also describes a mission to bomb submarines at Brest, France during the Normandy Invasion. He shares anecdotes about flak; obtaining coal to heat his Quonset hut; cleaning his uniform with airplane fuel; and censoring mail. He returned to the United States in 1945 after flying 35 missions. He left military service when the war ended. In 1949 he joined the United …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leo Misenheimer. Misenheimer graduated from college in 1941 with an engineering degree and was working for the TVA when the war broke out. He went into the Army Air Force in November 1942, wanting to be involved with aircraft. However, they switched him to meteorology since they needed meteorologists so badly. He was sent to a one year school at the University of Chicago, one of five schools in the country teaching the course. In his class of 500 Aviation Cadets, only 200 finished the course. After graduating and receiving a Second Lieutenant's commission, Misenheimer was assigned to Gore Field at Great Falls, Montana. He did meteorology work in connection with the B-17s (coming over from Seattle) flying to Europe. His main work was with P-38s and P-39s going up to Alaska for pick-up by the Russians. About 100 per week made that trip. After about a year and half, Misenheimer was transferred (November 1944) to Asheville, North Carolina to the weather communication headquarters. He was there about six months and then reassigned to the Army Material Plant at National Airport. He was there when the war ended …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Ashwood. Ashwood joined the Navy in 1943 and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as a seaman. In the Bering Sea, Ashwood stood watch in freezing winds. But later, at Makin Island, it was so hot that sailors around him collapsed from heat exhaustion. Ashwood often worked as an ammunition handler but happened to be working in the food storage locker on the day that a 200-pound can of gunpowder exploded, killing several members of the gun crew. He was then reassigned to the turret as a replacement, becoming a third-class gunner’s mate. Near Saipan and Tinian, he survived the Pennsylvania colliding with loaded ammunition ship USS Talbot (APD-7). After shooting down a record number of planes in the Philippines, he returned to San Francisco, where the ship was modernized in preparation for bombardment of Japan. When the war abruptly ended, Ashwood was discharged in Wallace, Texas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herman Johns. Johns was working for International Harvester when he decided to join the Air Force. He did essentially the same job for the Air Force he did as a civilian: accounting and finance. Johns met and married his wife while he was in the service. When his stint in the Air Force was complete, Johns returned to work for International Harvester in Dallas.

Vocal studio recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall.

Recording of the "L'Amour Opera Gala" performance at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.