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Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders of New Braunfels, Texas, a veteran of the Army Air Force during World War Two. The interview includes Saunders' personal experiences while in the Air Force, including the China-Burma-India Theater and memories of flying cargo to China over the Himalayas. Mr. Saunders also talks about life before and after his service.
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Saunders, Alan W.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Buck Gibson, October 19, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Buck Gibson, October 19, 2002

Interview with Buck Gibson of Waco, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War Two. The interview includes some of Strauss' background before and after the war as well as his personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of his training, life in the Navy, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and what happened after he was rescued.
Date: October 19, 2002
Creator: Cox, Bill & Gibson, Buck
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dale R. Walker, October 4, 2007 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Dale R. Walker, October 4, 2007

Interview with Dale R. Walker of Kingsville, Texas, a United States Marine Corps veteran from World War Two. The interview includes Hill's memories about growing up as well as his personal experiences while in the Marines, including details from his involvement in the Iwo Jima attacks, 3rd Battalion, and the occupation of Nagasaki.
Date: October 4, 2007
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Walker, Dale R.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Melvin Harmon, October 21, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Melvin Harmon, October 21, 2002

Interview with Melvin Harmon, a paratrooper during World War II. He discusses his paratrooper training and his time on Guadalcanal, Bougainville and other battles in the Solomon Islands. He also contracted malaria.
Date: October 21, 2002
Creator: Morris, Cork & Harmon, Melvin
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., October 20, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., October 20, 2003

Interview with Earl Smyth, Jr., a serviceman during World War II. He discusses his time aboard the USS Saratoga at the Battle of Midway and at Guadalcanal, where the ship sustained two torpedo attacks. He saw Pearl Harbor three days after the attack.
Date: October 20, 2003
Creator: Bryk, Clarence & Smyth, Earl, Jr.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James F. Sansom, October 8, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with James F. Sansom, October 8, 2004

Interview with James F. Sansom, an officer in the U. S. Army during World War II. Sansom joined the Army in 1940 and began training on anti-aircraft guns in Florida. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1942. He was assigned to the 843rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Warning Battalion, which made its way to India via the Panama Canal and Australia. Shortly after reaching Calcutta, the unit moved to Myitkyina, Burma. After the war, Sansom was assigned to Sagumo Prison outside Tokyo where Japanese war criminals were being held while on trial for war crimes. He describes some of the routines and residents in the prison. Sansom taught Hideki Tojo how to play card games like gin rummy. Sansom also describes the process of executing convicted prisoners as he carried out some sentences. In all, he executed nine convicted war criminals.
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Sansom, James F.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Flocke, October 22, 2000 transcript

Oral History Interview with Al Flocke, October 22, 2000

Interview with Al Flocke, a radio operator during World War II. He discusses his flight training and being the radio operator on a B-24 bomber which did raids on Guam, Turk, Iwo Jima and other islands. He also relates anecdotes about food, rations, and living conditions on the islands.
Date: October 22, 2000
Creator: Nichols, Chuck & Flocke, Al
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders, a pilot during World War II. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, and going to flight school for pilot training. He was stationed in India and flew supplies into China over the Himalayas (known by pilots as "the Hump"). In China, he traded items such as jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma. He also discusses his meetings with native Burmese and talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Saunders, Alan W.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Joyce E. Sarvey, October 21, 2000 transcript

Oral History Interview with Joyce E. Sarvey, October 21, 2000

Interview with Joyce E. Sarvey discussing her work with Western Union in San Antonio, Texas during World War II.
Date: October 21, 2000
Creator: Pickard, Hesty & Sarvey, Joyce E.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Buck Gibson, October 19, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Buck Gibson, October 19, 2002

Interview with Buck Gibson of Waco, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War Two. The interview includes some of Mr. Gibson's background before and after the war as well as his personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of his training, life in the Navy, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and what happened after he was rescued.
Date: October 19, 2002
Creator: Cox, Bill & Gibson, Buck
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dale R. Walker, October 4, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Dale R. Walker, October 4, 2007

Interview with Dale R. Walker, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He joined the Marine Corps in 1944 and was trained in mortars at Camp Pendleton, California. He then went to Camp Tarawa at Hawaii for further training with the Fifth Marine Division. Walker landed with the sixth wave on D-day at Iwo Jima. While working with mortars supporting the infantry, he was called on to be a stretcher-bearer on occasion. Walker spent 36 days on Iwo Jima. After the Japanese surrendered, Walker served in the occupation of Japan.
Date: October 4, 2007
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Walker, Dale R.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lloyd C. Fons, October 29, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lloyd C. Fons, October 29, 2008

Interview with Lloyd C. Fons, an officer in the U. S. Navy during World War II. After completing midshipman's school and earning a commission, Fons served aboard patrol torpedo (PT) boats in the Philippines. He served in Squadron 17 aboard three different boats - 229, 230 and 231. He eventually became the commanding officer of PT 229 in July, 1945. His primary assignment seemed to be delivering guerrillas to various locations in Mindoro and Luzon. After the war, Fons was transferred to Hong Kong where he was commanding officer aboard a yard patrol boat, YP 641, for 11 months. Here, his primary duty seemed to be delivering frozen and refrigerated food to other ships.
Date: October 29, 2008
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Fons, Lloyd C.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History

[12th Armored Division Memorial Museum Dedication]

Photograph of a large crowd of people sitting outside at the dedication service of the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum in Abilene, Texas. Several men in blue Army uniforms are seated on a raised platform in the background.
Date: October 6, 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Painting of Tank]

Photograph of a painting of a tank on the side of the 12th Armored Division Museum building. A man in a wheelchair, identified as Alden Bengtson, is visible in front of the building.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Funke Family at Ceremony]

Photograph of the Funke family, including Bill, Dave, Lola, Fred, and Opal, posing together at the dedication ceremony for the 12th Armored Division museum in Abilene, Texas. Cars and trees are visible in the background.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Three Photographs in Viewing Room]

Photograph of three framed pictures on the wall of the viewing room in the 12th Armored Division Museum in Abilene, Texas. They show, from left to right, a division commander, President Harry Truman, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Bill Funke Holding Plaque]

Photograph of Bill Funke holding a plaque bearing the names of those 12th Armored Division soldiers killed in action in World War II. Two signs are visible in the background, one bearing the insignia of the 12th Armored Division, and one reading: "Future Home 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum".
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Men on Stage]

Photograph of several veterans holding flags and standing on a stage at the dedication ceremony for the 12th Armored Division Museum in Abilene, Texas. Bill Funke stands at the podium, and the crowd is visible in the foreground.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Photograph in Museum]

Photograph of a black and white picture showing three soldiers, on display in the 12th Armored Division Museum in Abilene, Texas.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[17th Armored Infantry Battalion Display]

Photograph of display cases in the 17th Armored Infantry Battalion section of the 12th Armored Infantry Division in Abilene, Texas. There are pictures mounted on the wall in the background, a uniform in a case to the left, and equipment in a case to the right.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Veterans on Dais]

Photograph of several veterans, many holding unit flags, standing on a dais at the dedication ceremony for the 12th Armored Division Museum in Abilene, Texas. Bill Funke stands at the podium, and Bob Hoeweler holds a plaque to Funke's right. The crowd is visible in the foreground.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[12th Armored Division Quilt]

Photograph of a quilt with the insignia of the 12th Armored Division surrounded by the patches of its units, on display in the 12th Armored Division museum in Abilene, Texas.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[World War II Jeep]

Photograph of a World War II Jeep on display in the 12th Armored Division Museum in Abilene, Texas. Several mannequins are positioned around the Jeep, and one is in the driver's set. A sign showing the distance to Gambsheim and Weyerstein is visible to the right.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Child Sitting on Tank]

Photograph of a boy in a red shirt sitting on top of a tank during the parade before the dedication ceremony of the 12th Armored Division Museum in Abilene, Texas. Several men in camouflage stand around the base of the tank, and trucks and buildings are visible in the background. There is a banner on the side of the tank advertising the National Guard.
Date: October 2001
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History