Resource Type

Language

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 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 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 James F. Sansom, October 8, 2004 (open access)

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

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James F. Sansom. 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 commissiond 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: Sansom, James F.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Allan W. 'Buck' Saunders, October 8, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Allan W. 'Buck' Saunders, October 8, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan W. ""Buck"" Saunders. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, then going to flight school to be a pilot. He was stationed in India and discusses flying supplies into China over the Himalayas, ""the Hump"", trading items like jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma, and meetings he had with native Burmese. He also talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Saunders, Alan W.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dean Stephens, October 8, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Dean Stephens, October 8, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean Stephens. Stephens was born in Red Oak, Oklahoma. After finishing two years of college he attempted to join the Coast Guard but was rejected. He went to work at Emerson Electric, a defense plant that made gun turrets for bombers. He was drafted 15 January 1943 and went to Wichita Falls, Texas for basic training. After basic, he was sent to weather observer school at Chanute Field, Illinois. After ten months of training he went to Perrin Field in Sherman, Texas. On 15 July 1943 he went aboard the USS Hermitage (AP-54) bound for Bombay. After arriving at Karachi, he volunteered to go to Burma. He was then sent to Pushkar, India where he helped build a weather station. After five months he flew to Mangkuan, China in an L-5 aircraft. After a three day trek by foot, he arrived at a camp where he joined a team of nine others comprising the Signal Air Warning group. Their job was to pass weather conditions every six hours to a collection point that drew area weather maps. Stephens recalls leeches being a constant problem and being accidentally burned …
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Stephens, Dean
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Adanto D'Amore, October 8, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Adanto D'Amore, October 8, 2005

Transcript of an oral interview with Dr. Adanto D'Amore. D'Amore describes his education briefly at Ohio State University where he graduated from medical school. Shortly thereafter, he joined the US Army Air Corps, where he examined candidates for jump school. He eventually was assigned as flight surgeon to the 19th Bomb Group and sent with them to Clark Field in the Philippines in October, 1941. After the Japanese invaded, D'Amore and elements of the 19th Bomb Group moved to Mindanao. After the surrender, D'Amore went with fellow prisoners of war to the Davao Internment Camp. Eventually, he was relocated to Cabanatuan where he spent 12 months before leaving aboard a hell ship for Omori Prison Camp in Japan. Upon being liberated after the war, D'Amore was sent to Okinawa, Manila and finally San Francisco. D'Amore also discusses the condition of the returning POWs.
Date: October 8, 2005
Creator: D'Amore, Dr. Adanto A. S.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Malcom Young, October 8, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Malcom Young, October 8, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Malcom Young. Young joined the Army in March of 1941. He completed basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and provides details of his training. He was later assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 57th Field Artillery and made corporal. He describes his experiences using the 105mm Howitzer. In June of 1943 they participated in the Aleutian Islands Campaign, serving combat duty. They traveled to Hawaii and remained there through February of 1944, training and completing maneuvers. In February through May they participated in the Marshall Islands Campaign and Admiralty Islands Campaign. In October of 1944 they participated in the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines. In April of 1945 they participated in the Battle of Okinawa. He describes his participation in each of these campaigns. Young was discharged in August of 1945.
Date: October 8, 2002
Creator: Young, Malcom
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clarence Petersen, October 8, 2009 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Clarence Petersen, October 8, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clarence Petersen. Petersen joined the Marines in June of 1942. He completed radio school and served as a radio operator in D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He provides details of training. Beginning February of 1943, he traveled to New Zealand, completing maneuvers. They traveled to Guadalcanal in May of that same year and Bougainville in November. Petersen provides some detail of the Japanese and living in the jungle of Bougainville. He landed on Guam in July of 1944, by way of amphibious tractor. He was in the 13th wave and describes carrying his radio and an 85-pound roll of combat wire onto the island. He was discharged in August of 1945.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Petersen, Clarence
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gerald Shepherd, October 8, 2009 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Gerald Shepherd, October 8, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gerald Shepherd. Shepherd joined the Australian Navy in July of 1944. He completed training at Flinders Naval Depot. Beginning in May of 1945, he served aboard the HMAS Bataan (I91). He was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. He did not participate in any combat missions. After the war ended, they completed tours of duty in Japanese waters during the occupation. Shepherd continued his service after the war.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Shepherd, Gerald
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ann Jonushaitis, October 8, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Ann Jonushaitis, October 8, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ann Jonushaitis. Jonushaitis was born in Germany in November of 1934. Her family was from Lithuania and she describes their fleeing to Germany as the Russians filtrated in. Jonushaitis describes their hard life during wartime, living in barracks and having very little to eat. She describes her family’s trip to America and beginning anew in Chicago. She also describes living on a farm in Indiana with her husband and family. She expresses her deep appreciation for the Americans helping her and her family make a life-changing transition.
Date: October 8, 2005
Creator: Jonushaitis, Ann
Object Type: Text
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

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James F. Sansom. 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 commissiond 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: Sansom, James F.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Allan W. 'Buck' Saunders, October 8, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Allan W. 'Buck' Saunders, October 8, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan W. ""Buck"" Saunders. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, then going to flight school to be a pilot. He was stationed in India and discusses flying supplies into China over the Himalayas, ""the Hump"", trading items like jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma, and meetings he had with native Burmese. He also talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Saunders, Alan W.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Dean Stephens, October 8, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Dean Stephens, October 8, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean Stephens. Stephens was born in Red Oak, Oklahoma. After finishing two years of college he attempted to join the Coast Guard but was rejected. He went to work at Emerson Electric, a defense plant that made gun turrets for bombers. He was drafted 15 January 1943 and went to Wichita Falls, Texas for basic training. After basic, he was sent to weather observer school at Chanute Field, Illinois. After ten months of training he went to Perrin Field in Sherman, Texas. On 15 July 1943 he went aboard the USS Hermitage (AP-54) bound for Bombay. After arriving at Karachi, he volunteered to go to Burma. He was then sent to Pushkar, India where he helped build a weather station. After five months he flew to Mangkuan, China in an L-5 aircraft. After a three day trek by foot, he arrived at a camp where he joined a team of nine others comprising the Signal Air Warning group. Their job was to pass weather conditions every six hours to a collection point that drew area weather maps. Stephens recalls leeches being a constant problem and being accidentally burned …
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Stephens, Dean
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Adanto D'Amore, October 8, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Adanto D'Amore, October 8, 2005

Transcript of an oral interview with Dr. Adanto D'Amore. D'Amore describes his education briefly at Ohio State University where he graduated from medical school. Shortly thereafter, he joined the US Army Air Corps, where he examined candidates for jump school. He eventually was assigned as flight surgeon to the 19th Bomb Group and sent with them to Clark Field in the Philippines in October, 1941. After the Japanese invaded, D'Amore and elements of the 19th Bomb Group moved to Mindanao. After the surrender, D'Amore went with fellow prisoners of war to the Davao Internment Camp. Eventually, he was relocated to Cabanatuan where he spent 12 months before leaving aboard a hell ship for Omori Prison Camp in Japan. Upon being liberated after the war, D'Amore was sent to Okinawa, Manila and finally San Francisco. D'Amore also discusses the condition of the returning POWs.
Date: October 8, 2005
Creator: D'Amore, Dr. Adanto A. S.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Malcolm Young, October 8, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Malcolm Young, October 8, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Malcolm Young. Young joined the Army in March 1941 and received basic training at Fort Sill. He received rifle training at Fort Ord. Upon completion, he was assigned to field artillery in the 7th Infantry Division, where he served as an artillery gunnery corporal. He deployed to the Aleutians. Despite being on combat duty, the highest number of casualties there came from frostbite. At Kwajalein, Young suggested to his sergeant that the best way to fight the Japanese snipers was to clear the trees, an idea which was adopted by higher officials. His unit landed in the Marshalls on an island a few miles away and fired day and night until the trees were cleared. In the Philippines, he landed on the east side of Leyte and finished in the west, at Ormoc. He began to show signs of jaundice at that time. Okinawa was the first time that Young recalls being matched in strength by the Japanese artillery, which were much weaker than his unit in previous campaigns. He had specific orders to leave caves untouched, as Japanese civilians were known to hide there. As he was …
Date: October 8, 2002
Creator: Young, Malcolm
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clarence Petersen, October 8, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Clarence Petersen, October 8, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clarence Petersen. Petersen joined the Marines in June of 1942. He completed radio school and served as a radio operator in D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He provides details of training. Beginning February of 1943, he traveled to New Zealand, completing maneuvers. They traveled to Guadalcanal in May of that same year and Bougainville in November. Petersen provides some detail of the Japanese and living in the jungle of Bougainville. He landed on Guam in July of 1944, by way of amphibious tractor. He was in the 13th wave and describes carrying his radio and an 85-pound roll of combat wire onto the island. He was discharged in August of 1945.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Petersen, Clarence
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gerald Shepherd, October 8, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gerald Shepherd, October 8, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gerald Shepherd. Shepherd joined the Australian Navy in July of 1944. He completed training at Flinders Naval Depot. Beginning in May of 1945, he served aboard the HMAS Bataan (I91). He was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. He did not participate in any combat missions. After the war ended, they completed tours of duty in Japanese waters during the occupation. Shepherd continued his service after the war.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Shepherd, Gerald
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History