Oral History Interview with W. R. Barker, April 25, 2001 (open access)

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. The transcript 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: February 23, 2003
Creator: Amador, Yacel & Barker, W. R.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Betty Jane Williams to Maxine Flournoy, February 23, 2001] (open access)

[Letter from Betty Jane Williams to Maxine Flournoy, February 23, 2001]

Letter from Betty Jane Williams to WASP President Maxine Flournoy discussing the decision to pay Mildred Carter's expenses to attend the WASP's next national conference. During WWII, Carter had applied to join the WASP but was denied because the government excluded African-American women from serving in the program. Williams disagrees with the action taken at the October business meeting and urges the WASP to rescind their offer to pay Carter's expenses.
Date: February 23, 2001
Creator: Williams, Betty Jane
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History