Oral History Interview with Frank Stagner, February 1, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Frank Stagner, February 1, 2002

Transcript of an oral interview with Frank Stagner. Stagner was a nine-year-old child living in Manila with his family when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. His father was a radio broadcaster and was asked to keep his station working during the invasion. When the station was destroyed, Stagner's father took the family into the hills where they were eventually captured by the Japanese. He relates the experiences he had just after being captured: getting back to Manila, being paraded through the streets by the Japanese, being interned at Fort Santiago where his father was interrogated, and being interned at Santo Tomas. He provides very few details of day to day life in the camp, but describes being liberated.
Date: February 1, 2002
Creator: Stagner, Frank
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Frank Stagner, February 1, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Frank Stagner, February 1, 2002

Transcript of an oral interview with Frank Stagner. Stagner was a nine-year-old child living in Manila with his family when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. His father was a radio broadcaster and was asked to keep his station working during the invasion. When the station was destroyed, Stagner's father took the family into the hills where they were eventually captured by the Japanese. He relates the experiences he had just after being captured: getting back to Manila, being paraded through the streets by the Japanese, being interned at Fort Santiago where his father was interrogated, and being interned at Santo Tomas. He provides very few details of day to day life in the camp, but describes being liberated.
Date: February 1, 2002
Creator: Stagner, Frank
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gene F. Dauer, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gene F. Dauer, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gene F. Dauer. Dauer joined the Marine Corps and trained at San Diego. While on leave after training, he missed returning in time to join his original unit and shipped out later to Hawaii. Eventually, he landed at Iwo Jima on D+4 four days after the initial assault. His duty on Iwo Jima included driving ambulances and working in the field hospital ward. He was on Hilo when the war ended and describes a tsunami on that island after the war.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Dauer, Gene F.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gene F. Dauer, February 18, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Gene F. Dauer, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gene F. Dauer. Dauer joined the Marine Corps and trained at San Diego. While on leave after training, he missed returning in time to join his original unit and shipped out later to Hawaii. Eventually, he landed at Iwo Jima on D+4 four days after the initial assault. His duty on Iwo Jima included driving ambulances and working in the field hospital ward. He was on Hilo when the war ended and describes a tsunami on that island after the war.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Dauer, Gene F.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Geoffrey Fiskin, February 21, 2007 transcript

Oral History Interview with Geoffrey Fiskin, February 21, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Geoffrey Fiskin. When Fiskin first tried to enlist in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he was ordered to return to his farm, an essential duty at the time. He was accepted to the RNZAF on his second attempt and was assigned to the No. 205 Squadron, a flying boat squadron stationed in Singapore. He and other RNZAF personnel were then transferred to the RAF No. 243 Squadron, seeing their first action just one day after Pearl Harbor. Fiskin struck a Japanese Ki-27 which then exploded beneath his plane, causing Fiskin to fall into a tailspin for 5,000 feet. He survived that event only to later be shelled and wounded. He was erroneously reported missing and believed killed, which he learned while speaking to his mother by phone. Fiskin, though on crutches and with steel lodged in his hip, continued to fly. In March 1942 he joined the No. 14 Squadron as a P-40 pilot. In bad weather off New Caledonia, the whole unit made a sea landing and abandoned their planes. He later discovered on Guadalcanal that American troops had found his aircraft and salvaged it; he …
Date: February 21, 2007
Creator: Fiskin, Geoffrey
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Geoffrey Fiskin, February 21, 2007 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Geoffrey Fiskin, February 21, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Geoffrey Fiskin. When Fiskin first tried to enlist in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he was ordered to return to his farm, an essential duty at the time. He was accepted to the RNZAF on his second attempt and was assigned to the No. 205 Squadron, a flying boat squadron stationed in Singapore. He and other RNZAF personnel were then transferred to the RAF No. 243 Squadron, seeing their first action just one day after Pearl Harbor. Fiskin struck a Japanese Ki-27 which then exploded beneath his plane, causing Fiskin to fall into a tailspin for 5,000 feet. He survived that event only to later be shelled and wounded. He was erroneously reported missing and believed killed, which he learned while speaking to his mother by phone. Fiskin, though on crutches and with steel lodged in his hip, continued to fly. In March 1942 he joined the No. 14 Squadron as a P-40 pilot. In bad weather off New Caledonia, the whole unit made a sea landing and abandoned their planes. He later discovered on Guadalcanal that American troops had found his aircraft and salvaged it; he …
Date: February 21, 2007
Creator: Fiskin, Geoffrey
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Alden, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Alden, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Alden. Alden had just finished Marine Corps boot training in San Diego when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He began clerking in the recruit depot office in San Diego shortly after the war started because he could type. In 1944, Alden was assigned to Company A, 27th Marines at Camp Pendleton. He was in the first wave to land on Iwo Jima. He was wounded and evacuated to USS Pinkney (APH-2), which, when it was full a few days later, shaped course for Guam, the Hawaii. Once recovered, Alden went to Saipan to serve in a military police unit in May, 1945. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945. While attending Southern Methodist University, Alden participated in the Air Force ROTC and took a commission upon graduating. He worked as a procurement officer all over the world retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Alden, George
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Alden, February 18, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Alden, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Alden. Alden had just finished Marine Corps boot training in San Diego when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He began clerking in the recruit depot office in San Diego shortly after the war started because he could type. In 1944, Alden was assigned to Company A, 27th Marines at Camp Pendleton. He was in the first wave to land on Iwo Jima. He was wounded and evacuated to USS Pinkney (APH-2), which, when it was full a few days later, shaped course for Guam, the Hawaii. Once recovered, Alden went to Saipan to serve in a military police unit in May, 1945. He returned to the US and was discharged in November, 1945. While attending Southern Methodist University, Alden participated in the Air Force ROTC and took a commission upon graduating. He worked as a procurement officer all over the world retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Alden, George
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Clay, February 27, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Clay, February 27, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Clay. Clay joined the Army in 1940. Beginning August of 1941, he served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, serving in the Pacific Theater. In September of 1943, they participated in the New Guinea Campaign. Clay served until late 1943, early 1944. His discharge date is not noted.
Date: February 27, 2004
Creator: Clay, George
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Clay, February 27, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Clay, February 27, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Clay. Clay joined the Army in 1940. Beginning August of 1941, he served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, serving in the Pacific Theater. In September of 1943, they participated in the New Guinea Campaign. Clay served until late 1943, early 1944. His discharge date is not noted.
Date: February 27, 2004
Creator: Clay, George
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George L. Craig, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with George L. Craig, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George L. Craig. In 1943, when he was 18, he signed up for service in the Marine Corps in Richmond, Virginia. He had basic training at Parris island, South Carolina. After that, Craig went to Quantico, Virginia to Field Artillery School where he trained as a surveyor. Then, he had more training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before heading to Camp Pendleton, California where he joined the Fifth Marine Division. From there, he went to Hawaii for more advanced training at Camp Tarawa. Then, Craig speaks about landing at and fighting on Iwo Jima. He also talks about occupation duty at Sasebo, Japan when the war ended. Craig returnded home and attended the University of Maryland on the GI Bill and went into public education in Winchester, Virginia until he retired in 1985.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Craig, George L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George L. Craig, February 18, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George L. Craig, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George L. Craig. In 1943, when he was 18, he signed up for service in the Marine Corps in Richmond, Virginia. He had basic training at Parris island, South Carolina. After that, Craig went to Quantico, Virginia to Field Artillery School where he trained as a surveyor. Then, he had more training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before heading to Camp Pendleton, California where he joined the Fifth Marine Division. From there, he went to Hawaii for more advanced training at Camp Tarawa. Then, Craig speaks about landing at and fighting on Iwo Jima. He also talks about occupation duty at Sasebo, Japan when the war ended. Craig returnded home and attended the University of Maryland on the GI Bill and went into public education in Winchester, Virginia until he retired in 1985.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Craig, George L.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Scholes, February 1, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Scholes, February 1, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Scholes. Scholes joined the U.S. Navy’s V-12 program in 1943, graduating with the rank of ensign from the Midshipman's School at Northwestern University in Chicago. Scholes trained in ordnance at the Washington Naval Gun Factory and Jacksonville Naval Air Station. He was assigned to the Aviation Construction Ordinance Repair Navy unit, ACORN-52, in Guam. The unit occupied the Japanese Naval Base at Truk Atoll, in the Pacific. They built an airstrip and repaired an airplane base once belonging to the Japanese. He served in the Navy for three years and was discharged in June of 1946.
Date: February 1, 2008
Creator: Scholes, George
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Scholes, February 1, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Scholes, February 1, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Scholes. Scholes joined the U.S. Navy’s V-12 program in 1943, graduating with the rank of ensign from the Midshipman's School at Northwestern University in Chicago. Scholes trained in ordnance at the Washington Naval Gun Factory and Jacksonville Naval Air Station. He was assigned to the Aviation Construction Ordinance Repair Navy unit, ACORN-52, in Guam. The unit occupied the Japanese Naval Base at Truk Atoll, in the Pacific. They built an airstrip and repaired an airplane base once belonging to the Japanese. He served in the Navy for three years and was discharged in June of 1946.
Date: February 1, 2008
Creator: Scholes, George
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George W. Denby, February 2, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with George W. Denby, February 2, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George W Denby. Denby joined the Navy and earned his wings in December 1943 at Corpus Christi. He was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), flying a Grumman F4F Wildcat. At the Battle of the Philippine Sea he was knocked unconscious after being struck by an 18-inch shell. When he regained consciousness, he fired on his target and returned to the Enterprise. The next day, he was wounded in a dogfight with seven Zeroes. He jumped from his plane at 30,000 feet and broke his back when deploying his parachute. Zeroes continued firing on him as he hit the water, and his life jacket was full of holes. He swam for eight hours, bleeding severely and unable to move one of his legs. He was attacked by a shark but was eventually rescued and returned to the Enterprise. He finished his tour of duty with a total of 57 combat missions. While at Ulithi on R&R, he rubbed elbows with well-known fighter aces. For some time after the war, Denby was skittish while flying. But he flew combat missions in the Korean War and retired as a commander …
Date: February 2, 2008
Creator: Denby, George W.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George W. Denby, February 2, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George W. Denby, February 2, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George W Denby. Denby joined the Navy and earned his wings in December 1943 at Corpus Christi. He was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), flying a Grumman F4F Wildcat. At the Battle of the Philippine Sea he was knocked unconscious after being struck by an 18-inch shell. When he regained consciousness, he fired on his target and returned to the Enterprise. The next day, he was wounded in a dogfight with seven Zeroes. He jumped from his plane at 30,000 feet and broke his back when deploying his parachute. Zeroes continued firing on him as he hit the water, and his life jacket was full of holes. He swam for eight hours, bleeding severely and unable to move one of his legs. He was attacked by a shark but was eventually rescued and returned to the Enterprise. He finished his tour of duty with a total of 57 combat missions. While at Ulithi on R&R, he rubbed elbows with well-known fighter aces. For some time after the war, Denby was skittish while flying. But he flew combat missions in the Korean War and retired as a commander …
Date: February 2, 2008
Creator: Denby, George W.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Georgia Payne, February 1, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Georgia Payne, February 1, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Georgia Payne. Payne was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1929. Her father, who as an American citizen, was born in Manila, Philippines. In 1934 their family moved back to Manila to work and be close to her father’s mother. They were living there in 1941 when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. She and her family were taken to Santo Tomas Internment Camp, where they resided for 37 months. Around early 1945 Payne and her family were shipped back to the US. She provides vivid recollections of her time in the camp, their liberation and their acclimatization back in the States.
Date: February 1, 2002
Creator: Payne, Georgia
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Georgia Payne, February 1, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Georgia Payne, February 1, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Georgia Payne. Payne was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1929. Her father, who as an American citizen, was born in Manila, Philippines. In 1934 their family moved back to Manila to work and be close to her father’s mother. They were living there in 1941 when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. She and her family were taken to Santo Tomas Internment Camp, where they resided for 37 months. Around early 1945 Payne and her family were shipped back to the US. She provides vivid recollections of her time in the camp, their liberation and their acclimatization back in the States.
Date: February 1, 2002
Creator: Payne, Georgia
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, February 18, 2005

Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He attended Texas A&M before serving in the Marine Corps. He was in the 28th Replacement Battalion when he was assigned to the 3d Marine Division and deployed to Iwo Jima. He discusses his first impressions of landing on the island. He describes the constructed Japanese defenses on the island and the use of Japanese Nisei interpreters to convince defenders to surrender. He returned to Texas A&M where he was in the Corps of Cadets (ROTC) and accepted his commission in the Army in time to serve in Korea. He eventually earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Texas A&M and a doctorate degree in pathology from Michigan State University. He retired from service in 1976 with the rank of colonel.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Atkinson, Scott & Trevino, Gilberto S.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, February 18, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gilberto S. Trevino. He attended Texas A&M before serving in the Marine Corps. He was in the 28th Replacement Battalion when assigned to the 3d Marine Division and deployed to Iwo Jima. He discusses his first impressions of landing on the island: the sights and smells. He describes the constructed Japanese defenses on the island and the use of Japanese Nisei interpreters to convince defenders to surrender. He returned to Texas A&M where he was in the Corps of Cadets (ROTC) and accepted his commission in the Army in time to serve in Korea. He eventually earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine dgree from A&M and a PhD. in Pathology from Michigan State University. He retired from service in 1976 as a colonel.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Trevino, Gilberto
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, February 18, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Gilberto S. Trevino, February 18, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gilberto S. Trevino. He attended Texas A&M before serving in the Marine Corps. He was in the 28th Replacement Battalion when assigned to the 3d Marine Division and deployed to Iwo Jima. He discusses his first impressions of landing on the island: the sights and smells. He describes the constructed Japanese defenses on the island and the use of Japanese Nisei interpreters to convince defenders to surrender. He returned to Texas A&M where he was in the Corps of Cadets (ROTC) and accepted his commission in the Army in time to serve in Korea. He eventually earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine dgree from A&M and a PhD. in Pathology from Michigan State University. He retired from service in 1976 as a colonel.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Trevino, Gilberto
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Glen Cleckler, February 13, 2006 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Glen Cleckler, February 13, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glen Cleckler. Cleckler was born in Roscoe, Texas. While a senior in high school, he and several friends, including Harlon Block, joined the US Marine Corps. After completing boot camp at San Diego, he was assigned to the 1st Defense Battalion, 5th Amphibious Corps. After spending nine months on Palmyra Atoll he was sent to the Marshall Islands to set up a radar site on Majuro Atoll. He then returned to Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to a pack howitzer unit of the 4th Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 14th Marines. On 18 December 1944 he boarded a troopship bound for Iwo Jima. He describes the conditions encountered when landing on the beach during the second day of the invasion. Cleckler recalls a DC-3 flew over the island spraying a pesticide to combat conditions caused by exposed corpses. He remembers American ships firing star shells throughout the nights in attempts to expose Japanese infiltrators and tells of seeing damaged B-29s landing on the air strip before the island was secured. Upon returning to the United States, Cleckler attended college followed by thirty-seven years in the teaching profession.
Date: February 13, 2006
Creator: Cleckler, Glen
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Glenn G. Morgan, February 17, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Glenn G. Morgan, February 17, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn G. Morgan. He was a bugler aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) and discusses a kamikaze attack during the Okinawa campaign, carrying a crate to Tinian that contained the first atomic bomb, the ship's sinking, and the four days/five nights he spent in a life raft waiting to be rescued.
Date: February 17, 2005
Creator: Morgan, Glenn G.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Glenn G. Morgan, February 17, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Glenn G. Morgan, February 17, 2005

Interview with Glenn G. Morgan, a bugler in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He was a bugler aboard the USS Indianapolis and experienced a kamikaze attack during the Okinawa campaign. He also describes transporting the crate that contained the first atomic bomb to Tinian, the ship's sinking, and the four days and five nights he spent in a life raft waiting to be rescued.
Date: February 17, 2005
Creator: Morris, Cork & Morgan, Glenn G.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History