Oral History Interview with Franklin Dentz, March 25, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Franklin Dentz, March 25, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Franklin Dentz. Dentz joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1944. He completed training for radioman in an infantry company. He additionally learned Morse Code and the 32 bugle calls. In 1944 he traveled to England and was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division in the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment. Dentz provided radio communication for platoon radiomen. He provides some details of his training in England. He flew in a Horsa glider. Dentz comments on the German V2 rockets dropping in England. In 1945 his division participated in Operation VARSITY flying into Germany along the Rhine River, capturing Rhine bridges and securing towns. Dentz provides many details of their experiences through this operation, and life in general in England and Germany. He was discharged in March of 1946.
Date: March 25, 2009
Creator: Dentz, Franklin
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Franklin Dentz, March 25, 2009 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Franklin Dentz, March 25, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Franklin Dentz. Dentz joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1944. He completed training for radioman in an infantry company. He additionally learned Morse Code and the 32 bugle calls. In 1944 he traveled to England and was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division in the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment. Dentz provided radio communication for platoon radiomen. He provides some details of his training in England. He flew in a Horsa glider. Dentz comments on the German V2 rockets dropping in England. In 1945 his division participated in Operation VARSITY flying into Germany along the Rhine River, capturing Rhine bridges and securing towns. Dentz provides many details of their experiences through this operation, and life in general in England and Germany. He was discharged in March of 1946.
Date: March 25, 2009
Creator: Dentz, Franklin
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Griffing, March 25, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Griffing, March 25, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John W. Griffing. Griffing was born on 31 December 1915 on a farm near Hubbard, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1932, he was drafted in April 1941. He entered the 200th Coast Artillery and underwent basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. In August of 1941 he went to Fort Stotsenberg, in the Philippines. In December 1941 the Japanese invaded the Philippines and Griffing recalls surrendering. His group was put into trucks and taken to Camp O’Donnell. After four months he was sent to Cabanatuan. After three months, he volunteered for a work detail on an airfield at Lipa, Batangas until March 1944. He tells of being at Camp Murphy and Bilibid prison until October 1944 when he went aboard the Hell ship Haro Maru bound for Japan. After spending thirty-nine days on the ship they landed on Formosa on 9 November 1944. After two months he was sent to Moji, Japan and assigned to work in the zinc mines. On 20 August 1945 the prisoners were notified that the war was over and B-29s soon began dropping food and clothing to the prisoners. On 12 September …
Date: March 25, 2005
Creator: Griffing, John W.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Griffing, March 25, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with John Griffing, March 25, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John W. Griffing. Griffing was born on 31 December 1915 on a farm near Hubbard, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1932, he was drafted in April 1941. He entered the 200th Coast Artillery and underwent basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. In August of 1941 he went to Fort Stotsenberg, in the Philippines. In December 1941 the Japanese invaded the Philippines and Griffing recalls surrendering. His group was put into trucks and taken to Camp O’Donnell. After four months he was sent to Cabanatuan. After three months, he volunteered for a work detail on an airfield at Lipa, Batangas until March 1944. He tells of being at Camp Murphy and Bilibid prison until October 1944 when he went aboard the Hell ship Haro Maru bound for Japan. After spending thirty-nine days on the ship they landed on Formosa on 9 November 1944. After two months he was sent to Moji, Japan and assigned to work in the zinc mines. On 20 August 1945 the prisoners were notified that the war was over and B-29s soon began dropping food and clothing to the prisoners. On 12 September …
Date: March 25, 2005
Creator: Griffing, John W.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Haggerty, March 25, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Haggerty, March 25, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Haggerty. Haggerty was employed as a civilian contractor with the US Army when WWII started. When his contract expired, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1942. By June, 1943, Haggerty had been through basic training at Parris Island and was commissioned a second lieutenant after officer candidate school at Quantico. When Haggerty went overseas, he boarded the SS Extavia (1941) for a trip through the Panama Canal to New Caledonia. He was in charge of training a navy construction battalion at Noumea before he was assigned to the First Marine Division and left to join them at Pavuvu. When he arrived on Pavuvu, Chesty Puller assigned him to the 1st Regiment. There they trained for the Peleliu invasion. At Peleliu, Haggerty served as a platoon leader. He recalls the fighting on the day he landed and the Japanese counterattack with tanks and infantry near the airfield. Haggerty was wounded by a shell fragment and evacuated to a transport ship serving as a hospital. He recovered and returned to Peleliu the next day. After reducing a Japanese position, Haggerty was again wounded and evacuated. This time, …
Date: March 25, 2004
Creator: Haggerty, George L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Haggerty, March 25, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Haggerty, March 25, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Haggerty. Haggerty was employed as a civilian contractor with the US Army when WWII started. When his contract expired, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1942. By June, 1943, Haggerty had been through basic training at Parris Island and was commissioned a second lieutenant after officer candidate school at Quantico. When Haggerty went overseas, he boarded the SS Extavia (1941) for a trip through the Panama Canal to New Caledonia. He was in charge of training a navy construction battalion at Noumea before he was assigned to the First Marine Division and left to join them at Pavuvu. When he arrived on Pavuvu, Chesty Puller assigned him to the 1st Regiment. There they trained for the Peleliu invasion. At Peleliu, Haggerty served as a platoon leader. He recalls the fighting on the day he landed and the Japanese counterattack with tanks and infantry near the airfield. Haggerty was wounded by a shell fragment and evacuated to a transport ship serving as a hospital. He recovered and returned to Peleliu the next day. After reducing a Japanese position, Haggerty was again wounded and evacuated. This time, …
Date: March 25, 2004
Creator: Haggerty, George L.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Lansford, March 25, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Lansford, March 25, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Lansford. Lansford joined the navy in January 1941. His first duty station was at Kaneohe Naval Air Station on Oahu. He was an electrician and kept crash boat batteries operating. Lansford recalls the Japanese attack on Kaneohe. He remained at Kaneohe for the rest of the war at the air station serving as an electrician.
Date: March 25, 2005
Creator: Lansford, John
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Lansford, March 25, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with John Lansford, March 25, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Lansford. Lansford joined the navy in January 1941. His first duty station was at Kaneohe Naval Air Station on Oahu. He was an electrician and kept crash boat batteries operating. Lansford recalls the Japanese attack on Kaneohe. He remained at Kaneohe for the rest of the war at the air station serving as an electrician.
Date: March 25, 2005
Creator: Lansford, John
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Tucker, March 25, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with John Tucker, March 25, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Tucker. Tucker joined the Navy in January of 1945. Beginning in the spring, he served as Storekeeper Third-Class aboard USS Remey (DD-688). They went through a typhoon close to Okinawa and provided shore bombardment in Alaska. They were docked on the coast of Japan when the Japanese surrendered. Tucker recalls Japanese officials from the city of Ōminatoa surrendering aboard the destroyer, and signing a peace treaty. They returned to the US in October of 1945, and Tucker was discharged in mid-1946.
Date: March 25, 2003
Creator: Tucker, John
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with John Tucker, March 25, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with John Tucker, March 25, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Tucker. Tucker joined the Navy in January of 1945. Beginning in the spring, he served as Storekeeper Third-Class aboard USS Remey (DD-688). They went through a typhoon close to Okinawa and provided shore bombardment in Alaska. They were docked on the coast of Japan when the Japanese surrendered. Tucker recalls Japanese officials from the city of Ōminatoa surrendering aboard the destroyer, and signing a peace treaty. They returned to the US in October of 1945, and Tucker was discharged in mid-1946.
Date: March 25, 2003
Creator: Tucker, John
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bennie Whitley, March 25, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bennie Whitley, March 25, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bennie Whitley. Whitley joined the Army and served as sergeant in the motor pool in Battery A, 57th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division. He participated in the Battle of Okinawa. Whitley continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in 1947.
Date: March 25, 2004
Creator: Whitley, Bennie
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bennie Whitley, March 25, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bennie Whitley, March 25, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bennie Whitley. Whitley joined the Army and served as sergeant in the motor pool in Battery A, 57th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division. He participated in the Battle of Okinawa. Whitley continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge in 1947.
Date: March 25, 2004
Creator: Whitley, Bennie
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History