Recital presented at the UNT College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alexander Vraciu. Vraciu learned to fly airplanes in college and went into the Navy to be a fighter pilot. He trained at Corpus Christi, Texas. He speaks of being assigned to a fighter squadron (VF-6) and heading overseas. Vraciu details aerial combat and dogfights with the Japanese over Wake Island, Tarawa and Kwajalein. He also speaks of flying missions as Edward ""Butch"" O'Hare's wingman. He mentions he was operating off the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9). Vraciu discusses his role in the Battle of the Philippine Seas, also known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot, and becoming a fighter ace. He continues by discussing further missions in the Philippines campaign.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Grumman. Grumman joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 and earned his wings and commission in March, 1942. On one of his first assignments, he met General Patton in California. He went overseas to England in 1944 and was assigned to the 401st Bomb Group, 614th Bomb Squadron where he flew combat mission from May to September. Grumman flew 30 missions over France and Germany before coming home in November 1944. Upon his return and after some leave, Grumman served as an instrument-flying instructor. Grumman stayed in the reserves after the war, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Raymond Kurner. Kurner joined the Army Air Forces in September of 1942. He served as a B-24 copilot with the 15th Air Force, 47th Bomb Wing, 98th Bomb Group. He deployed in December of 1943 to Casablanca. In January of 1944, they transferred to the 47th Bomb Wing headquarters in Manduria, Italy. Kurner participated in the Italian Campaign, flying 41 bombing missions over Italy, Germany, Romania and Hungary.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia. He discusses being a navigator/bombardier on the 14th plane in the Doolittle Raid, including the training leading up to the raid, the trip on the USS Hornet, the raid itself, bailing out over China, the weeks spent there before making it out through India and Egypt and stories about other men in the Raiders. He also discusses meeting with Generalissimo and Madam Chiang Kai-Shek, seeing the Egyptian pyramids, crossing Africa then to Brazil before getting back to the US, landing in Miami, his later deployments in North Africa and Europe, his work after the war and reunions the Raiders have had since the war.

Interview with James "Herb" Macia of San Antonio, Texas, who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces during World War Two. In the interview, Mr. Macia recalls memories about growing up as well as his days as a mining engineer, the Doolittle Raid, North Africa, Normandy, and D-Day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Beeler. Beeler joined the Army in April of 1943. He was assigned to a Military Police battalion with the 45th Infantry Division. In December, he was transferred to Baltimore. He completed Officer Candidate School in the spring of 1944. In December, Beeler completed additional schooling as a marine repair officer. In June of 1945 he deployed to Hickman Field in Hawaii, serving as a shipment officer, in preparation for the invasion of Japan. He continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge around July of 1946.

Concert presented at the Lyric Theater at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Concert presented at the Lyric Theater at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Concert presented at the Lyric Theater at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Warren Suter. Suter finished his course work at The Ohio State University before signing up with the Navy. He received his commission in May, 1941. After that, Suter went to work in the Ordnance Bureau overseeing the production of five-inch gun mounts at a factory in Ohio. In 1943, he was transferred to the San Francisco bay Area and discusses anti-submarine nets deployed in the bay. Toward the end of the war, Suter went to Guam and worked in a drafting office making plans for a large dental parlor and an outdoor theater.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Kirshenmann. Kirshenmann joined the Navy in 1939 and upon completion of basic training was assigned to USS Saratoga (CV-3), which his brother was already aboard. Kirshenmann worked in fire room, the evaporator room, the engine room, and the pump room (M Division). He lost three firemen when the Saratoga was torpedoed off Wake Island. When the Saratoga was torpedoed again, off Guadalcanal, Kirshenmann saved his brother’s life by ordering him out of the fire room just seconds before impact. In February 1943 Kirshenmann was transferred to USS Bushnell (AS-15) as a machinist’s mate, first class. He was promoted to chief in 1943 but lost his rank after getting into a fight. He was transferred to USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) and stayed in Subic Bay until the end of the war. His time there was peaceful, and he umpired officers’ baseball games, but he heard rumors that sometimes a Japanese soldier would come out of their sequestered posts and kill an American. Upon returning to the States, Kirshenmann was assigned to the Gilmore until he was discharged in 1948. He retired in 1979 as a stationary engineer, …

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Katherine Ream Sobeck. Sobeck was born in Manila. She was a twelve-year old student at Baguio when the Japanese attacked Luzon. When Baguio was captured, the Japanese Army moved the civilians to Camp John Hay. From there, a large group of civilian internees was moved to Camp Holmes. Sobeck gives details of daily life as experienced by the internees including organizing their camp, education, entertainment and medical care. In December, 1944, Sobeck and her entire camp were moved to Manila. When the Americans arrived in Maila, Sobeck and her people were liberated from Bilibid. From the Philippines, Sobeck went to San Francisco with her family. They settled in the Bay Area and Sobeck went to school in the fall.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Korner. Korner was born in Star City, Indiana 31 December 1921 and graduated from high school in 1940. After working at various jobs, he was employed by a company that manufactured the Norden bombsight. As a machinist his work was classified as essential to war production, thus exempting him from military service. He felt it was his duty to serve his country however, and joined the US Navy in 1944. After completing boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois he volunteered for submarine duty. Completing submarine school at New London, Connecticut he served as a motor machinist aboard an R Boat (R-18) for six months before being assigned to the USS Argonaut (SS-475). In early 1946, while at sea, the Argonaut collided with the USS Honolulu (CL-48) resulting in extensive damage to the submarine. It went to dry dock at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Korner remained on board as a member of the maintenance crew until he was discharged May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Kelly. Kelly joined the Army Signal Corps in September of 1943. He provides some details of his training. He was sent to New Guinea in the spring of 1944 and served as a replacement. He then traveled to Brisbane, Australia, working as a clerk in a Signal Corps office for one year. Kelly describes his life and work in Australia. From there he was assigned to Hollandia, then to the Philippines in May of 1945. He shares his experiences in Manila after the invasion, and how the city was devastated. Kelly remained in Manila until January of 1946 and was discharged in February.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Hack Langstaff. Langstaff joined the Naval Reserves around 1938, and went on active duty in June of 1941. After flight school, he was selected and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in June of 1942. Langtaff completed carrier training in October, flying a Grumman F3F and F4F. In 1943, he was assigned to the Russell Islands, completing missions over Rabaul and Bougainville. Beginning June of 1945, Langstaff was assigned aboard the USS Puget Sound (CVE-113), flying Corsairs. They traveled to Tokyo Bay, just as the Japanese surrendered. He was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Gibbons. Gibbons joined the Army in January of 1943. He shares details of his training and working at a German Prison Camp in Atlanta, Nebraska through September of 1943. He then transferred to Camp Clayburn, Louisiana training as a heavy equipment repair mechanic. In May of 1945 he traveled to Okinawa, where he worked as an engineer, setting up camp and machine shops. He worked in Okinawa through the end of the war and reenlisted, serving as a military policeman at Fort Knox until February of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Sledge. Sledge volunteered for service as a bombadier and anvigator in the Army Air Corps and earned a commission. In November, 1942, Sledge received orders to go to India. Once there, his crew was attached to the 10th Air Force and flew bombing missions mainly into Burma. Sledge recalls an incident in which he bombed Japanese ships. Unbeknownst to him, the ships contained Allied prisoners of war. Sledge recalls years later making contact with POWs aboard the ships he bombed. He also mentions briefing General LeMay later in his career. He also participated in the atmoic tests at Bikini with an aerial photography unit. During the Korean War, Sledge flew a few combat missions using guided bombs. For the remainder of his career, Sledge worked with guided missiles.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Keith Evans. Evans joined the Navy in April of 1944. He was assigned to the USS USS LSM-135 that same year. He participated in the Battle of Okinawa as one of the first waves to hit the beach. Evans provides details of his experiences through this battle and general living conditions aboard the ship. They anchored on the beach of Ie Shima, and delivered supplies and had an opportunity to tour the island. In May of 1945, while operating at Okinawa and picking up survivors from the minesweeper Spectacle (AM-305), the USS LSM-135 was sunk by a kamikaze attack. Evans recalls his job throughout this fateful event was to set up smoke screens for the USS Missouri (BB-63).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Clevenger. Clevenger was born in Fulton County, Indiana in May 1925 and enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1944. Following boot camp and communications training in January 1945, he embarked aboard the USS Meriwether (APA-203) in San Diego and sailed to Pearl Harbor. He boarded another troopship in Hawaii and sailed to Saipan. Clevenger then boarded USS LST-641 bound for Okinawa. During that transit the LST sailed through a typhoon. He was assigned to the 1st Provisional Anti-aircraft Artillery Group of III Amphibious Corps and landed on Okinawa on 5 April 1945. His group operated 90mm artillery and he describes the features of the radar system. His duties included communicating by radio and telephone with other anti-aircraft batteries on the island. He frequently heard Tokyo Rose broadcasting American music. He had several close calls with Japanese bombers and was on Okinawa when Japan surrendered. He was transferred to the First Marine Division and embarked on the USS Randall (APA-224) on 30 September bound for China. His convoy encountered nearly 1,000 mines in the Yellow Sea. He was badly burned while in China, but soon recovered and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wendell Leon Stewart. Stewart joined the Navy in February of 1944. He completed gunnery school and served the remainder of the war as Shipfitter 3rd Class in Boat Pool 15-1 in Cavite, Philippines. He completed large welding repair jobs on ships. Stewart returned to the US and was discharged in May of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Paul Davis. Davis was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in June 1923. In December 1942, he joined the Navy and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois for boot camp. He was then sent to Norfolk, Virginia and assigned to the USS Daniel T. Griffin (DE-54) to run the ship’s laundry. He recalls an encounter with a German submarine. After serving in the Atlantic for a period of time, the ship returned to the United States and Davis was assigned to the USS Westmorland (APA-104) as a Motor Machinist. After the ship arrived in Hawaii, he was offered the opportunity to be discharged. He returned to the US and was discharged September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Don Fox. He was born July 3, 1926 in Pulaski, Indiana. He was drafted into the Army on January 9, 1945. Upon completion of basic training he shipped out to Leyte Island in the Philippines where he joined the 24th Division, 34th Regiment. During the transit the war with Japan ended. He recalls in September 1945 taking part in an unopposed amphibious landing on Matsuyama, Japan, where there was a Japanese Army base. He recalls marching through the town where there were starving Japanese children lined up waving American flags, and giving them chocolate. He describes how his unit paid the local Japanese to enter tunnels stocked with munitions, remove them and detonate them safely. He describes his battalion being trucked to Hiroshima five or six weeks after the atomic bomb was dropped. He recalls the desolation of the area. Upon returning to the city of Hiro, he recalls being sent out on patrols into cities where they would interview officials and check on schools, hospitals and other infrastructure. He recalls frequent encounters with starving Japanese seeking employment. He recounts an instance when he volunteered for honor guard …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Archie Clark. Clark was born May 19, 1920 in Pulaski County, Indiana, drafted into the Army on July 17, 1942 and was transferred to the 80th Infantry Division. In July 1944 he was shipped across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary with 22,000 other people on the ship. The battalion eventually landed at Utah Beach, 58 days following D-Day. His platoon's first engagement was with the retreating Germans at the Battle of the Falaise Pocket, in Argentan, France. His division was part of Patton's Third Army. During a three day pass to Paris, he recalls the MPs informing members of the 101st Airborne to return to camp, where they headed out for Bastogne, Belgium. When he rejoined the 80th, they were already on their way to Bastogne. He recalls several experiences during the siege, including losing 33 of the 39 men in his platoon, and his Battalion being reduced to 96 men. He recalls that, after Bastogne, his unit advanced into Germany, where he was wounded by an artillery shell. After recovering, he rejoined his unit in Vöcklabruck, Austria, where they were tasked with accepting the surrender 200,000 …