Resource Type

Oral History Interview with W. R. Barker, April 25, 2001 transcript

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. It 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: April 25, 2001
Creator: Amador, Yacel & Barker, W. R.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William C. Beyer, March 14, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with William C. Beyer, March 14, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William C. Beyer. Beyer grew up in Texas and joined the Marines in January 1942. After training, he was assigned to the third division in artillery. He departed on the USS Mount Vernon for New Zealand. He anecdotes about meeting with some Maori people. Then he departed on the Cresent City for Guadalcanal in May 1943. From Guadalcanal he left for Bougainville in November 1943. He describes being caught in a foxhole for two days without communication. He also listened to Tokyo Rose on the radio. The Army relieved the Marines January 15, 1944, and his unit returned to Guadalcanal. On July 21, 1944, they landed on Guam and went into battle. Next Beyer left for Iwo Jima. The Third Marine Division was assigned to the central area of the island. He witnessed the raising of the flag. On the 50th anniversary of the war, Beyer and his wife returned to New Zealand and Guam.
Date: March 14, 2001
Creator: Beyer, William C.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History