The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert E. Batterson. Batterson was born on 5 May 1921 in Mason City, West Virginia. Following graduation from high school in 1938, he joined the Navy. After competing boot camp at Norfolk, Virginia, he was assigned to the USS Philadelphia (CL-41). During battle stations, he was a powder man on a six inch gun. The ship was anchored at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and he describes what he saw on that day. In 1942, he was selected to enter the V-5 Naval Aviation Program. In January 1943 he began at the University of Southern California. Upon completing the first phase of the training he went to the University of New Mexico for initial flight training followed by pre-flight at Del Monte, California. From there he began flight training at Hutchinson Naval Air Station, Kansas. He was then sent to Corpus Christi, Texas for instrument and advanced training before joining a squadron at Daytona Beach, Florida. After several months, he went to Glennville Naval Air Base, Illinois to learn carrier landing. Upon being qualified as a carrier pilot, he was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20). He …

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.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Randolph Coleman. Coleman was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on 21 December 1922. He enlisted in the US Army in 1943 and tells of his reasons for wanting to become a paratrooper. He describes the strenuous physical testing he passed allowing him to qualify for jump school. Coleman was assigned to the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, F Company, 1st Platoon. He was then selected to attend intelligence school. After receiving additional infantry training at Camp Marshall, North Carolina he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia to jump school. He relates various anecdotes regarding jump school including chute packing, a near fatal jump incident, training methods and physical treatment. Following additional combat training the unit was put aboard the USAT Santa Rosa, which ultimately landed at Naples, Italy. On 15 August 1944 his unit was involved in Operation Dragoon. He relates being at the front for 94 days in combat in freezing conditions where he developing pneumonia and frozen feet. He was sent to the hospital, due to his medical problems and returned to the United States. He was discharged on 22 June 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roscoe Corder. Corder joined the Army in March of 1940. He completed Officer Candidate School and Parachute School. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Corder participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Victor Erdahl. Erdahl joined the Army in 1942. He completed Parachute School. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Erdahl participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Nelson Gatewood. Gatewood joined the Army in January of 1943. He served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In late 1943, Gatewood participated in the New Guinea Campaign. In February of 1945, he served in the Battle of Corregidor. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Philip M. Grass. Grass was born in Mark, Louisiana 5 April 1924. He dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Army in 1942. After basic training at Camp Roberts, California he went to Ft. Benning, Georgia for airborne training, from which he graduated in 1942. Injuring his knee, he was incapacitated for a period of time. Upon recovering, he attended ordnance school at Camp Connelly, Georgia. His knee problem resulted in surgery requiring lengthy recovery time. Upon being returned to active duty in 1943 he went aboard the USS Sea Snipe (APA) and went to Brisbane, Australia. He arrived at Port Moresby and was assigned to F Company, 503rd Army Parachute Infantry Regiment and recalls his experiences while in Australia and Hollandia. The Regiment traveled by LCIs to Noemfoor, New Guinea at which time he was assigned to Headquarters Company and became a wireman and a runner. He recalls parachuting onto Corregidor and describes combat casualties that occurred. He returned to the United States in 1945 and was discharged. He tells of reenlisting in the army, receiving a commission and describes some of his experiences during …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Horton. Horton was born in Oklahoma 14 October 1920. Graduating from high school in 1939 he enlisted in the Army and was given a choice of joining a horse drawn artillery unit or the 4th Artillery Battalion, which was a pack mule outfit. Soon after joining the 4th Artillery, at Fort Bragg, he was selected to be a pitcher with the base baseball team. Having been selected, he never had basic training. He was transferred into the 79th Field Artillery and continued to play baseball. He was selected to be in the Instrument Survey Section and after two years he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. Soon after war was declared, he was selected to attend Officers Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was commissioned 21 January 1942 and assigned as Athletic Officer for the 97th Division being organized at Camp Swift, Texas. Within six months he joined class number 51 at Fort Benning, Georgia and began parachute training. Horton graduated from jump school and was assigned to the 462nd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion. He describes the train trip to Camp Stoneman, and the ocean voyage …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Guy Lary. Lary enlisted in the Army in 1943. He discusses his training as a paratrooper at Fort Benning. Lary joined the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment as a replacement. He details the jump on Corregidor and the fighting that followed. Lary was then sent to Negros Island where he remained until the surrender of Japan. He went to Japan for the occupation duty and left the service soon after his return to the US.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ed Llewellyn. Llewellyn joined the paratroopers after joining the Army. He trained at Fort Benning. He was scheduled to jump on Corregidor, but his transport ship could not keep up with the convoy. He joined his unit elsewhere in the Philippines. He contracted hepatitis and was evacuated from combat to a hospital. When the war ended, Llewellyn went to Japan for occupation duty.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ralph Miller. Miller was born on 11 June 1916 in Pulaski, Indiana. After graduating from high school in 1933, he worked at the family store until he was inducted into the Army in May 1941. Assigned to the 35th Tank Battalion, Headquarters Company, 4th Armored Division, he participated in training and maneuvers in Tennessee, California and Texas. In 1944, the unit boarded the USS General J.C. Breckenridge (AP-176) and landed in England. He describes landing on Omaha Beach seven days after the initial invasion and being subjected to German mortar fire. He was at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and recalls meeting the Russians in Czechoslovakia. He returned to the United States in September 1945 and was discharged soon thereafter.

Recital performed at UNT College of Music Recital Hall on September 27, 2004 at 8:00 pm.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Walker. Walker was born in Waco, Texas and attended Texas A & M after high school. In 1943 he was called to active duty and reported to Camp Roberts, California. While there, he applied for airborne training and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completing jump training, he was sent back to California and was assigned to the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment as a replacement. The replacements were sent to Oro Bay, New Guinea where they joined their unit to begin advanced training. He recalls in detail the unit’s participation in combat on Hollandia, Noemfoor and a parachute drop on Corregidor. Following a successful operation on Corregidor, the unit made an amphibious landing on Negros Island. Walker describes the combat in which he was involved and of being wounded. He was taken to a field hospital and then moved to a general hospital on Leyte. Following his recovery, he rejoined his unit at Bacolod, Negros Island where he once again was involved in combat. Soon after Japan surrendered, he and an officer met with a Japanese general to accept the surrender of his troops on Negros …

Concert presented at the UNT College of Music Winspear Performance Hall.

Audio recording of performances at The Mickey Newbury Gathering IV in Austin, TX, recorded live June 27, 2004.