Transcript of an oral interview with Murven J. Witherel. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Allegheny High School in 1939. He went to work for a untility company before being drafted into the Army in February 1942. He qualified for Officer Candidate School (OCS) after Basic Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant at Fort Benning, Georgia in December 1942. He was then assigned as the leader of 3rd Platoon, Company E, 20th Infantry,6th Infantry Division and sent to the Mojave Desert to train anticipating a trip to North Africa. Instead, his unit went to New Guinea in January 1944. In June, his unit landed at Baffin Bay and assaulted Lone Tree Hill. Witherel was evetually wounded twice and received the new drug, penicillin at the Lae General Hospital. He was eventually shipped back to the USA. the conversatio then veers to cover such subjects as USO shows, friendly fire, the Red Cross, Tokyo Rose on the radio, morale in his outfit and a visit in the Lae General Hospital by Jack Benny.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Sanders. Sanders joined the Army Air Forces in October 1942 and earned his wings in April 1944. After learning to fly B-24s, he arrived in England with his crew as part of the 458th Bomb Group. From there he made raids over Germany, twice making emergency landings in Belgium after being shot up. He transitioned into being a lead crew pilot, heading up a tight formation of 36 bombers. Sanders had flown 18 missions by the time the war ended. He and his crew flew home, stopping for fuel and wine in the Azores. He was also transporting 20 soldiers who were so eager to land that they crowded the front of the plane, shifting the load and causing an extremely rough and dangerous landing. That was the last time Sanders ever piloted an aircraft.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Upton Ruddock. Upton’s wife, Mary, assists with the interview. Ruddock was drafted into the Army in May 1944. He went to Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. He trained on horseback. He was part of the 56th Cavalry Brigade. After training he went to war, leaving California November 1944. They landed at Bombay, India. He joined the 124th Cavalry Regiment of the MARS Task Force. They crossed India by train to Ledo, Burma. He took care of eight mules and two horses, utilizing them to help carry their food, supplies and equipment to the Burma Road. He discusses other experiences in Burma. He also served in Shanghai, China shoveling coal into the stove for a big hotel. He returned to the States and was discharged in February 1946. After he was discharged he worked on his father’s farm. He used his G.I. Bill to purchase a home and some land, and to further his work vaccinating chickens.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ramon Galindo. Galindo was born on 29 May 1921 in Nuevo San Juan, Mexico. His parents brought him to the United States in 1922. He joined the Texas State National Guard in 1943, at the age of 22, and became an American citizen that same year. In 1944 he joined the 571st Anti-Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. He received training at Camp Wallace in Galveston. From 1944 to 1945 he served in Europe, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River Battle. He provides details of these battles and familiarized himself with the sound of the German cannons 88-mm cannons, and he knew to drop to the ground when he heard the whistling sound. In May of 1945, his battalion was stationed at Adolf Hitler’s headquarters, the Führerbau, where oversized pictures of Hitler and his top officers covered the walls. Part of Galindo’s mission was to protect these images. Galindo was honorably discharged in February of 1946.

Houjahen Haokip, a male speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung) explains the belief of God and the various spirits. He is 85 at the time of recording. The Thadou believed in the existence of both the supreme God who is in control of everything and the various spirits who inflict sickness when they are instigated by human beings who cannot see the spirits with their naked eyes.

Houjahen Haokip, a male speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung) explains birth ceremonies in Thadou. He is also a speaker of Manipuri. He is 85 at the time of recording. When a baby is born, friends and relatives visit and give gifts. A priest blesses the child and gives them the name of their grandfather, whichever of their grandfathers lived the longest life.

Houjahen Haokip, a male speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung) explains marriage ceremonies in Thadou. He is also a speaker of Manipuri. He is 85 at the time of recording. The man must approach the parents of the bride with a pot of wine and ask permission to marry their daughter. Then they set a date, and the families offer an animal (often, a mithun) for the ceremony.

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

Houjahen Haokip describes Thadou village administration practices. The council of ministers helps the chief or village headman make decisions for the village on issues such as divorce, theft, and announcing news. He is a Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung village), around 80 years old at the time of recording. He was thought to be the only living Thadou priest in Lambung village at the time.

Houjahen Haokip describes the ceremonial practices performed when a person dies. He is a Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung village), around 80 years old at the time of recording. He was thought to be the only living Thadou priest in Lambung village at the time.