Interview with David Vo, a resident of Calera, Oklahoma. Vo discusses his upbringing in Vietnam, his father's work as an officer in the South Vietnamese military, the Vietnam War, escaping on a boat and coming to the United States, getting his degree in automotive industrial technology at Cal State University, starting a family, and his perspective regarding his homeland.

Interview with Benjamin Bình-Thiên Phạm Lương, a chef from Dallas, Texas who studied at the Culinary Institute of America. Benjamin discusses the background of his Vietnamese parents, the Vietnam War, politics, his father's education in the United States, and his own personal journey to becoming a chef.

Interview with Weldon Western, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Western discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944), Saigon, French Indo-China (1945), American air raids, and his liberation.

Interview with Roy Armstrong, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Armstrong discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Tamarkan and Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1943), Saigon and Da Lat, French Indo-China (1944-1945), American air raids, and his liberation.

Interview with Garth Slate, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Slate discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944), Saigon and Da Lat, French Indo-China (1944-1945), American air raids, and his liberation.

Interview with Marvin Tilghman, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Tilghman discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944), Saigon and Da Lat, French Indo-China (1944-1945), American air raids, and his liberation.

Interview with Seldon D. Reese, a Navy veteran and survivor of the sinking of the USS Houston, concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Reese talks about the sinking of the USS Houston (1942), capture and imprisonment at Serang, Java, Bicycle Camp, Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp, Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-44), Kanchanaburi, Thailand, and American air raids (1944), Saigon and Da Lat, French Indo-China (1944-45), and his liberation.

Interview with John H. Owen, U.S. Army WWII veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Owen discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Tamarkan, Thailand (1944), Saigon and Da Lat, French Indo-China (1944-1945), and his liberation.

Interview with Kelly Bramlett, U.S. Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard) and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Bramlett discusses the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944), Saigon, French Indo-China (1944-1945), and his liberation.

Interview with William "Jake" Wehrell, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Air America Pilot conducted for the Air America Oral History Project. He discusses his childhood and education in New Jersey and Central College; decision to enlist in the Marine Corps during the Korean War; experiences while stationed at El Toro, California, Japan, Cherry Point, NC, Parris Island, SC, and Beaufort, SC, and aboard an aircraft carrier; decision to join Air America; experiences while stationed in Taiwan, Bangkok, Saigon, and Phnom Penh; opinions on the Vietnam War and Air America’s role in it.

Interview with W. L. Starnes, a businessman, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), and a member of the "Lost Battalion," concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Starnes talks about the fall of Java and his capture, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944), Saigon and Da Lat, French Indo-China (1944-1945), and his liberation.

Transcript of an interview with Charles Leroy "Lee" Smith, U.S. Air Force veteran and private pilot. Smith recounts his experiences at the University of Alabama and in the US Air Force, Flight School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, and Basic Training in Mississippi. He speaks of his assignments in Keflavik, Iceland, Red Bluff, CA, and NORAD Sector as Captain in electronics and communications. He was Certified for the F-102 at Perrin Air Force Base, Sherman, TX. He tells of his experiences while assigned to combat squadron in Saigon during Vietnam War, and his life after Vietnam era and his work experiences flying world-wide for businesses and the private sector, particularly as pilot for Frank Sinatra.

Transcript of an interview with Keith Heavrin Jr., homesteader and simple life advocate. Heavrin shares concerning his childhood; military experiences in Vietnam; love of the sea; discovering the Nearings and the Simple Life; decision to homestead in Maine; memories of the Nearings and the Good Life Center.

Transcript of an interview with Thanh Kim Huynh, Vietnamese-born immigrant to Carrollton, Texas for the DFW Metroplex Immigration Oral History Project. Huynh discusses concerning his childhood in Vietnam; memories of the Vietnam War; experiences as a helicopter pilot for the South Vietnamese Army; evacuation to Guam; transfer to the U.S.; life in America; culture shock; settlement in Dallas-Fort Worth area; immigration process as a refugee; considering America “home;” Dallas Vietnamese community. Appendix includes photos of Thanh Kim Huynh [3 pages].

Transcript of an interview with M. L. Rea, a Texas native, Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), and a member of the "Lost Battalion." Rea discusses his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.

Transcript of an interview with Otto Schwarz, a Navy veteran from New Jersey and a survivor of the sinking of the USS Houston. Schwarz discusses the sinking of the USS Houston and his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.

Transcript of an interview conducted in Azle, Texas with Jack Burge, a Navy veteran and a survivor of the sinking of the USS Houston, concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.

Interview with Howard Charles, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Partridge, Kansas. Charles discusses growing up in the Great Depression; joining the Marine Corps and training; assignment to the USS Houston (CA-30) at Manila as a heavy machine gunner and events before the war; the Battle of Sunda Strait and sinking of the Houston; capture by the Japanese and being held at Serang, Java; experiences in internment and forced labor at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, various camps along the Burma Railway, and Saigon; liberation; psychological treatment, trauma, and adjusting to civilian life. In appendix is a letter written by Charles to Marcello including additional information for the interview.

Interview with Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl, a Marine Corps WWII fighter ace and test pilot from Hubbard, Oregon. Carl discusses his education, joining the Marines, flight training, deployment aboard the USS Saratoga at the start of the war, first air-to-air combat, service at Midway and Guadalcanal, return to the States as a squadron commander, flying a promotional circuit and getting married, return to the South Pacific, Rabaul, end of combat flying and work as a test pilot at Patuxent River NAS, jets vs. props, flight injuries, return to fighter units, and service in Taiwan and Vietnam.

Interview with Thomas Spencer, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Joplin, Texas. Spencer discusses his experiences with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, the "Lost Battalion" captured on Java in March 1942, including: joining the service; training; deployment to East Asia; diversion to Brisbane and Malang; the Japanese attack on Java; the American surrender; experiences in internment and labor at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, several camps on the Burma Railway, and Saigon; liberation.

Interview with Lawrence Brown, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Decatur, Texas. Brown was a captured member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment (the "Lost Battalion"): he recounts working during the Depression; mobilization; deployment to the Philippines and diversion to Brisbane after December 7th, 1941; arrival at Sangosari, Java; the Japanese invasion and American surrender; experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, several work camps on the Burma "Death" Railway, and Saigon; and liberation.

Interview with Tony Coalson, a Army Vietnam veteran and Air America pilot from Oxford-Anniston, Alabama. Coalson discusses his early interest in aviation, education and ROTC at Auburn University, becoming an Army helicopter pilot, deployment to Vietnam, missions in II Corps, return to the US and becoming an Air America pilot, returning to Vietnam, the nature of Air America and their missions, and flying into Laos and Cambodia. In appendix are several photos of Coalson during his career, mentions of him in related literature, and a letter addressed to him by a fellow chopper pilot.

Interview with Air America fixed-wing and rotary-wing pilot Steve Stevens for the Air America Oral History Project. The interview includes Stevens' personal experiences while serving with the Marine Corps in the Korean War, flight training with the Marine Corps, getting hired with Air America, as well as flying the Sikorsky H-34 helicopter in Laos, photo reconnaissance missions throughout Laos including the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the Beechcraft Volpar, flying other helicopters and airplanes in Laos, South Vietnam, and Japan for Air America, and flying work in other parts of the world after Air America. Stevens talks about a Search and Rescue mission in Laos, his early interest in aviation and the military, early connections to Air America via other Marines, and the excellent maintenance at Air America.

Interview with Sharon "Tommie" Acierno, Vietnam War veteran, as part of the Tarrant County War Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Acierno's personal experiences about childhood, dropping out of high school and enlisting in the U.S. Army, basic and clerical training, working as drill sergeant at Ft. McClellan, struggling with alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder, and working with the Vietnam Veterans of America group. Acierno also discusses her coming out experience, volunteering for assignment to Vietnam, her clerical duties with a logistics unit at Long Binh, the camaraderie among gay and straight troops, her experiences with apathetic citizens and antiwar protesters upon return to the U.S., deciding to leave the Army and relocate to Dallas, her experience in the Veterans Administration psychiatric ward, and her opinions regarding the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy and the treatment of women in the military generally. The interview includes an appendix with photographs.