Oral History Interview with Ben E. Carson, September 21, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ben E. Carson, September 21, 2001

Transcript of an oral interview with Ben Carson. Carson enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Shortly after finishing boot camp in San Diego, Carson volunteered to join Major Evans Carlson's Marine Raider Battalion. Carson describes training with the Raiders prior to their first mission. He also discusses more training in Hawaii prior to the Battle of Midway. Carson describes being aboard the USS Argonaut (SM-1) with his unit and steaming for Makin Atoll to conduct a raid on a Japanese base there. He provides descriptions of getting off the submarine and into the rubber boats, getting to shore and beginning their raid. Carson also describes is activities during the raid: capturing the government house, dealing with snipers, and getting off the island. From there, Carson describes his unit's role at Guadalcanal.
Date: September 21, 2001
Creator: Carson, Ben E.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ben E. Carson, September 21, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Ben E. Carson, September 21, 2001

Transcript of an oral interview with Ben Carson. Carson enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Shortly after finishing boot camp in San Diego, Carson volunteered to join Major Evans Carlson's Marine Raider Battalion. Carson describes training with the Raiders prior to their first mission. He also discusses more training in Hawaii prior to the Battle of Midway. Carson describes being aboard the USS Argonaut (SM-1) with his unit and steaming for Makin Atoll to conduct a raid on a Japanese base there. He provides descriptions of getting off the submarine and into the rubber boats, getting to shore and beginning their raid. Carson also describes is activities during the raid: capturing the government house, dealing with snipers, and getting off the island. From there, Carson describes his unit's role at Guadalcanal.
Date: September 21, 2001
Creator: Carson, Ben E.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with David Ellis, September 21, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with David Ellis, September 21, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Ellis. Ellis was born on 8 March 1918 in Big Spring, Texas and enlisted in the Army in 1936. He went to Officer Candidate School, where he was trained in intelligence. His first duty station was in Hawaii, where he was assigned to the Navy’s Central Pacific Command by mistake. Next he was sent to Okinawa as a platoon leader in the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On Okinawa, Ellis was wounded and evacuated to a hospital ship and ultimately a field hospital in Saipan. His wounds left him unfit to return to combat and to be returned to the US due to the shell fragments embedded in his chest. Ellis walked away from the hospital and managed to get on a flight back to Okinawa and returned to his unit. The war ended shortly after he was given command of the regiment’s Intelligence and Reconnaissance (IR) platoon. The regiment then embarked on ships to Korea. During the transit, he was summoned to the flag bridge on the ship and assigned an intelligence gathering mission by Major General Archibald Arnold, 7th Infantry Division’s Commanding Officer. Ellis …
Date: September 21, 2001
Creator: Ellis, David
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with David Ellis, September 21, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with David Ellis, September 21, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Ellis. Ellis was born on 8 March 1918 in Big Spring, Texas and enlisted in the Army in 1936. He went to Officer Candidate School, where he was trained in intelligence. His first duty station was in Hawaii, where he was assigned to the Navy’s Central Pacific Command by mistake. Next he was sent to Okinawa as a platoon leader in the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On Okinawa, Ellis was wounded and evacuated to a hospital ship and ultimately a field hospital in Saipan. His wounds left him unfit to return to combat and to be returned to the US due to the shell fragments embedded in his chest. Ellis walked away from the hospital and managed to get on a flight back to Okinawa and returned to his unit. The war ended shortly after he was given command of the regiment’s Intelligence and Reconnaissance (IR) platoon. The regiment then embarked on ships to Korea. During the transit, he was summoned to the flag bridge on the ship and assigned an intelligence gathering mission by Major General Archibald Arnold, 7th Infantry Division’s Commanding Officer. Ellis …
Date: September 21, 2001
Creator: Ellis, David
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Willie Higgs, September 21, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Willie Higgs, September 21, 2001

Interview with Willie Higgs, a U. S. Marine during World War II. He joined the Marines in 1944 and trained at Camp Pendleton before being assigned to the 4th Marine Division. Higgs discusses arriving at Iwo Jima, making a grenade attack on a cave there, and subsequently breaking his leg. He then spent time aboard the hospital ship, USS Solace (AH-5). Upon returning home, Higgs finished his degree at Southwest Texas State in San Marcos, where he majored in music.
Date: September 21, 2001
Creator: Pickard, Kevin & Higgs, Willie
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Willie Higgs, September 21, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Willie Higgs, September 21, 2001

Transcript of an oral interview with Willie Higgs. He joind the Marines in 1944 and was trained at Camp Pendleton before being assigned to the 4th Marine Division. Higgs discusses landing on Iwo Jima and a grenade attack he made on a cave before breaking his leg. He then spent time aboard the hospital ship, USS Solace (AH-5). Upon returning home, Higgs finished his degree at Southwest Texas State in San Marcos majoring in music.
Date: September 21, 2001
Creator: Higgs, Willie
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Willie Higgs, September 21, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Willie Higgs, September 21, 2001

Transcript of an oral interview with Willie Higgs. He joind the Marines in 1944 and was trained at Camp Pendleton before being assigned to the 4th Marine Division. Higgs discusses landing on Iwo Jima and a grenade attack he made on a cave before breaking his leg. He then spent time aboard the hospital ship, USS Solace (AH-5). Upon returning home, Higgs finished his degree at Southwest Texas State in San Marcos majoring in music.
Date: September 21, 2001
Creator: Higgs, Willie
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Vestine Schroeder, February 21, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Vestine Schroeder, February 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Vestine Schroeder. Schroeder joined the Marines in October of 1942. After boot camp he was assigned to guard duty on North Island in California. He received additional training in the supply room, and was transferred to the Marine base in El Centro, California with Air Group 35. Schroeder worked on the instruments aboard the planes at the base. He did not go overseas, and remained in California for the duration of the war. He was discharged in May of 1946.
Date: February 21, 2002
Creator: Schroeder, Vestine
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Vestine Schroeder, February 21, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Vestine Schroeder, February 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Vestine Schroeder. Schroeder joined the Marines in October of 1942. After boot camp he was assigned to guard duty on North Island in California. He received additional training in the supply room, and was transferred to the Marine base in El Centro, California with Air Group 35. Schroeder worked on the instruments aboard the planes at the base. He did not go overseas, and remained in California for the duration of the war. He was discharged in May of 1946.
Date: February 21, 2002
Creator: Schroeder, Vestine
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Cecil Carlisle, March 21, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Cecil Carlisle, March 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Cecil Carlisle. Carlisle served in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, and graduated in January of 1943 as a Corporal. He went on to complete Officer Candidate School and became a second lieutenant. He joined the Army, the Coast Artillery, working with automatic weapons including .50-caliber machine guns and 40mm antiaircraft cannons. He was first assigned to Camp Hahn in Riverside, California where he served as a platoon commander, conducting antiaircraft gunnery and field training. From there he was transferred to complete pilot training through the Army Air Forces and received his wings in the fall of 1944. He did not go overseas, as flights were halted to England as the war was scaling down. He then flew as copilot for Navigation Training School, back and forth from Texas to Florida. He was discharged in December of 1945.
Date: March 21, 2002
Creator: Carlisle, Cecil
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Cecil Carlisle, March 21, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Cecil Carlisle, March 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Cecil Carlisle. Carlisle served in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, and graduated in January of 1943 as a Corporal. He went on to complete Officer Candidate School and became a second lieutenant. He joined the Army, the Coast Artillery, working with automatic weapons including .50-caliber machine guns and 40mm antiaircraft cannons. He was first assigned to Camp Hahn in Riverside, California where he served as a platoon commander, conducting antiaircraft gunnery and field training. From there he was transferred to complete pilot training through the Army Air Forces and received his wings in the fall of 1944. He did not go overseas, as flights were halted to England as the war was scaling down. He then flew as copilot for Navigation Training School, back and forth from Texas to Florida. He was discharged in December of 1945.
Date: March 21, 2002
Creator: Carlisle, Cecil
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Tim Dearman, May 21, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Tim Dearman, May 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tim Dearman. Dearman joined the Navy around 1942. He served as Third Class Fireman aboard USS Holland (AS-3), and traveled to Pearl Harbor. Beginning in 1944, he was transferred to USS Pilotfish (SS-386), working in the engine room. They completed patrol missions to Midway and Guam, and Dearman was promoted to Third Class Machinist Mate.
Date: May 21, 2002
Creator: Dearman, Tim
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Tim Dearman, May 21, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Tim Dearman, May 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tim Dearman. Dearman joined the Navy around 1942. He served as Third Class Fireman aboard USS Holland (AS-3), and traveled to Pearl Harbor. Beginning in 1944, he was transferred to USS Pilotfish (SS-386), working in the engine room. They completed patrol missions to Midway and Guam, and Dearman was promoted to Third Class Machinist Mate.
Date: May 21, 2002
Creator: Dearman, Tim
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Roy Carter, September 21, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Roy Carter, September 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roy Carter. Carter enlisted in the Navy in January 1942 and went into the V-7 program until he finished college. He trained to be a motor machinist’s mate and went aboard USS LST-543 in February 1944 in Illinois. They took the ship down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. He was aboard during the Normandy invasion and rode USS LST-543 to the Pacific in April 1945 to deliver troops to Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa. After returning to the US, Carter was discharged in February 1946. Carter describes several aspects of life aboard an LST and relates several anecdotes.
Date: September 21, 2002
Creator: Carter, Roy
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Melvin Harmon, October 21, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Melvin Harmon, October 21, 2002

Interview with Melvin Harmon, a paratrooper during World War II. He discusses his paratrooper training and his time on Guadalcanal, Bougainville and other battles in the Solomon Islands. He also contracted malaria.
Date: October 21, 2002
Creator: Morris, Cork & Harmon, Melvin
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Melvin Harmon, October 21, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Melvin Harmon, October 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Melvin Harmon. He discusses becoming a paratrooper, his time on Guadalcanal, Bougainville and other battles in the Solomon Islands and getting malaria.
Date: October 21, 2002
Creator: Harmon, Melvin
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Melvin Harmon, October 21, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Melvin Harmon, October 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Melvin Harmon. He discusses becoming a paratrooper, his time on Guadalcanal, Bougainville and other battles in the Solomon Islands and getting malaria.
Date: October 21, 2002
Creator: Harmon, Melvin
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Otto Keith Williams, November 21, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Otto Keith Williams, November 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Otto Keith Williams. He was born on 10 December 1918 in Tacoma, Washington and after completing two years of college, during which he earned a private pilot's license, he was drafted into the Navy in February 1941 and completed flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas in July 1942. He then transferred into the Marine Corps and was sent to Glenview, Illinois where he completed carrier qualifications in October 1942. He joined Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-214 in Hawaii where he flew Grumman F4F Wildcats. Following training in Hawaii, his squadron embarked on the USS Nassau (CVE-16) in February 1943 and sailed to Espiritu Santo. His squadron then flew to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, where they provided fighter support for several months flying Wildcats and then F4U Corsairs. Following the Russell Island campaign Williams was transferred to VMF-215 where he participated in the invasion of Bougainville in November 1943. He spent three tours in Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands and flew 100 missions, but had no encounters with airborne Japanese aircraft. In January 1945 he was transferred to the USS Cape Gloucester (CVE-109), which sailed for Okinawa. Following several weeks …
Date: November 21, 2002
Creator: Williams, Otto Keith
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Otto Keith Williams, November 21, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Otto Keith Williams, November 21, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Otto Keith Williams. He was born on 10 December 1918 in Tacoma, Washington and after completing two years of college, during which he earned a private pilot's license, he was drafted into the Navy in February 1941 and completed flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas in July 1942. He then transferred into the Marine Corps and was sent to Glenview, Illinois where he completed carrier qualifications in October 1942. He joined Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-214 in Hawaii where he flew Grumman F4F Wildcats. Following training in Hawaii, his squadron embarked on the USS Nassau (CVE-16) in February 1943 and sailed to Espiritu Santo. His squadron then flew to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, where they provided fighter support for several months flying Wildcats and then F4U Corsairs. Following the Russell Island campaign Williams was transferred to VMF-215 where he participated in the invasion of Bougainville in November 1943. He spent three tours in Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands and flew 100 missions, but had no encounters with airborne Japanese aircraft. In January 1945 he was transferred to the USS Cape Gloucester (CVE-109), which sailed for Okinawa. Following several weeks …
Date: November 21, 2002
Creator: Williams, Otto Keith
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Boyd K. Miller, January 21, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Boyd K. Miller, January 21, 2003

Interview with Boyd K. Miller, a draftsman and pilot during World War II. He discusses being drafted out of college and working as an artist and draftsman. Since he studied art in college, he worked on diagrams and charts. He then transferred to the Air Corps to become a pilot and trained in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama, New York, Georgia, Florida and Texas.
Date: January 21, 2003
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Miller, Boyd K.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Boyd K. Miller, January 21, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Boyd K. Miller, January 21, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Boyd K. Miller. He discusses being drafted out of college, working as an artist/draftsman making diagrams and charts since he studied art in college, then transfering to the Air Corps to become a pilot, and the various training he went through in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama, New York, Georgia, Florida and Texas.
Date: January 21, 2003
Creator: Miller, Boyd K.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Boyd K. Miller, January 21, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Boyd K. Miller, January 21, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Boyd K. Miller. He discusses being drafted out of college, working as an artist/draftsman making diagrams and charts since he studied art in college, then transfering to the Air Corps to become a pilot, and the various training he went through in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama, New York, Georgia, Florida and Texas.
Date: January 21, 2003
Creator: Miller, Boyd K.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Finnegan, February 21, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with William Finnegan, February 21, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Finnegan. Finnegan joined the Marine Corps without finishing high school right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He went to Parris Island to train in February 1942. At New River, North Carolina, Finnegan was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, First Marine Division. Finnegan was among the first Marines to arrive on Guadalcanal in August, 1942. He participated in the Battle of the Tenaru River. After leaving Guadalcanal, Finnegan went to Melbourne, Australia with the rest of the First Marine Division. From there, he landed on Cape Gloucester and recalls an engagement with the Japanese. After that, he went to Pavuvu prior to landing on Peleliu. He describes landing on Peleliu and his experiences in combat there. Finnegan was wounded and evacuated after a week on Peleliu. He spent time at a hospital on Manus and then was returned to the US in November, 1944. Upon recovery, he was sent to an ammunition station in Indiana to perform guard duty. The war ended and he was discharged in November, 1945. He re-enlisted in 1948 and was on hand to go to Korea.
Date: February 21, 2003
Creator: Finnegan, William H.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with William Finnegan, February 21, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with William Finnegan, February 21, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Finnegan. Finnegan joined the Marine Corps without finishing high school right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He went to Parris Island to train in February 1942. At New River, North Carolina, Finnegan was assigned to G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, First Marine Division. Finnegan was among the first Marines to arrive on Guadalcanal in August, 1942. He participated in the Battle of the Tenaru River. After leaving Guadalcanal, Finnegan went to Melbourne, Australia with the rest of the First Marine Division. From there, he landed on Cape Gloucester and recalls an engagement with the Japanese. After that, he went to Pavuvu prior to landing on Peleliu. He describes landing on Peleliu and his experiences in combat there. Finnegan was wounded and evacuated after a week on Peleliu. He spent time at a hospital on Manus and then was returned to the US in November, 1944. Upon recovery, he was sent to an ammunition station in Indiana to perform guard duty. The war ended and he was discharged in November, 1945. He re-enlisted in 1948 and was on hand to go to Korea.
Date: February 21, 2003
Creator: Finnegan, William H.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History