[Chinese Ship with Torn Sails]

Photograph of a Chinese Ship on the Yangtze River with two badly torn sails and a man standing on the deck. There is an anchor visible by the bow, and a smaller boat being pulled from the stern. In the background a strip of land is visible.
Date: 1933/1934
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Landscape View of Jiaozhou Bay]

Photograph of landscape view of Jiaozhou Bay. In the foreground many buildings and roads can be seen, and the background contains the shoreline of the bay.
Date: 1934?
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, April 4, 1906] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, April 4, 1906]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz, writing from China, thanks his grandfather for money, but insists he does not need it. He then outlines his ship's itinerary for the upcoming trip to Japan. He shares the news that he will remain aboard the USS Ohio (BB-12) as a watch and division officer after the new Academy graduates arrive aboard.
Date: April 4, 1906
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, March 31, 1906] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, March 31, 1906]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz, writing from China, mentions being ashore in a camp in the Philippines for some target practice. He also mentions that he suspects his time on the USS Ohio (BB-12) is coming to a close because the Academy graduates are due to arrive aboard in early April. Nimitz expects to be sent to a smaller gunboat, but admits he would rather stay on the Ohio and be overlooked in all the shuffling.
Date: March 31, 1906
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, September 1905] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to Charles Henry Nimitz, September 1905]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz, writing from China, mentions leaving Manila just as a cholera outbreak occurred. Nimitz mentions his travel plans for he interior of China. He mentions the Boxer Rebellion briefly and various news on some other classmates in the fleet. He also describes a malfunction with one of his torpedoes. Between the time Nimitz started this letter and mailed it, he took an inland trip to Peking, which he describes. He also mentions going to Korea and escorting members of the Taft Party (including Alice Roosevelt).
Date: {1905-09-08,1905-09-11,1905-09-12,1905-09-16}
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, April 6, 1906] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, April 6, 1906]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz asks his father to keep the money his grandfather gave him and use it for the Otto and Dora's education or for the family, etc. He also provides news on several of his classmates and the ships to which they have been assigned. He mentions he will be staying aboard the USS Ohio (BB-12).
Date: April 6, 1906
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, Aug-Sep. 1905] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, Aug-Sep. 1905]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz provides his opinion on the Russian navy. He also mentions the prospect of going to China and being able to visit various cities there. He anticipates staying aboard the USS Ohio (BB-12) until the next summer when new passed midshipmen arrive to fill posts and he is moved to a smaller ship. Nimitz mentions fishing for sharks in Manila Bay and recalls all the various pets aboard the ship. Nimitz also mentions that the USS Brooklyn (CA-3) was bringing John Paul Jones back to the USA from France. This letter is on USS Ohio stationery.
Date: 1905-08-31/1905-09-24
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, July 27, 1905] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, July 27, 1905]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz mentions they will be leaving China soon, headed for Manila with the William Howard Taft party. He notes the trouble some of his former classmates are getting into aboard other ships in the fleet. He also describes the behavior of sailors on liberty in Chefoo, China. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.
Date: July 27, 1905
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, June 4, 1906] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, June 4, 1906]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz discusses some items regarding an insurance policy he has. He also mentions target practice and the possibility of winning the gunnery trophy. He also mentions travel plans in China.
Date: June 4, 1906
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, September 1905] (open access)

[Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, September 1905]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz describes his visit to Seoul, Korea. He also writes about having crowd control duty during a friendly football game between crew members from two different ships. He mentions also that the USS Ohio (BB-12) is at Shanghai and will be going upriver to nanking soon.
Date: {1905-09-20,1905-09-23,1905-09-30}
Creator: Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Helen Barnes to Cecelia McKie - May 26, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Helen Barnes to Cecelia McKie - May 26, 1943]

Letter sent from Helen Barnes to Cecelia McKie thanking her for the message from her husband, William Frank Barnes, and stating she and her daughter had been evacuated from Shanghai in 1941 and had not seen Mr. Barnes since. Envelope addressed to Mrs. W. L. McKie, Sacramento, California from Mrs. W. F. Barnes, San Diego, California.
Date: May 26, 1943
Creator: Barnes, Helen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Mary Nimitz and Caretaker]

Photograph of Mary Nimitz and her Amah (caretaker) standing on a lawn in front of an unknown building in China. Mary stands on the left holding a toy and wearing a sleeveless white dress, white socks, black strapped shoes and black ribbon bow on her head. Her Amah stands on the right with a hand on Mary's shoulder while wearing a white quarter-sleeved shirt, dark wide legged pants, white stockings and flats.
Date: 1933~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Stevens, March 27, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with Al Stevens, March 27, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Stevens. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1943 as a metallurgical engineer. He enlisted in the Navy in 1944 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended the Navy Electronics School at Harvard University as well as a specialized radar training program organized by MIT at the Harbor Building in Boston, Massachusetts. He received further training in radar countermeasures at Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. He served on the USS Wasatch (ACG-9). When the ship was anchored, he was assigned to deliver orders and mail. He describes the Operation Olympic portion of the plan to invade Japan. He was part of the force that occupied Wakanoura and Nagoya, Japan. He shares an anecdote about obtaining a Japanese sword as a souvenir in Nagoya. In North China he participated in the repatriation of the Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans. He wrote a book, ?Up Close and Personal,? about his World War II experiences.
Date: March 27, 2006
Creator: Stevens, Al
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Al Stevens, March 27, 2006 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Al Stevens, March 27, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Stevens. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1943 as a metallurgical engineer. He enlisted in the Navy in 1944 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended the Navy Electronics School at Harvard University as well as a specialized radar training program organized by MIT at the Harbor Building in Boston, Massachusetts. He received further training in radar countermeasures at Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. He served on the USS Wasatch (ACG-9). When the ship was anchored, he was assigned to deliver orders and mail. He describes the Operation Olympic portion of the plan to invade Japan. He was part of the force that occupied Wakanoura and Nagoya, Japan. He shares an anecdote about obtaining a Japanese sword as a souvenir in Nagoya. In North China he participated in the repatriation of the Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans. He wrote a book, ?Up Close and Personal,? about his World War II experiences.
Date: March 27, 2006
Creator: Stevens, Al
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders, a pilot during World War II. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, and going to flight school for pilot training. He was stationed in India and flew supplies into China over the Himalayas (known by pilots as "the Hump"). In China, he traded items such as jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma. He also discusses his meetings with native Burmese and talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Saunders, Alan W.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Alan W. Saunders, October 8, 2004

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders of New Braunfels, Texas, a veteran of the Army Air Force during World War Two. The interview includes Saunders' personal experiences while in the Air Force, including the China-Burma-India Theater and memories of flying cargo to China over the Himalayas. Mr. Saunders also talks about life before and after his service.
Date: October 8, 2004
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Saunders, Alan W.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Albert Day, February 23, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Albert Day, February 23, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Day. Day was born in Olney, Texas 23 September 1921 and graduated from high school in Vivian, Louisiana in 1942. Upon joining the Navy 4 June 1942, he was sent to The Great Lakes Naval Training Station for boot training. Afterwards, Day was assigned to the Amphibious Forces at Solomons, Maryland for training where he learned navigation and signal communications. Completing the course in October 1942 he went to Redwood City, California for further training. Assigned to LCT(5)-62, he describes the size, propulsion, crew compliment and purpose of the craft. Day tells of breaking the LCT into sections that were put aboard an AKA and sailing to New Caledonia arriving in December 1942. On a trip to Guadalcanal he witnessed a Japanese plane dropping a bomb on the USS De Haven (DD-469). He recalls a night trip to New Georgia when he saw St. Elmo’s fire on the railing of his ship. At Tulagi on 7 April 1943, Day personally shot down an attacking Japanese plane. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and tells of being on the USS Estes (ACG-12) and describes an intense …
Date: February 23, 2004
Creator: Day, Albert
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Albert Day, February 23, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Albert Day, February 23, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Day. Day was born in Olney, Texas 23 September 1921 and graduated from high school in Vivian, Louisiana in 1942. Upon joining the Navy 4 June 1942, he was sent to The Great Lakes Naval Training Station for boot training. Afterwards, Day was assigned to the Amphibious Forces at Solomons, Maryland for training where he learned navigation and signal communications. Completing the course in October 1942 he went to Redwood City, California for further training. Assigned to LCT(5)-62, he describes the size, propulsion, crew compliment and purpose of the craft. Day tells of breaking the LCT into sections that were put aboard an AKA and sailing to New Caledonia arriving in December 1942. On a trip to Guadalcanal he witnessed a Japanese plane dropping a bomb on the USS De Haven (DD-469). He recalls a night trip to New Georgia when he saw St. Elmo’s fire on the railing of his ship. At Tulagi on 7 April 1943, Day personally shot down an attacking Japanese plane. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and tells of being on the USS Estes (ACG-12) and describes an intense …
Date: February 23, 2004
Creator: Day, Albert
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with David Lee Hill, September 20, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with David Lee Hill, September 20, 2003

Interview with David Lee "Tex" Hill of San Antonio, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater. The interview includes Hill's personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of pre-war flight training in Florida, the Flying Tigers, and the Salween River Gorge attack.
Date: September 20, 2003
Creator: Cox, William G. & Hill, David Lee
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with David Lee Hill, September 20, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with David Lee Hill, September 20, 2003

Interview with David Lee "Tex" Hill of San Antonio, Texas, a veteran from the United States Navy during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater. The interview includes Hill's personal experiences while in the Navy, including memories of pre-war flight training in Florida, the Flying Tigers, and the Salween River Gorge attack. There is a photograph and a short biography of Hill after the interview transcription.
Date: September 20, 2003
Creator: Cox, William G. & Hill, David Lee
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with David Straus, September 17, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with David Straus, September 17, 2001

Interview with David Straus of San Antonio, Texas, a veteran from the United States Marine Corps during World War Two in the Pacific Theater as well as the Korean War. The interview includes some of Straus' background before the war and his personal experiences while in the Marines, including memories of Okinawa, various weapons, what happened at the end of World War Two, and his assignment in Korea.
Date: September 17, 2001
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Straus, David
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with David Straus, September 17, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with David Straus, September 17, 2001

Interview with David Straus of San Antonio, Texas, a veteran from the United States Marine Corps during World War Two in the Pacific Theater as well as the Korean War. The interview includes some of Straus' background before the war and his personal experiences while in the Marines, including memories of Okinawa, various weapons, what happened at the end of World War Two, and his assignment in Korea.
Date: September 17, 2001
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Straus, David
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Ed Carseth, August 6, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Ed Carseth, August 6, 2003

Interview with Ed Carseth, a pilot during World War II. He discusses an early interest in aviation and earned his pilot's license through the Civilian Pilot Training program. He spent a year as an instructor before joining the Air Transport Command. Through 1944 he delivered aircraft to Australia before being assigned to Myitkyina, Burma. He speaks of living conditions at Myitkyina. He flew materials over the Himalaya Mountains (the Hump) from Burma to Kunming, China. Carseth relates anectdotes about General Claire Chennault, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and a squadron mate who kept a baboon.
Date: August 6, 2003
Creator: Metzler, Ed & Carseth, Ed
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia, July 21, 2000 (open access)

Oral History Interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia, July 21, 2000

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia. He discusses being a navigator/bombardier on the 14th plane in the Doolittle Raid, including the training leading up to the raid, the trip on the USS Hornet, the raid itself, bailing out over China, the weeks spent there before making it out through India and Egypt and stories about other men in the Raiders. He also discusses meeting with Generalissimo and Madam Chiang Kai-Shek, seeing the Egyptian pyramids, crossing Africa then to Brazil before getting back to the US, landing in Miami, his later deployments in North Africa and Europe, his work after the war and reunions the Raiders have had since the war.
Date: July 21, 2000
Creator: Macia, James H. ""Herb""
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History