Search Results

Oral History Interview with William J. Bates, February 7, 2001

Description: Interview with Navy veteran William J. Bates including personal experiences about the Pacific Theater during World War II, youth and education, the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, flight training, leaving naval aviation and attending Midshipman's School, being assigned to APc-21, operations off the coast of New Guinea with the VII Amphibious Force, providing escort duty for LCTs during assaults along the coast of New Guinea, the sinking of APc-21 by Japanese planes off New Britain Island, recupera… more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 7, 2001
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Bates, William J.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with LeRoy Ellis Cox, February 5, 2004

Description: Interview with LeRoy Ellis Cox. The interview includes Cox's personal experiences about childhood and early adulthood in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado, World War-II-era Army Air Corps training in armaments and electronics, stateside service in the 303rd Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force, aviation cadet training, serving as a B-25 instructor pilot, and as a DC-3 tow pilot for the glider program.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 5, 2004
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Cox, LeRoy E., 1919-
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Douglas R. Crawford, February 25, 2004

Description: Interview with Air Force veteran Douglas R. "Roy" Crawford. The interview includes Crawford's personal experiences about early family life, joining the U.S. Army Air Forces, training as a bulldozer operator, removing radioactive debris from Hiroshima, training as a radar operator at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and working as the radar tracker when Major Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 on October 19, 1947. Additionally, Crawford talks about his assignments to Clark A… more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 25, 2004
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Crawford, Douglas R., 1929-
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Richard Donley, February 22, 1997

Description: Interview with Navy veteran Richard Donley. The interview includes Donley's personal experiences about the Mediterranean Theater during World War II, boot camp, Fleet Torpedo School, encounters with German "F-lighter" armed barges and E-boats, various assignments, and combat against enemy destroyers. Donley also talks about screening operations for the invasions of Sicily and Salerno, operations along the coasts of northern Italy and southern France and the interdiction of German barge traffic,… more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 22, 1997
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Donley, Richard
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Roy D. Much, February 3, 1999

Description: Transcript of an interview with Roy D. Much, Army veteran (987th Field Artillery Battalion), concerning his experiences in the European Theater during World War II. Much discusses his pre-war education and employment; basic training in the artillery, Camp Bowie, Brownwood, Texas, 1942; and general comments about his experiences at Normandy, Saint-Lô, liberation of Paris, Huertgen Forest, Remagen Bridge, Battle of the Bulge, and the liberation of Czechoslovakia.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 3, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Much, Roy D.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Harold Salfen, February 14, 2000

Description: Interview with Harold Salfen, a Army Air Force WWII veteran from O'Fallon, Missouri. Salfen discusses his hometown and family background, his childhood and education, working in St. Louis, attending the University of Missouri, joining the Army Air Force and training, operating a ground radar in the European Theater, liberating Buchenwald Concentration Camp, the end of the war, and returning home. In appendix is a biography/resumé of Salfen's.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 14, 2000
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Salfen, Harold
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Nick Sanchez, February 16, 1999

Description: Interview with Nick Sanchez, a Army Air Force WWII veteran from Laredo, Texas. Sanchez discusses working in radio when the war began, becoming a radio technician in the Army Air Force, deployment to India and operations there, going missing in China after surviving a plane crash, and the end of the war. In appendix are an autobiographical sketch of Sanchez's service, a copy of a diary recording his experience "bailing-out," and his official military statement of the event.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 16, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Sanchez, Nick
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Dave C. Sanford, February 25, 1999

Description: Interview with Dave C. Sanford, a Army WWII veteran from Carter, South Dakota, who served as a mortarman in the 37th Infantry Division. Sanford discusses growing up, his experiences in the Great Depression, being drafted and training, the New Georgia, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Philippine campaigns, being wounded and discharged, and life afterwards.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 25, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Sanford, Dave C.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Ernest Kelley, February 20, 2003

Description: Interview with Ernest Kelley, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Antioch, Texas (now the Red River Army Depot), who served with the 112th Cavalry. Kelley discusses growing up in the Depression, joining the Guard, mobilization and training, horses, the Louisiana Maneuvers, deployment to New Caledonia, landing on Woodlark island and action there, the Battle of Arawe, redeployment to Australia, the Battle of Driniumor River in New Guinea, the Battles of Leyte and Luzon, returning to the Unit… more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 20, 2003
Creator: Johnston, Glenn & Kelley, Ernest L.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Daniel Thomas, February 26, 1999

Description: Transcript of an interview with Daniel Thomas, a Navy veteran (4th Marine Division), concerning his experiences while attached to the 4th Marine Division as a medic in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Thomas discusses his decision to join the Navy in 1943; Hospital Corps School, San Diego, 1943; assignment to the Fleet Marine Force; Field Medical School, 1944; assignment to the 4th Marine Division, 1944; Iwo Jima, February, 1945; detailed description of casualties and their treatment du… more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: February 26, 1999
Creator: Lane, Peter B.; Byrd, Richard W. & Thomas, Daniel B., 1925-2007
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
open access

Oral History Interview with Phillip L. Daffron, February 9, 1977

Description: Interview with Phillip Daffron, a Army WWII veteran from Plano, Texas. Daffron discusses his experiences at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 including his education and entry into service, assignment to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in 1940, training in field artillery, events during the day of the attack at Schofield Barracks and Punchbowl Crater, subsequent events on Oahu, and some details about his service afterwards.
Date: February 9, 1977
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Daffron, Phillip L.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
open access

Oral History Interview with Cecil Minshew, February 18, 1983

Description: Interview with Cecil T. Minshew regarding his experiences in the military and as a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II. He was part of the Texas National Guard, 36th Division, 131st Field Artillery, 2nd Battalion, also known as the "Lost Battalion." He was captured on the island of Java in March of 1942 and spent the duration of the war thereafter as a prison of war in camps in South East Asia and in Japan.
Date: February 18, 1983
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Minshew, Cecil T.
Partner: University of North Texas
open access

Oral History Interview with Thomas Spencer, February 5, 1979

Description: 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… more
Date: February 5, 1979
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Spencer, Thomas
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
open access

Oral History Interview with Thomas A. Whitehead, February 2, 1977

Description: Interview with Thomas Whitehead, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Wichita Falls, Texas. Whitehead discusses his experiences as a member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, the "Lost Battalion" captured on Java in March 1942, including: joining the National Guard; participation in the Louisiana Maneuvers; departure for the Philippines and diversion to Brisbane; assignment to Sangosari Airfield near Malang; the surrender of American forces; internment at Tanjong Priok and Bic… more
Date: February 2, 1977
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Whitehead, Thomas A.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
open access

Oral History Interview with Phillip Willis, February 18, 1974

Description: Interview with Phillip Willis, an Army Air Corps WWII veteran from Peeltown, Texas. Willis discusses his experiences at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, including: his upbringing; joining the Army Air Corps; pilot training; assignment to Bellows Field on Oahu with an O-47 squadron and their activities there; perceptions of the Japanese and expectations about a potential conflict; the Japanese air attack on Bellows; and following preparations for an invasion.
Date: February 18, 1974
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Willis, Phillip
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
open access

Oral History Interview with Roy Eschmann, February 23, 1989

Description: Interview with Roy Eschmann, a Army WWII veteran from Dallas, Texas who was present at the attack on Pearl Harbor. Eschmann discusses joining the Army, basic training, assignment to Schofield Barracks and the 25th Infantry Division, his duties and daily life, Japanese friends on Hawaii, preparation for war, guard duty on the night of December 6/7th, the morning of the attack and shooting at Japanese aircraft, patrols afterwards and fear of invasion, rumors, and later service.
Date: February 23, 1989
Creator: Rosen, Keith & Eschmann, Roy L.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
Back to Top of Screen