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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
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Oral History Interview with Lawrence Brown, March 13, 1974

Description: 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 w… more
Date: March 13, 1974
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Brown, Lawrence
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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Oral History Interview with M. L. Rea, April 14, 1980

Description: 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.
Date: April 14, 1980
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Rea, M. L., 1917-
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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Oral History Interview with W. L. Starnes, April 2, 1974

Description: 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 (194… more
Date: April 2, 1974
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Starnes, W. L., 1919-
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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