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Oral History Interview with Bruce Gordon Elliot, May 17, 2002

Description: Interview with Bruce Elliot, a Navy veteran and POW from Montezuma, Kansas. Elliot discusses his family, joining the Navy and volunteering for Asiatic service, the start of war and the bombing of Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines, retreat to Corregidor, capture by the Japanese, escaping internment on Palawan and joining Moro guerillas, sabotage, linking up with Australian forces, evacuation to Australia and returning to the United States, becoming a deepsea diver, and Korean War service. In a… more
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Date: May 17, 2002
Creator: Alexander, Bill & Elliot, Bruce Gordon
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Colonel John. E. Olson, March 15, 1998

Description: Interview with Colonel John E. Olson, a Army WWII veteran and POW from Leavenworth, Kansas. Olson discusses his family background, commissioning in the Army from West Point, assignment to the Philippines in 1939 as an infantry officer, the start of the war, withdrawal to Bataan and the ensuing battle and surrender, the Bataan Death March, internment at Cabanatuan, transfer to Osaka, experiences there in internment at a factory labor camp, liberation, organizing the evacuation of POWs, returning… more
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Date: March 15, 1998
Creator: Alexander, Bill & Olson, John E.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Jean Balch, October 12, 1996

Description: Interview with Navy veteran Jean Balch, including Balch's personal experiences about the Pacific theater, being a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II, boot camp, radio, radar, and gunnery school, operations during the Leyte invasion, missions over Luzon, and raids on Japanese installations on Formosa and Saigon, French Indo-China. Additionally, Balch talks about his plane being shot down on a raid to Hong Kong and his capture on January 16, 1945, interrogations and beatings by t… more
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Date: October 12, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Balch, Jean
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Frank H. Bigelow, June 13, 2002

Description: Interview with Navy veteran Frank H. Bigelow, survivor of the siege of Corregidor. The interview includes Bigelow's personal experiences about being a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II, boyhood in North Dakota, various jobs during the Great Depression, and enlisting in the Navy. Additionally, Bigelow speaks about volunteering for duty in the Philippines and his assignment to the submarine tender USS Canopus, pre-war military life in the Philippines, the Japanese bombing of Cav… more
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Date: June 13, 2002
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Bigelow, Frank H., 1921-
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with John B. Brush, February 3, 1998

Description: Interview with John Brush, a businessman and WWII POW from White Plains, New York. Brush discusses his family history, school, work for Procter & Gamble Company, marriage, moving to Manila in 1941, the lead up to war, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, internment by the Japanese army at Santo Tomas Prison Camp, survival with his family, censorship and propaganda, shanties and villages, fake identities to help US servicemen survive, move to Los Baños camp, liberation, and return to the US. more
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Date: February 3, 1998
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Brush, John B.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with John J. Clemens, May 13, 2003

Description: Interview with John J. Clemens. The interview includes Clemens' personal experiences about childhood and early adulthood in Houston, Texas, World War II-era service in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard USS Wren in the Pacific Theater, and piloting a ship into Tokyo Bay immediately following the Japanese surrender. Clemens speaks about convoy missions across the Atlantic Ocean, the January 4, 1944 sinking of the USS Turner while moored in New York Harbor and the court of inquiry regarding the sinkin… more
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Date: May 13, 2003
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Clemens, John J., 1921-
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Harlan W. Crouse, July 2, 2004

Description: Interview with Army veteran Harlan W. Crouse, including personal experiences about combat in the Philippines during World War II, the Japanese surrender in Yokohama Harbor, and being present during the post-war U.S. occupation of Japan.
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Date: July 2, 2004
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Crouse, Harlan W., 1926-
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Captain Victor Delano, March 13, 1998

Description: Transcript of an interview with Captain Victor Delano, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Delano discusses his first assignment to the battleship USS West Virginia and his experiences during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; assignment to the antiaircraft cruiser USS San Juan, 1942; naval battles around Guadalcanal; Battle of Savo Island; assignment to the destroyer USS Wedderburn, 1944; Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944; Paci… more
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Date: March 13, 1998
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Delano, Victor
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, October 11, 1996

Description: Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, clothier and Navy veteran regarding personal experiences about the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Theaters during World War II. Ditto talks about his education, enlistment in the Navy V-7 Program, midshipman training, assignment to the USS Langley, pre-war duty in the Philippines, coming of war and combat around the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies, the sinking of the Langley and his transfer to the USS Pecos, the sinking of the Pecos and his rescue … more
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Date: October 11, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Ditto, Lanson B.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Herb Elfering, December 6, 2001

Description: Interview with electrical engineer and Army veteran Herb Elfering, The interview includes Elfering's personal experiences with a searchlight/radar battery, 251st Coast Artillery Regiment, at camp Malekole during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Elfering also gives brief descriptions of his later experiences at Bougainville and Luzon.
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Date: December 6, 2001
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Elfering, Herb
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with General Robert E. Galer, March 14, 1998

Description: Transcript of an interview with General Robert E. Galer, a Marine Corps veteran (VMF-224) and recipient of the Medal of Honor, concerning his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Galer discusses his pre-war training at Pensacola and Quantico; assignment to Saint Thomas and reminiscences about the "destroyers-for bases" deal, 1940; experiences at Ewa during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; assignment to Guadalcanal as commander of VMF-224, August 30, 19… more
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Date: March 14, 1998
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Galer, Robert E., 1913-2005
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Glen McDole, October 10, 1996

Description: Interview with Glen McDole, a Marine Corps WWII veteran and POW from Des Moines, Iowa. McDole discusses joining the Marines in 1940, assignment to the 1st Separate Marine Battalion and deployment to Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines, the Japanese attack on December 8th, 1941, withdrawal to Corregidor, Douglas MacArthur, the surrender, experiences in internment at Cabanatuan, transfer to Palawan, American bombing raids, surviving the Palawan massacre, rescue by Philippines civilians, the Ameri… more
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Date: October 10, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & McDole, Glen
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Gale E. Nevill, March 23, 1999

Description: Interview with Gale E. Nevill, a Army WWII veteran from Houston, Texas. Nevill discusses his family background and upbringing, jobs in the oil business, joining the National Guard, attending Rice University, getting commissioned, overseeing a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, working through the Depression, activation and assignment to 6th Army HQ, deployment to Brisbane, 6th Army operations in the South Pacific and Philippines, the end of the war and life afterwards.
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Date: March 23, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Nevill, Gale Erwin
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Davis Porter Newton, October 12, 1996

Description: Interview with Davis Porter Newton, Army WWII veteran of the Pacific Theater from Birmingham, Alabama. Newton discusses his family background, working during the Depression and his education, commissioning into the Army, assignment to the 346th Harbor Craft Company and deployment to Finschhafen, New Guinea, acting as defense counsel in a court martial, sea-transport operations around New Guinea and the Philippines, working with POWs, and investigating war crimes.
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Date: October 12, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Newton, Davis Porter
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Howard L. Patton, January 5, 1999

Description: Interview with Howard L. Patton, a Army WWII veteran from Flora, Illinois. Patton discusses his family background, commissioning into the Army through ROTC, training with anti-air artillery, his marriage, deployment to New Guinea, the assault on Wakde Island, the battle of Leyte, operations at Zamboanga, and the end of the war.
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Date: January 5, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Patton, Howard L.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Willie Fred Sander, May 22, 2002

Description: Interview with Willie Fred Sander, a Navy WWII veteran from Brenham, Texas. Sander discusses his background and life before the war, joining the Navy and aviator training, flying PBM patrol bombers throughout the Pacific, and his family life after the war.
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Date: May 22, 2002
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Sander, Willie Fred
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.
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Date: February 25, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Sanford, Dave C.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Fred Vogel, August 8, 2001

Description: Interview with Fred Vogel, a Army WWII veteran from Austin, Minnesota. Vogel discusses his family and upbringing, football and college, working as a lawyer, joining the Army and basic training, attending Officer Candidate School, infantry training, deployment to New Guinea with the 33rd Infantry Division, the invasion of Morotai, combat around Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines, and occupation duty in Japan.
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Date: June 13, 2001
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Vogel, Fred
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral history interview with Iliff D. Richardson, February 22, 1997

Description: Transcript of an interview with Iliff D. Richardson, a Navy veteran, concerning his experiences as a guerrilla fighter in the Philippine Islands during World War II. Richardson discusses his assignment to patrol-torpedo boats in the Philippines, 1941; orders from General Douglas A. MacArthur to establish a clandestine radio network to maintain communications with Commander Southwest Pacific after his evacuation from Corregidor; his role in plotting Japanese minefields in Leyte Gulf prior to Mac… more
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Date: February 22, 1997
Creator: Alexander, William J.; Richardson, Rick & Richardson, Iliff, David, 1918-2001
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Thomas P. Emery, February 21, 1995

Description: Interview with Thomas P. Emery, a US Army WWII veteran from Solana Beach, California, who served as a pathfinder in the 6th Army Special Special Recon Unit. Emery discusses joining the Army and airborne training, assignment to G-2, scout and pathfinder training, attending OCS, deployment to New Guinea, formation of the Alamo Scouts, learning to live and fight in the jungle, his first mission, raids and harassing Japanese troops, traveling aboard the USS Missouri, and fighting in the Philippines. more
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Date: February 21, 1995
Creator: Alexander, Wm. J. & Emery, Thomas P.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
open access

Oral History Interview with Eugene Nielsen, December 11, 1989

Description: Interview with Eugene Nielsen, a Army WWII veteran and POW from Logan, Utah. Nielsen discusses his prewar assignment to Corregidor Island, the Battles of Bataan and Corregidor, capture by the Japanese, experiences in internment at Bilibid Prison, Cabanatuan, and Palawan, surviving the Palawan Massacre, and his rescue by Filipinos and American forces. Included is Nielsen's obituary of February 6, 2011.
Date: December 11, 1989
Creator: Burlage, George & Nielsen, Eugene
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
open access

Oral History Interview with Rufus Smith, June 13, 1989

Description: Interview with Rufus Smith, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Hughes Springs, Texas, who survived the Palawan Massacre. Smith discusses joining the Marines, the bombing of Cavite Naval Yard, his capture at Corregidor and internment at Cabanatuan, transfer to Palawan and experiences in captivity there, the massacre and escaping, rescue by Filipinos and traveling with them, evacuation, returning to the United States, and life after the war.
Date: June 13, 1989
Creator: Burlage, George & Smith, Rufus
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Margaret Gillooly, March 18, 1995

Description: Interview with Margaret Gillooly, a civilian internee of the Japanese in WWII from San Francisco, California. Gillooly discusses her family's move to the Philippines in 1938, schooling, the start of war and the Japanese invasion, staying in Cebu City, her parents' escape from Manila and surviving a sinking in Manila Bay, Japanese occupation of Cebu, being moved to Manila, various experiences surviving internment at Santo Tomas Prison Camp, bombings, the American invasion and liberation, a Japan… more
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Date: March 18, 1995
Creator: Byrd, Richard W. & Gillooly, Margaret
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with R. Kenneth Towery, March 19, 1995

Description: Interview with Ken Towery, journalist, Army veteran (59th Coast Artillery Regiment), and survivor of the siege of Corregidor, concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Towery discusses the fall of Corregidor and his capture, Cabanatuan (1942), Mukden, Manchuria (1942-1945), and his liberation by Russian troops.
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Date: March 19, 1995
Creator: Byrd, Richard W. & Towery, Roland Kenneth, 1923-2016
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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