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open access

Oral History Interview with Jack Moss, July 19, 1970

Description: Interview with Jack Moss, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Amarillo, Texas, who served and was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion.") Moss discusses joining the the Guard and deployment to the Pacific, the fall and capture of Java, his experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, internment at Changi Camp in Singapore, partaking in forced labor on the Burma-Thailand "Death" Railway, and liberation.
Date: July 19, 1970
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Moss, Jack

Oral History Interview with Arthur B. Clark, September 29, 2000

Description: Interview with Arhtur B. Clark, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Abilene, Texas, who was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery. Clark discusses joining the National Guard, training and maneuvers, deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and surrender to the Japanese, experiences in internment at Tanjong Priok in Batavia, internment at Changi Camp in Singapore, labor on the Burma "Death" Railway, and liberation. The interview includes an appendix with a refereā€¦ more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: September 29, 2000
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Clark, Arthur B.

Oral History Interview with E. Benjamin Dunn, November 16, 1999

Description: Interview with E. Benjamin Dunn, a Army WWII veteran and POW from Gorham, Illinois, who was captured by the Japanese on Java with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion.") Dunn discusses training in the Army, transfer to 2-131 and deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and being captured, experiences in internment in Batavia and later Changi Prison Camp in Singapore, building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway, and liberation.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: November 16, 1999
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Dunn, E. Benjamin

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 ā€¦ more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: October 11, 1996
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Ditto, Lanson B.
open access

Oral History Interviews with Charley L. Pryor, 1972-1973

Description: Interview with Charley L. Pryor, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Lubbock, Texas, who survived the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30). Pryor discusses the sinking of the Houston, his capture, experiences in imprisonment at Serang, Java, experiences at Bicycle Camp in Batavia and Changi Camp in Singapore, building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway, American air raids, and liberation.
Date: 1972-11/1973-02
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Pryor, Charley L.
open access

Oral History Interview with Robert Gregg, March 24, 1971

Description: Interview with Robert Gregg, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Decatur, Texas, who was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion"). Gregg discusses mobilization and deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and his capture, internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia and Changi Camp in Singapore, building the Burma-Thailand "Death" Railway, and liberation.
Date: March 24, 1971
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Gregg, Robert
open access

Oral History Interview with Jess Stanbrough, April 15, 1985

Description: Interview with Jess Stanbrough, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Wichita Falls, Texas, who served and was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion.") Stanbrough discusses his time in the Guard before the war, deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and being captured, experiences in internment at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, operating a clandestine radio, transfer to Japan, being an iron smelter at Kamaishi, Honshu, American air and nā€¦ more
Date: April 15, 1985
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Stanbrough, Jess
open access

Oral History Interview with Lester C. Rasbury, June 1978

Description: Interview with Lester C. Rasbury, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Decatur, Texas. Rasbury discusses his experiences as a captured member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion"), including: joining the service and training; the Louisiana Maneuvers; deployment to East Asia in 1941; diversion from the Philippines to Brisbane after December 7th; assignment to Malang, Java; the Japanese attack and American surrender; internment and labor at Tanjong Priok and Bā€¦ more
Date: {1978-06-10,1978-06-15}
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Rasbury, Lester C.
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 Bicā€¦ more
Date: February 2, 1977
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Whitehead, Thomas A.

Oral History Interview with Howard Charles, March 25, 1998

Description: Interview with Howard Charles, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Partridge, Kansas. Charles discusses growing up in the Great Depression; joining the Marine Corps and training; assignment to the USS Houston (CA-30) at Manila as a heavy machine gunner and events before the war; the Battle of Sunda Strait and sinking of the Houston; capture by the Japanese and being held at Serang, Java; experiences in internment and forced labor at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, various campā€¦ more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: March 25, 1998
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Charles, Howard R.
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 Railwayā€¦ more
Date: February 5, 1979
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Spencer, Thomas
open access

Oral History Interview with Frank Fujita, November 9, 1970

Description: Interview with Frank Fujita, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Abilene, Texas. Fujita recounts his experiences as a captured member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "the Lost Battalion"), including: joining the Guard and deploying to East Asia; diversion to Brisbane and assignment to Malang, Java; repelling a Japanese infantry assault; attempted evasion of Japanese forces before being captured; and internment and labor at Surabaja, Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Campā€¦ more
Date: November 9, 1970
Creator: Marcello, Ronald & Fujita Jr., Frank
open access

Oral History Interview with George P. Lawley, November 3, 1973

Description: Interview with George P. Lawley, an Army WWII veteran and POW from Odessa, Texas. Lawley discusses his time with the so-called "Lost Battalion" on Java and his experiences as a Japanese prisoner-of-war, including: joining the National Guard in 1940 and training, deployment for East Asia with 2nd Battallion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment; diversion to Java at the start of the war; the Japanese attack and his unit's capture; and his experiences in internment and labor at Tanjong Priok in Bataviaā€¦ more
Date: November 3, 1973
Creator: Teague, William J. & Lawley, George P.
open access

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 wā€¦ more
Date: March 13, 1974
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Brown, Lawrence
open access

Oral History Interview with Granville T. Summerlin, June 9, 1981

Description: Interview with Granville T. Summerlin, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Hughes Springs, Texas. Summerlin discusses his experiences as a captured member of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, or the "Lost Battalion" of the 36th Infantry Division, including: being drafted in 1940 and training; deployment to East Asia and diversion to Brisbane after December 7th; assignment to Sangosari Airfield, Malang, Java; the Japanese assault and American surrender; internment and labor at Tā€¦ more
Date: June 9, 1981
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Summerlin, Granville T.

Oral History Interview with Cleon Stewart, March 18, 1993

Description: Interview with Cleon Stewart, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Tulia, Texas, who served and was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (known as the "Lost Battalion"). Stewart discusses joining the National Guard, training and the Louisiana Maneuvers, deployment to the Pacific in November, 1941, diversion to Java after December 7th, Japanese air strikes and the invasion, the American surrender and initial internement by the Japanese, experiences in internment at ā€¦ more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: March 18, 1993
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Stewart, Cleon

Oral History Interview with James W. Huffman, April 11, 1990

Description: Interview with James W. Huffman, a Navy WWII veteran and POW from Los Angeles, California, who survived the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30). Huffman discusses joining the Navy; service aboard the Houston and changes in training as war neared; early operations in the war; the Battle of Sundra Strait and sinking; surviving in Java; capture by the Japanese; various experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, Thanbyuzayat, several camps on the Burma Railway, aā€¦ more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: April 11, 1990
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Huffman, James W.

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.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: January 5, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Patton, Howard L.

Oral History Interview with John C. Reas, June 23, 1998

Description: Interview with John Reas, a Navy WWII veteran and POW from New Albany, Indiana, who survived the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30). Reas discusses his assignment to the Houston and prewar operations in the Pacific, the start of the war and convoy duty, being bombed by 54 Japanese planes, the Battle of Sunda Strait, the sinking, capture by the Japanese, experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Thanbyuzayat, work on the Burma Railway, the USS Houston Survivors List, libeā€¦ more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: June 23, 1998
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Reas, John C.

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.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: June 13, 2001
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Vogel, Fred
open access

Oral History Interview with M. T. Harrelson, May 9, 1985

Description: Interview with M. T. Harrelson, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Wichita Falls, Texas, who was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (the "Lost Battalion"). Harrelson discusses National Guard training and operations before the war, deployment to the Pacific and diversion to Java, the Japanese invasion, surrender and initial confinement, internment at Tanjong Priok and Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Changi Camp in Singapore, and the end of the war.
Date: May 9, 1985
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Harrelson, M. T., 1919-
open access

Oral History Interview with C. L. Pryor, December 5, 1987

Description: Interview with Charley Pryor, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Elmore City, Oklahoma. Pryor discusses joining the Marine Corps, operations with the North China Marines in Tsingtao, interactions with Japanese troops before the war, surviving the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30), being captured and participating in a Japanese landing on Java, thoughts on Japanese soldiers and military life, experiences working on the Burma Railway in Thailand, experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Bataā€¦ more
Date: December 5, 1987
Creator: Jones, Waller F. & Pryor, Charley L.
open access

Oral History Interview with Paul E. Papish, January 30, 1989

Description: Interview with Paul E. Papish, a Navy WWII veteran and POW from Denver, Colorado, who survived the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30). Papish discusses joining the Navy in 1939 and training, assignment to the Houston and operations in the Pacific, the start of war and initial engagements, the Battle of the Java Sea, getting sunk at Sundra Strait, surviving on a raft and reaching shore on Java, capture, initial internment, transfer to and experiences in Bicycle Camp in Batavia, transfer to Changā€¦ more
Date: January 30, 1989
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Papish, Paul E.

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.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: March 23, 1999
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Nevill, Gale Erwin
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