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Oral History Interview with Billy Allen, March 1, 1976

Description: Interview with Billy Allen, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Van Alstyne, Texas. Allen discusses his entry into the Marine Corps, deployment to Shanghai with the China Marines in 1940-41, arrival in the Philippines, the Japanese attack on Mariveles Navy Yard, the retreat to Corregidor, capture by the Japanese, and experiences in internment at Bilibid Prison in Manila, Cabanatuan, Osaka, and Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.
Date: March 1, 1976
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Allen, Billy
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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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

Oral History Interview with Charles M. Lagow, October 11, 2000

Description: Interview with Charles M. Lagow, a Army WWII veteran from Dallas, Texas. Lagow discusses his family history, attending Texas A&M, joining the CCC, the lead up to war, activation and training with the 352nd Engineer Battalion, deployment to Khorramshahr, Iran, building roads, delivering supplies to the Soviets, crash landing in a B-17 in Palestine, returning to the States and transfer to the 1346th Eng. Bat., deployment to Okinawa, occupation duty and Japanese holdouts, thoughts on Hideki Tojo, … more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: October 11, 2000
Creator: Ripley, Christopher & Lagow, Charles Marshall
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Commander Alex Vraciu, October 9, 1994

Description: Interview with Cmdr. Alex Vraciu, a Navy WWII veteran and Navy Cross recipient from East Chicago, Indiana. Vraciu discusses his family and educational background, naval flight training, Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the F6F Hellcat, various combat operations throughout the Pacific, his actions at the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," being awarded the Navy Cross and time stateside, and returning to combat. In appendix is an autobiographical sketch by Vraciu, including a picture of him and his Hellcat with visi… more
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Date: October 9, 1994
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Vraciu, Alexander
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
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Date: February 26, 1999
Creator: Lane, Peter B.; Byrd, Richard W. & Thomas, Daniel B., 1925-2007
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
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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 Batavia… more
Date: November 3, 1973
Creator: Teague, William J. & Lawley, George P.
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.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: July 2, 2004
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Crouse, Harlan W., 1926-
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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Oral History Interview with J. L. Sherman, March 4, 1976

Description: Interview with J. L. "Smokey" Sherman, an Army WWII veteran and POW from Ponder, Texas. Sherman discusses joining the Army in 1940, going to the Philippines and being stationed on Corregidor, the siege and fall of the island, his escape from capture and time as a guerrilla, surrender, and experiences in internment at Cabanatuan and Kobe.
Date: March 4, 1976
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Sherman, J. L.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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Oral History Interview with James L. Kent, May 11, 1972

Description: Interview with James L. Kent, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Duncanville, Texas. Kent discusses joining the Marine Corps, being AWOL, his judicial punishment, his deployment to the Philippines at Cavite Navy Yard, the Japanese attack, his experiences in the Battles of Bataan and Corregidor, his capture, and his internment at Bilibid Prison, Cabanatuan #1 & 2, and Mitsushima.
Date: May 11, 1972
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Kent, James L.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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Oral History Interview with James W. Gee, March 13 and March 19, 1972

Description: Interview with James W. Gee, a sales executive, a Marine Corps veteran, and a survivor of the sinking of the U.S.S. Houston, concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Gee talks about the sinking of the Houston (1942), his capture and imprisonment at Serang, Java, Bicycle Camp in Batavia (1942), Changi Prison Camp in Singapore (1942), building the Burma-Thailand Death Railway (1942-1944), Kanchanaburi, Thailand (1944), the hell ship to Japan (1944), coa… more
Date: [1972-03-13,1972-03-19]
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Gee, James Wallace
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
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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 n… more
Date: April 15, 1985
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Stanbrough, Jess
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
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Oral History Interview with Loren H. Brantley, November 19, 1971

Description: Interview with Loren Brantley, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Daingerfield, Texas. Brantley discusses being stationed in Shanghai before the war, his experience in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked on December 8th, the Battle of Corregidor, and his internments at Bilibid Prison, Cabanatuan, and a coal mine near Nagasaki.
Date: November 19, 1971
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Brantley, Loren H.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
open access

Oral History Interview with Louis B. Read, November 3, 1972

Description: Interview conducted in 1972 for the World War II Prisoners of War Oral History Project with Louis B. Read, a businessman, an Army veteran, and a survivor of the Bataan Death March, concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.
Date: November 3, 1972
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Read, Louis B.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Maj. Gen. Frederick E. Haynes, September 19, 2001

Description: Interview with Major General Frederick Haynes, a Marine WWII veteran from Dallas, Texas. Haynes discusses growing up, becoming an officer in the Marine Corps, being a small arms instructor, assignment to the 28th Marines and training for combat, various experiences fighting the Battle of Iwo Jima, and reflections on battle.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: September 19, 2001
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Haynes, Frederick E.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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Oral History Interview with O. R. Sparkman, May 6, 1971

Description: Interview with O.R. Sparkman, a Marine WWII veteran and POW from Dallas, Texas. Stationed in China before the war, Sparkman was captured in December 1941 by the Japanese in Beijing and interned at various camps in occupied China and Korea before finishing the war at Hakodate, Japan.
Date: May 6, 1971
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Sparkman, O. R.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program
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Oral History Interview with Ray Robinson, June 25, 1979

Description: Interview with Ray Robinson 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: June 25, 1979
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Ray Robinson
Partner: University of North Texas

Oral History Interview with Raymond F. "Hap" Halloran, March 15, 1998

Description: Interview with Raymond F. "Hap" Halloran, businessman and U.S. Army Air Force WWII Veteran (878th Bomb Squadron, 499th Bomb Group, 73rd Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force) concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: March 15, 1998
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Halloran, Raymond F.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Richard E. Cole, August 8, 2000

Description: Interview with Army Air Forces veteran Richard E. Cole describing personal experiences about being Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot during the Tokyo Raid on April 8, 1942, pre-war education, flight training, volunteering for a secret mission and meeting Colonel Doolittle, being assigned as Doolittle's co-pilot, mission training, various B-25 missions against Japanese targets in China and Burma, flying supplies over "The Hump." transferring to the states and volunteering for service in Burma with the … more
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: August 8, 2001
Creator: Alexander, William J. & Cole, Richard E.
Partner: UNT Oral History Program

Oral History Interview with Robert H. Jackson, July 24, 1997

Description: Interview with Robert H. "Hal" Jackson regarding his experiences as a Navy fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. It details his experiences with different aircraft and on carriers and in land-based squadrons in the Pacific.
Access: Restricted to UNT Community Members. Login required if off-campus.
Date: July 24, 1997
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Jackson, Robert H.
Partner: University of North Texas
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Oral History Interview with Roy Offerle, August 14, 1978

Description: Interview with Roy Offerle 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: August 14, 1978
Creator: Marcello, Ronald E. & Offerle, Roy M.
Partner: University of North Texas
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