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The third in a lecture series marking the 20th Anniversary of the Apollo Missions. The panel features Glynn Lunney, Cliff Charlesworth, Gerald Griffin, and Steve Bales; it is moderated by Joe Allen. The lecutre is focused on mission control and planning for mission operations during the Apollo Missions.
David Marion, U. S. Army, Vietnam (A&M Class of '65) (Interviewed Aug. 10, 2005) David Marion was a military advisor serving in the jungles of Vietnam during the hottest time of that war in 1968 and 1969. He says his most memorable service was that along side maybe swift boats. He has quite a story to tell.
H.J. Marsh, U.S. Army, WW II/Korea (Interviewed June 25, 2009) H.J. Marsh considered his timing quite fortunate. A 1945 high school graduate of San Jacinto High School, by the time he joined the Army, World War II was over. His unit served occupational duty in postwar Korea and while he says there was not much action at that time, his service was still valuable in keeping the peace that had been hard earned in the Pacific Theater. Korea, after all, was under Japanese rule during the war -- and after the war, the split between North and South Korea was even more defined. HJ Marsh says it was then that he first heard the word communism, during his service between World War II and the Korean War, which started in 1950.
Gerald McCaskill, U.S. Navy, WW II (Interviewed September 18, 2008) When Gerald McCaskill boarded the Battleship USS Tennessee in June of 1944, it was the first ship he had ever seen. He would see plenty of it over the next 15 months, including combat action throughout World War II’s Pacific theater. The Tennessee had already seen plenty of warfare, including on 7 December 1941, docked at Pearl Harbor alongside the ill-fated West Virginia and Arizona on that day that will live in infamy. Over HIS time on the Tennessee, it’s travels took it to Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Guadalcanal, Palau, the Philippines, back to Pearl Harbor and Saipan and within a mile of the beaches of Iwo Jima for that Marine invasion to Mt. Suribachi.. on to Okinawa, and eventually to Japan. The Tennessee was badly damaged at least twice after the attack on Pearl Harbor, an attack at Tinian and later a suicide attack to the quarterdeck.
Lee McClesky, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam (Interviewed April 24, 2008) Lee McClesky entered the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1956, came out in 1961 and immediately went to flight training school in Georgia. He was a flight instructor, teaching T-37 & T-38. He flew the A-26 Air Commando in Vietnam, assigned to truck killing missions on the Ho Chi Minh Trail and in Laos. His most memorable flight came on 22 Feb 1967.
Col Alton Meyer, Air Force, Vietnam P.O.W. (A&M Class of ‘60) (Interviewed Sept. 28, 2005) It was six years of life he will never get back but Lt. Col. Al Meyer of rural College Station will certainly never forget that time from the Spring of 1967 to 1973 that he spent as a captive of the North Vietnamese Army -- a P.O.W. Sitting in the back seat of his F-105, he was shot out of the sky. His pilot didn’t survive. His wife Bobbie didn’t know for three years that he was alive at the Hanoi Hilton, as the prison camp was called. It’s an amazing story of physical and mental victory.
Bob Middleton, U.S. Army, Korea (A&M Class of ‘51) (Interviewed Sept. 14, 2005) 2nd Lt. Bob Middleton is proud of his service in what’s sometimes called the “Forgotten War”. He was one of some 1900 Aggie who fought in the Korean War. 63 Aggies lost their lives. Bob took the fast track from A&M to the front lines at Heartbreak Ridge. That's where they did battle, mostly in the pitch dark of night, often in the snow. Bob Middleton left Korea with many memories of survival and with the Army’s Silver Star medal.
Gen. John Miller, U.S. Marines, WW II, Korea/Vietnam (A&M Class of ‘46) (Interviewed April 5, 2007) When Lt. Gen. John H. Miller and his wife Virginia moved to College Station, by his count, it was their 37th move of their married life. Such is the life of this career Marine who served his country in 3 wars -- World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He call his service not all that distinguished, but it was indeed distinguished enough to earn 3 Purple Hearts, 2 Bronze Star Medals, 2 Legion of merits and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. And that’s just to name a few.
John Millholland, U. S. Air Force, Vietnam (Interviewed March 9, 2005) When he was searching for his purpose, John Millholland and his buddies started watching military aircraft take off. He was hooked and decided he was going to join the Air Force and he was going to fly. In March 1966 he was a fighter pilot, a top gun, strapped to the back of an F4. He will never forget Christmas Day of 1966. It is a remarkable story of survival.
Haskell Monroe, Texas A&M Historian (Interviewed 2005) Haskell Monroe never took a class at Texas A&M but he taught a bundle of them and if there is anyone who could be considered a foremost historian of Texas A&M it is Haskell Monroe. This six part series of Bravo Brazos Valley is indeed fascinating. Haskell Monroe the encyclopedia of Aggieland.
Jim Moore, U. S. Army, Vietnam (A&M Class of '49) (Interviewed July 31, 2008) You would have a hard time finding anyone who knows more about feeding a massive number of people than Colonel Jim Moore. His first cooking job was as cook’s helper at Fort Bliss. That was a job he hated by the way. He spent eight years as the associate director of food services at Texas A&M. He learned a lot of his craft in the Army towards the end of World War II and in Korea and in Vietnam.
Glenn Morgan, U. S. Navy, World War II (Interviewed March 16, 2005) Glenn Morgan served aboard the USS Indianapolis, he was one of its buglers. He was a board that fateful ship when it was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean, 30 July 1945, after delivering the parts of the bomb to Tinian island. Glenn Morgan was one of 317 survivors who floated for four days and four nights floating in the Pacific, fighting off shark attack and exposure to survive. This is one of the most remarkable stories of World War II. Glenn Morgan -- survivor USS Indianapolis.
Claude Mounce, U.S. Navy, Cuban Missile Crisis (Interviewed April 5, 2006) October 18 to the 29th of 1962 was the Cuban missile crisis. Claude Mounce saw it up close and personal, but he'll tell you that at the time he had no idea it was such a big deal. As a pilot off a carrier that was part of the blockade, it was his job to fly the photographer to where the Russian ships were approaching. Photos were taken and sent back to Washington, where Pres. John Kennedy and his military advisers were convinced that the Soviets were planning to stockpile warhead missiles to bases in Cuba. It became one of the most critical political standoffs in our history.
Brent Mullins, Museum of the American GI, Collector (Interviewed Dec. 7, 2005) Brent Mullins is a collector and his collection of war and military memorabilia is vast. So vast in fact that it now fills a museum in South College Station called the “Museum of the American GI”. In addition to the show with Brent, is a second radio feature on Brent’s generous gift to friend and veteran Ed Eyre, a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Brent took Ed back to Iwo Jima as a thank you for his service and for the volunteer work Ed did in restoring many of Brent’s vehicles and other war machines.
Ty Newton, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam (Interviewed March 28, 2007) Ty Newton of College Station could have pursued a pro sports career if he hadn’t loved flying more than he loved baseball. He was pretty good at both but flying was in his blood. He was an instructor pilot both before and after his 4 1/2 years of service in Viet Nam, and even pulled duty as then Congressman Lyndon Johnson’s personal pilot in the late 50’s. Ty Newton flew C-130s during Viet Nam... at the time classified missions that included everything from re-supplying the Laotian Army to dropping flares for U.S. Fighters to better see their targets. It was a mission he could not talk about then, but can now.
Don Nicholas, Air Force, Korea/Vietnam (A&M Class of '48) (Interviewed April 26, 2007) Don Nicholas was a Texas A&M quarterback from 1947 to 1949, not a star player, but he certainly made his mark in service for his country in Korea and Vietnam. During the Korean War he flew 20 B-29 missions from his base in Okinawa and later he served three tours in Vietnam where he flew 69 B-52 missions. After he retired he and an Air Force buddy spent 15 years as one of the top senior tennis doubles teams in Texas.
Albert Novak, Army/Navy/Air Force, WW II (Interviewed July 26, 2007) Albert Novak served his country in three services, the Army, Navy and Air Force. As a machinist aboard the USS Wasp for two years during World War II, Albert Novak recalls that day in March of 1945, when a 500-pound bomb hit the WASP. He was one of 150 injured, fortunately not one of the 100 who died that day. He was born and raised in Bryan, Texas. (Note: Albert Novak was in the advanced stages of Pancreatic cancer when we recorded the interview and passed away less that 2 months later)
Rick Oliveras, Air Force, Vietnam (Interviewed March 1, 2005) Rick Oliveras was involved in intelligence during the Vietnam war. He specialized in photo intelligence interpretation. Rick Oliveras is a long time officer and supporter of the VFW post in Bryan Texas.
Charles Opersteny, Air Force, Korea (Interviewed Dec. 15, 2005) Charles Opersteny is one of the driving forces of the American Legion Post 159 in Bryan Texas. That is his passions in his post military career. He served at the old Bryan Air Force Base during the years of the Korean War.
Bob Pardo, U. S. Air Force, Vietnam (Interviewed April 27, 2005) Bob Pardo of College Station was an F4 Phantom pilot during the Vietnam war. He obviously has many stories to tell of his service. But the one story that stands above all is the story known as "Pardo's Push". Enough said. You can Google it or listen to him tell the story here. It is an incredible one.
Brian Parker, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam (Interviewed Aug. 23, 2006) As a crew member of the AC-47, Brian Parker says he could not buy a drink anywhere while on active duty in Vietnam. You see AC-47s went about the business of saving lives and it was a pleasure for those survivors to pick up the tab. When ground troops were surrounded by the enemy, it was the AC-47 gunship that came to the rescue, lighting up the area with flares or bullets. Brian Parker was a navigator in Vietnam for 18 months, just part of his 20 years of military service.
Pat Patterson, U.S. Marines, Desert Storm (Interviewed March 29, 2006) Pat Patterson served as a Marine during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, but this show is about his work as a counselor for the Texas Veterans Commission. It’s his job to make veterans aware of the benefit available to them. He served 20 years in the Marine Corp. He was a warrant officer during Desert Storm. He crossed the border the day before the ground war started, giving support to the artillery, looking for gun positions.
Bill Pope, Army Air Corps, World War II (Interviewed Nov. 29, 2007) Bill Pope was a student at Michigan State when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted thinking that the war would be over before he got to the fighting. Bill was a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II serving as a B-24 Bomber pilot stationed in England. He flew 23 missions over Germany. In 1968, he accepted the position of Associate Dean of Agriculture at Texas A&M University.
Dr. Gordon Pratt, U.S. Navy, WW II (Interviewed Aug. 5, 2010) Not every World War II Veteran served overseas as they had jobs or were being trained for essential jobs stateside. Such was the case for Dr. Gordon Pratt, who joined the Navy in 1943 and was put in the V-12 program. It was a College Training Program that sent future commissioned Officers to colleges and Universities to complete their training and to help the war effort as a result of their education. Between 1943 and 1946, more than 125,000 men were enrolled in V-12. They included such servicemen as Football Coach George Allen, Sen. Howard Baker, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Johnny Carson, and Jack Lemmon.... and a dental student named Gordon Pratt from Dallas. After the war, he served as the dentist for nearly two years on board the USS President Adams, a World War II Transport Ship. And then later at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. Dr. Pratt practiced for 40 years as a dentist in Bryan until he retired in 1997 and one of his five children, Gordon Pratt, Jr., has been a dentist here for nearly 25 years.
Rene Ramirez, Marines, Iraq (Interviewed Dec. 2, 2009) Rene Ramirez served as a 26-year Marine in Norway, Somalia, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He was a radio operator in communications with a tank battalion and the USS Guam. This show focused on his work with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Texas Veterans Commission. He helps operate the College Station Outpatient Clinic for Veterans.
Al Rampmeier, U.S. Army, Vietnam (Interviewed Feb. 8, 2007) Al Rampmeier served under Gen. Hal Moore. Moore was the officer depicted in the film “We Were Soldiers”, and wrote the book it was based on. His is a remarkable story of service as a member of the military police.
Ronald Reagan's speech given on January 28, 1987 to commemorated the Challenger 7 disaster. The captured video quality reflects the quality of the original object.
Holly Rees, U.S. Army, WW II (Interviewed Feb.8, 2006) Holly Rees caught the tail end of World War II, but Purple Hearts were being earned even then. It was after the Allied victory in Europe had been won but well before the battle in the Pacific was finished. June 21, 1945 -- that’s when Sergeant Holly Rees, Company 1 of the 184th Infantry, was wounded in the foot during the brutal battle at Okinawa. He had been on the ground just 32 days when he had to put down his rifle. But it was 32 days he’ll never forget.
Vic Reid, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam (Interviewed April 13, 2005) June 18th, 1972 , as a member of the 16th Special Ops Squadron of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai AFB in Thailand, Col. Vic Reid was flying his 44th Aerial Combat Mission over the A Shau Valley in South Viet Nam. That was also the first Father’s Day he would observe as a Dad. The celebration would have to wait and very nearly did not happen at all. It was the night his AC-130 Gunship’s wing was shot off. The next 18 hours, he’ll never forget.
Dr. Scott Reynolds, Army/Navy, Korea/Viet Nam (A&M Class of 1958) (Interviewed October 25, 2006) He is known as “Dr. Scotty” in books he has written about animal care. Dr. Scott Reynolds served in the Navy and then 14 years in the Army where he was an Army Veterinarian. He served in Guam and Korea. He has worked as an actor and done some 20 television commercials.
Richard Richardson, U.S. Army, WW II (Interviewed Dec.10, 2009) Richard Richardson of Bryan tells an impressive story of his short time in Europe during World War II, near the end of that campaign in 1945. He talks about that and his training in Triple A (Anti Aircraft Artillery). He was stationed at Camp Wallace in Galveston County when Pearl Harbor was attacked, even shipped to California in case the Japanese attacked the mainland. He arrived in Europe too late to experience combat but served his country proudly. Even at age 95, Richard enjoyed a round of golf twice a week and regularly shot his age or lower.
Taylor Riedel, Army Air Corp, World War II (A&M Class of 1944) (Interviewed October 25, 2007) Taylor Riedel served in the US Army Air Corp and flew 35 missions in a B-17 Bomber. He grew up in Yorktown, Texas, He was called to active duty in 1943. In 1944, he started his service in England flying B-17 bombing runs mostly over Germany. On his 32nd mission, his plane was hit by 88 millimeter anti-aircraft fire. He was a Principal and Superintendent for the A&M Consolidated ISD for 19 years.
Jim Robbins, U.S. Army, Vietnam/Desert Storm (Interviewed May 28, 2009) You can tell by just spending few minutes with Jim Robbins that he is quote proud of his 38 years of military service to our country. And we all should be. A veteran helicopter pilot of the Vietnam War and later in El Salvador and Operation Desert Storm, his federal service included mostly Army duty, but he also had Marine basic training, worked for the Navy, the FAA, and did service in the National Guard. But perhaps his most compelling story, is how his life changed in 1998, three years after he retired from military service.
Gerald Roop, U.S. Army, WW II (Interviewed Oct. 4, 2006) Captain Gerald Roop is a proud Okie who lived in the Brazos Valley for more than 40 years. He was a sound officer in World War II. What’s a sound officer? You have to know about “flash and sound” to know what he did. It was not a large unit but an extremely valuable one, that put itself in harm’s way though combat at the Battle of the Bulge and other resistance in their march through France and into Germany.
Terry Rosser, U.S. Army, Vietnam (A&M Class of ‘61) (Interviewed Aug.23, 2006) Terry Rosser not only served two tours of Vietnam but he also flew himself there. It was 74 hours and 10 stops along the way and that’s just one story he has to tell. Like most Purple Heart winners, he does not think it was that big a deal that he was wounded. What is a big deal to Terry Rosser is family and his Alma Mater Texas A&M, his faith and his friends.
James Rothermel, U.S. Navy Seabees, WW II (Interviewed Aug. 3, 2005) World War II could not have been fought, much less won, had it not been for the work of the Navy Seabees, the Construction Battalion. They were builders -- airstrips, bridges, piers and everything from hospitals to Quonset Huts...even builders of bomb shelters. Company C Painter First Class James Rothermel was stationed on perhaps the ultimate hotspot of the Pacific at Guadalcanal as a member of the 14th Seabees. He’s a retired educator and a mainstay of development of the Washington County Veterans Memorial in his hometown of Brenham, Texas.
Jim Saunders, U.S. Army, Vietnam (Interviewed Jan. 22, 2009) For 17 years Jim and Doris Saunders owned and operated Saunders Sausage Shop in South College Station. Since they sold the business in 1983, they’ve enjoyed retirement, much of it viewed out the windows of their well-traveled RV. Jim and Doris met after his World War II service in the 1st Cavalry F Troop; stationed in the Philippines near the war’s end. He was on one of the ships at Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945 when the peace treaty was signed on the USS Missouri and it was his band of brothers in F Company that served as General Douglas MacArthur’s honor guard on his march into Tokyo six days later.
LeRoy Schoenemann, Army Air Corps, WW II (Interviewed Oct.9, 2008) After Leroy Schoenemann graduated from Snook High School in 1941 his first stop, Guadalcanal, as a member of the 64th Troop Carrier Wing piloting C-47s just about everywhere and carrying just about everything. He eventually went from C-47s to B-47s and that was quite a leap. After World War II he was reactivated and spent most of the Korean War at a lonely outpost in Libya. Here is Lt. Col. Leroy Schoenemann.
Raymond Schultz, U.S. Army, WW II (Interviewed July 13, 2005) There was a common thread among veterans that runs particularly through those we call the greatest generation, following their brave service to our country came a long career of labor, supporting their families, earning their retirement. For 25 years, Bryan's Raymond Schultz was a plumber at Texas A&M until his retirement in 1985. We salute those years of his youth, when as a member of the 547th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapon Battalion, he found himself on the final march through Europe, attached to and following behind Gen. George S Patton. Yes, whether it was in the movies or old newsreels, we all are familiar with Patton's 'blood and guts' speeches to his troops as he led the 3rd Army in that final push. Sgt. Raymond Schultz was there listening. It's just one of his memories of his nearly 4 years of service in the United States Army.
Footage captured during the Apollo 15 mission. Footage was captured from onboard the Lunar Roving Vehicle, showing the surface of the moon and the Apollo Lunar Module.
Four films captured during the Apollo 15 mission. The first showing a still image of Al Worden performing an extravehicular activity (EVA), the second shows the docking of the command and service module (CSM) Endeavor with the lunar module Falcon, the third showing the surface of the moon from the moving Lunar Roving Vehicle, and the forth a view out of the command module tracking craters at the landing site.
Memorial service for Alan B. Shepard, Jr., held August 1, 1998. Speakers at the service are: Peter B. Vanderhoef, Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.,John H. Glenn, Jr., M. Scott Carpenter, Walter M. Schirra, Jr., L. Gordon Cooper, Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell, James A. Lovell, Jr., Lisa Beeson, and Daniel S. Goldin.
Mike Sherman, A&M Head Football Coach, Iraq Trip (Interviewed July 20, 2010) This is indeed a special Veterans of the Valley because instead of visiting with a Veteran, Aggie Head Football Coach Mike Sherman and I are going to talk about those who are serving our country right now. In May, Coach Sherman, with the tremendous help of the Aggie Network, had the opportunity to visit Iraq to see first hand the work of the brave men and women there; and to get a personal view of the day-to-day challenges they endure while proudly wearing American military uniforms. And as you can guess, he met with plenty of Aggies on his 6-day stay that took him from Kuwait to Camp Adder, to Camp Victory, to Camp Prosperity. As he wrote in his journal, he discovered the outstanding leadership we have in Iraq, the horrible quality of life the Iraqi people endured for so many years under Saddam Hussein, the passion that our military have for their job and their service, and the passion that they have for football.
Hugh Shockey, U.S. Marines, Korea/Viet Nam (Interviewed November 15, 2007) Hugh Shockey joined the Marine Corp in 1948 at age 17. In the fall of 1950, he was assigned to Inchon, North Korea with the Fifth Marines.
Chuck Sippial, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam (Interviewed March 25, 2010) Chuck Sippial has been a significant part of Texas A&M’s administrative family for some 15 years, as Vice President for Administration and more recently in charge of facilities, where he now works for the A&M System. The story you may not know is that of Colonel Chuck Sippial, United States Air Force officer for 22 years. It was a fascinating career that included a nine-month tour at Pleiku Air Base during the Vietnam War -- also two tours in Europe, first at Madrid, Spain and then later at Ramstein AFB in Germany. He served several stateside tours where his expertise and education as a Civil Engineer paved a path to both his military and civilian careers.
C.O. Smith, U.S. Coast Guard, Korea (Interviewed March 5, 2009) C.O. Smith, Texas A&M Class of 1950, is proud of the role that the United States Coast Guard played in World War II. On board the Coast Guard Cutter Bramble, C.O. Smith spent 4 years at sea, almost making it to Europe before mechanical problems sent them to Puerto Rico to dry dock and then through the Panama Canal and to the Pacific and Alaska, where his crew supplied Navy Seabees who were building the Loran Stations.
Charles Smith, U.S. Army, Vietnam (Interviewed July 16, 2009) Charles Smith grew up in Bryan and graduated from E.A. Kemp in 1960. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army and 22 years with the Postal Service. In the Army between 1960 and 1981, He served one tour in Vietnam as a Recon Squad Leader but his duty was cut short by a bout with Malaria. He also served four tours in Germany and one in South Korea.
