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Al Hanson, Army Air Corps, WW II (Interviewed Aug. 31, 2005) It was on Al and Ruby Hanson's backyard porch that Tom Turbiville first started his passion for telling the story of Brazos Valley Veterans. Al Hanson was a radio operator of the 55th troop carrier squadron US Army Air Corps. He lost count of how many air missions he flew in World War II -- his craft delivering supplies to the troops on practically every island of the Pacific Campaign.
John Anderson, U.S. Army, Vietnam (Interviewed Aug. 25, 2005) John Anderson is quick to say that his one year duty in Vietnam was not combat filled. He did not fly the gunships but he flew above them, in his 01 single engine bird dog aircraft, guiding the gunships and identifying landing zones. He was with the 75 Rangers
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.
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.
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.
Ron Lewis, U.S. Army, Vietnam (A&M Class of ‘64) (Interviewed June 30, 2005) Captain Ron Lewis served his country as a helicopter pilot, assigned to lift duty for Cav One in Vietnam. His ship flew low and fast over the jungles, setting down in landing zones that barely existed-- dropping soldiers and picking up soldiers, hopefully alive, but many times not.
R.F. “Sonny” Franze, U.S. Army, WW II (Interviewed June 22, 2005) “Sonny” Franze recalled well leaving his farm near Kurten and going into the Army -- learning to climb telephone poles and set communication wire and eventually taking that training across the North Atlantic to Europe front lines. He landed at Normandy on D+10 and that led to bravery that won him five Bronze Stars. He also saw the horror that his unit discovered at the concentration camp called Buchenwald.
Billy Joe Adams, U.S. Army, WW II (A&M Class of ‘41) (Interviewed June 15, 2005) Retired Lt. Col. Billy Joe Adams was a veteran of the fighting in the European Theater during World War II and of post-conflict Korea. During World War II, he was assigned to the A Battery of the 414th Field Artillery Battalion. He was the Field Operations Officer for the 414th.
W.S. Edmonds, U.S. Army, World War II (A&M Class of ‘38) (Interviewed June 8, 2005) World War II was won by men and women all pulling their weight, doing their job, whether was fighting on the front lines or serving in the chow lines. When Bryan’s W.S. Edmonds, A&M class of 1938, enlisted in 1942 (just two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor), he had field artillery in mind. He spent a lot of his time in the Army training ragtag replacements stateside for overseas duty. But when his branch’s orders were changed to postal duty in Louisiana, that was not how W.S. wanted to spend the war. If he was going to stay in the states, he wanted to be where the action was so he got himself transferred to Washington DC, the Pentagon, a part of the Army’s Courier Transport Service. It was mostly top secret and it had to get from one place to another, and W.S. Edmonds was one of the soldiers the Army depended on to get it there. He is a past commander of the American Legion and a member of the VFW.
Spec Gammon, U.S. Army, World War II (Interviewed June 1, 2005) Army Infantry Tech Sergeant Spec Gammon was the long-time Sports Information Director at Texas A&M, but long before that, he fought as an Army Infantry soldier in World War II in Europe. He was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge. He speaks highly of the British soldiers he met and people who endured so much destruction during the war, and he recalls the weather during the Bulge. “I’ve never been so cold in my life”, he says.
George Cox, U.S. Army, WW II (Interviewed May 4, 2005) 23-year-old tank commander George Cox of rural Brazos County, was a member of the 746th Battalion when he starred the horror of the war straight in the face. June of 1944 was when George Cox was one of those who lived to tell the story of D-Day and the stand made at beaches called Juno, Gold, Sword, Omaha and Utah. He recounts the final months of the war, when he earned his Purple Heart and Silver Star as a player in five major battles.
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.
Randy South, U.S. Marines, Gulf War (Interviewed April 20, 2005) January 16, 1991, is a day few of us should ever forget. We were glued to our televisions watching the invasion of Kuwait. It was the start of Operation Desert Storm and Randy South was there as a mortarman, with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines.
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.
Eddie Thompson, US Navy, World War II (Interviewed April 6, 2005) At age 97, Eddie Thompson was the oldest veteran interviewed on KAMU's Veteran's of the Valley. His life spanned both World War I and World War II. He joined the Navy in 1942 at age 35. He served in the Pacific on the deck of the USS Birmingham. He was on the Birmingham at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was also on board May 4, 1945, when a Japanese suicide plane hit next to Eddie Thompson's cabin. Eddie Thompson was the uncle of KAMU host, Sharon Colson.
Frank Kocman, U.S. Army, WW II (March 25, 2005) It was December 1944 and America's involvement in World War II was in its fourth winter. Rewind seven months and teenager Frank Kocman Jr. had just graduated from Stephen F Austin High School and Uncle Sam was already calling. In fact Frank needed a student deferment just to finish high school. By July, 18-year-old Frank Kocman was drafted and was on his way to Fort Sam Houston and on to what he thought training to fight the Japanese in the South Pacific but that changed.. It was a fast track from high school to the front lines of the war.
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.
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.
Dr. Jim Cooper, U.S. Navy, WW II (Interviewed March 1, 2005) Dr. Jim Cooper practiced medicine in the Brazos Valley for nearly 60 years and was a Navy doctor who served from ship to ship during both World War II and Korea. He is quick to say that he did not serve in combat during either year but was instrumental in saving the lives of those who did.
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.
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.
Filmed at the 1995 Johnson Space Center Open House. A panel, comprised of Apollo 13 mission flight controllers discuss the mission and take questions from the audience. On the panel are Gene Kranz, Gerald Griffen, Jerry Bostick, and John Aaron. The panel is hosted by Sue Garman.
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.
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.
The Golden Days of Flight is part 1 of a 13 part series produced by NASA in 1988. This episode traces the first days of powered flight, it is narrated by Paul Garber an aeronautical pioneer.
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.
Promotional video for the Columbia shuttle launch that took place on April 12, 1981. Features the launch, work on board the shuttle, mission control, and the shuttle's return to Earth on April 14, 1981 after orbiting the Earth 36 times.
Footage captured, using the onboard camera, showing the crew Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue performing experiments onboard of Skylab 4. Includes footage of the Sun and Earth captured from the station.
Footage captured, using the onboard camera, showing the crew Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue performing experiments onboard of Skylab 4.
Footage captured, using the onboard camera, showing the crew Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue performing experiments onboard of Skylab 4. Includes footage of a spacewalk.
Footage captured, using the onboard camera, showing the crew Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue performing experiments onboard of Skylab 4. Includes footage of Earth and a spacewalk.
Footage captured, using the onboard camera, showing the crew Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue performing experiments onboard of Skylab 4.
Footage captured, using the onboard camera, showing the crew Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue performing experiments onboard of Skylab 4.
Footage captured, using the onboard camera, showing the crew Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue performing experiments onboard of Skylab 4.
Footage captured, using the onboard camera, showing the crew Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue performing experiments onboard of Skylab 4.
Footage captured, using the Data Acquisition Camera (DAC), showing the crew Alan Bean, Own Garriott, and Jack Lousma performing experiments onboard of Skylab 3.
Footage captured, using the Data Acquisition Camera (DAC), showing the crew Alan Bean, Own Garriott, and Jack Lousma performing experiments onboard of Skylab 3.