171. Gene Barber: Interview (27:35)

Date:
2007-05-09
Main contributors:
Barber, Gene
Summary:
Gene Barber, U.S. Navy, WW II (Interviewed May 9, 2007) Gene Barber served the people of Williamson County as its sheriff for seven years, sold cars and lumber and delivered the mail in the years before that. But that all came after his 33 year months at sea, serving aboard the carrier USS Corregidor during four major battles of World War II’s Pacific Campaign. Plus, you will not find a bigger Bob Wills fan. They were both born in Kosse, Texas.

172. George Cox: Interview (27:49)

Date:
2005-05-04
Main contributors:
Cox, George
Summary:
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.

173. Gerald McCaskill: Interview (27:35)

Date:
2008-09-18
Main contributors:
McCaskill, Gerald
Summary:
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.

174. Gerald Roop: Interview (28:21)

Date:
2006-10-04
Main contributors:
Roop, Gerald
Summary:
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.

177. Glenn Morgan: Interview (29:46)

Date:
2005-03-16
Main contributors:
Morgan, Glenn
Summary:
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.