Howard Breitenbucher World War II Interview
World War, 1939-1945 -- Veterans -- Interviews.
Howard Breitenbucher was drafted into the United States Navy in 1943. He served as a Fireman First Class on the USS Lexington until 1946. Interviewed by Helen Krische on July 14, 2006, Breitenbucher talked about his military experiences during the Second World War. Breitenbucher was born on April 6, 1925. He attended boot camp in Farragut, Idaho, and he is credited with participating in ten battles in the Pacific. Following the war, Breitenbucher received a degree in agriculture from Northwest Missouri State. He then worked for Farmland Industries. He passed away on August 1, 2009.
Kansas Veterans of World War II Oral History Project / Lawrence Remembers: The World War II Years Project
Lawrence Public Library (Lawrence, Kan.)
The original copy of this video is available through the Lawrence Public Library. The Watkins Museum of History and the Kansas State Historical Society also have interviews associated with this project, which was funded through a grant program passed by the Kansas State Legislature in 2005. Researchers are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions for uses other than educational or scholarly research. Contact the Watkins Museum of History for additional information: https://www.watkinsmuseum.org/
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/breitenbucher-howard-wwii-interview
Obituary: https://warrenmcelwain.com/obituary/Howard-L-Breitenbucher/
The Watkins Museum of History also holds items related to this collection.
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/211939
Other resources for interviews with World War II veterans are available through the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project: https://www.loc.gov/vets/vets-home.htm
World War, 1939-1945 -- African Americans.
World War, 1939–1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy.
Gilbert Borom was drafted into the United States Army in 1944. He served in the 3rd Army, 13th Engineers. Interviewed on July 12, 2006, Borom talked about his military experiences during the Second World War. Borom was born in Alabama in February 1916 and grew up in Ohio. He fought in the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Borom passed away on April 25, 2007.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/borom-gilbert-wwii-interview
Obituary: https://www2.ljworld.com/life-events/obituaries/2007/apr/27/gilbert_borom/
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/212512
United States. Army Nurse Corps -- History.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Women -- United States.
Mildred Biggar served in the Army Nurse Corps. Interviewed in 2004 by Pattie Johnston as part of the Lawrence Remembers: The World War II Years Project, Biggar talked about her experiences during the Second World War. Biggar was born and raised in Arkansas. Upon graduating high school in 1939, she left for Memphis, Tennessee to attend nursing school. After three years of training, she joined the Army Nurse Corps. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Biggar worked at the Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii. Throughout her interview, Biggar reflected on her nursing training and duties before and during the war, her interactions with wounded soldiers, leisure time in Oahu, and meeting her husband, Bill. Bill was an engineer and fellow Officer in the Army. They married in Hawaii in 1944. Prior to the end of the war, Mildred and Bill lived in South Gate, California. Biggar discussed life in California after the war.
The original copy of this video is available through the Lawrence Public Library. The Watkins Museum of History and the Kansas State Historical Society may also have interviews associated with this project. Researchers are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions for uses other than educational or scholarly research. Contact the Watkins Museum of History for additional information: https://www.watkinsmuseum.org/
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/biggar-mildred-wwii-interview
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Belgium -- Bastogne.
George Berlin enlisted in the United States Army in December 1942. He served in the 75th Infantry Division until he was discharged in October 1945. Interviewed by Pattie Johnston on March 12, 2007, Berlin talked about his military experiences during the Second World War. Berlin was born on July 15, 1921, in Ottawa, Kansas. He went to basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, before joining the 75th Infantry Division at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 1944. He was then stationed in Wales. While in Europe, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, the Battle of the Colmar with the First French Army in Alsace, and the Battle of the Ruhr. After the war, Berlin moved to Topeka, Kansas. He received a bachelor’s degree from Washburn University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Kansas.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/berlin-george-wwii-interview
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/211938
Maynard Bauleke was drafted into the United States Navy in 1943 and served until 1945. Interviewed by Deborah Pye, Bauleke talked about his experiences during and after the Second World War. Bauleke was born on May 5, 1925, in Minnesota. He attended boot camp at the Farragut Naval Base and the San Diego Naval Base. He also received training as an electrician at the University of Kansas. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor and Midway Island. After the war, Bauleke worked at the Green Giant Company. He then went to the University of Kansas and transferred to the University of Alabama and later attended the University of Illinois and Iowa State University. He received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in ceramics and a Ph.D. in Ceramic Engineering. Following graduate school, he worked at Honeywell in Minneapolis and at the University of Kansas. Bauleke passed away on December 6, 2015.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/bauleke-maynard-wwii-interview
Obituary: https://obituaries.ljworld.com/obituaries/LJWorld/obituary.aspx?n=Maynard-Paul-Bauleke&pid=176817073
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/211937
World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons, American.
Austin Turney lived in Lawrence, Kansas, during the Second World War. Interviewed by Megan Hershiser on May 13, 2003, as part of the Lawrence Remembers: The World War II Years Project, Turney talked about life in Lawrence during the war and the prisoner of war camp in town. Turney was 12 years old when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. He was a student at Lawrence Memorial High School. Turney’s half-brother, Bill, was drafted and sent to work on mosquito control in Panama for the duration of the war, while his father worked in the Department of Education at the University of Kansas. Following the war, Turney attended the University of Kansas and served in the military during the Korean War.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/turney-interview
Walter C. Houk, Jr. World War II Interview
Interviewed as part of the Lawrence Remembers: The World War II Years Project, Walter C. Houk, Jr. talked about his father, Walter C. Houk, Sr., who served in the military during the Second World War. Walter Sr. was born on June 10, 1917, and died during the Battle of the Bulge on January 21, 1945. He is buried at the Stull cemetery in Kansas. Before he was drafted into the military, Walter Sr. played professional baseball for the Yankees and worked at his family’s general store in Stull. Walter Jr. discussed the lack of resources available to help people who lost family members to the war, and the difficulties he faced when trying to learn more information about his father’s military service and death.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/houk-wwii-interview
Donald A. Binns joined the United States Navy in 1936 and attended boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. He retired after twenty years as a Chief Petty Officer. Interviewed on May 9, 2003, by Luke Thompson as part of the Lawrence Remembers: The World War II Years Project, Binns talked about his military experiences during the Second World War. Binns was born on August 5, 1917. Prior to World War II, Binns worked as a destroyer tender on the USS Melville and spent two years on the USS Bittern. After reenlisting, Binns was stationed in Guam, where he worked on a patrol boat. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 10,000 Japanese soldiers landed on Guam and captured many American soldiers, including Binns. The Japanese soldiers then took Binns and the others to Zentsuji, a prisoner of war camp in Shikoku, Japan. Binns spent four years at the camp. During his time there, he worked at the railroad freight station. Binns discussed his time in the military before the war, the experience of being captured in Guam, and his time as a POW in Japan. He talked about the conditions of the camp, the Doolittle Raid, and his encounters with Japanese civilians and the guards. Following his retirement from the Navy, Binns taught at Lawrence High School and served on the Lawrence City Commission. He passed away on February 3, 2005.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/binns-wwii-interview
Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/donald-binns-obituary?pid=3128310
https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/feb/05/former_mayor_teacher/
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/212282
Gene Van Hoesen joined the United States Navy in April 1943 and served until 1945. Interviewed by Pattie Johnston, Van Hosen talked about his military experiences during the Second World War. He was born in Lawrence, Kansas in October 1923 and attended Baldwin High School. Before joining the Navy, he worked at the Sunflower Ordnance (Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant). He attended boot camp in Farragut, Idaho, and then went to the Navy Pier for diesel school in Chicago. He then served on the PCER-849 and engaged in combat in the Leyte Gulf and Lingayen Gulf. He spent much of his time aboard ship in Manila. He was discharged in 1945 in Norman, Oklahoma. Following the war, he married Joann Churchbaugh, who is also featured in the interview. Joann is from Lawrence, Kansas. She talked about how the war affected her family and her experience as a German Baptist. Gene Van Hoesen passed away on August 26, 2009.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/van-hoesen-wwii-interview
Obituary: https://warrenmcelwain.com/obituary/Carl-Gene-E-Van-Hoesen/
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/21232
Leland Grammer enlisted in the United States Navy in October 1942. Interviewed on August 26, 2003, by Pattie Johnston as part of the Lawrence Remembers: The World War II Years Project, Grammer talked about his experiences during the Second World War. Grammer was born on March 3, 1915, in Nebraska. Upon enlisting in the Navy, he went to Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He also attended a sixteen-week Naval course at the University of Kansas. Grammer discussed his time at KU. Following the course, Grammer became a machinist mate third class. Grammer was stationed at Pearl Harbor and served on the Ajax. He was discharged in 1946. After the war, he moved to Lawrence, Kansas, and worked at Miller Furniture until his retirement.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/grammer-interview
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/212300
United States. Army. Airborne Division, 101st -- History.
World War, 1930-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy.
Lee Scott served in the United States Army (101st Airborne Division) during the Second World War. Interviewed Pattie Johnston on February 2, 2007, Scott talked about his civilian and military experiences. He was born in Turley, Oklahoma. He was one of eleven children and his parents worked in the oil fields for Texaco. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Scott was drafted into the Army and went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He then became a paratrooper. He was then sent to England while preparing for the Normandy invasion. Scott’s company landed at Sainte-Mère-Église. Following D-Day, Scott went to Holland, where he hid for almost two days in the raptors of a Dutch family’s home while German soldiers moved through the area. From Holland, Scott went to Germany. He discussed his interactions with the German citizens and his experience at the Siege of Bastogne. During his service, Scott was injured twice and received a Purple Heart. Upon returning to the U. S., Scott struggled to adjust to civilian life. He began baking and worked at the chain grocery store, Dillons. Also featured is Scott’s wife, Agnes, whom he married in the 1950s. She talked about growing up in Kansas during World War II and reflected on rationing. Agnes passed away on April 18, 2017.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/scott-interview
Agnes Scott, Obituary: https://obituaries.ljworld.com/obituaries/ljworld/obituary.aspx?n=agnes-scott&pid=185132704&fhid=24990
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/212320
Joseph "Joe" Baringer served in the Army (101st Airborne Division) from 1941 to 1945. Interviewed by Pattie Johnston on October 1, 2007, Baringer talks about his experiences during the Second World War. Baringer was born on February 21, 1918, in New Paris, Indiana. Baringer attended the University of Indiana in Wilmington and graduated with a business degree in 1940. He was drafted into the Army on April 9, 1941. Between 1941 and 1943, Baringer spent time at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS and Fort Bragg, CA. In 1943, Baringer deployed to Liverpool, England. While waiting to enter France, Baringer played the trumpet for his company's dance band. On June 7, 1944, the second day of the D-Day invasion, Baringer entered Normandy by glider. He talked about what it was like to be on the glider with eight other soldiers, and their trek from the Mourmelon-le-Grand quarters to Bastogne. Upon being rescued by General Patton during the Battle of the Bulge, Baringer was sent to Lake Geneva. He was there when the Germans surrendered and was instructed to march with the German prisoners. He talked about their interactions and discussed visiting Adolf Hitler's hideout, in which he and his fellow soldiers took some souvenirs, including salt and pepper shakers. Throughout his service, Baringer rose to the rank of Sergeant and received the Purple Heart. He was discharged at Fort Wayne, IN in September 1945. Baringer then worked at Standard Oil (Amoco) and spent the rest of his career there, retiring in 1978. He passed away on July 17, 2012, in Lawrence, Kansas.
To access the video recording of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/baringer-interview
Obituary: https://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Joseph-Joe-Baringer-94143521
Transcripts for this project are available through the Kansas Memory Digital Collection: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/211936
Harold Ballew served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. Interviewed by Helen Krische on March 15, 2007, Ballew talked about his experiences during the Second World War. In this two-part interview, Ballew shared photographs of the Crusade, his company, and his father’s company, who served in World War 1. Ballew was born on February 22, 1927, in Glasgow, Missouri. He also lived in Armstrong and Fayette, Missouri. He joined the Navy upon turning 18 in 1945 and attended boot camp in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He spent his time in the Navy on the naval ship, the Crusade. Ballew’s job was to resupply the destroyer fleets in Okinawa, Japan. After 15 months on active duty, Ballew was honorably discharged on July 13, 1946, as a Seaman First Class. He received the Asiatic Pacific Medal and the Victory Medal. Following his military service, Ballew moved to Baldwin City, Kansas. He passed away on August 24, 2010.
To access the video recordings of this oral history, go to: https://archive.org/details/ballew-harold-wwii-interview-pt-1
Obituary: https://www.lamb-roberts.com/obituaries/Harold-Ballew/#!/Obituary
Text: A yearbook commemorating Lawrence High School (Kan.) class of 1922. The yearbook includes a dedication; a table of contents; picture and description of the new high school building; portraits of administration and faculty members; portraits of 1922 seniors and their activities; a class history, will, and prophecy; photographs and descriptions of student organizations and athletics; and several pages of photo montages, advertising from local businesses, and students’ cartoons and poems. The last page contains several autographs by the classmates of Helen Cady ‘25, to whom this yearbook belonged. 109 pages, including front and back covers.
Senior class of Lawrence High School, 1922 (Lawrence, Kan.).
We believe that this item has no known US copyright restrictions. The item may be subject to rights of privacy, rights of publicity and other restrictions. We encourage anyone who may have more information about our items to contact us at custserv@lawrencepubliclibrary.org.
Access the Red and Black record in Lawrence Public Library’s catalog here: https://lawrence.bibliocommons.com/item/show/11324119
Text: A yearbook commemorating Lawrence High School (Kan.) class of 1921. The yearbook includes a dedication; history of the high school and school bell; profiles and portraits of administration and faculty members; portraits of 1921 seniors and their activities; a class prophecy and song; photographs and descriptions of student organizations and athletics; montages of “election returns”; and several pages of jokes, poems, and advertising from local businesses. 92 pages, including front and back covers.
Senior class of Lawrence High School, 1921 (Lawrence, Kan.).
Text: A yearbook commemorating Lawrence High School (Kan.) class of 1913. The yearbook includes a dedication; a history of Lawrence High School; portraits of 1913 seniors and their activities and plans; a class poem, history, will, and statistics; junior, senior, and freshman class rolls; a tribute to faculty evoking their “childhood days”; photographs and descriptions of student sports, theater, and other organizations; editorials and “society” notes; and advertising for local businesses. 98 pages, including front and back covers.
The Budget staff, 1913 (Lawrence, Kan.).
Text: A yearbook commemorating Lawrence High School (Kan.) class of 1919. The yearbook includes a dedication and tribute; the high school song; information about the high school’s history and buildings; portraits of 1919 seniors and their activities; photographs and descriptions of organizations, departments, and athletics; and jokes, snapshots, and cartoons. The last several pages contain advertising for Lawrence-area businesses, and the last page is signed by Lawrence High students. 108 pages, including front and back covers.
Senior class of Lawrence High School, 1919 (Lawrence, Kan.).
Oread Neighborhood Association Correspondence, 1987-2000
Oread Neighborhood Association (Lawrence, Kan.)
Correspondence concerning the activities of the Oread Neighborhood Association.
Community Development Division, City of Lawrence (Kan.)
Brook Creek Breeze, September 2002-May 2006
Brook Creek Neighborhood Association (Lawrence, Kan.)
Far East Lawrence Improvement Association (Lawrence, Kan.)
Newsletters from the Brook Creek Neighborhood Association in Lawrence, Kansas. This collection of newsletter was compiled by the City of Lawrence Community Development Office; the run is incomplete.
Brook Creek Breeze, March 1997-February 2000
Brook Creek Breeze, March 1993-March 1995
Brook Creek Breeze, March 1991-September 1992
Brook Creek Breeze, March 1989-October 1990
Brook Creek Breeze, March 1987-December 1988
East Lawrence Neighborhood Association (Lawrence, Kan.)
East Lawrence Improvement Association (Lawrence, Kan.)
Newsletters sent to residents of the East Lawrence Neighborhood in the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas.
Copyright East Lawrence Neighborhood Association. Please contact the copyright holder for permission to use this item. The item may also be subject to rights of privacy, rights of publicity and other restrictions.