Oral History Interview with Richard Book

Listen Online transcript

Jump to Track:

  1. Track One 1:15:42

Description

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Book. Book grew up in Texas and was drafted into the Army in 1944. After training, he shipped out on the USS General Collins to Honolulu. After another month of training, he went to Saipan and then to Okinawa. He was on 81 mm mortar squad supporting the rifleman. He went to the south end of the island and sat behind a peak called Conical Peak. He describes how the Japanese were dug into the peak and able to attack even as the Allies advanced, so that … continued below

Physical Description

1 sound recording (1 hr., 15 min., 41 sec.)

Creation Information

Book, Richard Creation Date: Unknown.

Context

This audio recording is part of the collection entitled: National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection and was provided by the National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation to The Portal to Texas History, a digital repository hosted by the UNT Libraries. More information about this recording can be viewed below.

Who

People and organizations associated with either the creation of this audio recording or its content.

Interviewee

Publisher

Audiences

Check out our Resources for Educators Site! We've identified this sound as a primary source within our collections. Researchers, educators, and students may find this recording useful in their work.

Provided By

National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Established in 1967, the Museum honors the 8 million Americans who served in WWII in the Pacific Theater by sharing their stories with the world. Located in Fredericksburg in the restored Nimitz "Steamboat" Hotel, the Museum partners with the Texas Historical Commission to preserve the historical resources of the era.

Contact Us

What

Descriptive information to help identify this audio recording. Follow the links below to find similar items on the Portal.

Description

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Book. Book grew up in Texas and was drafted into the Army in 1944. After training, he shipped out on the USS General Collins to Honolulu. After another month of training, he went to Saipan and then to Okinawa. He was on 81 mm mortar squad supporting the rifleman. He went to the south end of the island and sat behind a peak called Conical Peak. He describes how the Japanese were dug into the peak and able to attack even as the Allies advanced, so that it took 3 weeks to take the peak. Book did not have direct contact with Okinawans but did hear stories of their interactions with Allies. He recalls 3 friends being injured and how the Japanese targeted the officers. He also recalls that the Japanese preferred suicide to surrender. Once the fighting ended June 20th, Book departed on July 31st for the Philippines. He describes his clothes during the war. At Mindoro, he transferred from the 96th to the 86th Division and became a combat engineer. From Mindoro he went to Luzon and became a supply sergeant. Part of his job was shipping out materials to Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists. He was in the Philippines when they got their independence from the United States. He describes the air cover on Okinawa.

Physical Description

1 sound recording (1 hr., 15 min., 41 sec.)

Language

Item Type

Identifier

Unique identifying numbers for this recording in the Portal or other systems.

Relationships

Collections

This recording is part of the following collections of related materials.

National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection

This oral history collection depicts an instrumental era in American history. In these transcripts of interviews with World War II veterans are personal experiences with the war, from the Doolittle Raid and D-Day to the Battle for Bataan.

National Museum of the Pacific War Digital Archive

The Digital Archive presents digitized collections from the Center for Pacific War Studies collections at the National Museum of the Pacific War. Collections and material are continuously being added and represent only a small portion of the archives' physical holdings.

Related Items

Oral History Interview with Richard Book (Text)

Oral History Interview with Richard Book

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Book. Book grew up in Texas and was drafted into the Army in 1944. After training, he shipped out on the USS General Collins to Honolulu. After another month of training, he went to Saipan and then to Okinawa. He was on 81 mm mortar squad supporting the rifleman. He went to the south end of the island and sat behind a peak called Conical Peak. He describes how the Japanese were dug into the peak and able to attack even as the Allies advanced, so that it took 3 weeks to take the peak. Book did not have direct contact with Okinawans but did hear stories of their interactions with Allies. He recalls 3 friends being injured and how the Japanese targeted the officers. He also recalls that the Japanese preferred suicide to surrender. Once the fighting ended June 20th, Book departed on July 31st for the Philippines. He describes his clothes during the war. At Mindoro, he transferred from the 96th to the 86th Division and became a combat engineer. From Mindoro he went to Luzon and became a supply sergeant. Part of his job was shipping out materials to Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists. He was in the Philippines when they got their independence from the United States. He describes the air cover on Okinawa.

Relationship to this item: (Has Transcription)

Oral History Interview with Richard Book, [transcript] ark:/67531/metapth1603419

What responsibilities do I have when using this audio recording?

When

Dates and time periods associated with this audio recording.

Dates

  • This recording's creation, acceptance, or submission date is unknown.

Added to The Portal to Texas History

  • Oct. 16, 2023, 7:06 a.m.

Usage Statistics

When was this recording last used?

Yesterday: 0
Past 30 days: 0
Total Uses: 1

Interact With This Audio Recording

Here are some suggestions for what to do next.

Book, Richard. Oral History Interview with Richard Book, audio recording, Date Unknown; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1607387/: accessed November 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.

Back to Top of Screen