ISSN 0890-7595 Vol. 58, No. III thc.texas.gov [email protected] TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION John L. Nau, III Chair John W. Crain Vice Chair Gilbert E. “Pete” Peterson Secretary Earl Broussard, Jr. David A. Gravelle James “Jim” Bruseth Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson (ret.) Monica P. Burdette Laurie E. Limbacher Garrett Kieran Donnelly Catherine McKnight Renee Rupa Dutia Tom Perini Lilia Marisa Garcia Daisy Sloan White Mark Wolfe Executive Director Medallion STAFF Chris Florance Division Director Andy Rhodes Managing Editor Judy Jensen Sr. Graphic Design Coordinator TEXAS HISTORICAL thc.texas.gov Real places telling the real stories of Texas COMMISSION texastimetravel.com The Texas Heritage Trails LEADERSHIP LETTER Program’s travel resource texashistoricsites.com The THC’s 32 state historic properties thcfriends.org Friends of the Texas Historical Commission As veterans of the armed services, we’re honored to Learn about him at the modernized Nimitz Our Mission introduce The Medallion magazine issue commemo- Museum, part of the THC’s National Museum To protect and preserve the state’s historic and prehistoric of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, his hometown. resources for the use, education, enjoyment, and economic rating the roles played by Texas and Texans in World benefit of present and future generations. War II on the 75th anniversary of the end of the The Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site in global conflict. The Medallion is published quarterly by the Texas Historical Denison offers visitors background on General Commission. Address correspondence to: Managing Editor, The Medallion, P.O. Box 12276, Austin, TX 78711-2276. Portions While the war was horrific in every sense, the Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in of the newsletter that are not copyrighted or reprinted from other following articles help us understand the sacrifices Europe and future President of the United States. sources may be reprinted with permission. Contributions for the and contributions of our state and our ancestors support of this publication are gratefully accepted. For information Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby was the first woman about alternate formats of this publication, contact the THC in preserving the democracies of the Allied nations awarded the Army’s Distinguished Service Medal at 512-463-6255. of WWII. as director of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps The Medallion is financed in part by a grant from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. All of the agency’s public More than 1.5 million Americans trained at hundreds in WWII. programs and activities are operated free from discrimination on the of military installations in Texas. Of the 750,000 The Medallion helps illustrate the dramatic impact basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, or disability. Any Texans in uniform, more than 22,000 died. person who believes he or she has been discriminated against should of Texas and Texans from 1941–46, among the write to Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. Among those who gave their lives was Doris Miller, Real Stories of Texas history that should make any Texan proud. The Medallion is available online at thc.texas.gov/medallion. an African American man from Waco who was If you would prefer to receive The Medallion electronically awarded the Navy Cross for heroism at Pearl Harbor instead of through the mail, please send your name and address and whose ship was torpedoed and sunk two years to [email protected]. You will be notified by email when each new issue is available on the THC website and will no longer receive a later. In addition, Felix Longoria from Three Rivers printed copy. was killed in battle in the Philippines. Senator Juan Senator Brian Birdwell, ABOVE, TOP: Trench art created from an ashtray, cartridges, and Audie Murphy from rural Hunt County won the ‘Chuy’ Hinojosa, McAllen Granbury bullets by a WWII soldier. ABOVE, BOTTOM: This hand-painted Medal of Honor in Europe, was among the most Senate District 20 Senate District 22 map created by a Navy hospital corpsman depicts his location on decorated of American veterans, and starred in U.S. Marine Corps, Lt. Col., U.S. Army retired, Ulithi Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Both items are part of the National Vietnam veteran Desert Storm veteran, Museum of the Pacific War’s collection. Photos courtesy NMPW (Ruth Ann Hollywood films for decades to come. Pentagon survivor, Hattori and Carlos Sanchez). ON THE COVER: The Doris Miller Memorial Admiral Chester Nimitz served as Commander- September 11, 2001 was dedicated in Miller’s hometown of Waco on December 7, 2018. Photo by Patrick Hughey. in-Chief, U.S Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Area. 2 THE MEDALLION SUMMER 2020 TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION THC.TEXAS.GOV SUMMER 2020 THE MEDALLION 3 75 YEARS OF HONOR THC CONTINUES COMMEMORATING WORLD WAR II’S ENDURING LEGACY By Stephen Cure Coordinator, THC Military History Program 1945 The summer of 1945 was an extraordinarily historic As we approach the 75th anniversary of the end of World time overseas and on the home front. Consider the War II, it is an appropriate time to reflect on how the conflict following monumental events that occurred within shaped Texas and how Texans contributed to the largest and a few short months. most costly war ever experienced. • Germany surrendered to Allied forces on May 8, and Allied forces wrapped up costly victories at the Battle By the time the war ended, over 750,000 Texans served in of Okinawa and the Borneo Campaign (by June 21 and uniform with more than 22,000 of them making the ultimate July 21, respectively). sacrifice. The U.S. spent the modern equivalent of $4 trillion • The first nuclear weapon testing occurred in on the war effort, altering the Texas landscape, economy, and neighboring New Mexico and was felt in El Paso; and society for generations to come. the implementation of strategies to force the Empire of Japan’s surrender was underway by July 16. Over the past several years, numerous 75th anniversary commemorations have taken place in communities to honor • The use of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, and the invasion of Japanese-held Manchuria by the the people and events of the war. In the process, Texans from Soviet Union and atomic bombing of Nagasaki, both all walks of life large and small have been recognized for their on August 9, led to Japan’s surrender on August 14, service and actions. formalized on September 2. A few hundred people assembled at the birthplace of Claire Chennault, organizer and leader of the famed Flying Tigers, for the dedication of a historical marker in Commerce. HONORING A TEXAS HERO The U.S. Navy took a major step toward ensuring the Meanwhile, on the beaches of Normandy, hundreds of lasting legacy of Pearl Harbor hero and Waco native Doris veterans and a crowd of 12,000—including Clifford Stump, Miller. Earlier this year, it named the next Gerald R. Ford a 95-year-old World War II veteran from Dallas—joined Class aircraft carrier in honor of Miller. world leaders on June 6, 2019, for the 75th anniversary Though it’s the second ship named in his honor, the new D-Day commemoration. USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) is the first aircraft carrier named in honor of an African American and the first in honor Many activities scheduled for May 2020 to celebrate the of an enlisted sailor. It is currently scheduled to begin end of the war in Europe were postponed until autumn or construction in 2023, be commissioned in 2030, and serve canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Planning for these the nation for decades. events across the state and nation is underway and will be adjusted as needed. the THC’s efforts extended for several years and continue to greater documentation of these sites’ importance; in some Sharing the experiences of those who served and lived in In 2005, the Texas Historical Commission published a influence agency programs. cases, like with the Enemy Alien Internment Camps, they Texas during WWII is also an enduring effort for many special World War II edition of The Medallion in honor also led to greater community awareness through increased museums across the state. Ensuring that the dedication of of the 60th anniversary. In it, commissioners and staff laid The most extensive of these efforts was the statewide WWII interpretive materials. America’s “Greatest Generation” is remembered is the task out plans for the multi-year Texas in World War II initiative. sites survey. The need for facilities to train military personnel of current and future generations. Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors and the work and house prisoners of war and internees led to the expansion The Vignettes of Wartime Texas program, which provided official Texas historical markers for 15 WWII-related sites, To learn more about the THC’s World War II program, of commissioners, staff, and countless volunteers at the or construction of 65 Army airfields, 35 Army posts, nine visit thc.texas.gov/ww2. local level, the effort was a success and is still ongoing. naval installations, more than 70 prisoner of war camps, was successful enough to secure markers for 21 sites across and five internment camps. Meanwhile, industrial facilities the state. These markers shared stories of the war and life on The initiative included special commemorative ceremonies at needed to produce the materials necessary for the war effort the home front that had not been fully explored. FAR LEFT: Hell’s Angels of the Flying Tigers. Courtesy Flying the Capitol, September 2, 2005, the production of the Texas were also greatly expanded, quadrupling output between Tigers Association.