V-J Day at Local Museum

on 2 September, we attended a very interesting V-J Day Commemorative Event at the local museum - National Museum of the Pacific War. We were glad we had found out about it and were able to participate.

With the buffet treats and drinks, in a way, it was as if we had celebrated the end of the war 80 years ago (considering that, according to quantum physics, past, presence, and future happen at the same time, now).

The program of the commemoration, with the national Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance was quite patriotic.

The presence of the two WWII made it all quite special.

From the right (in white shirts) - Mr. Donald Graves and Mr. Ken Jones (USS Colorado veteran).

Introduction by Mr. David Shields, the Museum Director,

was followed by the lecture delivered by Mr. Jonathan Parshall.

During the event, I thought about my grandfather Józef, who was a POW and then a labor camp for five years of WW2.

We were honored to meet Mr. Donald Graves - Iwo Jima survivor.

Corporal Graves was a flamethrower of the 5th Marine Division, 28th Regiment, 2nd Battalion Dog Company. He was 17 when he joined the US Marine Corps in 1942.

An expected survival time of a flamethrower at Iwo Jima was 4 minutes. Miraculously, Mr. Graves lived through the battle with no harm to his body. You can learn more about the man from the interview with Mr. Graves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=N6naKvmyWAw

PS

Listening to the lecture mentioned above, I realized that at the history classes I had attended in my childhood (Easter European block), it was never mentioned  the Soviet entered Japan after the A bombs were dropped on the country by the US. I thought I might be wrong so asked my sister about that. She confirmed that she had not been taught about that either.

Buford J Ellison

 Today's "They Live in Texas" entry is also our WWII August memorial post.

🎕

Beauford Jefferson Ellison was born on 10 August 1922, in Wichita Falls, Wichita, Texas  His parents were  James Thomas Ellison and Vada Zelma Knight (1, 2).

Later, the original spelling of the boy’s name was changed to Buford.

In 1930, little Buford lived with his siblings and parents in Precinct #1, Wichita, TX. The siblings were Thomas  Jefferson (age 14) and Helen Alene (age 4). Mr. James Buford was a laborer at a stock ranch (3).

Seven years later, Buford’s brother, Marvin Burnell was born.

From the records - it seems that , when he left school, Buford most likely did various jobs. In 1940 census, there is a record of Jefferson B. Ellison who lived in Hartley, Texas, in the house of J. B. Bagwell. Jefferson B. worked as a waiter in a café owned by Mr. Bagwell (4).

27 June 1942 – Buford lived at 600 N. Grant, in Odessa, Ector, TX. He was unemployed. On that day, he was drafted (WWII time). The young man was 5 feet 6 tall, weighted 130 lbs., had blonde hair, and  brown eyes. His complexion was described in the draft paper as ”ruddy”. Buford’s mom lived in Hawley then (5).

Buford J Ellison was enrolled into the Air Force where he became a B-24 J engineer. He served with 866th Bomber Squadron, 494th Bomb Group and was part of the “Lonesome Lady”  bomber crew.

On 28 July 1945, they flew on a mission to the Japan area. The plane crashed on a tree near Hiroshima. All the crew members (besides one) survived. They were soon arrested and taken to the local police station. A few days later, on 6 August, Buford perished  - killed by the A bomb blast.

His fate was unknown for a long time. 

🎕

Sergeant Buford J. Ellison was awarded

World War II Victory Medal,

Purple Heart,

American Campaign Medal, 

 Army Presidential Unit Citation, 

Army Good Conduct Medal,  and Prisoner of War Medal.

We learned about Mr. Buford and other American POW who were imprisoned in Hiroshima in August 1945, at the documentary ("Paper Lanterns") screening event at the local Museum of the Pacific War.

Book by Mr. Mori - the documentary is based on.

---

Sources:

1. "Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDPK-Q74 : Tue Feb 25 15:36:35 UTC 2025), Entry for Beaufard Ellison, 10 Aug 1922.
2. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L8F-DY3Z : 14 February 2020), Buford Jefferson Ellison, 1922.
3. "United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HLJK-93Z : Thu Mar 07 03:25:52 UTC 2024), Entry for James T Ellison and Vada Z Ellison, 1930.
4. "United States, Census, 1940", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWK2-DR8 : Wed Jan 22 08:20:02 UTC 2025), Entry for T B Bagwell and Jefferson B Ellison, 1940.
5. "Texas, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3X-YX61 : Mon Apr 21 20:50:51 UTC 2025), Entry for Buford Jefferson Ellison and Vada Ellison Hawley, 27 Jun 1942.
6. https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-59758/, 
7. Honorstates.org
8. Familysearch.org

May 2022

I have not done a monthly summary for some time. May was so busy and eventful that I decided to make a post to sum it all up.

Maifest - the Spring Fest with the German Choirs of Fbg, TX.

 

 

175th Anniversary of day when the first European settlers came to the town area - anniversary weekend.

• Lasting Friendship (between the settlers and the Comanche Indians of the area) ceremony.
  

After the official part we enjoyed the lunched sponsored by the local State Fair Council, live music by a country and western band, and the fireworks.

 

• The Peace Treaty - the original document - signed in 1847 by the settlers and the Comanche chiefs was on display at the Nimitz Museum.
  

• Next day, Comanche Indians of Oklahoma presented their traditional dances. 

The last dance was also a community dance.

 

• History of the Lutheran church - exhibition

The display was quite interesting - the collection of items related to the Lutheran religion and the local Lutheran churches. Some of the items (such as a Bible printed in the 1700s) were very old. It was quite cool to see them.

1736 Luther Bible translation

• A few days later - Open day at the Meusebach Historic school was not what we had expected. 

We went there to learn something about the school itself, their first teachers, students, and so on. What we found there was a book presentation (by its author) not related to the school history at all. However, we met some nice people there including acquaintances of ours.

 

• Music concert - pianist and virtuoso Doug Montgomery gave quite a long and very enjoyable show. 

 

• Summertime dance night in the park came back in May as well.

 

We (and other people as well) danced a lot and had a very good time.

 

And I danced schottische for the first time - it is a kind of polka which originates in Bohemia.

 

 

What was your May like?

 Credits:

Schottische played by Rocky King Band