Vargas, José R.; Valdez, Alice E. (father/daughter). Discovery Green Park, 2009-12-06T15:30:00

File — Interview-ID: MBY006028

Interview Description

Alice interviews her dad, José Vargas, about his family history, being Mexican-American, and his experiences in the Army in WWII.

Facilitator Subject Log

00:50 José's mother's family was driven out of Mexico by Pancho Villa's men during the revolution because they were well off.

14:28 José held odd jobs after High School. He received a letter from Uncle Sam, drafting him to the army.

16:15 All nationalities were in the army. Everyone was made fun of for some reason. Everyone has been discriminated against by someone.

21:50 José was used to seeing Mexican-Americans as the only poor people. Traveling to West Virginia, he saw white poor people.

31:15 José remembers the awful smell when his division went to liberate a concentration camp.