War Stories

Interview Description Nicole Di Rocca asks her parents about their recent family trip to Cuba and her parents' immigration from Cuba over 40 years ago. Facilitator Subject Log 01:22 Thais reads a poem she wrote called "49 years "about the recent family trip back to Cuba. 10:08 Thais and Javier talk about their parents' exodus from Cuba following Castro's revoution. 15:30 Thais expected to have her Quinceañera in Cuba but couldn't go...

Interview Description Deborah Martinez (55) interviews her friend, Alfie Salazar (74) about her life, especially in relation to her identity as Hispanic. Facilitator Subject Log 02:19 Alfie talks about her patents, and her childhood on her father's farm in Monte Vista, CO where she was born. 06:14 Alfie tells stories of the magpie bird tattle telling (in Spanish!) on Alfie and her siblings and cousins when they would get into trouble....

Interview Description Thelma Perales Shelton (59) talks with daughter Vanessa Reyes Vara (38) & granddaughter Valencia Vara (12) about her childhood. Facilitator Subject Log 01:10 Thelma talks about her family's ancestral roots in Guanajuato, Mexico. She has also traced her family's history back to Spain and the Moorish Empire. 09:00 Thelma talks about her mother working for a cigar company when she was 9-years-old. There weren't child labor laws...

Interview Description Michelle Souza (58) talks to her friend Laura Richarz (58) about her mother Blase Camacho Souza. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Michelle's mother Blase was born in Hawaii but was of Puerto-Rican descent. She talks about her mother's parents and her birth. 01:50 Michelle talks about the origins of her mother's name "Blase. " 07:20 Michelle talks about her mother moving from Hawaii to New York City to attend the Pratt...

Interview Description Henry and Ben remember growing up in Colorado and discuss their family history. Facilitator Subject Log 1:00 Ben and Henry's family came from Spain via Mexico to Colorado. 3:30 Both Ben and Henry were born and raised in Fountain CO, where everyone knew everybody. 7:10 Spent time of the ranch, helping their family farm cattle and sheep. They were poor and only had their family to rely on. 18:00 Ben...

Interview Description Amelia Alice Vara (87) talks with daughter Mary Hernandez (65) and granddaughter Dawn Leal (37) about her service to her community. Facilitator Subject Log 02:30 Amelia talks about her mother and her father. Her father was a Spanish translator. 04:50 Amelia talks about her experiences in school. She remembers being segregated at school from her sister because they had differing skin tones. 16:10 Amelia talks about...

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...

Interview Description Bill Bernard interviews his father, Rudolph "Rudy "Villalobos (86) about Rudy's experience on a bombing mission over France during his military service in World War II. Facilitator Subject Log 00:45 Rudy was born in Anaheim, California, the first generation American of Mexican parents. 08:05 Rudy flew 32 bombing missions over continental Europe. he worked as a radio officer. 14:12 Rudy describes the events of his 23rd...

Interview Description Ana Valencia Zapata habla con su hijo, Herbert Serrano, sobre su inmigración a los Estados Unidos de El Salvador, su mamá y su esfuerzo para superar. [Ana Valencia Zapata tells her son, Herbert Serrano, about her immigration to the US from El Salvador, her mother and her efforts to overcome.] Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Orígen de Ana y su familia en El Salvador, los raíces de la familia. 05:06 Viniendo a EEUU a los...

Interview Description Luis E. Zurita (68) habla con Ivette Zurita Serrano (29) y Eduardo A. Zurita (38) de su vida en Chile y su religion. [Luis E Zurita (68) talks with Ivette Zurita Serrano (29) and Eduardo A. Zurita (38) about his life in Chile and his religion.] Facilitator Subject Log 03:20 Luis habla de la situacion politica en Chile cuando era niño. 14:00 Luis cuenta una historia de cuando era capturado por la dictadura militar de...