Oral History Commons^™

Interview With Mai Lee, Mai Neng Vang

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Mai Lee discussing Hmong culture and experiences with Hmong refugee resettlement.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Mai Neng Vang.

Interview No. 1668, Dorothy Vale Roberts

Combined Interviews

Dorothy Vale Roberts was born near Pittsburgh, PA, in 1920; she graduated from Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham University); she describes applying for a job with the Civil Aeronautics Administration (now Federal Aviation Administration) in 1943 when Pittsburgh was building a new airport; she recalls her training in Flushing, Queens, NY, and later being assigned to Niagara Falls, NY with Bell Aircraft; she mentions she was transferred each time she was promoted, worked primarily as an airport traffic controller until she got married in 1949. Mrs. Roberts details her experiences at Niagara Falls, explains it was a small airport; …

Interview With Keith Vang, Paul Hillmer

Hmong Oral History Project

Keith Vang was born in Long Cheng, Laos, but his family left in 1972 for Vientiane. After the fall of Long Cheng in 1975, Vang’s family fled to northern Laos, where they lived until they surrendered to the communists in 1978. His family fled to Thailand in 1979. Keith’s father was a shaman, and much of his story tells of his father’s role as a shaman and the struggles his family faced when they came to the United States, converted to Christianity, and faced the growing demand by the local Hmong immigrant community for his father to return to practicing …

Interview With Poj Noj Her, Peter Chou Vang

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Poj Noj Her discussing Hmong culture and experiences with Hmong refugee resettlement and being the wife of a Hmong soldier who was also a prisoner of war.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Peter Chou Vang.

James Jarell “Jake” Pickle And Clifford Drummond Oral History Interview, March 15, 2005, James "Jake" Jarrell Pickle, Clifford Drummond, Lesley W. Brunet, Earl Walborg

Interview Sessions

Major Topics Covered:

• Sources of land for MD Anderson Research Park in Smithville and Bastrop, Texas
• Legislators and others instrumental in advocating in the Legislature
• R. Lee Clark’s vision for a research facility; personal motives for locating the facility outside of Houston
• Local and governmental considerations in approving land for a laboratory

Interview With Long Yang, Peter Chou Vang

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Long Yang discussing his experiences during the "Secret War" in Laos in the mid-1960s to early 1970s as well as refugee resettlement in Thailand and the United States.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Peter Chou Vang; translated and transcribed by Mai Vang.

Oral History Interview: Sergeant David Sias, David Sias

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. David Sias was a sergeant in the U.S. Army and a veteran of the Vietnam War. He discusses: his experiences as a helicopter gunner and mechanic; very detailed information about his experiences in the service and the Vietnam War; a brief discussion of his education in West Virginia; some discussion of weapons; a brief discussion of the Iraqi War (Operation Iraqi Freedom?); some discussion of torture and corpse mutilation; and other topics.

Oral History Interview: Dennis Ray Johnson, Dennis Ray Johnson

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. Dennis Ray Johnson was a member of the United State Marine Corp and a veteran of the Vietnam War. He discusses: very brief information about his employment history before the war; how he was drafted and why he chose the Marine Corp; his military training; his experiences in the service and in the Vietnam War; his employment & his experiences after the war; other Vietnam veterans; stories about the South Korean R.O.K. Marines; some discussion of the Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom?); politics; the Kennedy assassination; a story …

Oral History Interview: Larry Blackaby, Larry Blackaby

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. Larry Blackaby was a veteran in the Vietnam War. He discusses: detailed information about basic training; detailed information about his experiences serving in Vietnam; a brief section on snakes in Vietnam, including an anecdote; a story of how he almost died; his experiences as part of military intelligence; R & R (Rest and Relaxation); his family; and other topics as well.

Oral History Interview: Norris H. Mitchell, Norris H. Mitchell

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. Mr. Norris H. Mitchell was a sergeant and a Vietnam veteran. He discusses: his military training (including Officer's Candidate School); very detailed information about his experiences serving in Vietnam; the Tet Offensive; returning to the United States after Vietnam; his education; the important of cadence while moving troops; an anecdote about R & R (Rest and Relaxation) in the Dominican Republic; why he enlisted in the service; segregation and African Americans in the service; stories about jumps & jump school; as well as sections on napalm & Agent …

Juanitas Family: Catherine Hufana (Youth), Lori Iwamasa

Filipino American Stories

Catherine Hufana grew up in Stockton, California. Her Filipino culture runs deep in her family and she has always felt “Filipino.” However, after visiting the Phillipines in 1992, Catherine realized that she identified much more strongly with Americans than native Filipinos. As an American, Catherine’s upbringing was much different than her parents. She was raised in a household that spoke mostly English, although her parents are bilingual. As Catherine struggled to fit in with her American peers, her parents continued to introduce her to their own Filipino culture…

Sosa Family: Evangelina Sosa (Elder), Tammy Hunt

Mexican American Stories

Evangelina Sosa begins her story of love and family in Sonora, Mexico. She was born in a small town called Agua Prieta, but raised in Sonora. Life in Mexico revolved around her large family of eleven brothers and sisters. Her father worked as a carpenter and her mother was a homemaker and seamstress. Although Evangelina was only able to attend school through the sixth grade, her mother taught her important domestic skills. Evangelina learned to sew and cook at a very young age, which enabled her to help her mother care for the large family and assist with the sewing…

Cuevas Family: Ricardo Cuevas (Middle), Janelle Fleming

Mexican American Stories

Growing up as the eldest of five children, Ricardo Cuevas had a sense of responsibility and of being more of an adult than his younger siblings. Ricardo was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and grew up in the neighboring town of Zapotitan. He has three sisters—Reynalda, Angelica, Marisela and a brother Gerardo. His feelings of responsibility were enhanced by the absence of his father, who first came to the U.S. in 1961. Ricardo’s father wanted to make a better life for his family, but to do that he first had to leave behind his wife and two young children…

Komure Family: Dean Komure (Middle), Lori Iwamasa

Japanese American Stories

Dean Komure grew up, knowing in his heart, that if his word was good, he would always have something. That would be the pride of being a Japanese American. Dean learned this from his parents and it is what he has passed on to his children…

Hirata Family: Toshiye Hirata (Elder), Amy E. Smith

Japanese American Stories

Toshiye Hirata holds in her hands a valuable letter. Its value doesn’t come from the fame of the writer or from historical significance—but rather from the intense depth of its personal meaning for her. The letter is a Namu Amida Butsu, a Buddhist expression of sincerest, heartfelt gratitude. It was written to her by her husband, Roy Ko Hirata. In the letter he thanks her from the bottom of his heart for how she raised two daughters and a son with him, diligently and lovingly, and how she worked side by side with him through the many hardships of their …

Spring 2005, 90.9 Wmpg Fm

WMPG Program Guides

Newspaper format.

Fall/Winter 2005, 90.9 Wmpg Fm

WMPG Program Guides

Newspaper format

Nisby Family: James (Jim) Santana (Elder), Christopher Anderson

African American Stories

James Santana spent his teen years on a farm. His parents stressed self-sufficiency. He learned to cook, clean, iron, and even sew. Living on a farm generated chores most children did not have. James learned to take care of chickens, rabbits, ducks, and turkeys. Despite being the youngest of four siblings, his workload was never adjusted downward. During school breaks and summer vacations, he was expected to help his father, who was a carpenter…

Stallworth Family: Bishop Lewis Stallworth, Sr. (Elder), Brandon Stevens

African American Stories

Bishop L. Stallworth was born in Welty, Oklahoma in 1923. Not long after relocating to Boley, Oklahoma, Lewis attended school and graduated from high school in 1941. The following year, Lewis along with the rest of his family, joined similar migrants seeking new opportunities in California’s emerging defense industry. Lewis fondly remembers his military experiences that allowed him both to serve his country and to interact with different people. Although he was already of adult age when he left his home state, Lewis’s coming-of-age process was reinforced by his years of military service…

Pech Family: Ky Pech (Elder), May Lin

Cambodian American Stories

There are many situations that Ky Pech could have marked as the beginning of her adulthood. Her parents gave her a great amount of responsibility at an early age. Fulfilling that responsibility was her greatest accomplishment, but Ky Pech doesn’t feel as though that alone marked the beginning of her adulthood. She helped her family financially, earning money by working in the rice fields of Cambodia. Ky Pech also helped her mother take care of her two younger sisters after her father died. Although society considered her an adult at the age of 14, in her own heart, she did …

Corral Family: Robert Pena Corral (Elder), George Kim

Native American Stories

Robert P. Corral did not live on an Indian reservation; he grew up speaking both English and Spanish. The federal government would ration one buffalo a year for meat requiring Robert to hunt for his family’s food; he would use his bow and arrow to kill wildcat, bear, deer and beaver. Robert also traded animal hides for additional staples…

Wong Family: John Wong (Elder), Christina Tran

Chinese American Stories

In 1932, at the age of 15, John Wong and his family received news of a terrible tragedy—the death of his mother. John was the oldest of 10 children, and with this news, his world changed. He took on new responsibilities; he worked to be a good example for his siblings, and helped instruct them as a parent would. The death of his mother made him feel more like an adult because he became the second parental figure, along with his dad. The passing of his mother left a painful reminder that his childhood had ended abruptly and his adulthood …

Sorn Family: Sonn Meong (Elder), Amy Smith

Cambodian American Stories

Traditional music and the sound of the Khmer language are among Sonn Moeng’s favorite childhood memories. They remind him of a homeland and a way of life devastated by war. Today, he lives in an adopted country, surrounded by a language he does not speak and struggles to understand a culture that is not his own…

Carido Family: Kathleen Nomura (Youth), G. Lee

Filipino American Stories

Although she’s now well past the age of maturity, Kathleen Nomura thinks that her elders in her large extended family do not yet see her as an adult. In reply to the question, “When did your family start treating you like an adult?” with a good-natured laugh, she answers, “They still don’t.” Yet, there were milestones along the way that indicated to her she was becoming an adult—being able to drive, moving away from home, and having to be responsible for her own bills. It was a long process, which has not reached a culmination in their minds, although she …

Lo Family: John Lo (Youth), Jillian Altfest

Hmong American Stories

John Lo’s parents were often away from the home, so John took on the parental responsibilities when they were gone. By age 13, he cooked, cleaned and took care of his younger brothers and sisters. Older siblings were not available to help. Although often frustrated, he accepted these responsibilities. Looking back he feels he did a good job; in fact, this may have been his first step toward adulthood…

Carido Family: Gloria Nomura (Middle), G. Lee

Filipino American Stories

Gloria Carido Nomura was the second to youngest child in a large, close-knit family. Until she was 11 years old, Gloria spent her days as did many youngsters: doing a few chores, but mostly going to school and playing with her friends. Sometimes, she would daydream about what she would do when she got older—places she might visit, where she might attend school, jobs she might attain. As a child, there was always an adult to supervise and guide her…

Podesta Family: James (Ernie) Podesta (Elder), Brent Kaufman

Italian American Stories

James Ernest Podesta, or “Ernie” as most people call him, is today in his 80s, the proud patriarch of an Italian American family. He has traveled a long road from his adolescence when he was uncomfortable with his ethnicity, to success as an adult in business and in the broader community. His parents were immigrants from Northern Italy. They chose Northern California because its climate and terrain were similar to what they had known in Italy. They were part of the second wave of Italians to migrate to Calfornia, and like others who came with them, hailed from a rural …

Lo Family: William Yang (Youth), Christina Conrardy

Hmong American Stories

Seeing San Francisco for the first time, at the age of three, after immigrating from Loas will always be a special memory for William Yang now age 16. The sky scrapers of San Francisco were a great contrast to the jungles and life he had just left. In Laos, he lived with his family in a typical rural village where the houses were made of bamboo, thatched roofs and had dirt floors. The villagers would work in their fields to gather food, which they cooked on an open fire. Leaving his parents behind, accompanied only by his grandfather, the trip …

Lo Family: Chue Lo (Elder), Nancy Snider

Hmong American Stories

At the age of 55, Chue Lo is the elder of his family. Chue was born in Laos the second of six children. While his parents might have known a time of stability in Laos, Chue and his siblings grew up with difficult and unstable conditions caused by a period of political unrest. Despite this, Chue’s parents insisted he continue to attend school. In his studies, he learned to speak several languages in addition to his native Hmong. According to Chue, there are no specific rituals to signify coming-of-age. His family recognized him as an adult when he had completed …

Cuevas Family: Angel Cuevas (Elder), Jenna Aguilera

Mexican American Stories

Angel Cuevas was born in San Nicolas de Acuna Jalisco, Mexico, in 1936. He grew up in a loving family but was challenged from a young age to seek a better life. On the other hand, as a member of a Mexican family, he was taught one of life’s greatest virtues—respect for others and particularly for one’s family. He has always tried to improve himself while maintaining strong family ties…