Rivera, Tony (Springer, NM)
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Document Type
Audio
Publication Date
7-23-2001
Recommended Citation
Anselmo Arellano collection (MSS 1140), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University Libraries, University of New Mexico
COinS
Comments
Moved from Guadalupita to Maxwell, went to school in Ojo Feliz, family genealogy: father Trinidad Rivera, mother Jesusita Mestas-Rivera. Later they moved from Maxwell to Springer. Memories of the beginning of WWII while he was in high school and how most of his classmates were drafted to go to the war. Later he enlisted for his military service. Recalling his first years of school in Maxwell and Springer, his teachers, and classmates. The community shocking reaction to the Pearl Harbor Attack and the beginning of WWII. [Conversation continues in English] In 1942, the drafting started and many of his classmates and he enlisted in the Army to serve in WWII. He didn't graduate from high school because he went to war. Some younger relatives and school friends stayed in school but some joined the military service after the war ended. Memories of the day when he left for the war, and veterans from Springer. Talking about the Army training before his deployment, the basic training on the planes, parachute jumping, surviving possible plane crash, and ground deployment. Training in Alaska previous to their move to Long Beach, CA then Douglas and his ultimate task in Richmond, CA where he supported the delivery of supplies in C-47s and transportation of war wounded soldiers from Hawaii to hospitals in mainland. He served in the Army from 1942 to 1946. He was not deployed to London as he got sick with rheumatic fever. Alex Portillo a veteran from Springer who was killed in a motorcycle accident in London. He enjoyed a lot his military service, especially flying on the planes.