Welcome to our ORAL Histories / Videos:Our goal is to capture the Oral, Written, or Video histories highlighting the sacrifices and contributions of our Active Duty Troops; our Veterans, our Veterans Families', and our Fallen Heroes.
- If you have an Oral History or Video, you would like to share please forward to Stories@umava.org.
- Several of the ORAL History - interviews below were conducted by Martin S. Madert, of "Witness to History" a not-for-profit, while 10 UMAVA members were at the Evergreen Aviation Space Museum speaking to thousands of students from 18 different highs school, in Oregon during Living History Week of Sunday Nov 3-Friday Nov 8, 2013.
- Please share this site with other veterans and students with an interest for history and eye-witness testimony.
Posted by Commander Francisco J. Barragán
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Antonio Méndez, WW II combat veteran- US Army (Silver Star recipient):Antonio Méndez served in the 9th Infantry Division; fought in the Battle of the Bulge; Shot down a German plane with his machine gun; helped liberate Nazi Holocaust death camp in Nordhausen Germany; and was recognized by the Belgian government with a special military recogntion the Belgian Fourragère. See the 3-part interview and share. Posted by Commander Francisco J. BarragánNovember 7, 2013
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Frank Ramírez, Korea combat medic- US Army (Silver Star recipient):Frank Ramírez served in the 2nd Infantry Division ("the Indian Head" division); became a combat medic because of war-time necessity; served in the battle of Heartbreak Ridge and others. See the 2-part interview and share. Posted by Commander Francisco J. BarragánNovember 7, 2013
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Ralph Colin, Vietnam combat veteran, US Army:
Ralph Colin, US Army (Bronze & Purple Heart recipient) and UMAVA Board member & Officer.
Ralph is one of 5 brothers who served in our US Military.See the 2-part interview/video below and share.Posted by Commander Francisco J. BarragánNovember 7, 2013
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Richard Orosco, Korea combat veteran, US Army & USAF:
Richard Orosco, is a tribal elder with the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, US Army Korea Combat veteran with the 2 nd Infantry Division / “Indian Head division”, and an Air Force Veteran, and UMAVA member. Richard served for 38 years in our US military. Richard's unit was rescued in Korea by Frank Ramirez's unit (video above). See the 2-part interview/video below and share.Posted by Commander Francisco J. BarragánNovember 7, 2013
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Nelida Mendoza Yañez, US Army:
Nelida served in the DMZ in Korea. Nelida is our past UMAVA Commander, Past Color Guard Leader; and an long-term UMAVA Board member. Nelida has a Master in Public Administration; a long-term leader with MANA de OC (a National Latina Leadership organization). We are very proud of Nelida because she is also an elected Trustee for the Rancho Santiago Community College District in Santa Ana, CA. Nelida is a frequent motivational speaker in support of education and our youth. See the 2-part interview/video below and share.Posted by Commander Francisco J. BarragánNovember 7, 2013
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Francisco J. Barragán - US Marines & CA Army National Guard:
Francisco has served continuously as UMAVA Commander's and has been re-elected since his first election in 2009. Francisco has a B.S. Accounting degree; has worked for one of the Big 4 CPA firms; and is a volunteer and leader serving with other not-for-profits in the areas of Business; Education; Housing and fighting Domestic Violence; Human Trafficking and Military Sexual Assaults (MST) as a Co-Founder & Director of Operations for the Orange County, CA based Human Trafficking Survivors Foundation (Fundación de Sobrevivientes de Tráfico Humano a 501 c3 - FSTH.org).
- Francisco served in the US Marines (1987-1994) with MAG 42 & MAG 46 in NAS Alameda; and the
- CA Army National Guard (1994-1997).
See the 2-part interview/video below and share.Posted by Commander Francisco J. BarragánNovember 7, 2013
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Veterans Oral History Program at Rancho Cucamonga HS:Richard Garza, US Army, Vietnam Combat veteran and others, shared their stories at King High Schoo, in Riverside. There also an Annual Rancho Cucamonga High School Remembers, Veterans Oral History Program ; at 11801 Lark Drive Rancho Cucamonga, CA. To participate please Contact:
See Richard Garza's video below. Posted by Commander Francisco J. BarragánFeb 24, 2013
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