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Description
Oral history interview of Frank Medina. Interview conducted by Andrew D. Ortiz at the University of Central Florida on June 29, 2017.
Log
0:01 Introduction; 0:22 Biographical information; 0:48 Childhood in Puerto Rico and Connecticut, influence of church; 3:20 High school education; 4:48 Grandfather in the Borinqueneers, hearing stories as a child; 6:35 Other family in the military; 7:02 Influence of grandfather to join the military; 7:52 Influence to join the Army over other branches, interest in engineering; 8:41 Applying for Coast Guard and West Point academies; 9:46 First day at basic training for U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School; 11:18 Emotions of first day and drill sergeants; 13:30 Memories from basic training; 14:35 Wearing a shirt inside-out; 15:55 Staying in touch with fellow trainees; 17:32 Memories from graduation; 19:04 Basic training at West Point, impact of both basic trainings; 22:34 Differences between basic trainings; 26:00 Rituals and traditions; 26:55 Becoming a "Plebe", West Point hierarchy; 29:20 Studying electrical engineering at West Point, other classes; 33:13 Four years at West Point; 35:58 First class to have phones in rooms, staying in contact with family; 37:30 Computers with TV cards, reading newspaper and briefings at breakfast; 39:12 Graduation, bicentennial class & first graduating class after 9/11; 42:45 Memories of 9/11, watching on TV; 46:20 Signal corps officer basic course, first duty station in South Korea; 47:50 Job as platoon leader in South Korea; 48:42 Joining the Signal Communication Corps; 50:58 Getting his first choice of post, receiving the insignia; 52:42 Wanting to leave quickly to go to Honduras; 52:50 Reactions to US invasion of Iraq; 56:36 Duty station in Honduras, traveling in Central America; 59:32 Tried to extend time in Honduras, sent to Fort Hood, TX; 1:01:06 Wanting to deploy to Iraq, trying to find a unit; 1:04:00 Time at Ft. Hood, returning to the U.S. after Honduras; 1:05:48 Signal Officer for Medical Battalion in Iraq, digitalizing medical records; 1:09:52 Challenges, kept in touch with battalion commander; 1:10:50 End of Iraq deployment; 1:12:25 Wouldn't change anything; 1:13:42 Changes in the Army; 1:14:22 Education after the military; 1:16:47 Work with Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Project; 1:21:02 Thoughts on his experience in Iraq and the military; 1:27:47 Closing comments.
Date of Birth
1979-06-16
Place of Birth
Ponce (P.R.)
Gender
Male
Race
Unknown
Home State
NA
War or Conflict
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Status
Veteran
Begin/End date of Service - 1st
Unspecified
Type
Video; MovingImage
2016-11-10
Entrance into Service
Commissioned
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Unit of Service
Signal Communications Corps
Location of Service
Iraq; Korea; Honduras; Fort Hood (Tex.)
Highest Rank
Captain; CPT
Prisoner of War
No
Service Related Injury
No
Battles
Unspecified
Medals
Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal
Achievements
Was Communications officer and S6 Signal Officer.
Note
Not applicable
City of Birth
Ponce
Country of Birth
Puerto Rico
Interviewer
Ortiz, Andrew
Interview Date
Summer 6-29-2017
Location of Interview
Orlando, FL.
Subjects
Medina, Frank; Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Personal Narratives; Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, 2001-present -- Personal Narratives; United States. Army
Collection Description
Contains logs, audio and video recordings of interviews with Central Florida's veterans as part of a history class project for the students at the University of Central Florida (UCF). The UCF Community Veterans History Project(CVHP) started in fall 2010. It collects, preserves, and makes accessible to the public the experiences of Central Florida's veterans so that future generations will better understand the realities of conflict. It is a collaborative endeavor supported by multiple departments and offices at UCF. The veterans' histories are archived and made digitally available through the UCF library and selected materials are contributed to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.
Contributor Affiliation / Organization
RICHES; University of Central Florida
Contributors
Ortiz, Andrew
Length of Interview
89 Minutes
Publisher
Department of History, University of Central Florida
Type
video
Rights
All rights are held by the respective holding institution. This material is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. For permission to reproduce and/or for copyright information contact Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, (407) 823-2576. http://library.ucf.edu/about/departments/special-collections-university-archives/
Repository
University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives
Contributing Project
UCF Community Veterans History Project
Document Type
Interview
Semester
Summer
Recommended Citation
Central Florida, RICHES of, "Medina, Frank interview" (2017). Veterans Oral Histories. 547.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/veteransoralhistories/547