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Description
Oral History interview of VICTOR COLON. Interview conducted by Duncan, Brenna and D'Angelo, Gabrielle at Mr. Colon's Home in Clermont, FL.
Log
0:03 Introduction; 1:04 Birth and Early Life in Puerto Rico; 1:25 Moving Away from Puerto Rico; 2:39 Family Life; 5:25 Education; 6:19 Joining the Military; 7:55 Community life in Puerto Rico; 10:16 Choosing the Army; 10:43 Life after Enlisting; 11:26 Cultural Ties; 11:57 Basic Training; 17:44 Occupational Assignment after Basic Training; 19:58 Highest Ranking Achieved; 22:17 Locations of Military Assignments; 23:04 The First Experience in Korea; 24:49 Free Time in Korea; 25:18 Relationships With Other Soldiers; 25:40 Being Assigned to The 65th Infantry; 28:29 Prejudices and Regiment Duties; 30:08 The Battle of Uijeongbu; 31:08 Time in Germany; 32:01 Time in Fort Lewis; 33:08 Stationed in Seoul; 34:58 Differences Between Korea and Puerto Rico; 35:45 Coming Home from Seoul; 36:33 Awards from Korea; 38:48 Deploying to Vietnam; 43:07 The First Field Force and First Calvary; 44:33 Relationships in Vietnam; 45:07 Vietnam Medals; 46:15 Leaving the Military; 47:25 Meanest First Sergeant in the Army; 48:05 Thank You.
Date of Birth
1930-08-15
Place of Birth
Villalba (P. R.)
Gender
Male
Race
White - Non Hispanic
Home State
NA
War or Conflict
Korean Conflict; Vietnam Era
Status
Veteran
Begin/End date of Service - 1st
1950-08-30
Type
Video; MovingImage
1972-10-30
Entrance into Service
Enlisted
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Unit of Service
3rd Infantry Division; 65th Infantry Regiment; Heavy Motar Company; First Field Force; First Calvary Division
Location of Service
Korea; Uijeongbu (Korea : South); Germany; Fort Lewis (Wash.); Seoul (Korea)
Highest Rank
First Sergeant; 1SG
Prisoner of War
Unspecified
Service Related Injury
Unspecified
Battles
Battle of Uijeongbu; Tet Offensive
Medals
Combat Infantryman Badge; Bronze Star Medal; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal for Korea for Korea; Republic of Korea War Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Air Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Achievements
Combat Infantryman; Artillery First Sergeant; Supporting the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Note
His Unit 65th Infantry Regiment (Korean War) was awarded the CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL, June 10, 2014. As mandated by Congress in 1899, the 65th Infantry Regiment from Puerto Rico was established. It was the largest, longest-standing & only active-duty segregated Latino military unit in US history. The Borinqueneers played a prominent role in World War I, World War II, and particularly the Korean War. The 65th Infantry Regiment performed many remarkable military accomplishments despite the additional burdens of segregation and prejudice. Served in Germany (early 50s) during the occupation. Jun-Aug 1957 As a Platoon Sergeant led his platoon of approximately 40 soldiers in a program which studied the effects of three Atomic Detonations at Camp Desert Rock Nevada. Awarded Bronze Star Medal and National Defense Medal twice.
City of Birth
Villalba
Country of Birth
Puerto Rico
Interviewer
Duncan, Brenna; D'Angelo, Gabrielle
Interview Date
Spring 3-28-2015
Location of Interview
Mr. Colon's Home in Clermont, FL.
Subjects
Colon, Victor; Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- 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
Duncan, Brenna; D'Angelo, Gabrielle
Length of Interview
50 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 and University Archives
Contributing Project
UCF Community Veterans History Project
Document Type
Interview
Recommended Citation
Central Florida, RICHES of, "Colon, Victor interview" (2015). Veterans Oral Histories. 330.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/veteransoralhistories/330