Southern California Communities and the Vietnam War

As part of the spring 2015 “Latino Oral Histories” class, students at the Claremont Colleges conducted oral histories related to the Vietnam War. Most of these interviews were with Chicano/Latino veteranos, but many were also with family members and others whose life stories also connect meaningfully to the war. Within these pages, then, are some of the human stories illuminating the impact of the Vietnam War in Southern California.

The narrative of the Chicano/Latino community is important to our memory of the Vietnam War era because Chicanos/Latinos were disproportionately enlisted/drafted in the military. As a consequence, their communities were disproportionately affected. Moreover, not much work has been done to record the stories of Chicanos/Latinos when compared to the work done for other parts of the military and civilian populations.

The stories of veteranos were intentionally collected to further build the archive of the Veterans History Project, at the Library of Congress. These men shared their individual stories of sacrifice and survival so that we might better understand the lives of the many more who have never, and can never, share their story. These are much more than “war stories,” however. Collectively, their memories of life before, during, and after Vietnam comprise a part of the story of the Chicano/Latino community as a whole. They are stories of survival, as well as stories woven into the fabric of daily life.

The stories of the spouses, family, friends, and other non-military that are also included are a testament to the fact that the Vietnam War made an impact on our communities that is not confined only to the veterans themselves. The stories of these civilians are equally  important to help us better understand how war impacts all, and how it infuses itself in daily life and ideology in often subtle ways.

* * * * *

because i never knew you
nor did you me
………….i come

because you left behind mother,
…..father and betrothed
and i wife and children
………….i come

because love is stronger than enmity
and can bridge oceans
………….i come

because you never return
and i do
………….i come

“At the Vietnam Wall,” Duong Tuong, Washington D.C., Nov. 21, 1995.