On January 21, 1918, Frank Leigh Gitchell Jr. was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, to his parents, Frank Leigh Gitchell and Laura Mae Miller. Before Frank’s first birthday, his mother passed away, leaving behind her husband and three children. Frank was the youngest of the Gitchell children with two older sisters. Following Frank’s first year of high school, he dropped out and pursued a job with University Press at the University of Virginia.
Read MoreWhen the United States entered World War II, thousands of men put their lives on hold and instead risked them to serve their country. Sherwin George Desens was one of these men, and his decision to enlist began a decades-long career of service that took him from the skies above Normandy down to a prison camp in his grandfather’s homeland.
Read MoreWhile World War II impacted thousands of families, the stories of the Goodier family and those interned at Santo Tomas are undoubtedly unique and often overlooked. In the face of overwhelming odds and circumstances beyond his control, Benjamin did his best to keep his family safe.
Read MoreAlthough there are over 4 million Filipinx-Americans in the United States, their culture, languages, and traditions are rarely represented in predominantly white spaces and narratives. Second and third-generation Filipinos must lean on the legacy left by those like Felix B. Magalong Sr., who prove that Asians are accomplished enough to serve both their country at large and communities at home.
Read MoreReginald A. Pacheco endured more than most servicemen could ever imagine, having survived one of the most traumatic events in U.S. military history—the Bataan Death March.
Read MoreThroughout his whole life, from growing up in an immigrant family, to surviving the Communist Chinese prison camps, to solving his financial issues, and to challenging social and political norms, Ernest Contrearas was a true American hero.
Read MoreErnest served the United States from around the world. Whether it was in a Japanese Prisoners of War Camp during World War II, serving at the northernmost operational Air Force Base in Greenland, or the huge refueling base in Libya, Ernest served in the U.S. Air Force with pride.
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