Goroskop Maia 2012
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Oral History

Report and transcripts of interviews with former service personnel, workers and residents of Fort Slocum.

Oral history is one means of obtaining and preserving evidence of the past lifeways, traditions, and events of a community that are not generally accessible by archeology or document-based history. In 2007 and 2008 oral interviews were conducted with 29 people who were once associated with Fort Slocum, typically sometime during the 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s. The group included military personnel posted to Davids Island, spouses and children of military personnel, and civilian workers. The oral history discusses themes that arose during the interviews and provides all interview transcripts. The interview themes comprised: the relationship between status, rank, and housing at Fort Slocum; the social hierarchy between officers and enlisted personnel and the effect of this distinction upon military families; world events as seen from Fort Slocum; the world of children at Fort Slocum; and Fort Slocum military bands.  The oral history interviewees were: Esther Bolger, Gladys (Woodard) Borkowski, Carla Cain, Bill Carlson, Jon Cary, Anne Castagneto, Jim Castagneto, Michael Cavanaugh, Ray Crisara, Harry Dutchyshyn, Susan Edwards, Anne Ekman, Pete Fuller, Joanna Geer, Rich Lowery, Rivka Olley, John Pardon, Ken Rought, Bob Sisk, Tom Sisk, Pat Skelly, Helen Stark, Paul Tanner, Chris Vincik, Ed Vincik, Bill Waterhouse, Carl Wenberg, George Willhite, and Zoltan Zantay.