What is Oral History?
Memory is the core of oral history, from which meaning can be extracted and preserved. Simply put, oral history collects memories and personal commentaries of historical significance through recorded interviews. An oral history interview generally consists of a well-prepared interviewer questioning an interviewee and recording their exchange in audio or video format (Doing Oral History).
Bernie Shankman
Bernie Shankman, of age 95 at the time of recording, describes how he grows up in Washington, DC in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s helping in his father’s small grocery business. After being drafted into the infantry division of the army, Shankman is repeatedly relocated to training bases across the country, where he spends years as a private in training and later as a training officer. Once the Korean War breaks out, Shankman is shipped to the front line, where he faces the most brutal years of his life, serving as a first lieutenant and later as a military liaison between the United States First Calvary and the British Commonwealth division.
Ismael Medina
Ismael Medina describes how he grows up in Ponce, Puerto Rico in a low income family. Following the devastation after his father's death, Medina joins the U.S. Military and spends many of his young years there. After retirement, Medina starts a family and attends the University of South Carolina to receive multiple degrees.