Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Rodolfo Marquez Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 1st Cavalry Division
- Location of Service: Philippines; Japan; Korea; Korea
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/2952
In 1942, a 16-year-old orphan named Rodolpho Marquiz lied about his age to enlist in the Army. The armed forces needed recruits, and Marquiz needed a home, and it would be a perfect fit for the next 16 years, until he had to take a medical discharge. He saw his first combat on Makin Island, in the Gilbert chain of the South Pacific and participated in the invasions of Eniwetok and Okinawa, as well as the liberation of the Philippines and Manila's Santo Tomas prison. By the summer of 1945, Marquiz was preparing for one last invasion, of Japan, when the war came to an end. He did serve in the Occupation Force and was reassigned to Korea when that war broke out in 1950. Marquiz was awarded three Purple Hearts, symbols of his service in so many danger zones of two wars.
Rodolfo Marquez Collection
Interview / Recording
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About this Item
Title
- Rodolfo Marquez Collection
Names
- Marquez, Rodolfo
- Pendergast, Alan P.
- VA Hospital, El Paso, Texas
Home State
- New Mexico
Headings
- - Marquez, Rodolfo
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Hispanic
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 1st Cavalry Division
- Location of Service: Philippines; Japan; Korea
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1943-1958
- Military Status: veteran
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 1st Cavalry Division
- Location of Service: Korea
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1943-1958
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2008-10-03; 2008-10-03)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-11-09)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/2952
Online Format
- audio