Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Miguel Encinias Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975; World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Air Force; Army
- Unit of Service: 120th Combat Engineers, 45th Infantry Division; Air Guard P47; Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG)
- Location of Service: Vietnam; Korea; Sicily, Italy; North Africa; Corsica; Germany
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Miguel Encinias joined the National Guard in 1939 at the tender age of 16, hoping to become a fighter pilot like those he’d seen in World War I movies. The outbreak of war granted his wish: just a few years later, he was flying combat missions in the North African campaign and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Shot down on a mission over northern Italy in 1944, he spent the next 15 months as a prisoner of war. His incarceration did not temper his enthusiasm for flying or for the military; upon his repatriation, he took three weeks of leave before volunteering to head to the Pacific Theater, though the war ended before he could deploy. After the war, he pursued higher education, but went back on active duty to fly 100 missions during the Korean War. Once again, he was shot down, though rescued before he could be taken prisoner. After Korea, he served in France, Spain, and Germany, and volunteered to fly combat missions during the Vietnam War.
More Resources
Miguel Encinias Collection
Interview / Recording
-
PlayShot down; interactions with Germans; taken to an interrogation center; was only scared once, when a German refused to talk to him because of his skin color. 00:19:20.0 - 00:23:15.0
-
PlayTransferred to Stalag Luft 1; extreme cold; spent 15 months in prison camp; wasn’t mistreated. 00:23:35.0 - 00:26:56.0
-
PlayGermans left the camp as Russians advanced; he and three others decided to walk out instead of waiting for official liberation; arriving at Canadian lines. 00:27:06.0 - 00:30:57.0
-
PlayDecision to go to Vietnam; flying 66 combat missions there. 01:15:43.0 - 01:17:01.0
About this Item
Title
- Miguel Encinias Collection
Names
- South Valley Academy Charter School
- Lujan, Samantha
- Sadie Sanchez
- Amanda Zellner
- Encinias, Miguel
State of Birth
- NM
Home State
- NM
Headings
- - Encinias, Miguel
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Prisoner of War -- United States
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
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
- Unit of Service: 120th Combat Engineers, 45th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Sicily, Italy; North Africa; Corsica; Germany
- Dates of Service: 1939-1971
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: Air Guard P47
- Location of Service: Korea
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Unit of Service: Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG)
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Clippings [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 05/2004)
- Photograph: Digital print [5 items] -- Photograph (collected 1942 - 1967)
- Video: VHS-C [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 05/17/2005)
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/34287
Cite as
- Miguel Encinias Collection (AFC/2001/001/34287), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit
- 120th Combat Engineers
- 45th Infantry Division
- Air Guard P47
- Military Assistance and Advisory Group (Maag)