The Veterans History Project help younger generations get a personal perspective of an individual who served in the military during some of historic times of war. This assignment gave me an opportunity to know more and understand some of the recent U.S history and a bit of my family history, as well. I thought it was only fitting to interview my grandfather and gain a perspective from my grandfather’s point of view during his service with the Army.
~Xena Fe Delcastillo Benally
~Xena Fe Delcastillo Benally
interview Transcript*
*Some responses were omitted to preserve classified information and meet audience appropriateness
Date and place of interview:
May 8th, 2017
Long-distance phone interview from Fairbanks, Alaska to Anaheim, California.
Name of Interviewee: Jaime Navarro Delcastillo
Staff Sergeant Jaime Delcastillo was active duty for the Army (1978-1998) during the Cold War, Gulf War, and Desert storm. He has served throughout bases and posts in California, toured in South Korea (80’s and 90’s), and in Aschaffenburg, West Germany (85-89).
Date and place of birth: April 17th, 1946 Philippines
Current Address: Anaheim, California
Name of the interviewer and her relationship with the interviewee: Xena Fe Delcastillo Benally (Granddaughter of interviewee) and Mia Delcastillo (Daughter of interviewee)
SEGMENT 1:
Xena: Were you drafted or did you enlist?
Jaime: I enlisted in '78. I did my basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Xena: Where were you living at the time?
Jaime: I was in California. Southern California.
Xena: Why did you join?
Jaime: I had a family to support and saw that enlisting would be beneficial for my family, who were living in the Philippines, plus my wife just gave birth to twins.
Xena: Why did you pick the service branch you joined?
Jaime: A lot of friends were already in the Army.
Xena: Do you recall your first days in service?
Jaime: Some days...I enlisted on September 28, 1978. Basic training was at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. We did training to be prepared for a nuclear war. We’d go to a gas chamber and have nine seconds to put on our masks and hold our breaths for a minute and put our masks back on, we’d finished coughing it off.
Xena: What did it feel like?
Jaime: Hell. A lot of physical training. No breaks. We'd carry our gear and equipment and run with boots that tore your feet and messed up knees from running. We ran every day. The boots were the worst to wear.
Xena: How did you get through it?
Jaime: No choice. It's all about family.
SEGMENT 2:
Xena: Which war(s) did you serve in?
Jaime: I did a lot of combat training for a possible nuclear war but didn’t serve in combat. I was active duty during the Persian Gulf War and Desert Storm.
Xena: Where exactly did you go?
Jaime: That was one of the best benefits that I joined the services, was the different assignments that were overseas. We got to live in Germany, which was West Germany at the time. We moved in ’89 before the wall went down. I’ve also taken some tours to South Korea back in the 80’s and later in the 90’s before I retired for a special op assignment.
Xena: Do you remember arriving and what it was like?
Jaime: I’ve learned to always be prepared before traveling and a lot of times someone from the unit will meet with you and brief you on your assignment and get you situated to help make a good transition. Most of the moves with the family, I travel first and get things prepared, like housing, before the family arrives. I remember arriving in Korea in the winter and the taxi driver was wearing a surgical mask, I also noticed the rotten kimchi stench.
Xena: What was your job/assignment?
Jaime: I’ve had different assignments. I’ve been stationed at Travis Air Force Base because my unit was transporting supplies to Iraq. It was a joint service called MATCO. In Germany, I was in the 3rd Infantry Division American Hero. In Alaska, I’ve done some administration work before another tour to Korea. I was in the, first, 117the Aviation Company unit, and second, the 128th Aviation Company with helicopters. But the most significant assignment I had was my last tour to Korea before I retired. It was special op and I was responsible for all levels of security clearance.
Xena: Were you awarded any medals or citations?
Jaime: Lots of citations. (chuckles) I’ve received some Peace Time medals and Good Conduct medals.
Xena: How did you get them?
Jaime: The Commander does the recommendations.
SEGMENT 3: LIFE IN THE SERVICE
Xena: How did you stay in touch with your family?
Jaime: Back then it was with phone calls and letters.
Xena: What was the food like?
Jaime: You’d be too tired to notice. I remember in Korea, once a month they served steak and lobster. (Jaime humorously mentions the military cadence song, “They Say in the Army”.)
Xena: Was there something special you did for "good luck"?
Jaime: Nah, I was smart. (chuckles) I had to be smart. Had a plan B, C and D. Something I passed on to my kids to live by, always.
Xena: What did you do on leave?
Jaime: Sometimes visit friends and if it’s long spend time with family. I learned some custom framing while in Korea.
Xena: Where did you travel while in the service?
Jaime: Different parts of California, Austria, Philippines. At most locations where I’m stationed at.
Xena: Do you recall any particularly humorous or unusual event?
Jaime: There were a lot. I’ve learned some cultural norms and odd laws in Korea. One story was in Korea. I had parked my car at a legal space but because it got hit I got a ticket! The officer told me that if I hadn’t parked it there, I wouldn’t have got hit. Another story was, because of the intense security environment in Korea there would be drills, anytime. We’d gather our rifles, or call out “That’s my wife!” to anyone grabbing the wrong rifle. (chuckles)
Xena: What did you think of officers or fellow soldiers?
Jaime: Always with professionalism and respect. You’re in uniform.
SEGMENT 4: AFTER SERVICE
Xena: Do you recall the day your service ended?
Jaime: I retired in ’98.
Xena: Where were you?
Jaime: My last tour was Korea but my family was stationed in Alaska.
Xena: What did you do in the days and weeks afterward?
Jaime: Did some fishing and moved on to my next job. I began work for the United States Postal Service.
Xena: Did you make any close friendships while in the service?
Jaime: A lot of my close friendships were my hometown friends who joined the services. As an immigrant and joining the services, it was comforting to meet and know fellow soldiers who came from my home country. There’s a deeper connection because you both know the hardships and sacrifices you share, to do what is best for the family.
Xena: Did you continue any of those relationships?
Jaime: Yes.
Xena: Did you join a veterans’ organization?
Jaime: Yes. The American Legion.
Xena: What kinds of activities does the organization have or did you do?
Jaime: I just paid my dues.(chuckles)
Xena: Do you attend reunions?
Jaime: No.
SEGMENT 5: LATER YEARS AND CLOSING
Xena: What did you go on to do as a career after your service?
Jaime: I worked for the Postal Service.
Xena: Did the military influence your thinking about war or about the military in general?
Jaime: (chuckles) I had a lot of opinions about the military.
Xena: How did your service and experiences affect your life?
Jaime: The Army took care of the family. I had opportunities to travel. My family learned German, traveled to see castles, explore and learn other cultures. They had the best benefits to support the family.
Xena: Is there anything you would like to add that we have not covered in this interview?
Jaime: I thank the Army for the experiences. No regrets.
Date and place of interview:
May 8th, 2017
Long-distance phone interview from Fairbanks, Alaska to Anaheim, California.
Name of Interviewee: Jaime Navarro Delcastillo
Staff Sergeant Jaime Delcastillo was active duty for the Army (1978-1998) during the Cold War, Gulf War, and Desert storm. He has served throughout bases and posts in California, toured in South Korea (80’s and 90’s), and in Aschaffenburg, West Germany (85-89).
Date and place of birth: April 17th, 1946 Philippines
Current Address: Anaheim, California
Name of the interviewer and her relationship with the interviewee: Xena Fe Delcastillo Benally (Granddaughter of interviewee) and Mia Delcastillo (Daughter of interviewee)
SEGMENT 1:
Xena: Were you drafted or did you enlist?
Jaime: I enlisted in '78. I did my basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Xena: Where were you living at the time?
Jaime: I was in California. Southern California.
Xena: Why did you join?
Jaime: I had a family to support and saw that enlisting would be beneficial for my family, who were living in the Philippines, plus my wife just gave birth to twins.
Xena: Why did you pick the service branch you joined?
Jaime: A lot of friends were already in the Army.
Xena: Do you recall your first days in service?
Jaime: Some days...I enlisted on September 28, 1978. Basic training was at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. We did training to be prepared for a nuclear war. We’d go to a gas chamber and have nine seconds to put on our masks and hold our breaths for a minute and put our masks back on, we’d finished coughing it off.
Xena: What did it feel like?
Jaime: Hell. A lot of physical training. No breaks. We'd carry our gear and equipment and run with boots that tore your feet and messed up knees from running. We ran every day. The boots were the worst to wear.
Xena: How did you get through it?
Jaime: No choice. It's all about family.
SEGMENT 2:
Xena: Which war(s) did you serve in?
Jaime: I did a lot of combat training for a possible nuclear war but didn’t serve in combat. I was active duty during the Persian Gulf War and Desert Storm.
Xena: Where exactly did you go?
Jaime: That was one of the best benefits that I joined the services, was the different assignments that were overseas. We got to live in Germany, which was West Germany at the time. We moved in ’89 before the wall went down. I’ve also taken some tours to South Korea back in the 80’s and later in the 90’s before I retired for a special op assignment.
Xena: Do you remember arriving and what it was like?
Jaime: I’ve learned to always be prepared before traveling and a lot of times someone from the unit will meet with you and brief you on your assignment and get you situated to help make a good transition. Most of the moves with the family, I travel first and get things prepared, like housing, before the family arrives. I remember arriving in Korea in the winter and the taxi driver was wearing a surgical mask, I also noticed the rotten kimchi stench.
Xena: What was your job/assignment?
Jaime: I’ve had different assignments. I’ve been stationed at Travis Air Force Base because my unit was transporting supplies to Iraq. It was a joint service called MATCO. In Germany, I was in the 3rd Infantry Division American Hero. In Alaska, I’ve done some administration work before another tour to Korea. I was in the, first, 117the Aviation Company unit, and second, the 128th Aviation Company with helicopters. But the most significant assignment I had was my last tour to Korea before I retired. It was special op and I was responsible for all levels of security clearance.
Xena: Were you awarded any medals or citations?
Jaime: Lots of citations. (chuckles) I’ve received some Peace Time medals and Good Conduct medals.
Xena: How did you get them?
Jaime: The Commander does the recommendations.
SEGMENT 3: LIFE IN THE SERVICE
Xena: How did you stay in touch with your family?
Jaime: Back then it was with phone calls and letters.
Xena: What was the food like?
Jaime: You’d be too tired to notice. I remember in Korea, once a month they served steak and lobster. (Jaime humorously mentions the military cadence song, “They Say in the Army”.)
Xena: Was there something special you did for "good luck"?
Jaime: Nah, I was smart. (chuckles) I had to be smart. Had a plan B, C and D. Something I passed on to my kids to live by, always.
Xena: What did you do on leave?
Jaime: Sometimes visit friends and if it’s long spend time with family. I learned some custom framing while in Korea.
Xena: Where did you travel while in the service?
Jaime: Different parts of California, Austria, Philippines. At most locations where I’m stationed at.
Xena: Do you recall any particularly humorous or unusual event?
Jaime: There were a lot. I’ve learned some cultural norms and odd laws in Korea. One story was in Korea. I had parked my car at a legal space but because it got hit I got a ticket! The officer told me that if I hadn’t parked it there, I wouldn’t have got hit. Another story was, because of the intense security environment in Korea there would be drills, anytime. We’d gather our rifles, or call out “That’s my wife!” to anyone grabbing the wrong rifle. (chuckles)
Xena: What did you think of officers or fellow soldiers?
Jaime: Always with professionalism and respect. You’re in uniform.
SEGMENT 4: AFTER SERVICE
Xena: Do you recall the day your service ended?
Jaime: I retired in ’98.
Xena: Where were you?
Jaime: My last tour was Korea but my family was stationed in Alaska.
Xena: What did you do in the days and weeks afterward?
Jaime: Did some fishing and moved on to my next job. I began work for the United States Postal Service.
Xena: Did you make any close friendships while in the service?
Jaime: A lot of my close friendships were my hometown friends who joined the services. As an immigrant and joining the services, it was comforting to meet and know fellow soldiers who came from my home country. There’s a deeper connection because you both know the hardships and sacrifices you share, to do what is best for the family.
Xena: Did you continue any of those relationships?
Jaime: Yes.
Xena: Did you join a veterans’ organization?
Jaime: Yes. The American Legion.
Xena: What kinds of activities does the organization have or did you do?
Jaime: I just paid my dues.(chuckles)
Xena: Do you attend reunions?
Jaime: No.
SEGMENT 5: LATER YEARS AND CLOSING
Xena: What did you go on to do as a career after your service?
Jaime: I worked for the Postal Service.
Xena: Did the military influence your thinking about war or about the military in general?
Jaime: (chuckles) I had a lot of opinions about the military.
Xena: How did your service and experiences affect your life?
Jaime: The Army took care of the family. I had opportunities to travel. My family learned German, traveled to see castles, explore and learn other cultures. They had the best benefits to support the family.
Xena: Is there anything you would like to add that we have not covered in this interview?
Jaime: I thank the Army for the experiences. No regrets.