The Luis José Cabrera Oral History Interview, 1945

Dominican Sailor World War II - Oral History Interview

Biographical Note: Luis José Cabrera was born in the town of Navarrete, Dominican Republic on December 25, 1910. He was the son of Francisco Antonio Ulloa and Valentina Polanco, and granddaughter of Dominican General Gaspar Polanco. He attended primary Middle School in the Dominican Republic, until the age of twelve. He came to the United States circa 1937 in a merchant’s ship that landed in Brooklyn, New York. He learned English by attending evening school in New York City. He is one of six children born to the Polanco Cabrera family. Mr. Cabrera enlisted in the United States Navy almost at the end of World War II in 1945. His brother Angel de Jesús Cabrera also joined the U.S. Navy. In the U.S. Navy, Mr. Cabrera was trained as a ship Artillery Specialist and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, during World War II where his ship was stationed in Japan. During his short time in the U.S. Navy, he received the Good Conduct Medal and other war-related medals. Mr. Cabrera is immensely proud to have served the nation during the Second World and the fact that he was Honorably Discharged and received a Thank You Letter from Harry S. Truman, President of the United States.
  
Scope and Content Note: Consists of an interview of José Luis Cabrera, United States World War II Navy Veteran.