Mesa County Oral History Project

The Mesa County Oral History Project began as a joint project of the Museums of Western Colorado and Mesa County Libraries (MCL) in 1975. The Oral History Project collected tape-recorded interviews with pioneers of Mesa County and surrounding areas, and interviews with the children of pioneers. The Central Library housed the duplicate audio cassettes and provided patron access to the histories. The Museum stored the master tapes and kept files and transcripts related to the oral history collection. The Mesa County Historical Society also contributed significantly to the Oral History Project by collaborating with the library and museum to select interviewees, and by providing interviewers and other volunteers. Mesa County Libraries no longer partner with the Museum in housing duplicate copies of tapes. But the library now works with the Museum to digitize interviews from the Mesa County Oral History Project and to provide online access to the interviews through Pika, the library catalog. The Museum continues to house the original audio cassettes, interview transcripts, and other source material for the project. The Library and the Museums of Western Colorado still record oral histories with residents who have important knowledge of the area’s history. Please note that some interviews contain language that listeners or readers may consider offensive. Mesa County Libraries does not condone such language, but has included interviews in their entirety in the interest of preserving history.

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Interview with Rodger Winford Robinson
Rodger Robinson talks about his enlistment in the US Army during the Vietnam War, his training in Rotary Wing Aviation, and his service as a pilot with the Army’s 16th Aviation Group in Vietnam. He remembers being stationed with an assault helicopter company in LZ Sally, where he lived in a tent with seven other men. He recalls what life was like during his year in Vietnam, and tells stories of his company’s rescue missions. He tells the story of his friend Dick’s death in Vietnam. He speaks about the use of drugs and drug abuse among servicemen in Vietnam. He discusses his homecoming to the United States and his feeling of rivalry with US Air Force pilots. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Rodney Michael "Rod" Kolenc
Rod Kolenc talks about his youth in Leadville and Grand Junction, Colorado, and his decision to enter the armed forces shortly after he graduated from high school in 1966. He describes his happy tour of duty as part of the US Army’s 49th Transportation Battalion in Germany, from November 1966 to March 1969. He speaks about his tour in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, when he worked a desk job and then drove convoys carrying military supplies. He discusses his love of photography and the many photos he took in Vietnam, including pictures he took during helicopter missions. He talks about his difficult adjustment back to civilian life after the war, his involvement in Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and his job as a counselor for the Disabled American Veterans Outreach center in Grand Junction at the time of his interview. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *Photograph from the 1965 Grand Junction High School yearbook
Interview with Roger Dayton Williams
Roger Williams recalls his early life in Castle Rock, Colorado, his enlistment in the US Marines, basic training, and entering the Vietnam War as a gun mechanic in a machinist unit in An Hoa (Quang Tri Province) in 1969. He describes the lack of equipment and tools that left his unit, District Support Unit I, with little to do but remain on standby. He gives him impressions of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. He remembers racial tension that existed between African American marines and white marines. He talks about being eacuated from Vietnam for an injury sustained to his hand, his return to the United States, and his care at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. He speaks about American attitudes toward soldiers and the war upon his return and using the GI Bill to attend agricultural courses. He describes his belief in the US Marines as a fighting force. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *Photograph from the 1964 Douglas County High School yearbook.
Interview with Roger Roland Goss
Roger Goss talks about his early life and education prior to joining the military. He recounts his application with the Marine Corps based on the assertion that he would be given pilot’s training and a pilot position, but his ultimate assignment to the infantry after basic training. He remembers his advanced infantry training in mortars and other weapons. He speaks about his combat experiences as a member of the Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in Da Nang. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Rose M. (Chiodo) Perry
Mrs. Rose Perry relates her son’s experience on the U.S.S. Helena, a Brooklyn-class light cruiser used by the U.S. Navy in the Pacific theater of World War II. The Helena was one of the cruisers attacked in Pearl Harbor, and was directly torpedoed by the Japanese. The Helena survived the attack and was assigned to assist in the Guadalcanal campaign. It helped to destroy several Japanese aircraft and battleships and contributed to American victories in the South Pacific. The Helena was sunk on July 6, 1943 in the Battle of Kula Gulf after sinking two destroyers, in a battle considered to otherwise be a decisive victory for the United States. Ernest, along with 166 others, drifted at sea for a few days before washing up on the Japanese-occupied Vella Lavella Island, within the Solomon Islands. They stayed with Chinese coconut workers, who took care of them. They were rescued the following month, which was reported by radio. Rose describes the period of over thirty days between the sinking of the Helena and the news of their rescue, while she was waiting in suspense. Ernest caught malaria on Vella Lavella and was discharged. After the war, Ernest suffered from depression and PTSD and struggled with ill health. He was employed as a janitor at the Lucius Pitkin Company, under the Atomic Energy Commission, when he took his own life on July 17, 1962. Mrs. Perry reads a section of her son's obituary. Interviewer Jean Page spends some time with Rose going through a scrapbook that she collected, including Ernest’s obituary, a menu for Christmas dinner aboard the Helena in 1942, and a page from Life Magazine describing the rescue from Vella Lavella, with Ernest pictured in the front. After some time, the person-to-person portion of the interview ends, and Jean Page begins reading from the scrapbook. She reads from various Daily Sentinel articles, including a snippet describing Rose’s involvement as the Commander of the Grand Junction Navy Mother’s Club, an article describing Pearl Harbor in great detail, written 38 years after the attack, and another article reporting on the Battle of Kula Gulf, where the Helena was sunk. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Rose and Morgan Goss
Rose and Morgan Goss discuss the early settlement of Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado, and agricultural life in the Appleton area. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Rosemary "Toots" (Massey) Kitson
Rosemary Kitson talks about the death of her older brother during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the devastation it caused her family. She talks about her journey to Hawaii to memorialize her brother during his reburial in a veterans cemetery. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *Photograph from the 1950 Colorado College yearbook
Interview with Roy Edward Dinkins
Roy Dinkins, co-owner of Costanzas Liquor Store in Grand Junction, Colorado during the 1930’s, talks in detail about the murder of Biltmore gambling hall owner J.W. “Big Kid” Eames. He describes special investigator Walter Byron’s involvement in the case, the community’s reaction to the murder, and the trial. He also speaks about his upbringing in Salida. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Roy Frederick Schumann
Roy Schumann speaks about the history of his German ancestors in Russia, about the immigration of his parents from Russia to Colorado, and their marriage and move to the Western Slope. He describes the life of German people living in Russia in the early Twentieth century. He talks about the food and traditions of his family and other German Americans. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado. *Photograph from the 1941 Colorado Teacher's College yearbook. **Note: The transcripts for this interview have been machine-created and do contain inaccuracies. In time, each transcript will be audited by a human being to ensure greater accuracy.
Interview with Ruby (Whelan) Gaither
Ruby Gaither, co-author of the book, Our Palisade Heritage, talks about her life in Palisade, Colorado after relocating there with her husband and children in 1943. She speaks about teaching school at Palisade and Central High Schools. She discusses her family and her life as the wife of a minister at the Palisade United Methodist Church. She describes certain people from Palisade, including J.R. Smith, an orchardist, A.E. Taylor, and Helen Maurer. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Ruby Luton
Ruby Luton discusses the history of Atchee, the Uintah Railway, and the early history of Fruita. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Interview with Rudolph "Rudy" Susman and Fannie Ruth (Gordon) Susman
Fannie Susman talks about her life managing department stores with her husband Rudy Susman, and about the fledgling Jewish communities they encountered in Durango and Grand Junction, Colorado. Rudy Susman then talks about his many community involvements in Grand Junction, including his role in organizing the Eagles Baseball Club. He also talks about establishing a Jewish congregation for worship with other Jewish families in town. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.

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