Friday, May 7, 2010
Biography
Jim Cimino was born in Savannah, Illinois on January 24, 1920. He was born to Sicilian Immigrants. His father came at approximately the year 1910, and his mother came about 2 years later. He was born before his parents were naturalized in the US so they were Italian citizens. He was raised in Savannah, Illinois in a poor family. While he was in school, he also worked many jobs, while maintaining very good grades. He got his business degree at DePaul University in Chicago and enlisted in the US Army. He met his wife-to-be in Antwerp, Belgium. Her name was Barbara Scribner. She was from a well-know, British, Protestant family from Omaha, Nebraska. They were married 1 year later, on the same day they met the year before which was Thanksgiving Day. He took a job with Libby McNeill, a canned goods company based out of Chicago. He ascended ranks and took charge of Latin American territory, therefore moving to Venezuela and Puerto Rico. His family began with a tragic loss of their first daughter. Assuming they couldn’t have children, they adopted three European children, which were then followed by 2 more sons. He was based in Puerto Rico when he took over a flailing food company called Plaza Provision in the early 60’s. Sun Valley, Idaho had been a family vacation spot due to the Scribner involvement with the Union Pacific and foundation of Sun Valley. He had a good career and retired in 1975. He moved to Sun Valley with his wife and youngest son, David. He left the company with a close associate and the next generation. He became addicted to travel in his early career and to this day travels the world visiting the friends he has made in his 90 years of his life. He was widowed in 2001 from his first and only wife after an admirable 53 years of marriage. Now, he continues living in Sun Valley, with frequent trips to Paris and visits to his family in Puerto Rico. He is enjoying his life as the father to five children and grandfather of six grandchildren.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Interview Transcript
Interview questions:
o Celina: Hey nono, its Celina.
o Jim: Hey cici how are you?
o Celina: Good and you?
o Jim: Very good actually.
o Celina: So what occupation did you have in the war?
o Jim: Huh what?
o Celina: what part?
o Bianca: occupation did you have in WW2?
o Jim: Well, I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you my whole story, and your taping it aren’t you? … I was in the army for 4 years, from 1942-1946. There was 2 years in America (???) and then I went to ah… I went up to (???) Private and corporate, to a sergeant to a staff sergeant, and then our company commander came to me and said that we were gonna go overseas, and I said “ok, well when?” and he said “well I don’t think you should go (???) Because you have a college education and you would be a good officer” and I wanted to be with the troops but he talked me out of it so I went to (Aberdeen Proven Grounds?) in Maryland and I went to a big (???) Uh… about about 400-500 of us in the class and only 200 of us graduated, and I became a second lieutenant. Then I was shipped overseas, and landed in Cherbourg, France and uhh…. Landed in there in the later part of 1944, right after the invasion of June (???) And when they cleared Cherbourg that’s when we went in and that’s when America had the upper hand in the whole (???) over there they were keeping the Germans by then and I was with an (order of evacuation company?) the whole (???) when back up and we went to the front line to pick up all the shot up tanks and everything, bring them back to base and have them uh… repaired and all that. In the mean time, we bring new ones up there we were in charge of jeeps, man cars, and every type of vehicle you could imagine. And uh... that went on for about to… the end of the war. When I happened to be in Paris, May 10th, 1945 and it all came out of the Madeleine Church. And all of a sudden bells started ringing and they announced that the war was over. All the French people kept coming out with bottles of champagne, and all that sort of stuff saying “Fin de la guerre” the end of the war the end of the war! They all jumped in my jeep and start going up and down the Champs Ellise, partying and stuff in all the bars and all that celebrating. That’s the way we celebrated. That’s the end of the European war, but don’t forget we still have the one over on the eastern in Japan. Which, thank god, that ended soon afterwards because Jerry Truman dropped the uh the bomb, and uh they decided they didn’t want any more of that so they gave up. Well anyhow, the war was 2 years of being in the service but I would say the finest thing I got out of it was your grandmother, Barbara. She was from Omaha, Nebraska and she was part of the Red Cross, we met in Antwerp, Belgium in 1945, thanksgiving day, and we got married in Omaha, Nebraska on thanksgiving day of 1946. So, you got any questions?
o Celina: ok so one of our questions, well,
o Bianca: did you ever actually fight in the war?
o Jim: You mean did I ever shoot at any Germans?
o both: yeah.
o Jim: No, I did not. You know, let me tell you something. The infantry fought. I was part of the support groups in the back. (???) And there are a lot of those the (quarter master?) (???) (Quarter of transportation?) The (???) And all that. For every 1 man fighting out there, there are about 20 in the back supporting them doing all the separate things that they do. The (medical cord?) and all that. There were very few people that went up to the front line. (???) And I’m glad I didn’t go.
o Celina: so what exactly happened that when you met Nana?
o Jim: What happened?
o Celina: yeah, uh, I don’t know.
o Jim: Well she was, had just arrived over there, and that was in Antwerp, Belgium. And I was coming; I happened to be there on my way through to go transferring some of our troops to Cherbourg, France to Germany and on my way down my team moved down so I had to stay there overnight. And then I went into the (???) for thanksgiving lunch or breakfast or whatever the “heck” they call it and there was this one little woman in there that she had just arrived in there and she was scared "shoot" less and when she put on her coat to get up and go I went up to her and said “I don’t know who you are but I’m not gonna let you walk out of my life without letting me know who, or well, your name” and she thought it was very fresh. And I told her I had a car and I could take her to her place to work and she didn’t want to ride 3 street cars so she agreed. I had a driver so we dropped her off ……. I said one day lets have dinner. And she said “well here’s my telephone number you give me a call (???)” so when I call her she didn’t even remember me and ha-ha... she said she already had a date. I said “listen lady, I drove up here like a madman to Paris to have dinner with me tonight so your gonna have dinner with me” she said “but I already ate” and I said “well eat again” so I went knocking on her door and she said ok ok and we went out and that was the beginning of our romance.
o Celina: aaah…
o Jim: Then I took her dancing …..
o Bianca: aah how romantic.
o Jim: Funny huh?
o Celina: yeah. I thought you got hurt and then she was your nurse or something
o Jim: No she was not a nurse. She was with the club
o Celina: oooooooooh…
o Bianca: did you have anything like, an experience, that like, shocked you or had a great effect on you?
o Jim: I didn’t understand that
o Celina: did you ever have any experiences that shocked you or had an effect on you while you were working there?
o Jim: The whole things an experience that you will never forget. Being part of the service and the army for 4 years. Out of (???) I know you were looking to talk to someone that…(???) Who was shot at and wounded and all that but I was fortunate I didn’t get shot at and uh…
o Bianca: how did you get shot at?
o Celina: HE DIDN’T!
o Bianca: oh.
o Jim: Oh no I was never shot at. No no. and uh... nobody in my troop was either. There were 240 men out there and we had our own cooks, our own transportation… our own reporter to a higher command. I mean I know you’re looking for some action but there were no specific action in my 4 years.
o Celina: well ok thank you Nono!
o Bianca: thank you
o Jim: Hahaha. Well go over what I said and pull out and uh… make a story hahaha
o Celina: ok
o Bianca: thank you so much and thanks for giving us your time to share with us your experience.
o Jim: Well anyhow… it’s a beautiful day up here today and they said it might get cold or even snow up here this weekend. It’s terrible!
o Celina: uuh,
o Bianca: where are you? In Idaho right now?
o Jim: Yes I came in last night. I flew from San Juan yesterday and I had a plane bring me up and we stopped in New Orleans it took 8 hours of flying. Got here about 5:30 in the afternoon I’ve been spending the day here trying to put papers together and all that stuff and waiting for your call
o Celina: so did you go to Cristina’s?
o Jim: Well anyhow honey you take good care of yourself
o Bianca: well thank you so much.
o Celina: Ok thank you Nono! See you this summer!
o Jim: Give my love to everybody ah?
o Celina: ok love you miss you !
o Jim: Thank you same here bye bye!
o Celina: bye
o Jim: Beep
o Bianca: and here is our INTERVISTA! WOOOH!
o Celina: ok
o Celina: Hey nono, its Celina.
o Jim: Hey cici how are you?
o Celina: Good and you?
o Jim: Very good actually.
o Celina: So what occupation did you have in the war?
o Jim: Huh what?
o Celina: what part?
o Bianca: occupation did you have in WW2?
o Jim: Well, I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you my whole story, and your taping it aren’t you? … I was in the army for 4 years, from 1942-1946. There was 2 years in America (???) and then I went to ah… I went up to (???) Private and corporate, to a sergeant to a staff sergeant, and then our company commander came to me and said that we were gonna go overseas, and I said “ok, well when?” and he said “well I don’t think you should go (???) Because you have a college education and you would be a good officer” and I wanted to be with the troops but he talked me out of it so I went to (Aberdeen Proven Grounds?) in Maryland and I went to a big (???) Uh… about about 400-500 of us in the class and only 200 of us graduated, and I became a second lieutenant. Then I was shipped overseas, and landed in Cherbourg, France and uhh…. Landed in there in the later part of 1944, right after the invasion of June (???) And when they cleared Cherbourg that’s when we went in and that’s when America had the upper hand in the whole (???) over there they were keeping the Germans by then and I was with an (order of evacuation company?) the whole (???) when back up and we went to the front line to pick up all the shot up tanks and everything, bring them back to base and have them uh… repaired and all that. In the mean time, we bring new ones up there we were in charge of jeeps, man cars, and every type of vehicle you could imagine. And uh... that went on for about to… the end of the war. When I happened to be in Paris, May 10th, 1945 and it all came out of the Madeleine Church. And all of a sudden bells started ringing and they announced that the war was over. All the French people kept coming out with bottles of champagne, and all that sort of stuff saying “Fin de la guerre” the end of the war the end of the war! They all jumped in my jeep and start going up and down the Champs Ellise, partying and stuff in all the bars and all that celebrating. That’s the way we celebrated. That’s the end of the European war, but don’t forget we still have the one over on the eastern in Japan. Which, thank god, that ended soon afterwards because Jerry Truman dropped the uh the bomb, and uh they decided they didn’t want any more of that so they gave up. Well anyhow, the war was 2 years of being in the service but I would say the finest thing I got out of it was your grandmother, Barbara. She was from Omaha, Nebraska and she was part of the Red Cross, we met in Antwerp, Belgium in 1945, thanksgiving day, and we got married in Omaha, Nebraska on thanksgiving day of 1946. So, you got any questions?
o Celina: ok so one of our questions, well,
o Bianca: did you ever actually fight in the war?
o Jim: You mean did I ever shoot at any Germans?
o both: yeah.
o Jim: No, I did not. You know, let me tell you something. The infantry fought. I was part of the support groups in the back. (???) And there are a lot of those the (quarter master?) (???) (Quarter of transportation?) The (???) And all that. For every 1 man fighting out there, there are about 20 in the back supporting them doing all the separate things that they do. The (medical cord?) and all that. There were very few people that went up to the front line. (???) And I’m glad I didn’t go.
o Celina: so what exactly happened that when you met Nana?
o Jim: What happened?
o Celina: yeah, uh, I don’t know.
o Jim: Well she was, had just arrived over there, and that was in Antwerp, Belgium. And I was coming; I happened to be there on my way through to go transferring some of our troops to Cherbourg, France to Germany and on my way down my team moved down so I had to stay there overnight. And then I went into the (???) for thanksgiving lunch or breakfast or whatever the “heck” they call it and there was this one little woman in there that she had just arrived in there and she was scared "shoot" less and when she put on her coat to get up and go I went up to her and said “I don’t know who you are but I’m not gonna let you walk out of my life without letting me know who, or well, your name” and she thought it was very fresh. And I told her I had a car and I could take her to her place to work and she didn’t want to ride 3 street cars so she agreed. I had a driver so we dropped her off ……. I said one day lets have dinner. And she said “well here’s my telephone number you give me a call (???)” so when I call her she didn’t even remember me and ha-ha... she said she already had a date. I said “listen lady, I drove up here like a madman to Paris to have dinner with me tonight so your gonna have dinner with me” she said “but I already ate” and I said “well eat again” so I went knocking on her door and she said ok ok and we went out and that was the beginning of our romance.
o Celina: aaah…
o Jim: Then I took her dancing …..
o Bianca: aah how romantic.
o Jim: Funny huh?
o Celina: yeah. I thought you got hurt and then she was your nurse or something
o Jim: No she was not a nurse. She was with the club
o Celina: oooooooooh…
o Bianca: did you have anything like, an experience, that like, shocked you or had a great effect on you?
o Jim: I didn’t understand that
o Celina: did you ever have any experiences that shocked you or had an effect on you while you were working there?
o Jim: The whole things an experience that you will never forget. Being part of the service and the army for 4 years. Out of (???) I know you were looking to talk to someone that…(???) Who was shot at and wounded and all that but I was fortunate I didn’t get shot at and uh…
o Bianca: how did you get shot at?
o Celina: HE DIDN’T!
o Bianca: oh.
o Jim: Oh no I was never shot at. No no. and uh... nobody in my troop was either. There were 240 men out there and we had our own cooks, our own transportation… our own reporter to a higher command. I mean I know you’re looking for some action but there were no specific action in my 4 years.
o Celina: well ok thank you Nono!
o Bianca: thank you
o Jim: Hahaha. Well go over what I said and pull out and uh… make a story hahaha
o Celina: ok
o Bianca: thank you so much and thanks for giving us your time to share with us your experience.
o Jim: Well anyhow… it’s a beautiful day up here today and they said it might get cold or even snow up here this weekend. It’s terrible!
o Celina: uuh,
o Bianca: where are you? In Idaho right now?
o Jim: Yes I came in last night. I flew from San Juan yesterday and I had a plane bring me up and we stopped in New Orleans it took 8 hours of flying. Got here about 5:30 in the afternoon I’ve been spending the day here trying to put papers together and all that stuff and waiting for your call
o Celina: so did you go to Cristina’s?
o Jim: Well anyhow honey you take good care of yourself
o Bianca: well thank you so much.
o Celina: Ok thank you Nono! See you this summer!
o Jim: Give my love to everybody ah?
o Celina: ok love you miss you !
o Jim: Thank you same here bye bye!
o Celina: bye
o Jim: Beep
o Bianca: and here is our INTERVISTA! WOOOH!
o Celina: ok
Historical Context Essay
Our world today is still suffering consequences from the World War II. It was a very tragic event in history. On September 1st, 1939 Germany invaded Poland and triggered a declaration of war two days later from the UK and Russia. Jim Cimino is a veteran of WWII, responsible for the liberation of Europe as part of the support groups that worked to help the combat troops with communication and transportation needs. There was about 400 to 500 people in the class and only 200 graduated. He was one of them and became a second a lieutenant. He happened to be in Paris, May 10th, 1945 and it all came out of the Madeleine Church. All of a sudden bells started ringing and they announced that the war was over. All the French people kept coming out with bottles of champagne, and all that sort of stuff saying “Fin de la guerre” the end of the war, the end of the war! They all jumped in his jeep and started going up and down the Champs Elisé, partying in all the bars, celebrating. That’s the way they celebrated. It was the end of the European war, but they still had to fight the Asian front. The Asian front ended a year later in 1945, when the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Our Opinions
Celina- This project was very interesting because we got to learn more about the war. We learned that not everybody was fighting on the frontline but that there are many people supporting in communications and transportation. I liked being able to talk to my grandpa about his life and I learned a lot by doing the biography. It was nice to be able to talk to him about something that meant a lot to him, which was my grandma. It was really nice being able to hear about how they met and I felt like I got closer to him.
Bianca- I was very happy to have met Celina’s grandpa. It was a wonderful experience for me and I am very glad we did this. The story of how he met his wife is very funny and romantic. Another reason why this interview and project was a wonderful experience was because we got the "sneak peak" of what living in those harsh times was, and how the war was a depressing and melancholic situation.
We were glad to have shared a special experience with you Nono/Jim!
Bianca- I was very happy to have met Celina’s grandpa. It was a wonderful experience for me and I am very glad we did this. The story of how he met his wife is very funny and romantic. Another reason why this interview and project was a wonderful experience was because we got the "sneak peak" of what living in those harsh times was, and how the war was a depressing and melancholic situation.
We were glad to have shared a special experience with you Nono/Jim!
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