Tony DiBernardo was born in 1928 on the island of Ischia, located off the coast of Naples, Italy. Tony's father, born in 1888, was a fisherman who supported his family by fishing off the coast of Africa. In November 1938, Tony, along with his mother and two older sisters, joined his father in San Pedro, California. Settling in San Pedro, Tony began his education at Cabrillo Avenue School, where he learned English in a class designed for new immigrants. Tony worked shining shoes at a local barbershop and later in a shoe repair shop and a produce market.

Oral history interview with Tony Lauro. 

Oral history interview with Tony Salcido.

Oral history interview with Torrance Parker. 

Vernon Hall was born in San Pedro in 1936. He grew up in San Pedro, attended UCLA to study engineering, and then came back to San Pedro, where he lives today. His grandfather is Swedish, lived in Minnesota until they moved to San Pedro in 1905.  His grandfather and father were machinists who worked on ships in the harbor. 

Oral history interview with Violet Parkhurst. 

Virginia Brownell was born in 1922 in Larimore, North Dakota. During her early years, she worked at the telephone office in Huron, South Dakota. Her journey to San Pedro, California, began when her future husband, who worked in the telephone company, decided to relocate to California before the outbreak of World War II. He initially worked in Ventura before securing a position in the San Pedro office. Virginia transferred to the San Pedro telephone office around the same time, coinciding with the events of Pearl Harbor.

Oral history interview with Vito Giacalone. 

Oral history interview with William Gravett,

Oral history interview with Yukio Tatsumi.