Oral history of David Shaffer, November 20, 2025
US Air Force
Captain
Cold War
Consolidated Aircraft
B-24
B-32
Convair
VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day
2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery Regiment
American Civil War
Prussian
British
American Revolution
German
American
cavalryman
Fort Bliss
Galloping Goose
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Denver University
San Diego State University
marine engine mechanic
Officers Training School
Second Lieutenant
air traffic controller
Keesler Air Force Base
TERPS
Terminal Instrument Procedures
forward airfield
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Six-Day War
Sinai Peninsula
Lajes Field
Strategic Air Command
General Curtis LeMay
Officer in Charge
Hahn Air Base
B-36
B-36 Peacemaker
A model B-36
engineer
little people
Lackland Air Force Base
officer trainee club
officers' club
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
ATC
Navy
Tinker Air Force Base
BFS
Bundesanstalt für Flugsicherung
Jimmy Stewart
World War II
First Lieutenant
1634B
AFSC
Air Force Specialty Code
1634A
airmen
sergeant
traveling
childhood
Davis–Monthan Air Force Base
B-52
McGuire Air Force Base
Colonel
50th Tactical Fighter Wing
Ramstein Air Base
Hitler Youth
military police
BMW
Afrika Korps
POW camp
Marshall Plan
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Federal Republic of Germany
Bundeswehr
West German Army
F-100 Super Sabre
Ground-Controlled Approach
Tempelhofer Feld
Berlin Tegel Airport
C-130
Air France
Sud Aviation Caravelle
Stars and Stripes
ADIZ
Air Defense Identification Zone
US Army
Canadian Air Force
the Pentagon
Andrews Air Force Base
Philadelphia Airport
hippie
protest
family
community
draft dodgers
teaching credentials
high school teacher
G.I. Bill
pilot training
Veterans Affairs
ATP
airline transport pilot
private license
San Diego State College
Palomar Airport
friendship
skiing
F-4 Phantom
TACAN
Tactical Air Navigation
DME
Distance Measuring Equipment
German Air Force
MiG
Mikoyan
Sukhoi
Wild Weasel
F-105
radar
anti-aircraft
Robert McNamara
Lyndon Johnson
Cuthbert A. Pattillo
Fulda Gap
patriotism
Freemasonry
draft
Agent Orange
Captain David Shaffer served in Europe as an air traffic controller during the 1960s. Shaffer was raised in San Diego County where his father was an engineer for Convair. From a young age, Shaffer aspired to become a military pilot, a goal which his tall height prevented. As an air traffic controller, Shaffer spent most of his deployment in Portugal and West Germany during the Cold War. He designed forward airfields during the 1967 Arab–Israeli war, although the conflict was over before they could be used. After leaving military service, Shaffer taught high school industrial arts in North San Diego County. He used the G.I. Bill to gain his master’s degree from San Diego State College and his private pilot license. In this oral history interview, Shaffer tells stories from his military service and reflects on the importance of patriotism.
David Shaffer
California State University San Marcos University Library
Jason Beyer
In copyright
English
Europe
Colorado Springs (Colo.)
Colorado
San Diego (Calif.)
California
South Cheyenne Canyon Road (Colo.)
Pikes Peak (Colo.)
Balboa Park
Texas
Philippines
Pennsylvania
Cortez (Colo.)
Shelter Island
Azores (Portugal)
Portugal
Hahn (Germany)
Germany
North San Diego County
San Antonio (Tex.)
Oklahoma City (Okla.)
Tucson (Ariz.)
Arizona
Mississippi
New Jersey
Israel
Middle East
Austria
Bavaria
Kastellaun (Germany)
Koblenz (Germany)
Hunsrück-Kaserne
Libya
North Africa
United States
Winston-Salem (N.C.)
North Carolina
Iowa
Vietnam
Berlin (Germany)
Frankfurt (Germany)
West Berlin
Frankfurt Rhine-Main (Germany)
East Germany
West Germany
Soviet Union
Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany)
Kitzbühel (Austria)
Zweibrücken (Germany)
Moscow (Russia)
Munich (Germany)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Ohio
New Zealand
Australia
France
Canada
Carlsbad (Calif.)
Fallbrook (Calif.)
Arkansas
Mount Rushmore
Yellowstone National Park
Shaffer, David. Interview transcript, November 20, 2025.
Oral history of David Taitingfong, August 30, 2024
Language revival
Chamorro language
Chamorro (Micronesian people) -- History
Chamorro (Micronesian people) -- Social life and customs
Colonization -- Spain -- Oceania
Colonization -- Japan
Colonization -- United States -- Guam
Decolonization -- Guam
David Taitingfong is a member of the Chamorro community and involved with the group Prugraman Sinipok, which teaches a two week Chamorro language immersion program. David describes his involvement with Prugraman Sinipok and how his interest in sharing the Chamorro lanugage and culture has shaped his life.
David Taitingfong
Robert Sheehan
This interview is conducted in English and Chamorro
Guam, United States
Taitingfong, David. Interview Transcript August 30th, 2024.
English and Chamorro
Saldivar, Diana. Interview transcript April 14th 2023.
California State University San Marcos. Associated Students Incorporated
California State University San Marcos. Cross-Cultural Center
California State University San Marcos. Kamalayan Alliance
California State University. Multicultural Programs
Filipino Americans
Human rights
Student success
Diana Saldivar is a California State University San Marcos alumna. She graduated with her degree in Communications, Sociology and Ethnic Studies. Saldivar worked at the Cross-Cultural Center from 2004-2007 and was also involved in the Asian Pacific Islander Student Society, Kamalayan Alliance, and with Associated Students Incorporated (student government). In her interview, Saldivar discusses how the Cross-Cultural Center provided her with a sense of belonging on campus and served as a second home. Saldivar explains how the center provided her with lifelong friendships, skills and connections that has helped her become the person she is today. Saldivar recounts how the CCC provided a safe space, allowing for conversations with others that are often deemed controversial, and how the center encouraged those to constantly seek knowledge. This oral history was created in collaboration with the Cross-Cultural Center and was generously funded through the Instructionally Related Activities Fund at California State University San Marcos.
Diana Saldivar
Madeleine Meyer
Geneva Martinot
San Marcos (Calif.)
Saldivar, Diana. Interview April 14th 2023.
Diana Saldivar is a California State University San Marcos alumna. She graduated with her degree in Communications, Sociology and Ethnic Studies. Saldivar worked at the Cross-Cultural Center from 2004-2007 and was also involved in the Asian Pacific Islander Student Society, Kamalayan Alliance, and with Associated Students Incorporated (student government). In her interview, Saldivar discusses how the Cross-Cultural Center provided her with a sense of belonging on campus and served as a second home. Saldivar explains how the center provided her with lifelong friendships, skills and connections that has helped her become the person she is today. Saldivar recounts how the CCC provided a safe space, allowing for conversations with others that are often deemed controversial, and how the center encouraged those to constantly seek knowledge.
Caudell, Diania. Interview transcript. October 27, 2022.
Basket making
Education -- Native Americans
Luiseño Indians
Interview with Diania Caudell focused on her Native American ancestry as well as her past occupation as an accountant. Also included is her implementation of Native American education in the San Juan Capistrano School District and how her back injury led her to become a basket weaver. This interview was recorded as part of the North County Oral History Initiative, a partnership between California State University San Marcos and San Marcos Historical Society & Heritage Park. This initiative was generously funded by the Center for Engaged Scholarship at CSU San Marcos. The end of the transcript contains a glossary and a poem written by Caudell in 2003 in the Luiseño language, with English translation.
Diania Caudell
Linda Kallas
Luiseño
CaudellDiania _KallasLinda_2022-10-17_transcript.mp4
Escondido (Calif.)
Oceanside (Calif.)
San Juan Capistrano (Calif.)
Caudell, Diania. Interview October 27, 2022
Interview with Diania Caudell focused on her Native American ancestry as well as her past occupation as an accountant. Also included is her implementation of Native American education in the San Juan Capistrano School District and how her back injury led her to become a basket weaver. The written transcription of this interview also contains a glossary and poem in Luiseño with English translation, written by Caudell in 2003.
California State University San Marcos. Student Academic Services Outreach Program
California State University San Marcos. Student Affirmative Action
Education, Higher
Mural painting and decoration
Dr. Dilcie Perez is Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs for the CSU, as well as a California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) alumna. She graduated with her degree in Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. In this interview, Perez explains how CSUSM was ahead of its time in regards to DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) work; however at the beginning of her employment with CSUSM, the university did not have Multicultural Programs (the predecessor to the Cross-Cultural Center). Perez recalls her work with Multicultural Programs, including her being offered the opportunity to open the program upon tendering her resignation to the university.
Dilcie Perez
Jennifer Ho
Perez, Dilcie. Interview transcription, May 30th, 2023.
Aaron Williams