New ViewFinder Episodes Examine Local WWII Stories

Serving one of the four communities featured by Ken Burns in THE WAR, KVIE Public Television is proud to offer local initiatives to both educate and enrich our community with three local documentaries.

Fighting Port: Stockton in WWII, September 19, 7:30pm
This documentary features Stockton’s contribution to the war effort with a look at the Stockton Warbird Group, the shipyard, the Stockton Jeep Project, an account of the people who kept the city going while many of its residents were away at war, and a look at a series of letters written between Stockton soldiers and their loved ones back home. This program is funded by a grant from the Cortopassi Family Foundation. More>

Valentía: Mexican-Americans in WWII, September 26, 7:30pm
This original production captures the experiences of Mexican-Americans during WWII, the heroism they displayed, and the sacrifices they made to preserve our freedom. Veterans from all branches of our armed forces in Texas, Arizona, and California share their stories. Among them is Silvestre Herrera, a Latino soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for injuries suffered in battle. Also featured are women who participated in the war effort, such as Henrietta Lopez Rivas, who used her excellent bilingual skills to work at the local Civil Defense office and later as a mechanic at Kelly Air Base in San Antonio. A number of key experts and historians, including Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez of the University of Texas at Austin, contributed to this documentary. More>

Warriors With Wings: Valley Air Bases in WWII, October 3, 7:30pm
This documentary features interviews with local men and women who worked at the Mather, McClellan, and Travis airfields during WWII. Accompanied by archival footage, the program will examine the main function of the airfields and how the war affected each community. The program also spotlights how local Japanese communities contributed to the war effort, and how the internment camps impacted those communities. The program also looks at population growth, the economic impact of women in the workforce, and how the region was permanently changed by the air bases. More>

The ViewFinder series is underwritten by Allied Insurance and SAFE Credit Union.