Nazareth Donjoian Oral History Interview

armed forces, Armenian, business, Granite City, immigration, Lincoln Place, World War II

Donjoian, Nazareth, “Nazareth Donjoian Oral History Interview,” Madison Historical, accessed December 31, 2024, https://madison-historical.siue.edu/archive/items/show/852.

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This oral history interview with Nazareth Donjoian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Naz, as he is better known by, was bom November 22, 1924. His father was a chef and ran a tavern and boarding house for many years. Naz also owned and ran a tavern for a number of years. While in high school, Naz got a job at the U.S. Army depot just down the street and worked there for part of his senior year. After graduation, he worked there a short period of time at the depot before being drafted, he entered the U.S. Army in June 1943 and was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps. He received training as a airplane and engine mechanic and spent a total of32 months in the military. The war ended before he was shipped overseas and upon discharge he returned to Granite City. He had return rights to his former job at the depot. After being home for two weeks and listening to his dad constantly asking him when he was going to get a job, Naz returned to work a the depot. He held a number of jobs and over the years suffered a number of Reduction In Force (RIF) realignments of personnel. However, after each RIF he was fortunate enough to move up in pay grade and after forty two years of combined military and civilian service, retired as a GS-12.

• Louisa H. Bowen University Archives and Special Collections

Fall 2001 Granite City Oral History Interviews

• Lincoln Place
• Granite City

Donjoian, Nazareth

November 3, 2001

• Lincoln Place

• Oral History

• mp3
• pdf

• 1:24:51

Wasson, William D.

Donjoian, Nazareth

Granite City, Illinois

244 kbit/s

• Donjoian-Nazareth-O-001
• Original archive accession number: A02:45