Frank Zamarripa:  

My family brought me into this country in 1951. My home language was only Spanish. During High School, I was a mediocre student because in those days we lived on the ‚œother side of the rail road track. I had a hard time getting anyone to help me become a better student. A couple of coaches actually laughed at me when I asked for help. So I finally figured it out. The only way to make it in life, was to do it yourself, with God on your side. So to get what I needed, what I wanted, I had to leave the Rio Grande Valley. During those times, it was still hard for a Mexica-American to get ahead without a strong mentor. So even if it hurt leaving my family behind, for the future of my family, I left, not looking back, but a little sad. I Joined the Army during the Vietnam crisis. After I left, I finally realized that If I was going to make it better, it was up to me, and that was the road I took, eventually obtaining a BA from Texas A&I in Kingsville, MA University of Oklahoma, and Post grad degree sponsored by the Army. During my 25 years in the Army, I was selected to work in the United Stated Medical Research Institute, at fort Detrick< Maryland. There I was assigned to the research laboratories, where the Scientists did Microbiology related research and studies. The Army gives soldiers amazing opportunities, but also responsibilities. This was a dangerous position working with new bacteriological and viral organisms, but this job propelled me into further studies and ultimately responsible for me getting ahead academically. After ten years of Army lab work, I went on to do what I always wanted to do and that was able to fight racism and oppression where ever life took me. I was in Texas, Japan, Germany, Austria, Washington, D.C., Kentucky, California, and thanks to my new attitude, and the University of Oklahoma that gave me a chance , I did very well in combating discrimination, but this time, using professionalism and working within the government in official programs. Later I went into counseling, worked with most of the Indian tribes in the USA, Alaska and Hawaii, and met a lot of good people that made my life worthwhile. I was happy as I was working with my "roots." I am 55% Native American. After shifting gears twice more, finally, I retired as an investigator working for EEOC in Dallas and later Houston. I interacted with the Kickapoo tribe which is an Algonquin ancient tribe from the Northeast and still speak the language that they did when the Pilgrims came to America. From these native American...Expand for more