Charley Trujillo
Encyclopedia
Charley Trujillo is a Chicano
novelist, editor, publisher, and filmmaker. He is known for his novel and documentary Soldados: Chicanos in Việt Nam.
in 1949, as one of seven children of Raymond and Guadalupe Trujillo. Raymond Trujillo’s family moved to Sweetwater, Texas from Silao Guanajuato, Mexico in 1908. Guadalupe Trujillo’s family had been in Texas since before the Texas Annexation
in 1848.Raymond Trujillo moved to California when he was one-year-old and had received a sixth grade education and eventually served in World War II
. Guadalupe Trujillo had only received a second grade education and moved to California when she turned fourteen. The family settled in Corcoran, California
where they picked cotton. Charley Trujillo was raised in Corcoran, in a typical Latino farm working family. Charley Trujillo worked in the fields with his family and attended Corcoran High school. Growing up in the 1960s he endured Corporal Punishment
from the educators for speaking Spanish in the classroom. He faced discrimination in school and out of this family and fellow Chicanos. The segregation was emotionally damaging; however helped Charley preserve his Hispanic culture despite being a second generation Latino.
and Bronze Star Medal
. During his time in Vietnam, a piece of shrapnel landed in his right eye destroying his eye and making him a Disabled War Veteran. He served the U.S. Army from 1968 until 1970.
. Once relieved of illness Charley went to work in the fields, however decided that he did not want to do menial for the rest of his life. Charley was able to pursue an education through the G.I. Bill and working part-time jobs. He attended Fresno City College from 1971 to 1972 and then Transferred to UC Berkeley where he received his BA in Chicano studies as class of 1976. He continued in the Teaching Credential Program in 1977. From there he continued his education at San Jose State University
earning his MA in Chicano Studies.
on PBS
from 2003–2008 and then aired nationally on PBS in 2003 and 2004. Charley Trujillo has lectured at over 60 universities and colleges, nationally and internationally.
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
novelist, editor, publisher, and filmmaker. He is known for his novel and documentary Soldados: Chicanos in Việt Nam.
Early life
Charley Trujillo was born in Hanford, CaliforniaHanford, California
Hanford is an important commercial and cultural center in the south central San Joaquin Valley and is the county seat of Kings County, California. It is the principal city of the Hanford-Corcoran, California Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Kings County, including the cities...
in 1949, as one of seven children of Raymond and Guadalupe Trujillo. Raymond Trujillo’s family moved to Sweetwater, Texas from Silao Guanajuato, Mexico in 1908. Guadalupe Trujillo’s family had been in Texas since before the Texas Annexation
Texas Annexation
In 1845, United States of America annexed the Republic of Texas and admitted it to the Union as the 28th state. The U.S. thus inherited Texas's border dispute with Mexico; this quickly led to the Mexican-American War, during which the U.S. captured additional territory , extending the nation's...
in 1848.Raymond Trujillo moved to California when he was one-year-old and had received a sixth grade education and eventually served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Guadalupe Trujillo had only received a second grade education and moved to California when she turned fourteen. The family settled in Corcoran, California
Corcoran, California
Corcoran is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Corcoran is located south-southeast of Hanford, at an elevation of 207 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
where they picked cotton. Charley Trujillo was raised in Corcoran, in a typical Latino farm working family. Charley Trujillo worked in the fields with his family and attended Corcoran High school. Growing up in the 1960s he endured Corporal Punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
from the educators for speaking Spanish in the classroom. He faced discrimination in school and out of this family and fellow Chicanos. The segregation was emotionally damaging; however helped Charley preserve his Hispanic culture despite being a second generation Latino.
War Experience
Two weeks after graduating Corcoran high school in 1968, Charley Trujillo enlisted in the U.S. Army. Charley was not drafted, he chose to sign up for the army for the experience and to mature out of his hometown. He served in Germany as an infantryman in 1969. From there he volunteered for Vietnam. He served there as a sergeant in the infantry, earning both a Purple HeartPurple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
and Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
. During his time in Vietnam, a piece of shrapnel landed in his right eye destroying his eye and making him a Disabled War Veteran. He served the U.S. Army from 1968 until 1970.
Post-War
Charley Trujillo had a difficult time on his arrival back to America. The first thing Charley did when coming out of the military was go to church and light a candle for his then, recently deceased grandmother and gave thanks. He was then bed ridden with malaria three different times. Charley realized how much the war negatively affected all those involved and joined the Vietnam Veterans Against the WarVietnam Veterans Against the War
Vietnam Veterans Against the War is a tax-exempt non-profit organization and corporation, originally created to oppose the Vietnam War. VVAW describes itself as a national veterans' organization that campaigns for peace, justice, and the rights of all United States military veterans...
. Once relieved of illness Charley went to work in the fields, however decided that he did not want to do menial for the rest of his life. Charley was able to pursue an education through the G.I. Bill and working part-time jobs. He attended Fresno City College from 1971 to 1972 and then Transferred to UC Berkeley where he received his BA in Chicano studies as class of 1976. He continued in the Teaching Credential Program in 1977. From there he continued his education at San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
earning his MA in Chicano Studies.
Career
From 1978 to 1991 Charley Trujillo was a professor of Ethnic Studies, Social Sciences and Chicano Studies at De Anza College. Charley felt as though Chicanos are a demographic that have been neglected in society. He then decided to document the experience of the Chicano soldiers in the war. He put together Soldados: Chicanos in Việt Nam, an accumulation of 19 Chicano war stories. He went to over 70 publishers and had his book rejected every time. His frustration led him to create his own Publishing company in 1990. Charley Trujillo is the Founder and currently editor and publisher of Chusma House Publications. The Chusma House Publications decided to focus on works of worth and significance rather than novels designed for commercial purposes. The Publication company has now published over 30 titles by other authors of different ethnicities. Nationally, 38 colleges and universities have used Soldados as a textbook. The book has also been successful in the popular literature market. He also wrote Dogs From Illusion, another Viet Nam war novel. He later moved on developing a movie version of his book. Charley directed and co-produced the documentary Soldados: Chicanos in Việt Nam for with Sonya Rhee, in 2003. The documentary aired regionally on for POVPOV
POV may refer to:* Parliament of Victoria, Australia* Persistence of vision, a theory addressing the visual phenomenon of image retention** POV toy or device, a device that displays an image to a viewer by displaying one piece at a time in rapid succession and in varied locations* Point of view **...
on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
from 2003–2008 and then aired nationally on PBS in 2003 and 2004. Charley Trujillo has lectured at over 60 universities and colleges, nationally and internationally.