So it happened around the exact same big date one to You

The fresh new unaccompanied children life style on Fort McCoy turned into the fresh court and you will financial responsibility of your state inside the September 1980, from Wisconsin Service from Health insurance and Societal Features. ” She plus placed details to their actions inside and outside the fresh new camp up to they discover family members otherwise sponsors.

They were taken to alive within Wyalusing County Playground near Prairie du Chien – a beautiful an element of the condition, the spot where the Wisconsin and you will Mississippi Streams fulfill.

“I preferred they a lot (within Wyalusing Condition Playground) because the I found myself totally free. And i felt happy,” the guy told you. “I was heading angling. I never got back difficulties indeed there.”

New family you’ll loosen up after they surely got to Wyalusing, breathe a sigh of save. Certain had knowledgeable discipline in the Fort McCoy, there try guarantee they will be more secure during the Wyalusing County Park.

As yet not known refugees assemble near a bus whenever you are visiting Wyalusing. Pictures taken by La Crosse Tribune photographer William J. Lizdas. Photos thanks to Murphy Collection Special Selections/Arch, College regarding Wisconsin-Los angeles Crosse

And you can over time, English got to me slightly

About three Cuban children regarding Fort McCoy are given their new home in the Wyalusing Condition Playground. Throughout the 85 youths were bussed to your five-building camp discovered nearby the cardiovascular system of dos,295 acre playground. 50 team regarding Fort McCoy followed them. Images pulled because of the La Crosse Tribune picture taking William J. Lizdas towards Late. step three, 1980. Images thanks to Murphy Library Special Selections/Arc, School regarding Wisconsin-Los angeles Crosse

An unfamiliar refugee lies throughout the recreation space of your own Wyalusing compund. Photographs removed because of the La Crosse Tribune photography William J. Lizdas. Pictures due to Murphy Collection Special Collections/Arch, School from Wisconsin-La Crosse

John Satory try a museum holder for the Los angeles Crosse. Just after doing work in the fresh dental clinic from the Fort McCoy during the 1980, he decided to go to manage this new minors in the Wyalusing, and dozens of Fort McCoy personnel. They arranged issues, groups and also community trips, eg roller-skating on High rollers when you look at the Los angeles Crosse.

S. Region Courtroom Federal Court Barbara Crabb during the Madison ruled most protections be put to the juveniles on Fort McCoy exactly who “was actually confronted with physical punishment, intimate attack, and physical discipline

“There can be a western, white Western, whom appreciated all of us quite and then we cherished your really. He’d simply take all of us fishing and you may walking around,” the guy told you. “And that i questioned brand new Western in the event the he could be dad one day. The guy seemed me regarding the eyes and you can don’t address me. That same evening he named myself with a keen interpreter and then he explained that yes, he would definitely get myself domestic.”

Armando leftover Wyalusing and you will moved into their brand new home that have Dennis and you may Nancy Maloney in Madison on the Dec. 13, 1980. It was their 18th birthday celebration.

Armando Rodriguez toward his eighteenth birthday during the Maloney household, seeing 1st birthday pie inside the life. Photo using Armando Rodriguez

“I was 100 percent really using them . I was enrolled in Madison Memorial where We played football for the group,” Armando told you. “I found myself better, but We kept wanting a whole lot more. I experienced lonely, I became truly the only Cuban truth be told there.”

It actually was around this day you to Armando said he been delivering on difficulties. He had been spending time with other Cubans in the region, however, the guy said it weren’t all in college or university. They the full time petty thefts like taking Baptist dating review vehicles.

“Next, my personal mentor dad stumbled on score me personally one-day and all of the newest Cubans were very happy because they knew your. The guy looked at myself and you can realized immediately you to definitely my disease was not high. He introduced me personally every my baseball equipment. The guy wanted me to work with basketball. But the guy didn’t see I happened to be already attended one other front side. You to definitely hurt me personally,” he remembered.