Carlos Miguel Larrosa Perez writes while sitting on a bed inside one of the barracks, taken by the La Crosse Tribune photographer William J. Lizdas on May 31, 1980. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
These photos, provided by Fort McCoy and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, are from the summer and fall of 1980, when thousands of Cuban refugees stayed at the Fort McCoy military base in Sparta, Wisconsin, after coming to the United States via the Mariel Boatlift.
Refugees could not get out of Fort McCoy without a family member or sponsor vouching for them. They stayed at the base until getting sponsored, or until being transferred to Fort Chaffee in Arkansas or Wyalusing State Park near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
“Fort McCoy is a perfect example of how living in the middle of a secluded, guarded military base with barbed wire fence around you and being looked over by military police for months would send that message to future migrants from the Caribbean and Central America to not engage in migrating into the United States,” said Omar Granados, associate professor of Spanish and Latin American studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and co-host of “Uprooted.”
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While parts of Fort McCoy were dangerous, some refugees made lifelong friends and found ways to create community.
For more information about the Mariel refugees’ time at Fort McCoy, check out episode 5 of “Uprooted.”
Volunteers from the La Crosse, Wisconsin, Seventh Day Adventist Church stack “comfort kits” for issue to incoming refugees. The kits contain various articles of clothing and toiletries. Sp5 Bruce Puckett/U.S. Army photoA black and white photograph featuring an unidentified military personnel member standing near freshly made beds inside one of the barracks, taken by the La Crosse Tribune photographer Steve Noffke on May 19, 1980. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseAn elderly refugee is assisted deplaning, taken by the La Crosse Tribune photographer Steve Noffke on June 3, 1980. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseCuban refugees standing in line at Fort McCoy, likely waiting to be processed, with some individuals speaking with staff member. Taken by La Crosse Tribune photographer Ed Huebner on May 29, 1980. Photo courtesy of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Freedom Flotilla CollectionNew arrivals to Fort McCoy await inprocessing at the tent city building area at Fort McCoy. Sandra Hendricks/U.S. Army photo A young couple moves from the tent city holding area to the inprocessing center. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoSecond lieutenant Francisco Gonzalez of the 759th MP Battalion guides a group of refugees from the tent city holding area to the inprocessing center at Fort McCoy. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoConcertina wire used to prevent fence-jumping surrounds the Cuban Juvenile Compound at Fort McCoy in Sparta, Wisconsin, in July 1980. U.S. Army photoA view of the 800 area of the compound which was isolated from the rest at a maximum security detention area for Cuban refugees. Randy Cowden/U.S. Army photoEach refugee received two complete changes of clothing as well as shoes on their arrival to the fort. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoCuban refugees at Fort McCoy in 1980 enjoy one of their favorite pastimes — playing cards and gambling for cigarettes — a form of money in the compound. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoElderly Cuban refugees, housed in the family area of the compound, play a game of checkers at a picnic table near their barracks. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoLeandro De Armas-Rodriguez displays his hand-painted t-shirt with the emblem of the Cuban Youth Program on it. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoThe men of building 712 fabricate a sign wishing all Americans a happy Fourth of July at Fort McCoy in 1980. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoCuban refugee children are all smiles during the giving out of balloons and flags as part of the Fourth of July celebration. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoA Cuban refugee displays his tattooed back. That tattoo is a depiction of Saint Barbara. This refugee was part of the Self-Help program that stayed later to clean the evacuated barracks. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoTwo refugees who identified as gay sit together at Fort McCoy. Many Cubans fled the island because of Fidel Castro’s rhetoric and laws around the LGBTQ+ community. They continued to face discrimination throughout their resettlement. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoCarlos Leopoldo Garcia Calineau shows his safe conduct visa to an interpreter at the refugee resettlement center. Randy Cowden/U.S. Army photoCivilian Darrell Pingel (plaid shirt) is a driver for the PSYOPS sound truck. He’s accompanied by Vicki Ferrer, a civilian interpreter. They talk to Cubans one day in the family area of the compound. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoWill Ferguson (right) talking with people at Fort McCoy in 1980. Photo courtesy Will FergusonHarry Lengman, an electronics engineer for FEMA, runs the soundboard for the Cuban radio station, WRPC, The Voice of Liberty. The station was started in late June 1980 by Lt. John Bachelor of St. Schnelling, Minneapolis, Minn. 60th PSYOPS Army Reserve Unit. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoRamiro Matos Nao always draws a crowd when he walks around the Fort McCoy compound with his guitar. A professional singer in Cuba, he fled to the United States last week and is the refugees’ celebrity at Fort McCoy. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse A black and white photograph featuring four unidentified refugees rehearsing for a radio broadcast at Fort McCoy, taken by the La Crosse Tribune photographer Bill White. The photograph was included in the article titled “McCoy rocks with Latin rhythms,” written by Bill White and published in the La Crosse Tribune on July 23, 1980. Image or Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseCuban refugees await sponsors while in the compound, sitting on the bridge. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoKaryn Rotker, of Madison, aids refugees in their final clearance at the out-processing station. These refugees most likely went to Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoSandy Swain, of Madison, a Physician’s assistant, takes a look at the bruised arm of Juan Antonio Caraballo, a Cuban youth waiting for resettlement. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoJohn Jakielo of the 86th Combat Support Hospital stitches up a head injury for Pedro Mendes Cruz, one of the refugees. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoDoctor Reed Bullen of the Letterman Army Medical center examines Omar Peinado, a Cuban refugee at Fort McCoy. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoA refugee lends a hand to a civilian engineer placing signs around the perimeter of the Fort McCoy compound. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoThe photograph by La Crosse Tribune photographer William J. Lizdas was included in the article titled “U.S. spends $18 million on refugees in Wisconsin,” written by Bill White and published in the La Crosse Tribune Special Edition, “In Search of Freedom: The Cuban Odyssey,” published on October 20, 1980. The photograph caption reads: “Breakfast in one of the mess halls is part of the expense of operating a refugee center. Officials said it cost $3.40 a day for meals for each Cuban refugee. The total food bill for the refugees was under the $700,000 budget, officials said. Overall, the government spent about $21 million on the refugee program at Fort McCoy this summer.” Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseA black and white photograph featuring a large group of refugees listening to a religious ceremony, taken by the La Crosse Tribune photographer William J. Lizdas on June 1, 1980. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseA religious altar refugees made at Fort McCoy. Photo courtesy Fort McCoyLuis Naranjo Soca, alias, Billy Joel Blaco, poses in a hand-painted shirt and a hat someone had made for him. Billy Joel gained fame when “Billy Joel Blano was here” signs began appearing all over Fort McCoy. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoA father holds his toddler son on his shoulders while being interviewed. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoCuban juveniles enjoy a tour of the Wisconsin State Capitol in October 1980. Ronald Munia/U.S. Army photoCuban juveniles enjoy a swim at the pool in the base field house. These juveniles were from the honors barracks. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoCuban youth seeing snow for the first time waste no time making snowballs. Not all the youth had gloves, but it didn’t seem to matter. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoA dammed-up drainage ditch in the 500 block of the refugee compound converts to a Cuban Refugee Beach, or “Playa del Refugiados Cubanos.” Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoCuban unaccompanied minors rush to get on the bus at Luisa State Park. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoUnidentified refugees walk along a fence, taken by the La Crosse Tribune. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseAntomo Soto, left, says he won 4 medals playing soccer in Cuba. He never played outside of Cuba. It doesn’t take a game or a team to interest Antomo Soto, who fields a soccer ball on the main street at the refugee compound. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse A black and white photograph of Daniel Martinez Izquierdo inside one of the barracks, taken by the La Crosse Tribune. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse A soldier with nightstick in hand sits in the streets in front of the single men’s compund at Fort McCoy. The posts behind him are the only remnants of a chain link fence that was torn down by refugees. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Unidentified refugees read an issue of the La Crosse Tribune that features stories about other refugees at Fort McCoy. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse A black and white photograph featuring unidentified refugees cutting fabric, taken by the La Crosse Tribune photographer Dick Riniker on September 17, 1980. The photograph was published in the La Crosse Tribune on September 18, 1980, with the following caption: “Cuban tailor Rolando Garcia Camp, measuring on floor left above, and his apprentice, Oswaldo Rodriguez Gutierrez, left, are making coats out of Army blankets for Cuban refugees at Fort McCoy.” Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseThis photograph was included in the article titled “Rice flies at McCoy as couple marries,” published in the La Crosse Tribune on Sept. 14, 1980. That photograph caption reads: “Cuban refugees Jorge Luis Pons, 22, and his new bride, Sandra, 17, leave the Army chapel amid showers of rice Saturday after being married in a civil ceremony.” Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse A Cuban (far left) clears the INS table at the out-processing station before leaving for Wyalusing State Park. The table is staffed by (center to right) Hipolito Acosta of Chicago; Roger Wojchick of Veroqua, Wisconsin; Victor Robinson of Chicago; and Ester McDonald of Whitehall, Wisconsin. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoOne elderly refugee has accumulated quite a bit of possessions which he carries as he boards the bus to be processed out to Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photoMiguel Tamayo and his family leave Fort McCoy via the Liberty Gate heading for Los Angeles where they have relatives, taken by the La Crosse Tribune photographer Steve Noffke on June 21, 1980. Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseA black and white photograph featuring the single male quarters taken a couple of days after the refugees moved on to Fort Chaffee, taken by the La Crosse Tribune photographer William J. Lizdas. The original caption reads: “The signs of the Cuban refugees who lived in this barracks for single men remain after their departure for Fort Chaffee, Ark., earlier this month. Messy barracks, some badly damaged, may take years to repair, according to officials at Fort McCoy. The sign in Spanish tells persons not to smoke in bed.” Photo courtesy of Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseFelix, the last Cuban refugee to leave Fort McCoy (besides minors and some others with certain medical conditions), waves a final goodbye to friends. Felix was part of the Self-Help group which aided in cleaning the barracks. Mary Bower/U.S. Army photo
