Miguel Ángel Escalera
Item
Title
Miguel Ángel Escalera
Subject
Dominican Immigrants|Dominican Veterans|Dominicans in Politics|Dominicans in the United States|Rafael Leónidas Trujillo|World War II
Creator
CUNY Dominican Studies Institute
Source
The Escalera Family, Edward De Jesús
Publisher
Date
1921 - Present
Contributor
Edward De Jesús, Principal Investigator / Curator
Ruth Lizardi, Coordinator / Assistant Curator
Dr. Ramona Hernández, Director, CUNY DSI & Professor of Sociology, The City College of New York
Anthony Stevens-Acevedo, Assistant Director
Idilio Gracia Peña, Chief Archivist
Sarah Aponte, Chief Librarian
Jessy J. Pérez, Archivist
Jhensen Ortiz, Assistant Librarian
Groana G. Meléndez, Photography Editor
Norma Guzmán and Donald Mounts, Researchers
Dr. Tim Williams, Senior Editor
Mariel Acosta, Katie Duarte, Shaday Fermín, and Anthony Stevens-Acevedo, Editors
John P. Bimbiras, Edward De Jesús, Jhensen Ortiz, Jessy J. Pérez, Sophia Monegro and Natalie A. Studt, Biography Text Writers
Isabelia Herrera, Grant Writer
Javier Pichardo, Graphic Artist
Sponsor: CUNY Dominican Studies Institute
Sponsor: Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York
Sponsor: Latino Americans: 500 Years - National Endowment for the Humanities
Sponsor: American Library Association
Sponsor: New York City Council
Sponsor: Smithsonian Latino Center
Sponsor: Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro)
Sponsor: The Documentary Forum - CCNY Center for Film, Journalism, and Interactive Media
Sponsor: Dominican Students Association
Format
24" x 36" panel
Language
English
Biographical Text
Miguel Ángel Escalera was born on January 20, 1921, in La Romana, Dominican Republic. He moved to New York City on July 2, 1940 at the age of 19. During WWII, Escalera enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 3, 1942. He served as a Technician 5th Grade in the 100th infantry Division, helping to supply ammunition to the front lines. In 1944, he was an infantry sergeant and led a platoon of 30 soldiers through Germany. Escalera was awarded the Silver Star Medal of gallantry in action while engaged in combat after saving the lives of his entire platoon in an ambush in Germany. Other decorations include two Presidential Unit Citations, two Combat Bronze Stars, a Combat Expert Infantry Badge, and a medal from the government of France for his role in the liberation of the Town of Bitche.
After his service in the military, he worked as a plant manager for the Heifetz Co., a manufacturer of lamp fixtures. In 1957, Escalera moved to Clinton, Connecticut when the company relocated. In Clinton, Escalera joined the American Legion where he became a volunteer assisting older veterans. As a result of his service to his community, Escalera was selected five times to the Board of Selectmen, worked with the town's Board of Ethics, the Affordable Housing Committee, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Historical Commission. He remained an advocate for Clinton's older citizens for more than three decades. In 1990, he received the Clinton Chamber of Commerce Annual Award of Distinction for Public Service; and in 1991, he received a Successful Aging award sponsored by Connecticut Community Care Inc., a nonprofit homecare organization for elderly and disabled people. Today he lives a quiet life with his family.
After his service in the military, he worked as a plant manager for the Heifetz Co., a manufacturer of lamp fixtures. In 1957, Escalera moved to Clinton, Connecticut when the company relocated. In Clinton, Escalera joined the American Legion where he became a volunteer assisting older veterans. As a result of his service to his community, Escalera was selected five times to the Board of Selectmen, worked with the town's Board of Ethics, the Affordable Housing Committee, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Historical Commission. He remained an advocate for Clinton's older citizens for more than three decades. In 1990, he received the Clinton Chamber of Commerce Annual Award of Distinction for Public Service; and in 1991, he received a Successful Aging award sponsored by Connecticut Community Care Inc., a nonprofit homecare organization for elderly and disabled people. Today he lives a quiet life with his family.
Citation
CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, “Miguel Ángel Escalera,” Fighting for Democracy: Dominican Veterans from World War II, accessed November 16, 2024, https://staging.ccnydigitalscholarship.org/dominican-veterans/items/show/38.