Morenci

Morenci is the largest copper mine in North America. Just before Richard started working there, they had set the world record for the highest production open pit mine in the world – 12.4 million tons of material were moved in 24 hours. It is geographically located in eastern Arizona. The mine is run by a company called Phelps Dodge. Approximately 2,000 people work at the mine. (“Morenci Copper Mine”) In the mid 90’s Richard Arstein was working at Caterpillar Proving Grounds, south of Tucson, as a test engineer. People there are only supposed to work for three to five years since it was a unique experience and an experience that they needed more people in the company to have, and he had been there five when an opportunity came up. There was a new exchange program in which Caterpillar and Phelps Dodge would trade employees for a while, and Richard signed up. He…

What sacrifices do small town communities make when its younger generation goes off to war? In Kyle Longley’s book, the Morenci Marines, he focuses on nine young men that take up the honor and patriotism to leave their small Arizona town to join the marine corp. Longley focuses on the story of how such wars impact small communities when a vast majority of its younger populations leaves to serve its country. With their service in the Marines, their lives along with their friends and family’s…

Los Mineros was the name given to miners who resided in Clifton-Morenci between 1903-1950 and who managed to unionize and obtain equal pay after years of fighting with both the mining company and themselves. Their battle stretched for five decades and was affected by numerous events ranging from the Mexican Revolution to World War 2 each affecting them in a unique way and pushing them forward. The Mexican Revolution in 1910 was one of the first major events that influenced Los Mineros struggle…

STAFF SERGEANT VICTOR V. CERVANTEZ MORENCI Army Air Corps Entered Service in December 1941 Gunner on B-24 409th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group European Theater, 8th Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 OLC Victor was 18 years old when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 1, 1941. Just six days later, the US entered the Second World War when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. During the great mobilization period of 1942 and 1943, Victor was stationed for…

Development Center in downtown Lansing, Michigan. My goal while there was to integrate recent refugees into American society. My first task was to help the refugees better understand English, but language and cultural barriers made communication difficult. After weeks of frustration, I asked myself, “Why?” – I wasn’t getting paid and I wasn’t receiving college credit, but as I stepped back I realized that none of that mattered because for three hours a week these families had hope. (insert…

matter where you go, you have to set goals to communicate with the different kinds of people you meet in life, whether it is from writing or talking to them. On the day of the move, my siblings and I cried for maybe 3 hours when leaving town and I realized my life would be changed drastically. The trip was an eternal 18 hour, melancholy, blank drive. Most of the time I stayed up looking at the shining stars thinking of all the things I had to leave behind, while we drove for the rest of the…

1) What is your BHAG? (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) Currently, my goal is to gain employment to decrease debt during my attendance at Eastern Arizona College and Arizona State University. However, obtaining employment here in Morenci, I feel that chances are low. However, I hope to overcome the obstacles by continuing to apply any type of positions to increase my chances of obtaining employment. However, the BHAG, is to attend graduate school to acquire a Masters of Business Administration (MBA).…

to their knees, they hit union members and their families at the core; targeting first their livelihood, followed by their homes, medical care, and civil rights. Even during a natural disaster, the Phelps Dodge Corporation failed to assist the community even though they were neighbors living in a remote location where help was limited. The reckless and intentional actions of Phelps Dodge put lives in jeopardy time and time again. Miners and their families reacted, as any of us would, with…