I'm with ya...my grandparents came from Armenia, met in an orphanage and married when they turned 18 or so (my grandmother didn't even know her real birthday). They immigrated, LEGALLY to San Francisco. My dad told me how he and his two brothers would get apples and oranges for Christmas and be happy with it as they didn't often get fruit. He also sold newspapers when he was barely big enough to carry them. They worked hard but had fun, too.
My Grandparents, my dad, my uncles, nor any of their friends were whiny about all they went through.
My kids are pretty tough but there are times I need to remind them how easy they really have it....take them back to their "roots"!
I never heard much at all about what they went through, part of not complaining or dwelling on the past, but that sounds very familiar. I think it may have been my father who spoke of getting some fresh fruit for Christmas and thinking how special that was.