MILITARY MEMORABILIA

Memorializing a Forgotten Force

Millions of Latinos are proud of their history of military service to our nation.  To discover they have defended the USA against all enemies, from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, one must cull through volumes of research, academic dissertations, or tomes of Spanish-language and Latino literature, because this history is not common knowledge.

Among the earliest military contributions were those of General Bernardo de Galvéz de Madrid, governor of the Spanish colony of Louisiana.  He and his troops captured the critical ports of Mobile (Alabama) and Pensacola (Florida) from the British in 1780 and 1781, greatly aiding the cause of our new nation. Galvéz receives little mention for these contributions, but is credited with founding the city of Galvéz Town (now Galveston), Texas in 1778.

During the Civil War, 2,500 Tejanos sided with Confederate forces, while nearly 1,000 more served in the Union Army.  They were part of the South’s 10th Texas Cavalry, the 55th Alabama Infantry, and the 6th Missouri Infantry.  Colonel Santos Benavides of Laredo, TX, became the highest-ranking Latino in the Confederate army.  In 1864, as Commander of the 33rd Cavalry, he was responsible for repelling Union forces in Brownsville, TX.

The Union enlisted four companies of Californianos for their “extraordinary horsemanship” and at least 469 of them were assigned to Major Salvador Vallejo to defeat a Confederate invasion of New Mexico.  By the end of the civil war, nearly 10,000 Latinos had served in military units for both sides of the Civil War.

In 1866, David G. Farragut was the first U.S. naval officer ever awarded the top ranks of Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral and Admiral.  He was also the most senior naval officer during the Civil War.  Although mentioned in U.S. historical accounts for his bravery (“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”), few historical references were made about his Spanish ancestry.

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln established the Congressional Medal of Honor (MOH), the nation’ highest military award to recognize uncommon valor in combat.  It was awarded to military heroes who distinguished themselves “conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his/her life above and beyond the call of duty.”

Latinos have been awarded 43 Congressional Medals of Honor.  Among the first recipients were: Joseph H. de Castro, a Spaniard serving with the 19th Massachusetts Infantry, for bravery at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1863; Philip Bazaar, a Chilean serving in the U.S. Navy, for bravery during the assault on Fort Fisher, NC, January 1865; and John Ortega, a Spaniard serving in the U.S. Navy, for bravery aboard the USS Saratoga, December 1865.

Latinos have been substantially represented and awarded more citations and medals for “valor in combat” than most U.S. Americans realize:

In World War I, David Bennes Barkley (Laredo, TX), served in Company A, 89th Division, 356th Infantry.  He lost his life on a reconnaissance mission after swimming across the icy River Meuse in France and drawing maps of German artillery positions, which led to their destruction.  He was awarded France’s Croix de Guerre, Italy’s Croce Merito di Guerra, and the MOH.

During the Korean Conflict, the 65th Infantry Regiment from Puerto Rico (Borinqueneers) took part in nine major campaigns, earning two Presidential Unit Citations, a Meritorious Unit Commendation and two Republic of Korea Unit Citations, four Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) medals and 124 Silver Stars for heroism.

U.S. Air Force Captain Manuel J. Fernández, Jr. (Key West, FL) flew 125 combat missions with 
the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing in Korea 
and is credited with 14 solo victories, making him one of the first “aces” of the Korean War.  Captain Fernández was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and a Silver Star during his tour of duty.

U.S. Army Private First Class (PFC) Joseph Charles Rodriguez (San Bernardino, CA) was awarded the MOH for heroic actions on May 21, 1951, near Munye-ri after he single-handedly took on enemy forces occupying well-fortified positions.  Rodriguez retired from the Army after attaining the rank of Colonel.  He died November 1, 2005.

U.S. Army Corporal Rodolfo “Rudy” P. Hernández (Colton, CA) received the MOH for heroic actions on May 31, 1951, near Wonton-ni.  When a numerically sperior force attacked his platoon, driving them into retreat, Cpl. Hernández — who was critically wounded — engaged the enemy alone, allowing his comrades to regroup and re-take the position.

Army Staff Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez (Cuero, TX), Navy Lieutenant j.g. Everett Alvarez, Jr. (Salinas, CA), Army Specialist 4th Class Daniel Fernández (Albuquerque, NM), and Army Captain Euripides Rubio (Ponce, PR) exemplify the bravery and geographic diversity of the 14 Latinos awarded the MOH during the Viet Nam conflict alone.

Despite these heroics, Latinos served their country in obscurity.  The 1960 movie “From Here to Eternity” was based on the story of Marine Private First Class (PFC) Guy “Gaby” Gabaldon.  The movie accurately portrayed his capture of nearly 1,500 Japanese in the South Pacific islands of Saipan, Tinian and the Marianas.  However, the movie’s producers ignored the fact this hero was a U.S.-born Mexican-American from East Los Angeles, CA, and cast Jeffrey Hunter as an “Italian” — in deference to white movie-goers.  PFC Gabaldon was nominated for the MOH, but was instead awarded the Silver Star — later upgraded to the Navy Cross.  He still has the distinction of capturing more enemy personnel than anyone else in the annals 
of U.S. military conflicts.  He died August 11, 2006, his MOH is still pending.

Overlooking Latino military contributions was recently displayed again during the promotion of the 2008 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) TV series “The War.”  The “initial” 14.5-hour series on WWII failed to include any of the half-million Spanish-surnamed soldiers and sailors who honorably served their nation.

The U.S. Foreign Legion

Involvement in our nation’s wars has not been limited to U.S.-born Latinos.  During WWI, a Mexican immigrant became an international war hero.  Marcelino Serna, born in the state of Chihuahua in 1896, volunteered for the U.S. Army at the age of 20 and participated in some of the most rigorous campaigns of the European theater.

At Ste. Mihiel (France), Serna’s unit ran into a German machine gun post, which cost the lives of 12 U.S. soldiers. Serna charged the nest, killing six Germans and capturing eight others.  On another mission, he single-handedly captured 24 enemy soldiers and killed 26 — using only his rifle, pistol, and grenades.  The Allies awarded him their highest medals: Two French Croix de Guerre, Italy’s Croce al Merito di Guerra, the French Medaille Militaire, along with French Commemorative Medal, WW I Victory Medal (5 stars), the Victory Medal (3 campaign bars), the St. Mihiel Medal, and the Verdun Medal.  The U.S. awarded Serna the DSC — its second highest combat award, along with two Purple Hearts.  Serna died at the age of 95, a naturalized citizen and remains one of the most decorated soldiers in the history of Texas.

The country of Mexico formally supported the USA in WWII with 300 members of its 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron.  The 201st flew 59 combat missions from the Philippine Islands and became the only veterans of a foreign war in Mexican history.  Five P-47 pilots from the 201st died in the Pacific theater.

On March 21, 2003, Marine Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez of Guatemala was among those to make the ultimate sacrifice for their “country of choice.”  He died  in combat near the Iraqi port city of Umm Qas.  Cpl. Gutierrez was granted citizenship under a 2002 Executive Order allowing families of military personnel “killed in action” to apply for posthumous citizenship — a symbolic gesture that provides no benefits for the families of those killed serving while serving in our military forces.

In 2006, the U.S. Department of Defense reported 35,000 non-citizen immigrants were actively protecting us from the “threats of terrorism” in the Middle East.  The Pew Hispanic Center found Latinos collectively constituted 9.5 percent of active armed forces, yet were 17.5 percent of frontline  troops serving in Iraq.

It is time our neighbors, friends and families — and especially our children — recognize that Latinos helped to guarantee “all” U.S. citizens the freedom to pursue their dreams, regardless of skin color, ethnicity, country of origin, or language spoken.  All children and adults need to be exposed to positive examples and contributions by Latinos to the growth and progress of our nation.

 

 

About the Author

Jim Estrada is a nationally renowned expert in ethnic marketing, with over 30 years of advertising and public relations experience.  In 1992, he founded Estrada Communications Group in San Antonio, TX, which specializes in Corporate & Marketing Communications. Now based in Austin, ECG provides clients with strategic counsel related to the Hispanic Consumer Market (HCM) and Latino communities across the USA.

His agency has counseled many  of the nation’s most respected corporations, among them: Advantica (Denny’s), Anheuser-Busch Companies, AT&T Mobility (nee Cingular), HISPANIC Magazine, Lopez Foods, Marathon Oil, McDonald’s, MCI, Pizza Hut, Super Show Deportivo (NFL/TV), Univisión TV Network, Walmart, and Wells Fargo Bank.

Prior to founding ECG, Jim directed national Hispanic Consumer Marketing (HCM) for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. in St. Louis, MO. He also oversaw the development of corporate relations programs for A-B in the Southwest from Houston, TX, and supervised regional marketing and PR for McDonald’s in San Diego, CA, Phoenix/Tucson, AZ and Las Vegas, NV.

The former TV news reporter and documentary film producer is a nationally renowned writer and speaker in areas related to Hispanic marketing and Corporate/Community Relations. His first book, “The ABCs and ñ of America’s Cultural Evolution” is scheduled for publication in 2010.

A U.S.A.F veteran, he attended Mesa College; San Diego State University (Broadcast Journalism); Boston College (Center for Corporate Community Relations); and The Harvard School of Business (HACR Corporate Governance Program).

Distinguished Service Cross Recipient

Distinguished Service Cross DSC Box $39.00

The DSC DISTINGUISHED SERVICES CROSS MEDAL 1927 original card $3.08

The DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1901-1938 – WW1 BRITISH DSC AWARD RECIPIENT BOOK $65.00