Hispanic Heroes of WWII Biographies

Hispanic Heroes and Heroines of WWII Biography slides

Silvestre Herrera Lived in Phoenix January 1944 Drafted into United States Army o 36th infantry Texas Army National Guard March 1945-->Herrera helps Army capture German soldiers and wounded. Received Medal of Honor. Awarded The Order of Military Merit (Mexico) and Medal of Honor (United States) "This is an amazing country we live in and if you're not lazy and work hard, you can really make something for yourself here." Herrera shaking hands with President Harry Truman at Medal of Honor Presentation. August 23, 1945 Source: Rowe, Abbie. Photograph of President Truman Shaking hands with a Medal of Honor Recipient in a wheelchair, while other receipients and guests look on. U.S. National Archies and Records Administration. Accessed through Wikimedia commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herrera-Truman-MOH- crop.jpg

Dr. Hector P. Garcia From Mercedes, Texas Graduated University of Texas 1936; Medical school UT Galveston only Latino accepted Joined Army medical Corp in European Theater. Awarded Bronze Star 1948 Founded American G.I. Forum to combat job, education, and veteran discrimination against Mexican Americans 1984 Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom Hector P. Garcia in front of American G.I. Forum Banner circa 1950. Source: American GI Forum. Dr. H ctor P. Garc a standing in front of the American GI Forum Banner, early 1950s. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Accessed through Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hector_P._Garcia.jpg

American GI Forum Civil Rights organization founded by Hector P. Garcia Combatted systematic discrimination against Latino veterans and families Motto: "Education is our Freedom and Freedom should be Everybody's Business." Gained prominence after the Felix Longoria Affair. Congressionally chartered in 1998 Continues today, describing itself as the "Nation's oldest and largest Latino congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organization that serves all Veterans and their families." American GI Forum Logo Source: American GI Forum. https://agif-nvop.org. Accessed through Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American-GI-Forum-logo.png

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Founded in 1929 Goal: Provide access to Civil Rights denied to Hispanic Americans. Key cases involved in: o Mendez v. Westminster (1945): Segregation of Mexican Americans based on national origin, skin color, and language unconstitutional in schools o Hernandez v. Texas (1954): Latino and Latina Americans protected under the 14th amendment, broadening the equal protection clause. LULAC 2010 Seal Source: LULAC. LULAC Seal 2010. Accessed through Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LULAC-Seal-2010.png

Felix Longoria Army Private born in Three Rivers, Texas Died in the Philippines June 1944 Longoria's wife asked Three Rivers funeral home to use chapel; director denied request saying, "the whites wouldn't like that." With help of TX Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson and American G.I. Forum, Longoria was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on February 16, 1949. First Mexican American to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Felix Longoria in Uniform Source: United States Department of Defense. Portrait of Felix Z. Longoria. Accessed through Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Felix-longoria-photo-01.jpg

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) Established August 1943 Civilian women's Airforce program in which women flew non-combat missions 1,074 successfully completed the program WASP program disbanded in December 20, 1944, refusing to incorporate WASPs in the military. 1977: WASPs received veteran status. 2010: Congressional Gold Medal to WASPs. Members of WASPs checking tow schedule. Source: Women's Airforce Pilots Check the tow schedule. National Museum of the United States Air Force. Accessed through Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Women_Airforce_Service_Pilots_check_the_tow_schedule.JPG

Francis Diaz and Verneda Rodriguez Women in WASP Program Francis Diaz o Graduated from WASP program in 1943 o Ferry planes from Houston to Avenger Airfield Verneda Rodriguez o Graduated August 1944 from WASP program o Towed target for anti-aircraft guns o March 1982: First WASP buried Arlington National Cemetery Verneda G. Rodriguez in an article from the Chicago Tribune, August 20, 1944 Source: Chicago Tribune. Women at War. August 20, 1944. Accessed from Newspapers.com and clipped by megalibrarygirl. https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/35607673

Carmen Contreras First Mexican American in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Signal Corp member in North Africa Carmen Contreras Bozak Source: U.S. Army, courtesy of the U.S. Latino and Latina World War II Oral History Project. Image of Carmen Contreras Bozak. University of Texas at Austin. Accessed through Wikimedia commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carmen_Conteras_Bozak.jpg

Aztec Eagles Mexican Air force unit in the Pacific 201st Fighter Squadron cooperation with the American 58th Fighter Group Trained in San Antonio, Texas Planes: P-47 Thunderbolt Captain Gallardo: Experiences with some discrimination 1945: combat missions fighting in the Philippines and enemy targets on Formosa (Taiwan) Aztec Eagles in front of P-47D. Pictured here is Captain Radames Gaxiola Andrade with his maintenance team. Source: USAAF. Mexican air force captain Radames Gaxiola Andrade stands in front of his P-47D with his maintenance team after he returned from a combat mission. Accessed from Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aztec_Eagles_P-47D.jpg

Cleto Rodriguez Born San Marcos, Texas Joined Army 1944 oCompany B, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division Fought in the Battle of Manilla in which he earned the Medal of Honor First Mexican American to receive Medal of Honor in the Pacific Theater Cleto Rodriguez Source: U.S. Army. A Picture of Cleto Rodriguez in Uniform. Accessed through Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CletoRodriguez.png

Manuel Perez, Jr. Born in Oklahoma Volunteered to be paratrooper and served in 11th Air Borne Infantry Division, 511 Parachute Infantry Regiment Help liberate Leyte November 1944 Acts during the retaking of Manilla earned him the Medal of Honor Killed in Action March 14, 1945 in Philippine Islands Manuel Perez, Jr. Source: US Army. Private First Class Manuel Perez, Jr. Also seen in Voces Center, University of Texas at Austin. Accessed through Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manuel_Perez.jpg