thedrifter
10-15-07, 07:26 AM
Hispanic-American soldiers key in war
Often overlooked, they've served in all major conflicts
THELMA GUERRERO
Statesman Journal
October 15, 2007
They've sacrificed in defense of the nation's freedom dating back to the American Revolution, yet Hispanic-American soldiers remain a force largely overlooked.
"Whether you were Hispanic or any other ethnicity, you were much less likely to be written about in the history books because military units tended to be run by whites, so their contributions weren't documented," said Warren Aney, a military historian with the Oregon Military Department.
Hispanic-American soldiers have put their boots on the ground in every major United States military conflict, and have contributed their share of heroes.
"It's time we get the credit we deserve," said Salem resident Jorge Arias, a staff sergeant with the Oregon Army National Guard who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005.
"At the same time, Hispanic-American youths would have role models to look up to," Arias said. "They need to know that our culture has heroes among us in those soldiers who have given their lives in service to our nation."
Salem resident Michael F. Valdez agrees.
He's a retired Oregon Army National Guard colonel who served as a Marine infantry officer during the Vietnam War.
"We served this nation, and we served it with pride," Valdez said. "It would be nice if Hispanic youths could read in the history books about the 40 Hispanics who have received the Medal of Honor."
At least 4,000 Hispanics fought for the nation's independence during the American Revolution, according to Department of Defense statistics.
The department does not have a breakdown of Hispanics soldiers by state, said Les' Melnyk, a Pentagon spokesman.
Few people know that Hispanic military contributions extend to the American Revolution, said Pilar O'Leary, the director of the Smithsonian Latino Center, which promotes Hispanic exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution.
"The fact that Hispanic-Americans fought alongside Anglo-Americans to help obtain independence from Britain is not taught in U.S. classrooms or history books," O'Leary said.
Textbooks also fail to mention the participation of Hispanic soldiers in the Civil War.
Initially, some 2,500 Hispanics went to war for the Confederacy, while 950 volunteered for service in the Union Army, according to the Department of Defense.
By the end of the bloody struggle in 1865, almost 10,000 Hispanics had served in regular or volunteer units.
By World War I, an unprecedented 18,000 Hispanics, namely Puerto Ricans who had been granted citizenship, took up arms in the global conflict, which took place primarily in Europe.
But their efforts were thwarted as the military had become rife with discrimination against Hispanics. Segregated early on, most of them were sent to the Panama Canal to guard against an enemy attack.
During World War II, hundreds of thousands of Hispanic-Americans responded to President Roosevelt's call to service, where they had the highest percentage of Medal of Honor recipients of any ethnic group.
Many were first-generation Americans who had to fight to prove they were citizens.
For many, the experience became an eye-opener, as their contributions to the war taught them that they were as fast and as strong as their white counterparts.
The awareness led to the rejection of a long-standing belief within the community that Hispanics had a place in society and that place was beneath other races, O'Leary said.
The war encouraged the Hispanic soldiers to see themselves more fully as Americans and once home, they were unwilling to accept second-class status, she said.
From 1950 to 1953, nearly 150,000 Hispanics served in the Korean War, with most serving in the Army and Marines. Ten Hispanics received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroism during the three-year war.
Hispanics also contributed during the war in Vietnam, with 14 receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to the defense department.
"Hispanic-Americans have continued to proudly serve in all post-Vietnam deployments and conflicts, including Afghanistan and Iraq," said Charles Abell, the principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
tguerrero@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6815
By the numbers
The numbers of Hispanic-Americans who have served in the nation's major wars are:
American Revolution (1775-1783): 4,000
Civil War (1861-1865): 10,000
World War I (1914-191 : 18,000
World War II (1939-1945): 500,000
Korean War (1950-1953): 43,400
Vietnam War (1963-1973): 80,000
Persian Gulf War (1990-1991): 25,000
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Defense
Ellie
Often overlooked, they've served in all major conflicts
THELMA GUERRERO
Statesman Journal
October 15, 2007
They've sacrificed in defense of the nation's freedom dating back to the American Revolution, yet Hispanic-American soldiers remain a force largely overlooked.
"Whether you were Hispanic or any other ethnicity, you were much less likely to be written about in the history books because military units tended to be run by whites, so their contributions weren't documented," said Warren Aney, a military historian with the Oregon Military Department.
Hispanic-American soldiers have put their boots on the ground in every major United States military conflict, and have contributed their share of heroes.
"It's time we get the credit we deserve," said Salem resident Jorge Arias, a staff sergeant with the Oregon Army National Guard who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005.
"At the same time, Hispanic-American youths would have role models to look up to," Arias said. "They need to know that our culture has heroes among us in those soldiers who have given their lives in service to our nation."
Salem resident Michael F. Valdez agrees.
He's a retired Oregon Army National Guard colonel who served as a Marine infantry officer during the Vietnam War.
"We served this nation, and we served it with pride," Valdez said. "It would be nice if Hispanic youths could read in the history books about the 40 Hispanics who have received the Medal of Honor."
At least 4,000 Hispanics fought for the nation's independence during the American Revolution, according to Department of Defense statistics.
The department does not have a breakdown of Hispanics soldiers by state, said Les' Melnyk, a Pentagon spokesman.
Few people know that Hispanic military contributions extend to the American Revolution, said Pilar O'Leary, the director of the Smithsonian Latino Center, which promotes Hispanic exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution.
"The fact that Hispanic-Americans fought alongside Anglo-Americans to help obtain independence from Britain is not taught in U.S. classrooms or history books," O'Leary said.
Textbooks also fail to mention the participation of Hispanic soldiers in the Civil War.
Initially, some 2,500 Hispanics went to war for the Confederacy, while 950 volunteered for service in the Union Army, according to the Department of Defense.
By the end of the bloody struggle in 1865, almost 10,000 Hispanics had served in regular or volunteer units.
By World War I, an unprecedented 18,000 Hispanics, namely Puerto Ricans who had been granted citizenship, took up arms in the global conflict, which took place primarily in Europe.
But their efforts were thwarted as the military had become rife with discrimination against Hispanics. Segregated early on, most of them were sent to the Panama Canal to guard against an enemy attack.
During World War II, hundreds of thousands of Hispanic-Americans responded to President Roosevelt's call to service, where they had the highest percentage of Medal of Honor recipients of any ethnic group.
Many were first-generation Americans who had to fight to prove they were citizens.
For many, the experience became an eye-opener, as their contributions to the war taught them that they were as fast and as strong as their white counterparts.
The awareness led to the rejection of a long-standing belief within the community that Hispanics had a place in society and that place was beneath other races, O'Leary said.
The war encouraged the Hispanic soldiers to see themselves more fully as Americans and once home, they were unwilling to accept second-class status, she said.
From 1950 to 1953, nearly 150,000 Hispanics served in the Korean War, with most serving in the Army and Marines. Ten Hispanics received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroism during the three-year war.
Hispanics also contributed during the war in Vietnam, with 14 receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to the defense department.
"Hispanic-Americans have continued to proudly serve in all post-Vietnam deployments and conflicts, including Afghanistan and Iraq," said Charles Abell, the principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
tguerrero@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6815
By the numbers
The numbers of Hispanic-Americans who have served in the nation's major wars are:
American Revolution (1775-1783): 4,000
Civil War (1861-1865): 10,000
World War I (1914-191 : 18,000
World War II (1939-1945): 500,000
Korean War (1950-1953): 43,400
Vietnam War (1963-1973): 80,000
Persian Gulf War (1990-1991): 25,000
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Defense
Ellie