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Further evidence of this
discrimination occurred in the
1930s, when several million
Mexicanos were deported although
more than half were U.S.
citizens. They were deported
because of President Hoover’s
administration belief that
deportation would ease the pains
of the Great Depression. Many of
them made their way back to this
country in time to serve in our
armed services during WWII. In
order to fill the ranks of the
infantry as well as factory and
agricultural needs, the U.S.
entered into an agreement with
Mexico to allow non-U.S.
citizens to fight in our armed
services. Estimates are that at
least 200,000 Mexicanos and
thousands of Puerto Ricans and
other Hispanics served in WWII.
Many served with distinction and
valor and were awarded the Medal
of Honor and other medals for
valor, only to return to face
the same discrimination that
existed prior to the war and
sometimes by the same servicemen
they had served with in the
European and Pacific theaters.
Many VFW and American Legion
halls refused membership to
returning Hispanic veterans or
to assist them in receiving
benefits and services under the
G.I. Bill. Hispanic veterans,
however, were determined to
remedy the inequitable delivery
of veteran’s services, and they
organized into formidable groups.
There were many individuals who
overcame the effects of
discrimination and entered the
professional ranks, prospered
and provided for their families,
but they were the exceptions to
the masses that did not have the
education to take advantage of
opportunities afforded to the
general public. It is my belief
that the veterans who displayed
the attitude “Ya Basta” (Enough!)
were the major contributors to
effect change in discrimination
and prejudicial attitudes. They
changed the course of Hispanics
in this country. They were in
the forefront of the revolts in
the mines of New Mexico, Arizona
and in the farms in California.
The leadership of groups such as
the Political Associations of
Spanish Speaking Organizations (PASSO)
proved Hispanics could organize
to affect needed changes in our
communities. The emergence of
political forces that led to the
election of President Kennedy
proved that our vote did count.
The most notable veteran to
emerge out of WWII was Dr.
Hector Perez Garcia, a decorated
combat veteran and medical
doctor. It was the contentious
disservice to Mexican-American
veterans that he witnessed as a
medical doctor that motivated
him to call a meeting at which
700 veterans appeared at a local
public school to initiate an
extremely vocal and effective
organization that addressed
veterans issues, and after the
Pvt. Felix Longoria incident,
took on all major issues
effecting the entire Mexican-American
community in the southwest and
Hispanics nationwide.
Dr. Garcia founded the American
GI Forum in Corpus Christi,
Texas on March 26, 1948. He was
a friend and supporter of all
the individuals and
organizations that came forward
to change the way Hispanics were
treated and portrayed as second-class
citizens and residents of this
country. Most historians
consider Dr. Garcia as the
pioneer of the Hispanic civil
rights movement.
Dr. Garcia and
other veterans were my
inspiration to devote the past
45 years of my life to the
American GI Forum. Their
patriotism and activism continue
to inspire me. My message to all
Hispanics living in this
country, regardless of legal
status, is to accept our
Hispanic military heroes as part
our heritage, just as we accept
the heroes of Latin America such
as Benito Juarez, Emiliano
Zapata and Simon Bolivar as part
of our Hispanic heritage. |
