Latino Americans, Episode 3: War and Peace

Enson Manuel Gonzalez was a Mexican American pilot. He was from California. He was in a plane to Pearl Harbor and he was shot down

Half million Latinos served in World War 2.

They came from LA, Puerto Rico, New Mexico and Texas.

Hector P. Garcia was a Mexican American doctor. After completing residency in Nebraska he went to join the war.

He had several years in the Army Reserves. He was put to infantry. He got his training from University of Texas at Galveston. He was born in llero in Mexico in the middle of Mexican Revolution. His family immigrated to a town South Texas.

He got his medical program in UOT but he couldn't find a hospital that would take him. He was promoted to captain.

The GI Bill of Rights were bills in which there are benefits given to the veterans. The benefits ever given to any veteran male or female with more than three months of active service and who has not been dishonorably discharged.

The bill had also provided low-cost mortgages educational loans and loans in training programs.

Corpus Christi was a city in South Texas where many Mexican Americans lived. They lived in the Barrio which was the poorest in the state. Families of five or six people living in one room, there was no foundations, dirt all over the floor, no running water, no sanitary facilities, most died of tuberculosis, and infants died of dysentery.

The American GI forum was an organization for Mexican American veterans who didn't get these benefits. Hector Garcia began to hold meetings for Mexican veterans to voice their concerns. By March 1948 they became foundation of this organization of veterans organization.

The 65th infantry was segregated by the army to all Puerto Ricans, Melendez ended up in this infantry.

The 65th was fought in Italy, Central Europe and Germany.

Macario Garcia won the medal of Honor. He was from Sugar Land Texas. He worked as a migrant picking up cotton and cattle. His parents moved for better life.

He landed in Normandy as one of the replacements. He was assigned into 22nd infantry. In Germany Macario was shot in the shoulder and foot. He advances and takes out 2 machine gun nests.

Calling millions into military service decreased labor workers. The US government brought rural Mexicans in a great worker Bracero program.

The rapidly expanding defense industries sought women and minorities.

The tension between Latinos and Anglos were due to the naval base that was in a mexican american enviroment. The Anglos would have to pass through the Mexican community. Sometimes they would pass by drunk causing arguements and fights.

Zoot suits was a new style of dress among young Latinos. They would get their paycheck on Friday and on Saturday they would dress up. They had an association with Barrio gang members called Pachucas.

The Zoot Suit Riots were the tensions Latinos and Anglos. 200 white sailors armed thought anyone wearing a Zoot suit became a target. Mexican Americans who attempted to stop we beaten down.

The stripped a 7 year old Sal Castro at a movie theater. For three nights, they beat Latinos African Americans and American Filipino.

Guy Gabaldin was a Mexican American from California. He was a Marine.

He grew up in Los Angeles. He was a street smart kid who got into trouble. In his 17th birthday he joined the Marines. He slipped out in the front lines of the north, went into the Japanese territory, and captured 800 prisoners. His speciality was approaching the caves that the Japanese in behind.

The role of Guy Gabaldin bald who captured more than 1000 soldiers alone was played by a six foot Anglo, because he was a Latino he never made it onto the screen.

By the end of the world war 2 about 11 Latino received Medal of Honor including Joe P. Martinez who was killed in leading a charge against key Japanese defensive. Latinos hoped that this exemplary service would end discrimination.

Mexican Americans are seen as second class society.

After the war one said that "they shed at least a quarter of blood spilled at Bataan. After the war they wanted a decent job and a home. They were still being discriminated against.

After Macario Garcia got a Medal of Honor for his actions in Hurtgen forest on August 23rd 1943 in DC he returned to Texas where he was refused a service in a restaurant.

Being enraged, the following day, violent actions took its path. He was arrested and his defense he said he was refused to service because of his race. This got attention at national level. This incident rose a question "How could I Korn Tree that sells an enormous that two words is Veterans treat them as second-class citizens".

Felix Longoria was a veteran killed in action in Philippines after his death in 1948. His remains were brought back to his wife who was refused to do a funeral because he was a Mexican and the whites wouldn't like it.

. The word had got to Hector Garcia and it becomes a huge controversy. Hector Garcia planned a protest and he called the GI forum to protest in Corpus Christi. Hector Garcia received a telegram from the Lyndon Johnson a newly elected senator of Texas apologizing .

The major threat to Hector Garcia saw to Mexican American society was the Mexicans crossing over border in search of work illegally.

This brought cheap labor and lowered wages that hurt mexican-american. This also forced Mexican American families to move north for better pay.

In 1954 the GI forum supported operation Wetbacks. The Operation Wetbacks was a quasi-military search and seizure for the illegal Mexicans workers.

Operation Wetbacks brought immediate protest from Mexican American community which changed Hector Garcia's mind.

In the federal election of 1960 Hector Garcia formed VIVA Kennedy clubs for election. The result of the election was that President Kennedy's successor Lyndon Johnson appointed Mexican Americans positions in government.

The other groups of Veterans that joined Hector Garcia's Civil Rights movements were the Puerto Ricans in the Northeast. It enabled Garcia to change the lives of Latinos everywhere through the power of the balled box.

In 1965 presidential election, Lyndon Johnson became the president and appointed surfeit amount of Mexican Americans to government position. He passes landmark legislation making illegal the forms of discrimination that Garcia had battled for so long, from segregation in schools to poll taxes.