Valentia: Mexican-Americans in World War II - KVIE

Summary

The video script narrates the significant contributions and sacrifices of Mexican-Americans during World War II. It highlights their service in various military roles, the discrimination they faced, and their resilience. The script also underscores the post-war fight for civil rights and equality, the establishment of support organizations, and the lasting impact on American society. It is a tribute to their valor, patriotism, and the transformative effect of their experiences on subsequent generations.

Takeaways

• 🛳 The U.S.S. Midway, a retired aircraft carrier, serves as a floating museum in San Diego, symbolizing the long service of American military ships.
• 🎖 Richard Yniguez, a U.S. Navy veteran and actor, highlights his pride in service and his Mexican-American heritage, emphasizing the contributions of Mexican-Americans during World War II.
• 📊 Despite facing segregation and discrimination, an estimated 375,000 to 500,000 Mexican-Americans served in WWII, a significant number relative to their population at the time.
• 🏡 Mexican-American families from various states sent their sons and daughters to serve in the military, demonstrating a strong sense of duty and patriotism.
• ✈️ Gilbert Duran Orrantia, an Arizona college student, dropped out to join the Army Air Corps, reflecting the sacrifices made by individuals to serve their country.
• 🚀 Discrimination was sometimes encountered in the military, as seen in the experiences of Lieutenant Orrantia and others, who faced prejudice due to their Hispanic background.
• 🎭 The armed forces served as a great equalizer for many, providing opportunities for Mexican-Americans to prove their worth and fight for equal opportunities upon returning home.
• 🏥 Antonio Moreno, a medic at Iwo Jima, and other servicemen faced the horrors of war, with vivid memories of comrades falling and the struggle to save lives.
• 🏰 The Bushmasters, an elite fighting force made up largely of Mexican-American men, trained in jungle warfare and were commended by General Douglas MacArthur for their combat skills.
• 👩‍🌾 Women played a crucial role on the home front, working in defense factories, participating in civil defense, and supporting the war effort through various means.
• 🗽 Mexican-American veterans used their experiences to fight for equality in jobs, housing, and education, contributing to the advancement of civil rights and equal opportunities for all.

Q & A

What is the significance of the U.S.S. Midway in the context of the script?

The U.S.S. Midway is significant as it represents the historical legacy of American military service, particularly for Mexican-Americans who served during World War II. It is now a floating museum in San Diego, symbolizing the dedication and sacrifice of those who served.

Who is Richard Yniguez and what is his connection to the military?

Richard Yniguez is the narrator of the script and a distinguished actor known for his roles in movies and TV. He is also a proud veteran who served on the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier 'Yorktown' during the Vietnam War. His parents were also veterans, which adds a personal connection to the story of Mexican-American service during World War II.

How did Mexican-Americans respond to the call for service during World War II?

Despite facing discrimination and being neglected in pre-war America, hundreds of thousands of Mexican-Americans signed up to serve in World War II. The script suggests that between 375,000 to half a million Mexican-Americans served out of a population of 2.569 million.

What was the role of Gilbert Duran Orrantia during World War II?

Gilbert Duran Orrantia was an Arizona college student training to be a teacher when World War II broke out. He dropped out to join the Army Air Corps, now known as the Air Force, and flew a twin-engine bomber on his missions.

What challenges did Lieutenant Orrantia face due to discrimination in the armed forces?

Lieutenant Orrantia faced discrimination when he was asked to work with a young man named Ramirez, who was rejected by other pilots due to his Hispanic background. Similarly, his crew chief, Torres, was also rejected because of his name, despite being the best crew chief they had.

What was the experience of Joe Hernandez as a turret-gunner during bombing missions over Germany?

Joe Hernandez had a harrowing experience as a turret-gunner, with one particularly bad incident happening on Friday the 13th. An airplane's propeller wash flipped his plane over, causing it to fall about 5,000 feet before the pilots managed to regain control.

What was the significance of D-Day, June 6, 1944, for Daniel Ramirez?

D-Day marked the Allied invasion of Europe and was a significant event for Daniel Ramirez, who worked on board C-47s as part of the 82nd Airborne Division. These planes towed gliders across the English Channel during the invasion, with some paratroopers never making it out of the gliders due to enemy fire.

How did the armed forces serve as an equalizer for Mexican-American soldiers?

The armed forces provided an environment where Mexican-American soldiers could prove their worth and fight for their country, despite the discrimination they faced in civilian life. This experience often gave them the courage to fight for equal opportunity upon their return from the battlefield.

What was the role of women like Henrietta Lopez Rivas during World War II?

Women like Henrietta Lopez Rivas contributed significantly to the war effort on the home front. Henrietta worked as an interpreter for the Civil Defense corps due to her bilingual abilities and later qualified for instrument repair at an air base, demonstrating the diverse roles women played during the war.

How did Mexican-American veterans use their experiences to fight for civil rights after World War II?

Mexican-American veterans used their service records and the camaraderie formed during the war to advocate for equality in jobs, housing, and education. They established organizations like the American GI Forum and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund to promote civil rights and equal opportunity.

What is the significance of the statue near the capitol in Sacramento, as mentioned in the script?

The statue near the capitol in Sacramento is a silent sentinel modeled after a soldier and serves to honor the Mexican-American soldiers who died in World War II. It represents the recognition and respect for their sacrifices and contributions to the war effort.

Outlines

00:00

🚢 Legacy of the U.S.S. Midway and Mexican-American Veterans

The script introduces the U.S.S. Midway, a historic aircraft carrier turned museum, and Richard Yniguez, a Navy veteran and actor who served on the U.S.S. Yorktown during the Vietnam War. Yniguez highlights the significant yet often overlooked contributions of Mexican-American servicemen and women during World War II. Despite facing discrimination and segregation, an estimated 375,000 to 500,000 Mexican Americans served in the war, with many enlisting out of a sense of duty and patriotism. The narrative emphasizes the dedication, sacrifice, and valor of these individuals, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their experiences and the challenges they faced.

05:01

🎖️ Overcoming Discrimination: Mexican-American Servicemen in WWII

This paragraph delves into the personal experiences of Mexican-American servicemen during World War II, illustrating the discrimination they faced within the military and the broader society. It recounts the story of Gilbert Duran Orrantia, who, despite being a college student, joined the Army Air Corps and became a pilot. The narrative highlights instances of prejudice, such as pilots refusing to work with certain crew members due to their Hispanic heritage. It also touches on the bravery and resilience of these servicemen, as exemplified by Joe Hernandez, a turret-gunner, and Daniel Ramirez, who served in the 82nd Airborne Division during the D-Day invasion. The paragraph underscores the challenges faced by these individuals, their contributions to the war effort, and the bonds of camaraderie that formed amidst adversity.

10:02

🌐 Global Impacts and Personal Sacrifices of Mexican-American WWII Veterans

The narrative continues with stories of Mexican-American soldiers who served in various capacities during WWII, from liberating concentration camps to participating in major invasions like D-Day. It describes the harrowing experiences of soldiers like John D. Luna, who witnessed the loss of comrades and the sinking of tanks, and the emotional toll of war on individuals like Antonio Moreno, a medic at Iwo Jima. The paragraph also highlights the unique challenges faced by soldiers in the Pacific theater, including the story of Julian Gonzalez, who found an ally in a Filipino police officer due to their shared Spanish language. The sacrifices made by these veterans, both in battle and as prisoners of war, are poignantly captured, emphasizing the global impact of their service and the personal costs they bore.

15:04

🛠️ The Home Front: Mexican-American Women and Civilian Contributions

Shifting focus from the battlefield to the home front, this paragraph highlights the significant contributions of Mexican-American women and civilians during WWII. It tells the story of Henrietta Lopez Rivas, who worked as an interpreter and in instrument repair at an air base, showcasing the diverse roles women took on in support of the war effort. The narrative also touches on the broader societal efforts, such as victory gardens, rationing, and the sale of war bonds, which were part of a collective spirit of sacrifice and support for the troops. The paragraph paints a picture of a community mobilized in support of the war, with individuals finding ways to contribute despite the challenges of racism and discrimination.

20:06

🏛️ Post-War Activism and the Fight for Equality

This paragraph discusses the post-war impact of Mexican-American veterans and their fight for civil rights and equal opportunities. It describes how veterans used the GI Bill to further their education and how they worked to eliminate discriminatory practices like the poll tax. The narrative also highlights the establishment of organizations such as the American GI Forum, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the League of United Latin-American Citizens, which advocated for the rights of Mexican Americans. The paragraph underscores the transformational effect of WWII on this community, inspiring them to stand up against injustice and work towards a more equitable society.

25:11

📚 Remembering and Honoring Mexican-American WWII Veterans

The final paragraph focuses on the efforts to remember and honor the contributions of Mexican-American WWII veterans. It mentions the work of Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, who has spearheaded the collection of oral histories from these veterans, and the recognition of Latino soldiers awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The narrative also touches on the personal stories of veterans and their families, reflecting on the pride and patriotism that persisted despite the challenges they faced. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the broader theme of 'Americanism,' emphasizing the shared identity and contributions of Mexican-Americans to the nation's history and values.

Keywords

💡U.S.S. Midway

The U.S.S. Midway is a historical aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy for 47 years, transitioning from war to peace. It is now a floating museum in San Diego, symbolizing the long service and dedication of the military. The video script uses it as a backdrop to introduce the theme of the video, which is the service of Mexican-Americans in World War II.

💡Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict in Southeast Asia from 1955 to 1975, in which the United States was heavily involved. Richard Yniguez, the narrator, mentions his service on the U.S.S. Yorktown during this war, drawing a parallel to the service of Mexican-American soldiers in World War II, emphasizing the ongoing tradition of military service despite adversity.

💡Mexican-Americans

Mexican-Americans are individuals of Mexican descent living in the United States. The script highlights their significant but often overlooked contributions during World War II, both on the battlefield and on the home front, challenging the preconceived notions and discrimination they faced at the time.

💡World War II

World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The video focuses on the involvement of Mexican-Americans in this conflict, showcasing their patriotism, sacrifices, and the challenges they overcame, such as discrimination and segregation.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination refers to unfair treatment based on certain characteristics such as race or ethnicity. The script illustrates the discrimination Mexican-American soldiers faced, being relegated to 'Mexican only' neighborhoods and sometimes being underestimated in the military, as exemplified by Lieutenant Orrantia's experiences.

💡82nd Airborne Division

The 82nd Airborne Division is an elite division of the U.S. Army known for its rapid deployment capabilities. Daniel Ramirez, mentioned in the script, served in this division, working on C-47s during the D-Day invasion, highlighting the critical and diverse roles Mexican-American soldiers played in World War II.

💡D-Day

D-Day, June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II. The script recounts the experiences of John D. Luna from Ceres, California, who was part of this historic event, emphasizing the bravery and sacrifices of Mexican-American soldiers in pivotal moments of the war.

💡GI Bill

The GI Bill, officially known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, provided a range of benefits for returning World War II veterans, including low-cost mortgages, business loans, and tuition and living expenses for education. The script mentions how veterans used the GI Bill to advance their education, indicating the positive impact of their service on their post-war lives.

💡Civil Rights

Civil rights are the rights of individuals to receive equal treatment under the law, regardless of factors such as race, religion, or ethnicity. The script discusses how Mexican-American veterans used their experiences from the war to fight for equality in various areas such as jobs, housing, and education, contributing to the broader civil rights movement.

💡Head Start

Head Start is a program in the United States that provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. The script credits Mexican-American educators near Houston for developing a program to teach English to non-English speaking children, which became a model for the national Head Start program.

💡American GI Forum

The American GI Forum is an organization founded by Mexican-American war veterans to address civil rights issues and to improve the quality of life for all Hispanics in the U.S. The script mentions this organization as one of the entities that successfully promoted civil rights and equal opportunity, reflecting the ongoing efforts of Mexican-American veterans to create a more equitable society.

Highlights

The U.S.S. Midway, a retired aircraft carrier, now serves as a floating museum in San Diego.

Richard Yniguez, a Navy veteran and actor, shares his pride in serving on the U.S.S. Yorktown during the Vietnam War.

Mexican-Americans, often neglected before WWII, played a crucial role in the war effort, with thousands joining the military.

An estimated 375,000 to 500,000 Mexican-Americans served in WWII, a significant number relative to their population.

Despite facing segregation, Mexican-Americans found a sense of belonging and equality in the armed forces.

Gilbert Duran Orrantia's story illustrates the challenges and discrimination faced by Mexican-American pilots during WWII.

Joe Hernandez's experience as a turret-gunner highlights the dangers faced by those flying bombing missions over Germany.

The 82nd Airborne Division and Daniel Ramirez's role in the D-Day invasion, towing gliders and the tragic loss of paratroopers.

John D. Luna recounts the horrors of D-Day, the heavy losses, and the difficult conditions faced by soldiers on the beaches.

Ernesto Pedregon Martinez's unit liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Nordhausen, a profound and emotional experience.

Mexican-American soldiers found strength in faith and friendship to endure the war's hardships.

The Bushmasters, an elite fighting force of largely Mexican-American men, trained for and fought in the Pacific.

Antonio Moreno's service as a medic at Iwo Jima, and the emotional impact of treating wounded Marines.

Julian Gonzalez's experience in Mindanao, where he found protection from Filipino police due to his Spanish language skills.

The story of Luz Cisneros, a POW who perished in a Japanese camp, and the barracks named in his honor.

Henrietta Lopez Rivas's contribution as an interpreter and instrument repairer, showcasing the roles Mexican-American women played.

Community efforts like victory gardens, rationing, and selling war bonds demonstrate the shared sacrifice on the home front.

The Mexican War Mothers organization and its efforts to support servicemen, including a statue honoring fallen Mexican-American soldiers.

Post-war, Mexican-American veterans used their experiences to fight for equality in various aspects of American life.

Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez's work in preserving the oral histories of Mexican-American WWII veterans.

The recognition of Latino soldiers' heroism, such as Silvestre Herrera, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

The importance of acknowledging Mexican-Americans as integral to the American identity and their contributions to the nation.

Richard Yniguez emphasizes the significance of Mexican-American service in WWII and its impact on subsequent generations.

Transcripts

♪♪

is brought to you by

(Aircraft noise)

She's one of America's longest serving and most distinguished

fighting ships sailing through war and peace for some 47 years.

Now she's in retirement as a floating museum here

on San Diego's waterfront.

Welcome aboard the U.S.S. Midway.

I'm Richard Yniguez.

You may recognize me from roles I've played in movies and on TV.

But the role I'm most proud of is my service on-board

a U-S Navy aircraft carrier "Yorktown"

during the Vietnam War.

I'm also the proud son of Navy veteran Rudy Yniguez.

and Army veteran Santiaga Carrillo

My parents, along with thousands of other Mexican-Americans,

answered this country's call during World War II.

These were men often neglected in pre-war America,

men who helped save this country and in many ways,

found a better life in post-war America.

This is their story, a story of dedication, sacrifice,

patriotism and  valor.

  Valentia: Mexican   Americans in World War Two.

♪

(Church Bells)

I was coming out of church, this church here,

when I heard about it.

And it didn't actually sink in!

Being farm boys, we just....

where the heck is Pearl Harbor?

(Battle Sounds)

My mother thought I was too young.

My father said, "He's 18, he's a citizen,

it's his duty."

And I never thought otherwise that I wouldn't go

or I shouldn't go.

They were relegated to  Mexican   only neighborhoods, schools,

theatres, and churches.

Yet hundreds of thousands of Mexican-Americans signed up

to serve in World War II.

If you look at the statistics, you would have to conclude that

375 to half a million estimate out of 2.569 million population

is extraordinary, and remember that you also have

Mexican-American women serving in the armed forces as well as

Mexican nationals.

I had friends from Connecticut, Arkansas, California, Arizona,

just all over the states.

That really felt like I belonged.

I belonged to this family.

Families with names like Correa and Ramirez sent all their sons

and even their daughters to join the Army, Navy, Marine Corps,

the Air Corps or do their part here on the home front,

giving so much, even their lives, for this country.

For many the armed forces turned out to be

a great equalizer.

And as you will see, gave returning veterans

the courage off the battlefield to fight for equal opportunity.

♪

I was the only officer.

I was the only pilot in the whole group who was

Mexican-American.

The whole group consisted of four squadrons, 64 airplanes,

(and) 64 crews.

After more than sixty years, Gilbert Duran Orrantia

still fits into his flight jacket.

When World War II broke out, he was an Arizona

college student training to be a teacher.

But he dropped out to join the Army Air Corps

now called the  Air Force .

I just went in, because I thought that was

the best thing for me and for the Army.

They needed people who had two years of college,

and I needed to be in some place that could challenge me

rather than carry a rifle, say, across Germany or wherever.

The young cadet flew a twin-engine bomber.

It was noisy, but the very first mission I went on,

they blew off a wingtip, and I thought, is this thing

going to get back?'

Well, it did great!

(Airplane Noise)

While discrimination in the armed forces was uncommon,

it reared its ugly head on occasion like the time

Lieutenant Orrantia was asked to work with a young man named

  Ramirez.

So he reported to me and he became my radio gunner,

because the other pilots didn't want him.

They didn't want him because he was Hispanic,

and Hispanics were not supposed to be that intelligent.

Well, and the same thing happened with my crew chief.

No one would take him because his name was Torres,

and he was the best crew chief we had.

Another Air Corps volunteer, Joe Hernandez from San Antonio,

landed in a job, not for the faint of heart,

as a turret-gunner, flying bombing missions over Germany.

Another really bad experience happened to me

on Friday the 13th.

One of our airplanes came up right in front of us,

and the prop wash, you know, the propeller flipped us over.

We fell down about 5,000 feet.

We were at about 20,000 at that time, and (we) went down

to about 14-15,000 when finally the plane

....the pilot and the co-pilot, pulled it out.

As part of the famed 82nd Airborne Division,

Daniel Ramirez worked on board C-47s,

planes that towed gliders across the English Channel during

the harrowing D-Day invasion.

They had 35 paratroopers in one of those gliders,

and some of those guys never got out.

They went in and shot them even before they hit the ground.

D-Day, June 6, 1944 marked the Allied invasion of Europe,

and John D. Luna from Ceres, California was there.

Well, when I first went in, that was bad.

That was very bad.

I saw my buddies fall to the side of me.

I tried to help them.

They had blood all over.

I just couldn't help that.

The seas were real heavy, and some of our tanks

just went to the bottom and didn't come up.

But we managed to make it to shore, and it was real crowded.

We couldn't get out.

We were closed in for several weeks, and we were bombarded

day and night.

And people were dying all around me.

And all I did was pray and fall to the ground.

That's all, and it wasn't my turn.

I wanted to pay tribute to the different divisions

that had fought throughout America's Wars

Ernesto Pedregon Martinez is an artist who honors

the armed forces on canvas.

During World War II his unit liberated

the Nazi concentration camp at Nordhausen.

We were struggling to tear down the gate,

and from far away in the barracks, we started seeing,

like, a little black cloud moving.

And we almost opened up on them, you know,

because we thought they were soldiers.

And as they came close, it start getting clear

that they were people.

And we thought it was an insane asylum,

because a lot of them were almost completely nude.

Eventually I think we liberated about five thousand prisoners

alive.

How did these young Mexican-American soldiers,

many of whom had never been but a few miles from home,

deal with the carnage, the danger, the loneliness?

Every night that we were in our camp or in our foxhole,

I always said my rosary.

Faith and friendship: two pillars of strength among

G-I's like Joe Arambula from San Antonio.

I said my rosary simply because I asked God

to watch over me, and secondly, it kept me awake.

Awake in the foxholes, he shared with  Amos ,

his buddy from Missouri.

He's a fine man, just like a brother to me.

Joe had already lost two of his brothers in battle.

Then Amos died when the truck he and Joe were riding in

rolled over.

His widow wrote to me after he got killed,

and I took it pretty hard because he was

....we looked after each other.

Even as the truck rolled over, he grabbed me.

He grabbed me.

Then after the first roll, I got knocked out.

I don't even remember, but that's where he got killed.

(War sounds)

  It was rough.

Well, the LST I was on. It was number 13.

And to this day I'll always believe that thirteen is

a bad number, because it seemed like we never missed

a storm out in the Pacific.

What was so scary when we first went aboard

the U.S.S. Saranac, our Captain's name was

John J. Cross, and the first thing he told us,

"If you boys are afraid to die, you don't belong on this ship.

"As North Manila is cleaned up artillery opens on South Manila across the river."

In the Pacific, G-Is encountered World War II's fiercest

and deadliest battles.

An elite fighting force called   the Bushmasters

rose to the occasion.

We came up with the name   Bushmaster in Panama  .

They killed great big snakes that were called

the Bushmaster snake, and that's how we got our name  .

The Bushmasters were made up largely of Mexican-American men

recruited from the Arizona National Guard.

They trained in the jungles of Panama and New Guinea

in preparation for action in the South Pacific.

General Douglas MacArthur called them

the greatest fighting combat team ever deployed for battle.

Memories of wartime emerge still fresh and raw

after so many years.

My father was an 18-year-old from Sacramento when

he went into the Navy

....to Iwo Jima and Guam.

Total, I made about five invasions.

Getting sailors back in from the island into the ships,

you're lost out there.

You haven't eaten.

Dark, wet, you can't find your ship,

because there's thousands out there.

Small ones, big ones, just bombarding that place

day and night.

Thousands of people just floating in the water.

That's hard to take.

 I was thirty-five  days in the front.

As a front-line doctor with the little that I had,

to try and save some lives as best I could.

Antonio Moreno from Austin, Texas served as a medic,

tending to injured Marines at Iwo Jima.

I think it was the fifth day that we landed.

We saw the flag, first flag on Mount Suribachi.

It was a crude flag that was planted there with a pipe that

they found there with a small flag hanging up.

Well, we were really happy.

We thought it was going to be over soon!

that's what they told us, that it was going to be no problem

to take that island but low and behold it got

rougher and rougher.

Toward the end of the war on the island of Mindanao,

American soldiers were targets for snipers.

But Julian Gonzalez from San Antonio was lucky.

He found help from Filipino police,

because he could speak Spanish.

The commanding officer spoke Spanish, and I spoke Spanish.

And we got pretty....we became friends, and then I told him

about our situation.

And first thing he did was he said,

"Well, you don't have to worry about it."

He posted a guard, a twenty-four hour guard,

there to protect us.

Other soldiers were not so lucky.

They perished in battle from disease

or were taken prisoner like a young soldier named

Luz Cisneros.

He, of course, went into a POW camp, and ultimately

he perished in a Japanese POW camp from pneumonia in 1943,

but surrounded by his comrades and supported by them.

His legacy lives on at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

Building 1013, which is a barracks for the Third Battalion

6th Defense Artillery, is a training barracks for

advanced individual trainees.

It's named Cisneros Barracks in recognition of

Private Cisneros's contribution to World War II.

♪

Dawn to dusk and back to dawn again

- three eight-hour shifts in one day.

So much can be done in a day if Americans keep their sleeves

rolled up.

♪

Not only men were called to roll up their sleeves in war time,

but women, mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters,

their work largely confined to the home front,

in defense factories, and civil defense.

Henrietta Lopez Rivas lived near a strategic air base:

Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas.

She spoke both English and Spanish (and) was snapped up

by the Civil Defense corps.

They asked, "How many languages do you speak?

Do you speak fluently, and do you read and write,

and so on."

And I said, "Of course I do."

So the next thing I knew I was called to be an interpreter.

Like many young Mexican-American women,

Henrietta didn't stop there.

She displayed a certain mechanical acumen

that earned her a good-paying job at the local air base.

They sent me to school.

I think it was over three months, and I qualified

for instrument repair, which is very delicate you know.

You have to work with microscopes and tiny,

tiny screws.

♪

I remember the victory gardens we used to have,

and I remember the rationing of the food,

sugar, meat and gasoline.

In World War II everyone pulled together with a sense of pride

and shared sacrifice.

People who had never picked up a shovel began growing

some of their own food in  victory gardens .

They sold war bonds to raise money for military operations.

Even children did their part.

Little Rosa Ramirez Guerrero, who says she was  born dancing ,

entertained soldiers in El Paso, Texas.

We were like the Mexican American Bob Hope show.

We would bring up the morale of our troops.

El Paso and Fort Bliss had the largest military base

in the world here in the Second World War.

People don't remember that, but I do.

And I remember all the soldiers coming downtown,

and all you could see is khaki-khaki.

And on Saturday nights, this big bus,

an army-colored bus, would pick us up, and it was a thrill

for us to go dance for them.

Here she is, selling poppies....

Mothers and wives of servicemen did the lion's share

of boosting troop morale.

In Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona  La Asociacion Hispano-Americana

  de Madres y Esposas published a newsletter called  Chisme

or  Chatter that kept GI's up to date on news from home.

And they sold bonds - lots of them.

They raised over a million dollars in war bonds.

This was in Tucson.

And this is $1 million dollars in the 1940's.

That's a lot of money for the war effort.

Local churches stepped up to the plate

- the collection plate -

raising money for the troops and holding prayer vigils

for their safe return.

In Sacramento, California, a mother from Mexico named

Enriqueta Andazola with several sons

and a son-in-law in uniform, recruited women to support

servicemen from the central valley.

She started an organization called

  The Mexican War Mothers.

They tended to wounded soldiers in local hospitals,

sent  care packages overseas, and gave visiting GI's

a welcome taste of home.

I remember going with my mother and my grandmother to

the USO here in Sacramento.

And they would actually cook Mexican meals there at

the USO so the men could have good Mexican food.

But the greatest legacy of the Mexican War Mothers is this:

a silent sentinel modeled after a soldier, Diana's Uncle Joe,

standing guard near the capitol in downtown Sacramento.

The statue really does honor the boys that died,

the Mexican soldiers that died.

That's really the significance of the statue.

To honor the Mexican young men that died in

the Second World War.

♪

  "Welcome home!

  Well done"

More than sixty decades have passed since World War Two ended

and soldiers returned home.

But the bonds forged by these bands of brothers have been

impossible to break.

In dwindling numbers they gather at reunions,

dusting off their memories and mementoes:

♪TAPS♪

They faithfully attend events at American Legion Post 41 in

Phoenix, established by Mexican-Americans after the war.

  , "Aim, fire!

  Aim, fire!

The combat, the hardships, the ultimate sacrifice made by these

men and women were not in vain  .

Veterans took advantage of the GI Bill

to advance their educations.

They eliminated the so-called "poll tax" collected at the

voting booth.

  " If you didn't pay the   poll tax, you didn't vote.

  And we had   a big campaign on the poll tax

  and it helped elect the

  first Hispanic mayor of   El Paso, Raymond Tellez."

Emboldened by their brothers-in-arms,

Mexican Americans continued to fight for equality in jobs,

housing, and education.

Near Houston, Mexican-American educators developed a program to

teach English to non-English speaking children

it became the model for "Head Start".

The American GI Forum, the "Mexican American Legal Defense

and Educational Fund" and the "League of United

Latin-American Citizens" - all successfully

promoted civil rights and equal opportunity.

  "No more Mexican theatres,   no more separate YMCAs,

  no more separate   sections in the church.

  No Mexican section, Anglo   section in the church.

  "World War II and after their   service they really did belong

  and   they had that self-confidence"

Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez is one of seven children of defense

worker Henrietta Lopez Rivas and Ramon Martin Rivas,

who was stationed on Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

 "The biggest legacy of that was   that my parents taught us to

  stand up for ourselves and to  say that something's not right.

  To not be afraid to say   that this isn't right.

  And, uh, I think that's   the biggest part.

 I think that comes out of World   War II because that's the   effect

  that WWII had on this   generation of Latinos.

Dr. Rivas-Rodriguez spearheads the effort to ensure that the

contributions of Mexican-Americans

will not be forgotten.

She and her staff at the University of Texas at Austin

have interviewed hundreds of World War II veterans-with key

parts of their oral histories published in this book.

 We have this fantastic photo of   these five brothers

  around   their little mother on the   couch

  and   all of them in their uniform.

  And I think that's been the   amazing thing...is just to

  realize that...um...you know,  these families gave so much and

  did so much and put   up with so much!

  And came out all   the better for it."

  "It's the adventure   of your life good or bad..."

Pete Dimas is named for his father,

a World War Two veteran who spent time in a German POW camp.

His dad's stories inspired Pete to produce his own documentary

about Post 41.

  "I fell and finally I was   looking for my gun, because."

  "When I stepped on the mine,   it blew both my legs..."

Silvestre Herrera is one of a (dozen) Latino soldiers awarded

the Congressional Medal of Honor during World War II.

Their heroism recognized in the larger community thanks to

Richard Martinez with the GI Forum.

He travels the country with photos and documents celebrating

all Latino Medal of Honor recipients.

  "I have done that for quite  awhile now and I sit back and I

  watch and I see people take   out their handkerchiefs and,

  and...especially   veterans...they   read the citation and they say

  how could this guy do that?

 Risk his life for his friends?"

  "And it's something   that we do a lot of,

  out of love for not only our   friends, fellow veterans,

  but for our country."

 "World War II is a good example   of this contribution-the

 sacrifices that have been made,   the struggle that families

 encountered and dealt with, and   the struggles that they   overcame

  in spite of the difficulties   of racism and segregation.

  Beyond that is the larger   story of 'Americanism'.

  Americans are all of us, and   Mexican-Americans are also

 Americans and I think sometimes   that is something that is

  forgotten."

 "Let me get this straight.

 I'm an American.

  I'm proud of it  and by the grace of God a Texan

  from San Elizario

  so I don't listen   to that garbage.

  It doesn't affect me;

  it doesn't bother me because

  I am an American.

  We earned it!"

"America the Beautiful" in the background

Now, at last, veterans and their fallen comrades are being

honored for all they've given and  continue to give to all of

us.

  "Because of them   our lives are free.

  Because of them our   nation lives..."

A nation's gratitude expressed in both public and private

ways...

across the generations:

  "This is a little essay   that my little grandson,

  Michael Thomas Murphy wrote."

 "My grandpa is a proud American   who served his country   bravely."

 "He is an American hero because   he was in World War II

  as an Air Force pilot.

  He was one of the only Mexican   American pilots in the war."

  "this love of this nation that   didn't love them for so long

  is just amazing to me.

  It's just amazing...

  So, I know.   I'm getting all upset.

  But you know, it's true."

  ♪

  "The fathers are  proud of what their kids did.

 My dad was... he was a man.

  He thanked me.

  He thanked  me for   what I had done.

  Imagine him thanking me?"

My parents were typical of that generation.

They returned from the war, quietly got on with their lives

working and raising families, asking only for

equal treatment in return.

For me as a Mexican-American, I know that without my parents's

service and the sacrifices of all the other Mexican-Americans

during World War II,

my life and, yes, your life, would not be what it is today.

Thanks for watching.

I'm Richard Yniguez.

To find out more about Mexican-Americans and World War II

Visit our Web site

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