Somos Primos

 July 2007 
Editor: Mimi Lozano ©2000-7

Dedicated to Hispanic Heritage and Diversity Issues
 Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research

Hispanics in the Military © 2007 is available for PC or MAC at:
http://www.eddiemartinezart.com/hispanics.html
e.martinez@animas.net


Read about
The making of  HISPANICS IN THE MILITARY By Eddie Martinez

  Letters to the Editor : 

Hi Mimi: thanks for the wonderful June issue of Somos Primos - and as crazy as I am, yes, I downloaded and copies all 104 pages of it to add to my collection of Somos Primos for me and my genealogy friends to review often. I JUST LOVE READING your stories, files, web pages, and knowing about all that you include in your issues. I forward it to all my genealogy and historical society and association friends because you have a UNIVERSITY of INFORMATION we all want to know about.  You must be the mother of Santa Claus because only he has the hundreds of helpers needed for such a big job! And yours is twice as big and delivered more often than his! What a gal! What a staff! Thanks and please continue your wonderful work. We all appreciate everything y'all do!

Thank YOU....For all the great work you do for all of us...!   Keep up the great Work…!!!
Louis Serna
sernabook@comcast.net

Mr Inclan:
You are so generous and kind to send me this information. I shared it with one of my paternal cousins. Her youngest son is building a family tree and he also had other information, but none of us had this. I now have another link backwards in the chain. I do not know how to thank you.

Mil Gracias!
Sincerely, Angelita
Angelita Galvan Freeman

[[ In addition to the extensive pedigrees that
John Inclan as researched and available on
  www.somosprimos.com/inclan/inclan.htm
John has been compiling short pedigrees for publication in our monthly Somos Primos issues. Angie is making reference to one of those short little pedigrees.]]

UNITED STATES

The making of

HISPANICS IN THE MILITARY

By Eddie Martinez

I began Hispanics in the Military as part of Somos Primos and the 2005 Hispanic Heritage Activities at the National Archives, and on October 12, 2005, I made the presentation to the National Archives in Washington, D.C. in the William G. McGowan Theater. Over the next two years I continued to do research on the subject. To the families of the patriotic Latino servicemen and women who are not mentioned, your loved ones are not forgotten. To all the researchers and historians of Latinos/Hispanics in America’s defense, I salute you, for without the unwavering dedication to your work much of the information would be lost.

War brings horrendous tragedies, but it also brings out the best in human behavior towards its fellow man. The military had an impact on me during World War II since my dad was away serving overseas in the Army Air Corps. During that time I was busy shining shoes on Olvera Street. Most of my high-tipping customers were soldiers, sailors and Marines who were passing through the buzzing Los Angeles Union Train Station on Alameda Street.

In 1954, I decided it was time to join the Air Force and see the world. After two years of service at Ellington AFB, Houston, Texas, I was transferred to Fairbanks, Alaska. I was assigned to the 433^rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron. In 1957, our squadron was transferred further west to Galena, a small remote airbase on the Yukon River. As dispatcher, I was responsible for scrambling F-89 fighter jets whenever I received the alert of incoming unidentified aircraft. I’m proud to say that our unit stood as the first line of defense against Russia during the Cold War. Below is a cartoon I drew of our officers and enlisted men between alerts.

Years later in 1971, I was once again with the Air Force, but this time my rank was GS-15 or full Colonel. I was under orders to tour AF bases in Asia. This came about because the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators had an art program with the United States Air Force. As a member of the Society, I was selected to tour Japan, Okinawa and South Korea to create a painting that reflected the Air Force in Asia. It was in Korea, aboard a helicopter returning to Osan AF Base that I met paramedic Staff Sergeant John Barrio, assigned to AF Rescue Operations. Barrio told me how difficult it was to become a paramedic. He said in order to qualify you must train to be a medic, mountain climber, skier, paratrooper, scuba diver, and a machine-gunner. Well, that was enough for me, S/Sgt John Barrios was my hero and the subject for my painting was set. So, on the following morning I met with John and we climbed aboard the Jolly Green Giant. He harnessed me for safety so that I could stand on the edge of the chopper’s open door where I spent the entire day photographing their various maneuvers in rescuing. My painting is below. It is now among the other paintings in the United States Air Force Art Collection. The only copy I have of the painting is this black and white picture.

In the 1990’s I volunteered to design a monument in honor of the 40 Latino recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor (more than any other ethnic group in proportion to the number who served). My good friend Bill Lansford, a Latino and president of the Eugene A. Obregon/Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial Foundation, first described his vision and that’s where I started. The process required lots of conceptual sketches and drawings until the design was finalized. After developing the construction drawings that met the building requirements and the budgets, a special location at the prestigious El Pueblo Historic Monument was selected and approved by the City of Los Angeles. Since then, it has won the enthusiastic support of government officials from former President Bill Clinton to U.S. Senators and Representatives, California Legislators, Los Angeles County Supervisors, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and the L.A. City Council. The monument depicts Pfc Eugene Obregon of East Los Angeles confronting the enemy in the Korean War and saving the life of Pfc Bert Johnson, an Anglo from Texas, at the cost of his own life. In our restless times, when racial differences are often exploited to pit us against each other, the Foundation decided that this young Marine’s story and that of the other brave Latino CMH recipients should be told, not only celebrating the heroism of those who sacrificed so much for this country, but the brotherhood that should unite all Americans. The Memorial Foundation is currently on a fund raising campaign to raise the funds to build the CMH Monument. (See below)

In 2005, I was off to Washington D.C. to continue my research on Hispanics in the Military. I first visited the National Archives where I was happy to find a Latino serviceman’s profile on display among our military heroes: Major Manuel (Jay) S. [Sando] Vargas Jr. USMC, Company G, 2d Battalion, 4^th Marines, 9^th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Born: 29 July 1940, Winslow, Arizona. Service in the Republic of Vietnam, 30 April to 2 May 1968. His gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.

I continued my research at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, The Price of Freedom, Americans at War exhibition. It had incredible displays of United States military battles from the American Revolution to the Iraq war.

From there, I went to the National Air and Space Museum, where I purchased Don Lopez’s book, "Into the Teeth of the Tiger." A Latino cashier commented to me that he knew Don Lopez and that they were flying friends. I said I would sure like to meet him and have him sign my book. After a much appreciated telephone call, I was invited into the executive office of retired Air Force Colonel Donald Lopez. He welcomed me and he shared some of his flying experiences as a fighter pilot with the Flying Tigers in China. I asked him about the P40 plane he flew of which he had a painting on the wall. I made notes of some of the plane’s details, such as the number 194 on the vertical stabilizer and "Lope’s Hope" lettered across the plane’s fuselage. He said Lopes was a nickname given to him by his pilot friends in China. After mentioning my admiration of The Space Mural – A Cosmic View by artist Robert McCall, Lopez took me to the conference room where a number of McCall’s paintings were displayed. That was really a treat. I thanked him for the pleasure I had in meeting him and he graciously signed my book.

Eddie Martinez & Donald S. Lopez, deputy director, National Air and Space Museum

After completing my military research, 
the findings were put into a chronological script. I began storyboarding my interpretations of the historical moments and images from my research, using inspiration from own experiences in the service. The character portraits and combat action scenes were rendered with pencil & brush. All the military regalia and the military maps and graphics were illustrated using the computer.

Hispanics in the Military © 2007 is available for PC or MAC at:
http://www.eddiemartinezart.com/hispanics.html
e.martinez@animas.net

For information on the Eugene A. Obregon/Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial Monument and for contributions, Go to www.obregoncmh.org or E-mail the foundation at obregoncmh@earthlink.net  Phone (310) 823-1097.

David M. Gonzales                           William W. Kouts

I spent the most wonderful Memorial Day weekend
with two of the most wonderful families.

By: Tony (The Marine) Santiago
Nmb2418

Memorial Day is a day set aside to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Not only should we honor those who are no longer with us, but we should also thank our veteran’s who have served and were willing to give their lives so that all of us can continue to enjoy the freedoms which we sometimes take for granted.

It seems to me that most of our children are raised with the misconception as to what is the true meaning of the word hero. If you ask a child who their hero is, I’m sure that the child will name an entertainer, be it an athlete, singer, actor or even in some cases a some one who does not even deserve the publicity given such as a rich heiress. Some of these people are negative role models and have led lives with low moral standards. We must teach our children that true heroes are those who are willing to give their lives for others regardless of their race, religion and social standings. A true hero is a person who does not expect to gain fame nor fortune. The only satisfaction that they receive is the knowledge that they have made a positive difference in a another persons live. A true hero is willing give his life for his fellow men and we have many. Just look around you and when you see a those who serve in the police and fire departments or those who with pride wear the military uniforms of our country with pride. I ask myself how many of today’s entertainers are willing to give up everything that they have and serve their country? Pat Tillman, bless you wherever you are you are an exception.

I want to share with you the amazing story of two World War II heroes whose lives have been linked forever. One of these men was a young Mexican-American who made the ultimate sacrifice and was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving three men, among them a young Anglo-American who never forgot the person who saved him. Please bear with me as I continue.

David Maldonado Gonzales was a quiet young man from California who loved to play the guitar. This humble man met a young and beautiful girl by the name of Steffanie and it wasn’t long before they were married. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Gonzales joined the Army because he believed that it was his patriotic duty to serve his country. He was soon sent with his unit to the Philippines to fight against the Japanese invaders. Not only did he leave behind his mother and his wife whom he loved so much, but his unborn child (Steffanie was pregnant) whom he would never meet, and who would be named after him.

On December 8, 1945, on the Villa Verde Trail in the Philippines. Gonzales in face of fierce, relentless barrage of gunfire, succeeded valiantly in freeing two fellow soldiers buried alive by a bomb explosion by digging them out with his bare hands and was mortally wounded by an enemy sniper after freeing and saving the life of a third soldier. The third soldier saved by Gonzales' selfless heroics was Sgt. William W. Kouts.

William W. Kouts known to all as "Bill" was born in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. In 1941, Kouts followed in his fathers footsteps (His father was a veteran of World War I) and joined the Army. When the United States declared war against the Japanese Empire, Kouts was among the thousands of Americans who without any hesitation was ready to bear arms and give his life in defense of our country.

In 1945, Sgt. Kouts was in the Philippines and remembers the day that new troops had arrived to replace those who had already served their tour of duty. Among the new arrivals was PFC Gonzales. It was long before the action which occurred and the young PFC was killed, but not before saving the live of Kouts and two other men.

Kouts, who was the senior NCO at the time of the incident, wrote the initial account citing the heroic efforts of David M. Gonzales on that December day. The report resulted in the posthumous awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman to David M. Gonzales.

Kouts was given a field commission and after the war he found a job at the Atlas Powder Co. In 1948, Kouts returned to the military and served as a Captain with the 187^th Airborne Division in Korea during the Korean War. After the war, he meet and married Madeline King and together they had three children, Nanette, Maribeth and William.

You would think that that was the end it, but it wasn’t, not for a man like Kouts. All of these years he has wondered about the family of the man who saved his life. He asked thought about them everyday and asked himself countless times, Why did I serve and Gonzales die? He knew that because of Gonzales’ sacrifice he was able to raise a wonderful family. Kouts is grateful for that and he and his family made it a personal quest to try to locate the Gonzales family to thank them.

David M. Gonzales Jr. never met his father. He was born in California, after his father so gallantly gave his live for his fellow men and for the country did he loved. The only thing that he knew about his father was what his family told him and that he was hero who was awarded the nations highest military decoration the Medal of Honor. I can’t imagine how tough life must have been for young David, seeing other kids with their parents, but it was hard. David always thought about his father and always hoped that someday someone who knew his father in the Army would be able to tell him what he was like. Countless days he would wonder about those whom his father saved, he wondered whom they were and if they continued to remember his father.

David married twice. His second wife Beatrice became aware of the heroic actions of her father-in-law and became the driving force behind David and encouraged him to participate in activities, which honored the memory of David M. Gonzales. Among the things that they accomplished was that they made the Pentagon replace the erroneous picture that they had on display that was supposed to be of Gonzales and which wasn’t with a real one of him.

William W. Kouts, is now 85 years old and in ill health. One of his wishes has always been to make contact with the family to thank them and to tell them about Gonzales' heroic deed.

I was totally unaware of all this when on November 24, 2006, I wrote an article about PFC David M. Gonzales in Wikipedia, as part of a project which I started called "List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients" and which is now a series run in "Somos Primos"

On March 4, 2007, the daughter of William Kouts, Maribeth, who lives in Georgia, wrote to me via Wikipedia and told me about her dying fathers wish . I wrote back to her and promised to do everything within my power to make her fathers wish come true.

Honestly, I had no idea of how I would be able to accomplish such a feat. I did know from the article that I wrote that David Gonzales Jr. attended a ceremony held in 1999 in Santa Ana, California in his father's honor. So, I started by writing e-mails to Los Angeles Mission College and to Congressman Howard Berman, but no response and no luck. Then I looked up the listed phone numbers of every David M. Gonzales in Berman's district and called everyone of them, but still no luck.

On April 2007, I ran the story of Gonzales in Mimi Lozano's internet magazine "Somos Primos" with a plea that anyone who has any information on the where-about of the Gonzales family to please get in touch with me via e-mail

On April 11, 2007, I received an e-mail from Ernestine Gonzales, whose uncle was the MoH recipient requesting my telephone number. On April 13, 2007, David M. Gonzales Jr. and his wife Beatrice called me and they were very excited about everything that I told them. I then gave them the phone number of Maribeth Kouts so that they could talk. Both families agreed to meet for the first time in Power Springs, Georgia for the Memorial Day weekend. Maribeth Kouts invited me to attend the historical meeting, she even offered to pay for my airfare and hotel. I was supposed to go to Puerto Rico as an invited guest of the Puerto Rican Senate on the same weekend, but I opted to go to Georgia with my son, Jose instead.

(L-R) Tony the Marine, W. Kouts and D. Gonzales Jr.

On May 25, I arrived with my son at the house of Maribeth Kouts, beautiful house in Powder Springs. The day was beautiful and I felt the excitement building up in me. We were greeted by Maribeth, Nanette and her husband Jim. We then were taken to the backyard and finally I met William "Bill" Knouts and his wife Madeline, a handsome couple if I ever saw one. We also meet William Jr, or as we call him "Woody" and Bill’s granddaughters Katie and Taylor. After awhile the Gonzales’ David and Beatrice arrived and from then on there were tears of joy.

Bill was finally able to thank the Gonzales family, thank them for the ultimate sacrifice that their father had made. He told David how his father died and that last thing that he remembered was looking into Gonzales’ eyes before he was killed. 

David finally got his wish, and so did Bill. They hugged and I believe that everyone broke down in tears with the emotional encounter. David then took out of a bag and showed all of us the Medal of Honor that was awarded to his father. He also had with him a display with the other military decorations, which his father was awarded posthumously. I spent the most wonderful Memorial Day weekend with two of the most wonderful families.

I realized that I was amongst heroes, both physically and spiritually. I told David that I was sure that his father's spirit was looking down at all of us from heaven and that he was smiling. On May 28, we all gathered for the last time to say our good byes. I was sad, but at the same time happy that I was able to help Bill Kouts and the Gonzales family put a closure and an end to 62 years of searching and wondering. I now have a bond with these two families until the day that I die.

DEFEND THE HONOR

2. Defend the Honor is recruiting local representatives to distribute flyers and create a greater awareness about the contributions of Latinos & Latinas in WWII. 

3. Defend the Honor committees to meet with local PBS general managers. Armando Rendon, (author of Chicano Manifesto, long-time activist) and several others met with the CEO of KQED in Northern California. Armando writes: "We've kicked open the door to raise some serious issues with the station." 

Armando prepared a packet for the meeting with KQED which can be used as a guide to other groups in meeting with their local PBS stations.

The packet includes:
(a) Fact sheet on the significant role of Latino Servicemen during WW II.
(b) List of 8 basic concerns concerning the proposed airing of The War. 
(c) List of 5 recommendations/requests . .a the top of the list, postpone the fall airing.
(d) Report to Maggie on the meeting with KQED.

If you would like to receive Armando Rendon's packet, just send an email with PACKET in the subject window to me, and I will send it to you.

REMEMBER 
Defend the Honor website is a resource for supportive  information that can be used in approaching a PBS staff. You may want to make copies of some of the letters which were sent to the national headquarters of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  Below is an example of the kinds of letters that can be copied and used for your presentation.  This one to Tom Brokaw from  Major General USAF (Retired) Melvyn Montano.

Mr. Brokaw,

It is with regret that I return what could have been a great book, "The Greatest Generation". In light of the recent controversy over the Ken Burns Documentary "The War" excluding Hispanic and Native American participation in World War II, recalled similar exclusion of same in your book. I began to think why?

In 1598, what is now present day America, a Conquistador named Don Juan de Onate colonized the territory of Nueva Espana (New Mexico) twenty three years before Jamestown, Virginia. The expedition included Spanish and Native peoples, settlers, and military personnel for the common defense and protection of the colony. (Which is today’s National Guard concept)

We have been participants in virtually all military involvements since then to present. Yet we are excluded from historical recognition.

In 1940 two National Guard units from New Mexico, the 200^th and the 515^th Coast Artillery Regiments were activated and deployed to the Philippine Islands. They were largely made up of Hispanics, both officers and enlisted men, from New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.

After the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces attached the American positions in the Philippines. General MacArthur moved these units to the Batman Peninsula. They were the first American forces to encounter the Japanese Army in the Pacific. After a heroic three-month engagement against large well equipped invading forces and with diminishing rations, medical supplies and ammunition they were ordered to surrender on April 9, 1942. After their capture they had to endure a 12 day, 85 mile "Death March" from Bataan to POW camps. They subsequently were shipped to Japan where they were liberated at the end of the war. Named the "Battling Bastards of Bataan", General Wainwright praised these men saying "they were the first to fire and the last to lay down their arms and only after being given order." Five hundred of the 1700 New Mexicans died in captivity or in combat.

In the Pacific theater, the 158^th Regimental Combat Team, known as the Bushmasters, an Arizona National Guard unit comprised of many Hispanic soldiers, saw heavy combat. Company E of the 141^st Regiment of the Texas Infantry Division was made up of entirely Hispanic soldiers. The regiment sustained 1,226 killed, 5000 wounded and over 500 MIA’s. During World War II 12 Hispanics received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

From 1940 to 1946 more than 65,000 Puerto Ricans served in the American military. The 295^th and the 296^th Infantry Regiments of the Puerto Rican National Guard participated in the Pacific Theater, while other Puerto Rican soldiers served in Europe.

In the Pacific Theater, Native Americans of the Navajo nation served as code talkers in the U.S. Maries. And last but not least a Mexican Air Force Squadron 201 served with American forces against the Japanese ion the Pacific.

Is there any doubt in your mind why we as the colonizing culture of America and the largest growing minority are just a little miffed about exclusion in our patriotic responsibility?

Sincerely,  (Signed)  
Melvyn Montano, Major General USAF (Retired)

However, instead of questioning some of the other officers that were in the area, the federal prosecutors made a deal with the Mexican drug pusher that the officers were trying to apprehend.  The federal prosecutors accepted the drug pusher's account of the incident rather than the two officers, or any other officers.  Amazing.  The day of the incident, the drug pusher drove away with a carload of illegal drugs and was only identified because he went to a clinic to have a bullet removed from his buttock.  Two weeks later he was hauling another carload of drugs.

http://ramos-compean.blogspot.com/
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_4141562

Ambassador Dr. Hector Garcia and Domingo Pena in front of U.N.

Photo from the private collection of Wanda Daisy Garcia

AMERICAN ONLY1

U.S. Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr., said of my father, "My friend Hector is a man of very strong opinions. He’s never hesitated to speak out." Truer words could not be spoken about Dr. Hector when the topic came to the "English Only" movement.

Papa believed that "We (Mexican Americans) live in a culture that suppresses us, and the English Only movement is a part of the greater plan to hold us back." This is the worst thing that has happened to this country since World War II." He labeled the movement "Neo Nazi, Un-American," among other things. "This is a neo-Nazi philosophy brought into Texas from outside the state." Papa never passed up an opportunity to speak against the movement. He felt the English Only movement gained national momentum under the guise of patriotism. But the true motive was to abolish bilingual ballots, bilingual education and advertisements in Spanish.

What is behind this neo-Nazi philosophy? First it wants to create bad feelings, bad relationships, and bad understanding between two groups of people of different ethnic cultures.2

Such a law could curtail freedom of speech. The most important [Amendment in the Constitution] is freedom of speech. If you don’t have freedom of speech, you don’t have freedom of assembly because freedom to speak in another language has been abolished. If you don’t have freedom of speech, you don’t have freedom of the press. It’s horrible. The thing that unites us most is the flag, not the language, not the culture, not religion.3

To illustrate his concept, Dr. Hector designed a pen and ink sketch. It depicted an American eagle clutching a snake that was injecting venom into a heart emblazoned with the words "Freedom of Speech" hovering over the U.S. Constitution.

When I would visit my parents in Corpus Christi, TX, my Papa gave me to review articles and videotapes about the English Only Movement. He would comment on different points while I reviewed the material. Although I lived in another city, I could not avoid this educational process. The familiar packets from Corpus Christi would arrive in the mail filled with notes and newspaper articles marked by my father for me to read. After I read the material, we would discuss it by phone.

Dr. Hector challenged the myth that Mexican Americans in the USA did not speak "Good Spanish." Papa contended the Spanish language spoken in the Americas was the same Castilian Spanish spoken when the settlers arrived in the 16^th century. The language spoken by the settlers did not evolve because it was cut off from outside influences. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed my father as Ambassador to the United Nations. President Johnson said, "Hector, I want you to speak in Spanish to the assembly." So Papa joined the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. Papa’s role was to promote relations between the United States and Latin American countries. He was the first member of the U.S. mission to address the U.N. in a language other than English. His address was about the U.S. position on Nuclear weapons in Latin America. During his address Papa made reference to the Spanish language spoken in the Americas being the same Castilian Spanish spoken at the time of Cervantes. He asked the body to personally accept his presentation in Spanish, in the language of Cervantes, which is spoken not only in Spain but also in Latin America and in America in more than twenty states of our country. The assembly gave Papa a standing ovation after his speech. He remarked to me proudly that the Spanish Ambassador commented on what excellent Spanish he spoke. The Russians noticed that Papa, though an American, spoke in Spanish.4 One Russian delegate commented that the Soviets could find someone to speak for them in Spanish. This could have been done, "especially for a very short period of time," suggesting that Papa’s knowledge of Spanish was limited. Ambassador Arthur Goldberg, the head of the U.S. delegation, praised Papa as well. Goldberg wrote," there was universal pleasure among the Latin Americans over your speaking in Spanish in the First Committee." Several newspapers commented on the propriety of the United States addressing her Latin neighbors in their own language.

In November of that year, the whole family joined my father in New York City to celebrate Thanksgiving. At the La Guardia Airport baggage claim area I saw Kitty Carlisle Hart and Henry Kissinger. Papa approached to Henry Kissinger and introduced himself. We had difficulties with the New York taxis though. The taxis in New York City were unionized and would not allow five people in the same taxi. The union representative insisted that we take two taxis. But the taxi driver argued with the union representative that we were a family and we should ride together. The union representative relented so we ended up riding in the same taxi. During the taxi ride, I was awestruck by New York City, the tremendous population, the massive roads and the massive buildings. We stayed in Papa’s suite at the Roosevelt Hotel during our visit.

On Thanksgiving Day, we dined in the United Nations Dining room. We enjoyed the panoramic view of the Hudson River while we feasted on the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Afterwards, Papa took us on a tour of the U.N. Building. One of the main attractions was the Foucault pendulum that swings according to the rotation of the earth. But what was most memorable to me was the inscription on the statue given to the U.N. by the Soviets, "Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares" I reflect on that quote to this day. Afterwards, we toured New York City in one of the U.N. limousines. New Yorkers would stop and stare every time we exited the U.N. limousine with the flags on the front. We did the "touristy" things such as a stroll along Fifth Avenue and visit the Empire State Building. I still remember the exquisite gems on display in the Harry Winston showroom. A small town girl had never seen such opulence. We shopped at Macy’s and Sak’s and other boutiques. Next, we toured Central Park and the zoo. The gorillas were impressive. They possessed human qualities such as behaviors and soulful eyes. I spent time trying to communicate with the gorillas. One evening we dined at "El Gallo" in Greenwich Village where we feasted on paella and drank Dubonnet wine, one of my father’s favorites. During our visit, Papa introduced us to Jack Valente, Ambassador Arthur Goldberg, and other international dignitaries. Among the dignitaries visiting my father in New York City was Domingo Pena, a popular coastal bend TV celebrity and Ed Harte, publisher of the Corpus Christi Caller Times, and Attorney James DeAnda.

Papa showed us a good time while we were in New York City. Papa served a one-year term with the United States delegation to the U.N. My father was well regarded by his colleagues at the United Nations and stayed in touch with them long after his term had ended.

The "melting pot" concept of everyone conforming to the Anglo American standard troubled my Papa. Papa was proud of his Mexican Heritage "I don’t want my culture and my pride and my language and everything melted down," he said. "You take me like I am because I think I’ve proved what I can do through my service to my country without having to be melted down."5 

Today, I speculate how my father would react to Immigration Reform and some of the "excuses" used to justify reform. Using "Garcia Style," my father would analyze the situation, uncover who benefited and draw conclusions. He would ask, "Who benefits? Where is our heart?" My father taught me to question always, "What is the reason and what is the excuse."

* Mexican Immigrants take jobs away from our citizens and raise the crime rate.
* We have to protect our borders from a terrorist invasion.
* Terrorists enter our country through the southern border posing as Mexican citizens.
* The wall is necessary between Mexico and the U.S. because we don’t have an illegal
    immigration problem from Canada.
* America has to get tough on Mexicans crossing our borders illegally and impose harsher 
    penalties for this crime.
* The "solution" is to build more prisons to contain criminals.

Corporations are cashing in on crime with the privatization of the prison systems. More criminals mean greater profit. Our country is creating new crimes. Being illegal is a crime now. Having debt is a crime in some states.6 Low interest home mortgages are available to low-income clients.7 But the collateral for the loan is the borrower not the property and a borrower who defaults could go to prison. An added benefit for some political parties is to diminish the number of low-income minorities who are eligible to vote.

Constructing a wall between Mexico and the U.S. border speaks volumes about which immigrants our government feels are desirable. The recent incident about a known carrier of a virulent strain of tuberculosis, crossing the northern border twice suggests that the stringent scrutiny on our southern borders may have little to do with "homeland security." A carrier of a drug resistant disease is more of a threat to our country than all the illegal aliens in the United States. Perhaps one motive is fear. Fear about the changing demographics in this country and an attempt to control it.

Knowing my father, he would not be a spectator. His conscience would not allow it. Our conscience should not allow it either.

1 American English is regional American speech.
2  Corpus Christi Caller Times, UPI, 1989.
3  Hispanic Magazine, "Hector P. Garcia" by Armando Ibanez, 8/1988.
4  Miami Herald, AP, 11/30/1967.
5  Corpus Christi Caller Times, Joyce Saenz Harris, 1989.
6  Being an illegal immigrant or having debt is now a crime.
7  Non-Chattel Mortgage.

Rafael J. Magallan wrote:
A recent book by University of Houston law professor Michael Olivas titled "Colored Men and Hombres Aqui: Hernandez v. Texas and the Emergence of Mexican-American Lawyering" addresses the landmark Hernandez case. 

Published by Arte Publico Press (2006), the publication is the first full-length book on this significant case. The volume contains the papers presented at the Hernandez at 50 conference held at the University of Houston in 2004 and also contains source materials, trial briefs, and a rich chronology of the case. The book does an excellent job of presenting the critical issues involved and is a compelling read for all interested in the civil rights of Mexican-Americans. 

Sent by Dorinda Moreno dorindamoreno@comcast.net

Rafael Ojeda recommends these URLs for a background on legal matters.
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06slipopinion.html
http://news/findlaw.com/legalnews/us/sc/index.html
http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/lhr/21.1/forum_wilson.html

Immigration Reform: 
A Glance at History
by 
Dionicio Morales, 
2007
Sent by daughter, Magdalena Morales

For one who has been at the forefront in the fight for civil rights over seven decades, the present firestorm of misinformation on the issues of immigration reform "shoot from the hip" politicos has been acutely painful. The wave of hysterical, natives and xenophobic rhetoric about the undocumented immigrant is deeply troubling.

It is unfathomable that in this "Era of the Latino" truth and logic have been thrust aside to open a floodgate of vilification against Mexico and our people in the United States: the very words "immigrant" and especially "undocumented" have been branded with shame. I also forced to remind those who band around the work that people are not "illegal".

To many of us, this present hysteria and fear amounts to wake of over-reaction, more expected from an angry mob, often seen in a western "B" movie than from a civil democratic "Good Neighbor".

All too many complacent Americans act towards Mexico and her descendants here as thought they hope Mexican might somehow "go away".

Many Mexican Americans wonder what the reaction would be if other major or vocal minority group in the United States were subjected to such a constantly historical blizzard of demeaning and contemptuous rhetoric. We continue waiting to see if more politicians will be as vocal in regards to other ports of entry, such as New York, Canada, the shores of Florida, or near a coast guard boat with a Chinese smuggler's ship in the background.

Mexican Americans know how victims of racism on a rampage felt! Our memories recall the scapegoat and resultant mass forced "repatriations" of the Depression years. Crowds of tearful humanity waited to be loaded for deportation in the railroad yards of Los Angeles. Also lingering in our memories are the so-called "Zoot Suit" riots which brought wandering troublemakers in the U.S. Navy Uniforms into the barrios of East Los Angeles on a seemingly endless campaign of racial violence.

As we look back in history, we must not forget how Mexico relieved hundreds of thousands of American troops for front line duty by deploying military forces to guard the thousands of miles of her coastline, in defense of our continent. Why is it not more widely known, that Mexico was our staunch and trusted ally in World War II. She declared war on both Germany and Japan, and sent Mexican Fighter Squadron 201 to the pacific to fight at our side.

Surely the Mexican American display of patriotic valor on World War II battlefields should live in our memories and dispel recurrences of open insensitivity, hostility and racism. After all, Mexican Americans won more Congressional Medals for Valor percentage-wise than any other U.S. Ethnic Group. Today in Iraq, our Mexican American young men and women continue to fight and die valiantly for this country.

At President Franklin Roosevelt's request, Mexico replaced the men and women who were among the 12,000,000 Americans called up in World War II with Mexican farm workers who came to the rescue gathering the crops to feed our fighting forces, country and allies.

To this day, the United States depends on their hands to feed this great nation and the globalized world.

Surely all this should earn 30,000,000 Mexican Americans immunity from the indignity of seeing incessant immigration bashing!

Even former enemy countries of the United States have been accorded the highest dignity and respect going so far as to receive the status of economic co-partners. We rebuilt Japan and made her the bastion of influence in the Pacific. We helped rebuild Germany, and then made her one of our strongest allies in Europe. We are careful to send diplomatic delegations ahead to explain our every decision that could affect their interest before taking action. We would never think of bashing their respective people or countries.

How could it be that we are so absorbed in immigrant bashing, militarizing the border, and creating walls of separation while the happy memory of the fall of the Berlin Wall was such an historical lesson for the world. If it was such an unnatural barricade that was universally condemned, why should it now be appropriate to build walls between Tijuana, Mexicali and Laredo? Why is that situating with Mexico so different?

Even with grave economic issues at stake, we were able to meet in peace and negotiate with Japan and Germany, when, however, was the last serious border summit convened and attended by President Bush and Condoleezza Rice? When was the last real bi-lateral effort to meet and negotiate a package of practical remedies for our border crisis?

It was only in the last century that this country still decreed total exclusion of all Asians, including all Japanese and Chinese! Adult Asians could not become citizens, but even then we had not sunk to depriving their children of citizenship...as has been proposed for Mexican children!

Asian children received their full birthright of citizenship, and could buy property, even though real estate ownership was denied their parents. Japanese American felt the full impact of the "Yellow Peril" fixation. Bigoted Americans referred to them as "Japs". They were uprooted and entire families were moved under Army guard to special desert concentration camps. Since then, we have even apologized and compensated as much as humanly possible to right such wrongs. Only the survivors, of course, live to receive even that long delayed consolation! We Americans forget these things and then presume that there is no one among us who will recognize our old sins whey they crop out, thinly disguised!

Today we are told that the United States will do everything in its power to set things right in far-off Iraq, but can we be assured that the United States is ready to make such a commitment to the critical issues regarding immigrating and the Mexican border.

It is folly to try to wish away the dictates of political geography, but history and nature has made Mexico and the United Stated interdependent neighbors. In Los Angeles immigrant mariachis poignantly sing a prophetic refrain: " Aqui estamos y aqui nos quedamos" (We are here and here we will stay).

We then reserve the right to proclaim at the same time, that the future of this continent, and its two neighboring nations, will be profoundly affected by the choices that are made between wisdom and hysteria. We must face up to the urgent issue of our common border with the Republic of Mexico!

We are determined that the spirit of the good neighbor must once more flourish among us, and penetrate our entire national consciousness. This then will extend the same opportunities especially to our good next door neighbor, the Republic of Mexico and will allow for the bilateral consultation and peaceful negotiations on critical border issues.

History in the Making
New Book Published as part of Hispanic Civil Rights Series