Hispanic, Latino American culture, contributions celebrated

[The Patriot]

Editor’s note: Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15, the Guardian will run stories highlighting the accomplishment and achievements of Hispanic Americans. This story focuses on Hispanics who received the Congressional Medal of Honor.FORT POLK, La. — Sept. 15 kicked off National Hispanic Heritage Month when the contributions and presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States are recognized, and their heritage and culture celebrated.Hispanic Heritage Month’s roots go back to 1968, and begins each year on Sept. 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Columbus Day (Día de la Raza) is Oct. 12.The term Hispanic or Latino, refers to Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. On the 2010 Census form, people of Spanish, Hispanic and Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or "another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin."Today, 57.5 million people or 18 percent of the American population are of Hispanic or Latino origin. This represents a significant increase from 2000, which registered the Hispanic population at 35.3 million or 13 percent of the total U.S. population.Since the population of the Army is a microcosm of the U.S., it stands to reason its rolls are filled with the names of those of Hispanic heritage. At the end of fiscal year 2017 about 15 percent of the more than 475,000 Soldiers on active duty in the Army were of Hispanic heritage.It also stands to reason that among the Hispanic Soldiers who have answered the call to serve in the Army, there would be some who were awarded the country’s highest wartime award — the Congressional Medal of Honor. Of the 60 Medals of Honor presented to Hispanics, 46 were members of the Army. They include: One from the American Civil War; one from World War I; 16 in World War II; 10 in the Korean War; 16 in the Vietnam War; and one in the war in Afghanistan. What follows are some of their stories:• Cpl. Joseph H. DeCastro; Company I, 19th Massachusetts Infantry; Civil War; July 3, 1863; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; DeCastro attacked a Confederate flag bearer from the 19th Virginia Infantry regiment and captured their flag, during the infamous Pickett’s Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg.• Pvt. David B. Barkley; Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division; World War I; Nov. 9, 1918; Pouilly, France; Barkley volunteered to swim a river to gather information on an enemy force. As he was swimming back he developed cramps and drowned.• Staff Sgt. Rudolph B. Davilla; Company H, 7th Infantry; World War II; May 28, 1944; Artena, Italy; Davilla gave his life to destroy three hostile machine guns.• Pvt. Joe Gandara; Company D, 2nd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division; World War II; June 9, 1944; Amfreville, France; Gandara destroyed three hostile machine guns before he was fatally wounded.• Staff Sgt. Marcario Garcia; Company B., 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division; World War II; Nov. 27, 1944; Grosshau, Germany; while Garcia was an acting squad leader, he single-handedly assaulted two enemy machine gun emplacements.• Pfc. David M. Gonzales; Company 1, 127th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Division; World War II; April 25, 1945; Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands; Gonzales was killed in action in the Philippines while digging out fellow Soldiers who had been buried in a bomb explosion.• Pfc. Silvestre S. Herrera; Company E, 142ind Infantry, 36th Infantry Division; World War II; March 15, 1945; Mertzwiller, France; Herrera was wounded in action while charging an enemy stronghold resulting in the capture of eight enemy soldiers.• Pfc. Salvador J. Lara; 602nd Ordnance Armament Maintenance Battalion, 45th Infantry Division; World War II; May 27-28, 1944; Aprilia, Italy; Lara was honored for courageous actions during combat operations before he was fatally wounded.• Sgt. Jose M. Lopez, 2nd Infantry Division; World War II; Dec. 17, 1944; Krinkelt, Belgium; Lopez single-handedly repulsed a German infantry attack, killing at least 100 enemy troops.• Pvt. Joe Martinez; Company K, 32nd Infantry, 7th Infantry Division; World War II; May 26, 1943; Attu, Aleutian Islands; Martinez was killed in action while engaging enemy forces on a snow-covered mountain.• Pvt. Cleto L. Rodriguez; Company B, 148th Infantry, 37th Division; World War II; Feb. 9, 1945; Paco Railroad Station, Manila, Philippine Islands; With another Soldier, who was killed in the action, Rodriguez killed more than 82 Japanese soldiers, completely disorganized their defense, and allowed for the enemy to be defeated.• Pfc. Alejandro R. Ruiz; 165th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division; World War II; April 28, 1945; Okinawa, Japan; Ruiz risked his life to eliminate an enemy pillbox and kill the 12 enemy soldiers who were occupying it.• Sgt. Eduardo C. Gomez; Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment; 1st Cavalry Division; Korean War; Sept. 3, 1950; Tabu-dong, South Korea; For heroism in inflicting a heavy toll in casualties and retarding the enemy's advance.• Master Sgt. Juan E. Negron; 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division; Korean War; April 28, 1951; Kalma-Eri, North Korea; Negron was cited for courageous actions during combat operations.• Spc. Jesus S. Duran; Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Division; Vietnam War; April 10, 1969; South Vietnam; Mounting a log, Duran fired directly into the enemy's foxholes and eliminated four of them and several others as they fled.• Sgt. 1st Class Jose Rodela; Detachment B-36, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces; Sept. 1, 1969; Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam; Rodela received the MOH for actions during combat operations against an armed enemy.• Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry; 75th Ranger Regiment; War in Afghanistan; May 26, 2008; Afghanistan; Petry grabbed an enemy grenade that had been thrown at him and his fellow Soldiers and attempted to throw the grenade, resulting in the loss of his right hand.For a complete list of Hispanic Soldiers who received the Congressional Medal of Honor visit www.hispanicmedalofhonorsociety.org.


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