User:Tinosherwood/Hispanic Americans in World War II

After returning home
After returning home, Hispanic soldiers experienced the same discrimination felt by other Hispanic Americans. According to one former Hispanic soldier, "There was the same discrimination in Grand Falls (Texas), if not worse" than when he had departed. While Hispanics could work for $2 per day, whites could get jobs working in petroleum fields that earned $18 per day. In his town, signs read "No Mexicans, whites only", and only one restaurant would serve Hispanics.[112] The American GI Forum was started to ensure the rights of Hispanic World War II veterans.

Discrimination also extended to those killed during the war. In one notable case, the owner of a funeral parlor refused to allow the family of Private Felix Longoria, a soldier killed in action in the Philippines, to use his facility because "whites would not like it". Then-U.S. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and Hector P. Garcia, the Mexican-American World War II veteran who founded the American G.I. Forum, intervened on Longoria's behalf. Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, Congressman John Lyle, and President Truman's military aide Gen. Harry H. Vaughan joined the Longoria family for a full military burial with honors at Arlington National Cemetery on February 16, 1949.[113] Johnson stated of the incident, "This injustice and prejudice is deplorable. I am happy to have a part seeing that this Texas hero is laid to rest with the honor and dignity his service deserves."[114][115]

After returning home (revised)
After returning home, most Hispanic soldiers felt that their continued war efforts and loyalty to the country would grant them equal rights, however like other minority groups in the United States, experienced similar if not the same discrimination prior to World War II. According to one former Hispanic soldier, "There was the same discrimination in Grand Falls (Texas), if not worse" than when he had departed. While Hispanics could work for $2 per day, whites could get jobs working in petroleum fields that earned $18 per day. In his town, signs read "No Mexicans, whites only", and only one restaurant would serve Hispanics.[112] The American GI Forum was started to ensure the rights of Hispanic World War II veterans.

When looking at this topic from a wider perspective, it is clear that military service was one of many forms of proof that show that Hispanics were willing to serve for the United States. Although Hispanics played a vital role in World War II, some advocates of Latino equality often note that “Latinos have fought in every U.S. conflict from the American Revolution” https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jun-13-cl-40272-story.html Discrimination also extended to those killed during the war. In one notable case, the owner of a funeral parlor refused to allow the family of Private Felix Longoria, a soldier killed in action in the Philippines, to use his facility because "whites would not like it". Then-U.S. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and Hector P. Garcia, the Mexican-American World War II veteran who founded the American G.I. Forum, intervened on Longoria's behalf. Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, Congressman John Lyle, and President Truman's military aide Gen. Harry H. Vaughan joined the Longoria family for a full military burial with honors at Arlington National Cemetery on February 16, 1949.[113] Johnson stated of the incident, "This injustice and prejudice is deplorable. I am happy to have a part seeing that this Texas hero is laid to rest with the honor and dignity his service deserves."[114][115]

Although Hispanic Americans did experience a variety of discrimination both during and after World War II there was a variety of ways in which Hispanics benefitted in terms of life after World War II. One of the prime ways in which this happened is that many future leaders of the Latino and Chicano Civil Rights Movements began their efforts after having served in uniform.