A Legacy of Service: Hispanics Serving in World War II

The purpose of The Compass Rose is to raise awareness of Special Collections' resources and to foster the use of these resources. The blog series also reports significant new programs, initiatives, and acquisitions of Special Collections.

Hispanics, specifically people of Mexican, Central-American, Latin-American, and Caribbean descent, have a history of service in the US Military. While we do not know the exact number of Hispanic veterans, we do know that members of the Mexican, Latin-American, and Caribbean diaspora have valiantly served in the Civil War, both World Wars, and every conflict in the 20th and 21st centuries. Thousands of Hispanic veterans have been awarded medals for their service, including the Medal of Honor, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. Members of this community served in both integrated and segregated units and defended a nation that, at times, subjected them racial and ethnic discrimination.

Between 400,000 and 500,000 Hispanic veterans served in WWII. In this blog, we'll look at two resources that give us information on the people who served in this war and their experiences: the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Photograph Collection and the historical text, The Fighting Men of Texas. 

This photograph is of Private Esther Garcia, and it comes from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Photograph Collection. She was the first Mexican-American from Forth Worth to sign up for the Women's Army Corps (WAC). She used her skills in Spanish to serve as a translator at the Moore Air Force Base, which was 14 miles northwest of Mission, Texas. This air base was opened in 1941 and deactivated in 1961. Private Garcia's picture was taken on April 27, 1945, and during this time she spent half of her workday issuing take-off and landing instructions in Spanish to a to a Bolivian air unit and the other half of her day acting as an interpreter for that same unit at the ground school. She is wearing her WAC uniform in this picture, and her glasses are cut in a style that we don't see very often today: they are rounded at the top, and are cut into corners on the bottom like half of a hexagon. 

Her service as a translator to a Bolivian air unit is an amazing reflection of the Latin American participation in WWII, and the importance of translation during times of military coordination. 

The Fighting Men of Texas: A History of the Second World War - A Memorial - A Remembrance - An Appreciation is a five-volume book that shows the photographs and brief biographies of Texans who served in WWII and veterans who signed up for military service in Texas. It was published in 1948 by the Historical Publishing Company of Dallas, Texas, in conjunction with the US Army Infantry Division. This is certainly not a complete record of every Texan veteran, but it does provide information for over 2,000 servicemen and women. Mexican-Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos faced extensive discrimination during this era, and segregation against Mexican-Americans was prevalent in Texas during the 1940's, but in this book series Mexican-American veteran biographies are integrated with white veteran biographies. This is not the case for African-American servicemen. Volume 3 has a specific section for Black servicemen and women biographies separated from the rest of the biographies. 

The following biographies are a small sample of this fascinating text:

The first image is of Private First Class Prisciliano A. Martinez. (He has one of my favorite names, for obvious reasons.) The biographies of these veterans will be copied onto this blog for accessibility. His biography is as follows: 

Pfc. Prisciliano A. Martinez, born January 4, 1912, in Mexico, husband of Maria C. Martinez, Wylie, Texas, entered the Army Combat Group, 40th Engineers, September 9, 1942, and trained at Camp Lee, Virginia. He began overseas duty June, 1943; participated in the invasion of Sicily and Southern France and Battles of Rome-Arno, Naples-Foggia, crossing of the Rhine, and other engagements. He also served in North Africa, Oran and Bizerte. The EAME Campaign Medal with Six Bronze Stars and Bronze Arrowheads was awarded with Good Conduct and Good Drivers' Medals. Pfc Martinez returned home; was discharges Sept. 23, 1945.

The second image is of Sergeant Pedro C. Ontiveros. His biography is as follows: 

Pfc. Pete Campos Ontiveros, birthdate May 3, 1923, in Texas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ontiveros, Houston, Texas, volunteered August 8, 1941, for the Army 2nd Infantry Division. Trained at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. Sgt. Ontiveros served September, 1944, to October, 1945, in the European Theater at the battles at the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Was wounded in action February 7, 1945, on the Siegfried Line. The Purple Heart was awarded with ETO Ribbon-three Battles Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Pre-Pearl Harbor Awards, and other ribbons. Was discharged October, 1945, after returning to the States. 

As a side note, it is probable that his father's name, Tomás, was anglicized to Thomas in this text.  

The final image is of Technician Fourth Grade Antonio B. Sanchez. His biography is as follows: 

T/4 Sanchez, was born on May 10, 1917, in Arizona, son of Mrs. Manuela B. Sanchez of Ysleta; attended Coyne Electrical College, Chicago, Ill.; entered the service May 6, 1942, at Ft. Bliss, and was assigned to the Army 245th Sig. Opn. Co. (Signal Operation Company), training at Camp Crowder, Mo., with the service overseas from May 27, 1944, until Dec. 20, 1945, in India, Burma, and China. His decorations include the American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Victory, and Good Conduct Medals. He served with American Liaison Teams with Chinese Combat Command, attached to the 99th Chinese Army. T/4 Sanchez was given an honorable discharge on Jan. 7, 1946, at Fort Bliss, Texas. 

This next example shows a full page from The Fighting Men of Texas. On the page are three veterans, with the bottom half of the page shared by Private First Class John Martinez and Private First Class Julian Martinez. The top half of the page features Sergeant Ramon R. Zepeda, who died in action in 1945. Between the Martinez men is an outline of Texas, and at the top left corner of the page is a small eagle, poised as if swooping down to catch prey. The top of the page reads: The Fighting Men of Texas in a stylized font, with stars lined up beneath the title. 

The biography of Sergeant Ramon R. Zepeda is as follows: 

Sgt. Zepeda, was born on August 27, 1922, in Texas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ramon Zepeda of 201 North Sampson St. in Houston, Texas. He received his education in Houston Public Schools and entered the service on the 23rd of November in 1942. Assigned to the Army 30th Infantry Div., with Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as his training base. He saw service in France, Belgium, and Germany; participated in the battles of Normandy and the Bulge. He was overseas a year with the 120th Inf. Reg. (Infantry Regiment), when he was killed in Germany on February 27, 1945. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, 2 Purple Hearts. He received the Star for meritorious service in Holland and Germany between Oct. 4 and Nov. 10, 1944, for maintaining from line (likely an error for 'front line') communications despite heavy fire. 

The biographies for Private First Class John Martinez and Julian Martinez, who are likely brothers based off of the information in their biographies, are as follows:

Pfc. J. Martinez (John Martinez), born June 24, 1924, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sabino Martinez, 7632 Canal St., Texas, attended Edison Jr. High School, at Houston. Entered the service May 10, 1943, and was assigned to the Army 29th Inf., Field Art. (Infantry, Field Artillery); trained at Fort Sill, Okla. Served in the United States 7 months, and overseas 23 months, in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, C. Europe, (Battled) England, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark. (Areas) Medals and battle credits awarded: Bronze Star Medal, 1 Arrowhead; 4 Bronze Stars' Good Conduct; ETO Ribbon, Occupational Ribbon, and Victory, Pfc J. Martinez fought continuously 42 days. Discharged in 1945.

Pfc J. Martinez (Julian Martinez), was born April 12, 1921, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sabino Martinez, Houston Texas. He attended Edison Jr. High School; entered the service on December 23, 1942, and was assigned to the 469th Batt. (Battalion) "C" and Navy Aircraft Br. (Brigade); trained at Camp Davis, N. C.; served in the United States 8 months, and overseas 27 months, in Bismarck Archipelago, S. Philippines, Luzon. Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, Leyte, (Areas). Awarded: Asiatic-Pacific, 3 Br. Stars, 1 Br. Arrowhead; Philippine Lib. (Liberation) 2 Br. Stars, Good Con., Victory 1 Service Stripe, 4 Overseas S. Bars. Private Martinez had 16 actual combat months. He was honorably discharged Dec. 30, 1945. 

These images and biographies remind us that history is not a series of dates or locations on a map. History was made by people of diverse backgrounds and experiences, and by learning about a few of the men and women who served in WWII, we can remember their stories and honor their legacies.