Hispanic heroes on the front

The often overlooked contributions of Hispanics and Latinos in the U.S. military -- in response to the call to duty, honor and country -- were highlighted Oct. 8 iin a slide presentation by Dan Gomez, member of the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, and SERV chief engineer in the 526th ICBM Systems Group, in the Base Theater.The fact-filled presentation was a 200-plus year chronology of military battles, social challenges and obstacles, and unselfish heroic acts accomplished by Hispanics beginning in 1508 with the journeys of Juan Ponce de Leon, a military explorer instrumental in establishment of the state of Florida, to the current military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan of this year.Not least among these military heroes was David Farragut, a U.S. Naval officer who after seeing the ironclad USS Tecumseh sunk by floating "torpedoes" of gunpowder in barrels, took command of his wooden vessel and shouted his famous order, "Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead." That act of courage sealed his fame. He will always be known as the U.S. Navy's first Hispanic admiral and a personal favorite of Abraham Lincoln. Two of the nation's capital's Metro stations are now named in his honor: Farragut North and Farragut West.This tradition of excellence was served well on both sides during the Civil War as Hispanics and Latinos found themselves drawn to both sides, even to the extent of one woman, a Confederate widow, Loreta Vasquez, who went to battle in the guise of a male officer -- Lt. Harry Buford -- until she was found out after the Battle of Bull Run due to an injury. She continued to support the South as a spy and went to battle as a soldier time and again as opportunities presented themselves.World War I saw many Hispanics relegated to menial and noncombat roles. David Cantu-Barkley hid his heritage in order to be given the chance to face combat, ultimately giving his life on the return trip after crossing into enemy lines to get information on the enemy. His Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously but his Hispanic heritage was not recognized until 71 years later.World War II saw a greater participation in combat and extraordinary acts of bravery and unselfish heroism by Hispanics. Korea and other Vietnam action found greater and greater participation from Hispanic and Spanish-speaking Latinos. On a cold December 1944 day, in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium, Sgt. Jose M. Lopez made a one-man stand and mowed down more than 100 attacking Germans, halting the enemy advance and saving his own company from annihilation. Military historian, Raul Morin wrote of Lopez's deed, "Not even Sgt. York, of World War I fame, comes close to the number of enemy killed."Many heroic acts cited included some who gave their lives for their fellow soldiers. Noel Sepulveda helped rescue victims and to triage the wounded at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Sepulveda was a former Vietnam medic who rescued eight people in a skirmish in Vietnam putting his life on the line but, "God wasn't ready for him yet," Gomez said of the young medic's experiences in that earlier action.Retired Brig. Gen. Bernardo Negrete, formerly of the Army Recruiting Command, says a familiar environment attracts Hispanics toward the armed forces. "The military structure is very similar to that of a typical Hispanic family -- respect for discipline, a strong sense of responsibility and bullet-proof loyalty."Of the more than 1,450 Medals of Honor given to courageous Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, 44 of them have been awarded to Hispanics.Gomez, who created the presentation to highlight the heroic deeds of Hispanics and emphasize the need to "learn from our past, experience the present and hopefully sculpture the future," concluded his presentation with praise for the military heroes and unselfish acts of heroism because "Freedom isn't free."The presentation coincides with this year's Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, Sept. 16 through Oct. 15.