From: bergman@AFPAN.PA.AF.MIL (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: Hispanic Americans Contribute to U.S. Defense
Date: 20 Aug 92 13:54:23 GMT
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC


Press Pack #37 for the Week of September 14, 1992

Contributing to America's Defense

American Forces Information Service

     In 1492, the Italian, Christoforo Colombo, sailed the ocean
blue, thanks to financial backing by the Spanish king and queen.
     When Colombo, or Christopher Columbus as he's known, landed on
Oct. 12, 1492, the stage was set for American colonization by Spain
and the other European powers.
     Five centuries later, the United States is gearing up for the
quincentennial celebration of Columbus's voyage to the New World.
A key element of the commemoration is Hispanic Heritage Month,
which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.  The theme for this year's
observance is "500 Years of Hispanic Heritage, 1492-1992 --
Contributing to America's Progress."
     "The military and civilian contributions of Hispanic-Americans
reflect a deep commitment to the principles of freedom and
democracy which are the strength of the United States," said
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney.  "Hispanic-Americans have
contributed gallantly to the defense of our nation."
     Hispanic men and women continue to serve with courage and
distinction in today's U.S. armed forces, he added.  Recent
military operations in Grenada, Panama and the Persian Gulf showed
their professionalism and dedication.
     DoD's figures indicate that almost 93,000 Hispanic-Americans
are in uniform.  Overall, 5.3 percent of DoD's enlisted personnel
and 2.2 percent of its officers are of Hispanic heritage.
     The Army's makeup shows 2,098 officers, 2.1 percent, and
26,470 enlisted personnel, 4.5 percent; Navy, 1,757 officers at 2.5
percent and 31,537 enlisted at 6.5 percent; Marine Corps, 519
officers at 2.7 percent and 13,254 enlisted at 7.6 percent; and Air
Force, 1,938 officers at 2 percent and 15,217 enlisted at 3.8
percent.
     "No manner of tribute to our country's heritage could be more
appropriate than to acknowledge the importance of
Hispanic-Americans' contributions to national security," said
Cheney.  "We salute their contributions, sacrifices and bravery."


Hispanic-Americans: Facts and Figures

American Forces Information Service

     For 500 years, Hispanics have contributed to America's
progress.  They explored and helped settle the country, influenced
the culture and gave their lives in its defense.
     Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from  Sept. 15 to Oct. 15,
recognizes the contributions Hispanic-Americans have made.  This
year's celebration and theme are built around the quincentennial
anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World in
1492.  The theme is "500 Years of Hispanic Heritage, 1492-1992 --
Contributing to America's Progress."
     "The Hispanic community has given us generals, admirals,
philosophers, statesmen, musicians, athletes and Nobel Prize
winning scientists," said Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney.
     The month-long observance recognizes Hispanic achievements
through the years, from the exploration and colonization of the
Americas to the technology of today and tomorrow, he said.
     Some believe that Hispanic-Americans are just one group.
That's not true, he said.  They include Mexican-Americans, Puerto
Ricans, Cuban-Americans, Spanish, Dominicans, Latin-Americans and,
in some sources, Filipino-Americans.  The diversity in their
lifestyles, languages, interests, beliefs and customs adds ethnic
richness to the American culture.
     Understanding various ethnic cultures makes Americans richer
for the knowledge, he added.  Toward that end, here are some
general facts about Hispanic-Americans:
     o  Mexican-Americans are the largest and oldest group in
America, followed by the Puerto Ricans and Cuban-Americans.
     o  By the year 2020, predictions indicate that
Hispanic-Americans will be the largest cultural minority in the
United States, accounting for about 15 percent of the total
population.  Currently, Hispanic-Americans number about 25 million
people, or 10 percent of the country's population.
     o  Hispanic families are more likely to be found in urban
areas than non-Hispanic families.
     o  Hispanic-Americans tend to be younger, on the average, than
non-Hispanics.  Recent studies show that the average age of
Hispanics is 25.1 years versus 31.9 years for
non-Hispanic-Americans.  Within the Hispanic-American community,
Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans are the youngest, while
Cuban-Americans are the oldest.
     o  The Central and South American population in the United
States has grown by more than 65 percent since 1962.
     o  On the average, Hispanic-American families tend to be
larger than non-Hispanic-American ones.  The average
non-Hispanic-family has 3.1 members; Mexican-American, 4.1; Puerto
Rican, 3.27; Cuban-American, 2.9; Central and South American, 3.57;
and other Hispanic groups, 3.11.
     o  About 80 percent of Hispanic-Americans live in a household
where one of 12 Spanish dialects is spoken.

Hispanic Americans Play Important Role In U.S. Defense

By Master Sgt. Linda Lee, USA
American Forces Information Service

     Hispanic-Americans have served and continue to serve the
United States and the Department of Defense with courage and
distinction, said Defense Secretary Dick Cheney.
     The role Hispanic heritage plays in the United States wasn't
officially recognized until 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson
and Congress proclaimed Hispanic Heritage Week.  Since 1989,
Hispanic Heritage has been a month-long observance.
     Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15.  The theme is "500
Years of Hispanic Heritage, 1492-1992 -- Contributing to America's
Progress."  It continues to build on the themes for the last few
years.  "500 years of Hispanic Heritage" has started each theme and
focused on different aspects of Hispanic culture.  In 1990, the
other part of the theme was "Education Excellence, Key to Our
Future," while last year's was "A Cultural Mosaic."
     To recognize their contributions, DoD takes part in the
Hispanic Heritage celebration each year.  There is no set way to
celebrate the Hispanic contributions throughout the services.  Each
installation develops its own program, ranging from guest speakers
and special meals at dining facilities to displays and sports
events.
     When thinking of their contributions to the country's defense,
said Cheney, remember that 37 Hispanic-Americans received the Medal
of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration.  The medal was
first awarded during the Civil War -- two Hispanic-Americans were
among the first to receive it.  Hispanics received the Medal of
Honor for actions during the Boxer Rebellion, World War I and II,
Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.
     Cheney said their actions have been a credit to themselves, to
the United States and to their ancestry.  "Many of these valiant
Hispanics made the ultimate sacrifice and received recognition
posthumously," he said.
     Those who received the nation's highest recognition include:
     o  Marine Pvt. France Silva.  He aided in the defense of
Western legations in China for two months during the Boxer
Rebellion in 1900.
     o  Army Pvt. David Barkley.  He swam the Meuse River in
France, crawling behind enemy lines to map artillery locations in
1918, during World War I.  He drowned on the return trip.  Barkley
is the Army's first Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient; his Hispanic
heritage was not discovered until 1989.
     o  Marine Pfc. Harold Gonsalves.  He took part in action on
the Okinawan island of Ie Shima in 1945; when a grenade landed
within a group of Marines, he dived on it, absorbing the explosion
with his own body.
     o  Army Sgt. Jose Lopez.  He almost single-handedly kept his
company from being overrun by Germans in Belgium on Dec. 17, 1944.
His actions, which included killing more than 100 enemy, permitted
the company to withdraw.
     o  Army SSgt. Ysmael Villegas.  He singlehandedly charged five
foxholes during an attack in the Philippines in 1945.  He was
killed while attacking the sixth; his actions inspired his men to
attack.
     o  Army Cpl. Rodolfo Hernandez.  He continued to fire on
onrushing assailants after his comrades withdrew during an attack
in Korea in 1951.  When he ran out of ammunition, he charged the
enemy, armed with only a rifle and bayonet.  He fell unconscious
from bullet, grenade and bayonet wounds.  His actions halted the
enemy advance, enabling his unit to counterattack and retake the
lost ground.
     o  Army Sergeant 1st Class Louis Rocco.  He accompanied an
emergency medical evacuation team to evacuate eight critically
wounded soldiers in 1970 in Vietnam.  The helicopter was forced to
crash land.  Rocco, severely injured, managed to pull the survivors
from the wreckage.  Under enemy fire, he carried each man to
safety.
     o  Marine Pfc. Ralph Dias.  Though severely wounded by snipers
in Vietnam in 1969, he crawled to a location near the enemy.  He
unsuccessfully threw several grenades at the enemy location; he
moved into the open, and as he threw a grenade that destroyed the
enemy's gun emplacement, he was killed.
     Throughout the history of the United States, hundreds of
thousands of Hispanic-Americans have responded to the country's
defense.  They are unsung heroes, said Cheney, men and women who
did what was asked of them in the defense of their country.
     These include Marine Sgt. James M. Lopez and Cpl. William A.
Gallegos, taken hostage when the U.S. Embassy in Iran was overrun
in 1979; Air Force Maj. Fernando Ribas-Dominicci, killed in a
combat mission over Libya in 1986; Marine Pfc. Guy Gabaldon, who
singlehandledly captured more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers on
Saipan in 1944; and Air Force Capt. Manuel Fernandez Jr., who, with
14.5 air victories, was the third-ranking fighter pilot in the
Korean War.

--
     __________________________________________________________________
    |            Air Force News Agency (AFNEWS)                        | 
    |           Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA                       | 
    |               bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil                            |  
    |__________________________________________________________________|  


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