[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 9059-9065]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 REMEMBERING VICTIMS AT VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY AND HONORING HISPANIC 
                         WORLD WAR II VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Castor). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 18, 2007, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) is 
recognized for half the remaining time until midnight.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, tonight we will be highlighting the 
courage and honor of our Hispanic World War II veterans.
  But before we begin tonight, I would like to take this moment to 
honor the victims of the unbelievable tragedy at Virginia Tech 
University. We have only just begun to hear the incredible stories of 
the heroism and tragedy, and begun to learn the names and faces of 
those who died and those whose survived, but whose lives will forever 
be changed.
  Today we have also seen how remarkable and how resilient they are. To 
the Virginia Tech University community, the students, the staff, the 
family members and the loved ones who are suffering today, please know 
that you are in our prayers and thoughts tonight.
  I ask for a brief moment of silence.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special 
Order tonight.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening, joined by my 
colleagues, to honor and pay respect and tribute to the contributions 
of the Latino and Hispanic soldiers who served so valiantly during 
World War II.
  World War II was a major turning point for the United States Latinos, 
changing the world views of an entire generation. Approximately half a 
million Hispanics served in the Armed Forces during World War II. 
Unfortunately, many Latino soldiers who returned home found the same 
discrimination they had left behind, a system that held Latinos to a 
lower status.
  Latinos and Latinas who worked in military installations and in other 
jobs previously denied them also questioned the status quo.
  Understanding the importance of getting an education to better adapt 
after their tour of duty, many veterans used the GI bill to earn 
college degrees. In the years following World War II, those men and 
women made astonishing civil rights advancements for their people 
through school desegregation, in voting rights, and in basic civil 
rights.
  Powerful organizations grew out of this era, including the American 
GI Forum founded by Dr. Hector Garcia of Corpus Christi in 1948 to 
advocate for veterans' rights.
  Another organization that came out of the World War II generation of 
Latinos was the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund in 
1968. This came about after Mexican American World War II veterans, 
including people such as Pete Tijerina; Gregory Luna, a Senator from 
Texas; Ed Idar and Albert Armendariz, among others, found that their 
clients, mostly low-income Mexican Americans, were being denied justice 
in the legal system.
  For Puerto Ricans, World War II brought new questions in which the 
United States came to appreciate Puerto Rico's military importance in 
the Caribbean. The United States maintained that it needed to keep its 
sovereign power over the islands for reasons of national security, and 
World War II strengthened that position. However, over 53,000 Puerto 
Ricans served within the United States military with dignity. Soldiers 
from the island, serving in the 65th Infantry Regiment, participated in 
combat in the European theater in Germany and central Europe.
  World War II was also the first conflict in which women other than 
nurses were allowed to serve in the United States Armed Forces. 
However, when the United States entered World War II, Puerto Rican 
nurses volunteered for service, but were not accepted into the Army or 
the Navy Nurse Corps, and it was not until 1944 that the Army Nurse 
Corps decided to activate and recruit Puerto Rican nurses so the Army 
hospitals would not have to deal with language barriers.
  Sadly, Madam Speaker, the stories of these men and women have been 
virtually untold either in the mass media or in the scholarly writings, 
and that is why my colleagues and I are here this evening to begin 
sharing the stories of the Hispanic and Latino World War II veterans, 
so all Americans can learn about and appreciate their contributions.
  Within our own body of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus I am proud 
to honor, to recognize the service of four of our own who have served 
the military with dignity: Chairman Silvestre Reyes, Chairman Solomon 
Ortiz, the Honorable John Salazar, and the honorable chairman of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Joe Baca.
  Chairman Joe Baca, who represents the 43rd District of California, 
was drafted in 1966 and served in the Army as a paratrooper with both 
the 101st and the 82nd Airborne Divisions from 1966 through 1968.
  I want to take this opportunity to yield to our chairman, and I thank 
him for being here tonight.
  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank our 
Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Veterans Affairs for 
addressing this important issue of those men and women who served 
during World War II, and that is our chairman, Ciro Rodriguez. It is 
important that people realize the contributions of many of our 
Hispanics who served during that period of time, that we are visible 
and that we were not invisible during that period of time and that we 
made many contributions to this country during that period of time.
  So I rise today in honor of the over 500,000 Hispanics who bravely 
served our country during World War II with honor and with integrity 
and were proud to wear the uniform. And for those of us who wore that 
uniform, men and women who were willing to ultimately sacrifice for 
this country, it is an honor for us and our family members when we put 
on that uniform and fight for this country.
  Madam Speaker, 65,000 Puerto Ricans also served during that period of 
time. Thirteen Medals of Honor were given out, 11 were Mexican 
American, two were Puerto Ricans. So when you can look at the 
contributions of these individuals and many others, as a veteran, I am 
proud of our heritage and our long history of continuing to fight for 
this country.
  More Hispanics fought for this country's freedom and security during 
World War II, and I state that is an important fact to understand, and 
it is important that it be included in part of our history of the 
contributions that Hispanics have made. More Hispanics than any other 
minority group have served this country with distinction.
  Just one example is Company E of the 141st Regiment of the 36th Texas 
Infantry Division. This company was made up entirely of Hispanics, 
bilingual individuals who were willing to serve for this country. After 
361 days of combat in Italy and France, the 141st Infantry Regiment 
sustained 1,126 casualties, 5,000 wounded and more than 500 missing in 
action.
  In recognizing their extended service and valor, the members of the 
141st were awarded three Medals of Honor, 31 Distinguished Service 
Crosses, 12 Legions of Merit, 492 Silver Stars, 11 Soldier's Medals, 
and 1,685 Bronze Stars. We were, and are, visible and participated and 
gave our lives during World War II. And that is an important fact for 
many of our children and others to know the contributions of many of 
our men and women who served us, who sacrificed for this country.

[[Page 9060]]

  Hispanic women also made a huge contribution to the American war 
effort. Madam Speaker, 200 Puertoriquenas served during the Women's 
Army Corps, which was one of the first service opportunities for women 
in American history.

                              {time}  2230

  Bilingual Hispanic women also worked in important positions within 
the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in areas like communications and 
interpretation. They also worked as specialized bilingual nurses and 
logistics specialists all over the world, providing the United States 
military the services vital to the war effort and to this country.
  Hispanic veterans have made huge contributions to American society 
after serving our country in this war.
  Dr. Hector P. Garcia of Corpus Christi founded the American GI Forum 
in 1948 to advocate on behalf of veterans rights, and as our chairman 
indicated, many veterans who came back home, who served this country, 
were trying to buy homes and trying to receive the same benefits that 
many other individuals were given in this country but yet were denied 
those same rights, whether to buy a home, obtain a education, have the 
same rights as others. I know because I experienced the same thing when 
I returned back after serving this country and was trying to rent a 
home, and they would not rent to me, and of course, they rented to my 
wife. In doing so, the GI Forum became an important civil rights 
organization for Mexican Americans.
  Another organization that came out of the World War II generation of 
Latinos was the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or 
MALDEF, in 1968. Mexican American World War II veterans, such as Pete 
Tijerina, Ed Idar and Albert Armendariz, came together to advocate for 
low-income Mexican Americans who needed fair treatment within the 
American legal system.
  As a Hispanic, a veteran and as chair of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, I cannot tell you how humbled I am by the sacrifice of these 
brave men and women who came before me, who ultimately gave the 
sacrifice, who believed in this country and continue to believe in this 
country and will continue to fight for this country because we know it 
is an honor to serve for the United States and its principles and what 
it stands for.
  I am particularly honored to know of a dear friend of mine who served 
during World War II, David Guerra Galvan, who recently passed away on 
March 23 when I went back to the district. He was born in my district 
and was a resident of Rialto, my hometown, for 50 years.
  David served his country in the Army during World War II as a 
paratrooper and in the 101st Airborne Division. During his European 
tour, David was also transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division as part 
of a detachment for the personal protection of General Dwight 
Eisenhower. After his military service, David continued to serve his 
country as a data communications operator at Norton Air Force Base. He 
retired after 40 years of outstanding service to the Armed Forces in 
1990.
  David was a dear friend of mine, and he is a perfect example of the 
hundreds of thousands of veterans that we are honoring today who have 
served our country and will continue to serve our country.
  David Galvan was a Hispanic, he was an American and a proud American, 
and he loved this country. He spent his entire life serving our Nation 
and his community and his family; as well as my brother Abilio Baca who 
served in the Armed Forces in the Army during the Korean conflict; as 
well as my father-in-law, Ted Dominguez, who served during World War 
II.
  I feel honored to have followed in David's footsteps by serving in 
the 101st and 82nd Airborne during my military service, and I thank him 
and I thank all of the many men and women who served during World War 
II. They are our heroes. They are our role models. They have paved the 
way for generations of proud Hispanics. They are the ones who 
ultimately paid the sacrifices so that we can enjoy the freedoms that 
we have here today because they were willing to step up to the plate. 
They stepped up to the plate and were willing to die for this country. 
That is why we have the freedoms that we have today, and we must not 
forget the legacy of what they have left for us. They have opened the 
door. They paved the way. They provided that for us. Let us remember 
those veterans who have served this country.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity also to 
congratulate Congressman Baca not only as chairman of the Congressional 
Hispanic Caucus but for his service to his country, and he continues to 
serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. I thank Congressman Baca.
  Let me take this opportunity also to just share with you that also I 
mentioned earlier Chairman Sylvestre Reyes, who also served in the 
military, now chairman of the Intelligence Committee, who represents 
the 16th District of Texas. He is a Vietnam combat veteran, and he was 
stationed in Marble Mountain in DaNang, and he served as a helicopter 
crew chief within the 282nd Combat Assault Helicopter Company from 
March 1967 to April 1968. I know that he was unable to be here tonight, 
but I know that he also cherishes and recognizes those individuals who 
served our country.
  Let me take this opportunity to recognize a friend from San Antonio, 
Texas, which represents a community that has multitude and is known as 
Military U.S.A., San Antonio, because of the support that we have for 
our military with Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, 
Fort Sam Houston, Brooks that used to be here, and the military support 
and all the families there, Congressman Charlie Gonzalez.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Madam Speaker, I want to express my thanks of course to 
my colleague Ciro Rodriguez, my neighbor and fellow San Antonian for 
his great service in this Congress and, of course, as past chair of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
  I first would like to digress from the remarks that I have had here 
prepared to highlight the life of a great man. The individual that I 
will be highlighting taught me as a very young man and as a young 
lawyer that if you have something to say, say it; if you believe in 
something stand up and state it.
  While we were awaiting our call to have our Special Order, some of my 
colleagues from the other side of the aisle were representing certain 
figures and facts, demonstrating that the practices of the Democratic 
party and Democratic leaders simply resulted in deficit spending, not 
having a balanced budget, runaway spending and so on. The only problem 
with those facts and those figures is that the Republicans have been in 
the majority since 1995. It was only last year in 2006 that we were 
able to take back the majority. So, if there was too much spending, if 
there was irresponsibility in the way of fiscal policy, they had the 
majority.
  Let us talk about the expiration of certain tax programs that were 
passed back in 2005. Was it truly necessary to say they would expire in 
2005? Now, I understand that we do things in 5-year increments often 
enough, but they had the majority. Make them permanent; they never did. 
Extend them; they never did. You wonder why.
  It is complaining that this bus is being driven in an erratic manner 
and the wrong destination. The problem is you were driving it. They 
controlled Congress and nothing was done.
  The last time we had a balanced budget was under the Clinton 
administration, and it was because of President Clinton's leadership 
that we were able to balance the budget because of good, solid economic 
policy and tax policies that really were fair to all Americans.
  I leave you with a couple of thoughts here. First of all, what we are 
proposing in the first few months of being in the majority is to 
maintain and make sure that we still have the child tax credit that 
would not expire, that we make sure that the marriage penalty relief 
would not expire. Why? Because that truly is just. That truly is fair.

[[Page 9061]]

  What is not fair is what I am going to read to you now that appeared 
back in 2005. Back on the 8th day of December 2005, the Republican tax 
reconciliation bill, the Tax Policy Center, run jointly by the 
Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute has concluded that the 
bottom 80 percent of households would receive 15.5 percent of the House 
tax cuts. The top 20 percent would receive 84.2 percent of the benefit. 
Households earning more than $1 million would get 40 percent of the tax 
cut relief, or an average reduction of nearly $51,000. If you believe 
that is fair tax policy, something is truly, truly wrong, and we are 
going to correct that as we assume the majority.
  Now, who taught me that? I will go now into my remarks because we are 
here to honor and to spotlight the service of Hispanics and especially 
in World War II.
  Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure today to participate in this Special 
Order honoring Hispanic veterans of the Second World War. As we have 
already heard, the contributions made by Hispanic Americans to the war 
effort against the Axis Powers were significant. A half million 
Hispanics served, and I fear that their contributions are often 
forgotten.
  It is important that all Americans, including Hispanics, enjoy 
recognition and our historical dialogues commensurate with the 
contributions they made to our Nation. When we fail to be inclusive, 
our histories are incomplete. They are only half-truths. We owe it to 
past and future generations to make our histories whole. When history 
is complete, it is also fair and it is just.
  Today, I am honored to make a small contribution to our country's 
World War II dialogue on behalf of the war's Hispanic veterans in hopes 
that their stories come to occupy a place in history proportionate to 
their service and to their sacrifice.
  Like their African American brothers-in-arms, Hispanic Americans 
served the United States in World War II with honor and distinction, 
despite the fact that they had yet to enjoy the full fruits of the 
liberty they defended.
  Back in the 1940s, in the late 1940s also, most of the services 
offered to the American public by our national, State and local 
governments were segregated between whites and minorities, including 
Hispanics. But despite the fact that the services to which they were 
entitled were often withheld or inferior, Hispanics did not withhold 
their service to the American people. They fought for our country even 
as schools they attended, jobs they worked, wages they earned, and 
living conditions they tolerated reflected systematic inequality that 
denied them full rights of citizenship. Despite the inequality endured 
by Hispanic veterans before and after World War II, their stories of 
courage and heroism during that troubling time are the equal of any 
that can be told.
  I regret that I have time to share with you the story of but one of 
the hundreds of thousands of Hispanic veterans who so courageously 
defended the liberty of humankind during those darkest hours.
  The Honorable Mike Machado enjoyed a lengthy career of public service 
to the United States, to the State of Texas and to the residence of his 
beloved home city of San Antonio. He was born in San Antonio on 
September 4, 1923, and attended Sydney Lanier High School where he 
excelled as a student athlete.
  Like so many young men of his generation, Mike Machado entered 
service to his country during the earliest days of his adulthood by 
enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps at 17. He became a nose 
gunner on a B-24, battling the Germans over the skies of Nazi-occupied 
Europe. By the summer of 1944, he had flown over 40 missions.
  On June 13, 1944, Mike Machado's B-24 was heavily damaged over 
Munich. Despite the desperate nature of their situation, the crew 
stayed with their aircraft rather than parachute into enemy hands.

                              {time}  2245

  Mike Machado and his comrades crossed the border into northern Italy 
before they were forced to make a crash landing. Upon impact, fire 
engulfed the B-24. Mike Machado carried two of his fellow airmen to 
safety that day, saving them from the flames. In the process, he 
received severe burns to his upper body and arms that would limit the 
use of his hands for the rest of his life.
  My personal observation that I would like to make is that even I 
practiced before Judge Machado. It was obvious that this is someone who 
had suffered horrific, disfiguring and incapacitating injuries.
  The French Underground provided sanctuary for Mike over the following 
months, hiding him from Nazi forces and eventually securing his return 
to the United States Army. His strength and his resilience, combined 
with the rudimentary medical care provided by his French companions, 
allowed him to survive his injuries from the fire and the flack.
  After his return to the United States Army, he began a 36-month long 
recuperation at Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso. The ordeal 
included 23 skin graft operations that only partially repaired the 
injuries incurred during his heroic rescue efforts. Mike Machado's 
story of heroism does not end with his discharge from the Army. His 
injuries did not deter him from his pursuit of an education, in law, 
especially, and a career of public service, as a city attorney and as a 
judge at the municipal and State district court levels.
  Judge Machado used the GI Bill to enroll at Saint Mary's University 
and graduated from Saint Mary's University Law School in 1952. He soon 
became a prosecutor. In 1957, he was appointed as a municipal court 
judge where he served for 20 years. In 1977, he became a judge for the 
newly created 227th State district court. That same year he was honored 
by Pope Paul VI with a knighthood in the Pontifical Order of Saint 
Gregory the Great. He served as a district judge for 21 years until the 
time of his death.
  When he died on July 29, 1998, Judge Machado had amassed over a half 
century of public service to our country, as an airman, and as an 
assistant DA, and a municipal and district court judge. He was just shy 
of his 75th birthday and would have been retired from the bench, as 
Texas law requires, on September 4 of that year.
  While Texas law mandated his retirement from the judicial branch, it 
could not squelch Judge Machado's desire to serve the public, knowing 
that mandatory retirement was fast approaching.
  What did he do? Well, prior to the brain aneurysm that took his life, 
he had announced at the age of 74 his candidacy for district attorney 
in Bexar County on the Democratic ticket. Judge Machado was highly 
regarded in the community, as evidenced by the over 1,000 mourners that 
attended his funeral.
  As a judge, he performed marriage ceremonies for thousands of San 
Antonio couples. He welcomed the public into his chambers with open 
arms, often quite literally. What I mean by that, it was a big giant 
bear hug that he would give you, and he made himself available to 
individuals in need of help.
  Believe it or not, even ex-convicts that he had sentenced would seek 
his advice at times. He was a man of the people and a man who 
befriended everyone. I am honored to have had the opportunity to share 
with you the story of Judge Mike Machado, a courageous man and a 
servant of his country.
  My colleague, Congressman Rodriguez, who organized this opportunity 
to recount the bravery of Hispanic veterans of World War II, should be 
commended for his efforts today and in the past, because this is not 
the first time that Congressman Rodriguez has risen to the defense of 
the Hispanic warrior in recognizing and remembering these servicemen, 
including Judge Mike Machado.
  As I indicated earlier, we did not offer these comments tonight 
solely to highlight the virtues of specific individuals. We realized as 
Judge Machado's son has said of his dad, ``My father and many more of 
his generation would be embarrassed at the prospect of receiving 
special attention for doing what they consider to be a privilege, that 
is, serving this great country.'' When we honor individuals like Judge 
Mike Machado, we honor a symbol really of something much more. We

[[Page 9062]]

honor them because their courage symbolizes the courage and sacrifice 
to which the Hispanic community and the Nation at large aspire.
  We honor the service of Hispanic veterans of World War II 
specifically today in order to solidify their place in World War II 
history and ensure that their patriotic virtues receive the 
appreciation they deserve, that Judge Machado and hundreds of thousands 
of his fellow World War II veterans, Hispanic and non-Hispanic alike, 
look back on their valiant service to our country as a privilege and an 
honor, and should be an inspiration to all Americans.
  Let our recognition of their sacrifices motivate us to a greater 
appreciation of the contributions made during World War II by 
Americans, regardless of their racial or ethnic backgrounds. None of 
their brave soldiers will ever be forgotten.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, I want to personally 
thank you tonight for bringing the story of Judge Machado, a great 
leader in San Antonio. I also want to thank you for your comments as 
you regressed and talked a little bit in terms of the deficit. You have 
talked in eloquence, and I couldn't help but remember your dad, Henry 
B. Gonzalez, as he spoke in this House about the important issues that 
confront us.
  I know that previous groups had talked about the deficit, knowing 
full well that this particular administration went into office with a 
surplus, one of the largest surpluses in recorded history. Now we find 
ourselves without that surplus and find ourselves in an $8.9 trillion 
debt.
  That being said, let me also take this opportunity to mention a 
little bit about some of our own veterans here on the House, Chairman 
Solomon Ortiz, who sits on the Armed Services Committee, represents the 
27th District of Texas.
  As a result of his father's death at the age of 16, Chairman Ortiz 
dropped out of school to find a job to assist his mother in paying the 
family bills. Shortly thereafter, Chairman Ortiz joined the Army, 
because, as he put it, it was the one place that would give him free 
room and board and let me send my check back home to my mother.
  It was in the Army that Mr. Ortiz, Solomon, ever conscious of the 
needs for an education, got his GED. He received his basic training at 
Fort Hood, Texas, and was sent overseas to France for his tour of duty. 
He later found himself reassigned to the 61st Military Police Company, 
Criminal Investigation Office, a move that would color much of his 
future professional life. He remained as an investigator for the 
duration of his tour of duty, receiving his advanced military police 
training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
  Congressman John Salazar, who represents the Third District of 
Colorado, graduated from Centauri High School in La Jara, Colorado. In 
1973 he joined the Army. After serving in Heidelberg, Germany, Salazar 
received an honorable military discharge in 1976. Congressman Salazar 
is proud to be a veteran and proud to be both the son and father of men 
who have served. The Salazar family is honored to have served our 
country. Congressman Salazar tells a story of his father, a veteran of 
World War II, requesting to be buried in his uniform.
  Today's generation of Hispanics and Latino American soldiers look to 
the brave men and women, veterans, who fought before them, as true 
inspiration. In the State of Texas alone, there are 197,173 World War 
II veterans who have fought so bravely and honorably to defend our 
beloved country. According to the 2000 census, the VA reported and 
recognized Texas as having 14,871,550 civilian population over the age 
of 18 and a total veteran civilian population of over 1.7 million.
  Within the 23rd Congressional District, which is the district that I 
represent, a district that is one of the largest in the country that 
stretches from San Antonio to El Paso through Eagle Pass and the 
border, has some 700 miles of the border with Mexico. I represent the 
VA reports in their county estimates and projections of living veterans 
report, that as of September 30, 2006, there are currently 53,012 
living veterans within the 23rd Congressional District.
  Therefore, my colleagues, I stand today, this evening, in honor of 
the extraordinary service these men and women should be recognized for 
what they do. In so recognizing their efforts, we also need to 
recognize them in terms of what we provide them with.
  Before I do that, let me take this opportunity to also tell a story 
of my father-in-law. Daniel Sanchez Pena was born on January 11, 1919, 
as the youngest son of Manuel Pena and Catarina Sanchez Pena in Las 
Colonias of Karnes County, Texas. He grew up in his parents' ranchito 
doing all the types of farm chores that kids do in a farm. He only went 
to the second grade in school. He learned to play the guitar at 14 and 
played at community and farmhouse dances around the community. He would 
use his skills while in the Army to entertain himself and his fellow 
soldiers.
  To this day, he still enjoys, at 87, playing the guitar there at 
home. Daniel Sanchez Pena was registered on the 16th day of October, 
1940. He reported to the Local Board No. 1 in Karnes County, Texas, at 
the courthouse, on March 25, 1942. This was part of the 35th precinct 
of what is referred to as the Robstown, Texas, ward. At the age of 23, 
in June of 1942, he was at the headquarters of the Armed Forces 
Replacement Training Center in Fort Knox, Kentucky, Company A, for 
training. Being a farm boy, he was an expert shooter and got excellent 
points for marksmanship. He still talks about the beautiful mountains 
in Kentucky that he recalls and the green valleys.
  After training, he was sent to New York to board the ship and go 
overseas. This was a real adventure to Daniel. Daniel had never 
traveled far from his home, much less across the Atlantic Ocean. He 
still talks about the amazement of seeing the dolphins and the whales 
and other large fish that he saw. He recalls how seasick they were and 
how at night, how he looked on that floating city of lights. Coming 
from a small town, that seemed like a large city.
  He served in the U.S. Army for 3 years. He was a rifleman in the 
infantry. He remembers crawling in the sand, freezing in the snow, 
climbing the steep mountains and the high mountains in Italy and 
forever marching, dodging bullets and digging fox holes. He saw his 
friends from Karnes County, a young man at that point that he talks 
about, and always remembers him, who was killed in front of him. To 
this day, he still remembers that specific incident when that occurred.
  He recalls the many tragedies of the war for both soldiers and 
civilians. He remembers having to hold his plate of food so that they 
would not be stolen by the starving civilians and children who appeared 
around the camps when they went through both Africa and into Italy. He 
often wondered why he got out alive.
  Truly, he experienced every emotion known to man, from profound 
sorrow to wondrous awe. Only in the last 2 to 3 years has he started to 
talk about these experiences. As he talks about his experiences, he 
remembers parts of the comments and the language, the Italian language 
that he picked up and some of the words. He returned from service in 
1945, receiving the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 
four bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the 
Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II.
  He married Dora Mansanalez in September of 1947, another young lady 
who lived at another farm adjoining their farm. His father had seven 
children, three girls and four boys. Two of the boys, Roberto and 
Guillermo, my brother-in-laws, served in the Army. Carolina, his 
daughter, is my wife.

                              {time}  2300

  And so I mention Daniel Pena because he is typical of a lot of the 
veterans, a lot of Hispanic veterans who have served our country, who 
never spoke of the war until now as he reaches 87 years of age he 
begins to talk about those incidents.

[[Page 9063]]

  Let me also take this opportunity, Madam Speaker, as featured by Gebe 
Martinez, a longtime journalist in Washington. I would like to share 
with you a story which she featured of a soldier from my own 23rd 
District of Texas, Nick Arzola.
  Nick Arzola was defined as a skinny kid from Del Rio, Texas; service 
in World War II was the pride of his life. He never forgot the precise 
time he left New York for the war, 5 p.m. on October 7, 1943. Arzola 
went through the choppy seas, pitched in his ship so violently that he 
was sick for the entire 18 days' voyage to Scotland.
  On land, he went from cooking on a gas stove on the battlefront to 
moving grenades and bombs at a munitions depot. Arzola was a proud 
American from Del Rio, even if he was considered the only Mexican with 
a bunch of Yankees, as he used to say. He was good natured despite the 
stereotype. His war buddies first thought he looked Filipino. Then, 
they called him Pancho Villa and they called him Casanova, according to 
the tales.
  When he returned to Texas after the war, he traveled a road that 
would later be named for Cleto Rodriguez, the first Hispanic to receive 
the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the battle in Manila.
  Nick opened a barbershop in Del Rio and painted signs freehand, 
including billboards for rising Texas politicians such as Lloyd 
Bentsen. A veteran, he never missed an election and rounded up voters 
to take part in freedom as he campaigned.
  Until he died in 2005, he was part of the uniformed honor guard at 
the funeral of Del Rio's war veterans, one where to this day you have a 
large number of veterans there in Del Rio that continue to volunteer as 
their veterans pass away and do the honors of burying them.
  Nick Arzola's story may not seem unlike that of other veterans, but 
this is a representation of part of America's history that has too 
often been forgotten. His story, like the stories many colleagues have 
shared, have not been told. Nick never missed an election and rounded 
up votes as he worked and will continue to do so.
  So I want to take this opportunity to also mention, as I have a few 
minutes left, we talked the last few weeks about the situation that we 
find ourselves with as PBS has a 14-hour program on World War II that 
will be released in September. There has been a great deal of concern 
about the lack of Hispanic participation in that particular program. We 
have had meetings with Ken Burns and others and have been pleased that 
we have been able to make some inroads. There is still a lot of work to 
be done.
  I do want to mention that I am also concerned that within our own 
population we don't know the history of the role that Mexican Americans 
and Hispanics have played, not only in World War II but throughout all 
the wars.
  I want to mention a group of Mexicans, these are truly Mexicans from 
Mexico that played a very significant role in World War II in defense 
of the United States and that was referred to as Escuadron 201, the 
Aztec Eagles, as they were called. The 201 Escuadron was a group of 300 
Mexicans that were trained in the United States and fought on behalf of 
the United States, with some 38 Mexican pilots that were trained in 
this country.
  On December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mexico 
severed its ties with Germany, Italy, and Japan. And in May 1942, the 
Nazis also sank a Mexican tanker, and Mexico declared war against the 
Axis powers. During that time, Mexico participated in the war, and one 
group was the Escuadron 201. This group of 300 individuals that were 
Mexicans were trained in this country. The 201 successfully 
participated in the Allied efforts to bomb Luzon and Formosa, known as 
Taiwan now, to attempt to push the Japanese out of the island.
  Assigned to the 58th Fighter Group of the United States Fifth Air 
Force, the Aztec Eagles, as they were called, were also used in ground 
support efforts after the aerial threat from Japan weakened. During 
those ground assignments, the men of the squadron saw firsthand the 
fearlessness and war mentality of the Japanese soldiers. Japanese 
soldiers were often captured after trying to come into the U.S. 
military campsites for food, as they recalled during the stories. 
Several of these soldiers such as Captain Reynaldo Gallardo and others 
continue to remember their efforts.
  I want to mention, on Veterans Day Carlos Faustinos, a former member 
of the Escuadron 201, always is proud of flying not only Old Glory but 
the Mexican flag, because he, as a Mexican, fought on behalf of the 
United States against the Japanese. He was also known for being able to 
down six Japanese Zeros, which basically makes him an ace, and was able 
to get credit and receive La Cruz de Honor, the Cross of Honor, which 
is equivalent to the U.S. Medal of Honor award in this country.
  Very few Americans know of the 201 Escuadron. Very few of them know 
of the Aztec Eagles, these Mexicans who fought with the U.S. troops as 
troopers and fought over the sea in the Pacific. They continue to 
engage and continue to meet, and I know the G.I. Forum has recently 
honored their efforts, but much more needs to be done.
  Let me take this opportunity in closing to indicate that as we honor 
our troops, it is not just sufficient for us to honor them with our 
words. We have to honor them with our acts. And that is why I am 
extremely proud to announce that this legislation has put more money 
for our veterans service than any other in history. I am glad that the 
budget for 2008 has $6.6 billion, and I know that the House of 
Representatives will be voting on that. That $6.6 billion is the 
resources that are essentially needed at this present time to help.
  And for 2007, I am also proud to say that we were able to take that 
particular piece of legislation that should have been passed last year, 
that was passed by this Congress, the concurrent resolution, and that 
we added to that bill after we struck all the line items that were 
placed on that bill the previous year by the previous Congress, we 
struck every single line item, and we added $3.6 billion for the VA.
  So I am pleased not only that we did that, but I am also pleased to 
announce that the supplemental that the President will hopefully 
eventually sign has an additional $1.7 billion for our troops for 
health care. That is the way to honor our troops not only with our 
words but with our deeds.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Madam Speaker, I am honored to join my colleagues in 
honoring the tremendous contributions of World War II Veterans.
  During World War II Americans responded to a call of service that 
resulted in a generation of leaders that has since never been seen. As 
our country faced the war, all citizens stood united and ready to 
contribute. Without exception, Hispanic Americans were also there to 
seize the call their country had laid before them. Not only did 
Hispanic Americans serve our country during a time of war, their 
leadership after service resulted in huge civil rights advancements for 
the Hispanic community.
  It is with great privilege that I take the opportunity to especially 
recognize the noble service and high sacrifices of the approximately 
500,000 Hispanic Americans who served in the Armed Forces during World 
War II. One of whom was my brother-in-law, Manuel Musquiz--a 
bombardier.
  During World War II Hispanic participation was at a higher percentage 
than any other minority. Of these, at least 65,000 were Puerto Rican 
and the majority of the Hispanics were Mexican-Americans. Thirteen 
Medals of Honor were awarded to Latinos in World War II, eleven to 
Mexican Americans, and two to Puerto Ricans. When Hispanic soldiers 
returned home they utilized the GI Bill to advance their education.
  Unfortunately, many Latino soldiers who served during WWII also 
received a rude awakening as they returned home. They faced the same 
discrimination they had left when they heeded the call to serve. Latino 
soldiers returned home to exert their rights, through numerous civil 
rights efforts, to create greater opportunities through activism. 
Powerful organizations grew out of this era, including the G.I. Forum 
and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). A 
wealth of gratitude is entitled to these national heroes and their 
families who not only fought for democracy but fought for equality.
  I would also like to recognize my fellow colleagues of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus

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who also have served our country: Representatives Ortiz, Reyes, Baca, 
and Salazar.
  We pause to remember the noble service and high sacrifices of those 
who have worn our nation's uniform. We must not allow our children to 
forget about those who have served and the millions of living military 
veterans in the United States, those residing in California, and 
Hispanic veterans in the U.S. Our thoughts and prayers are also with 
tomorrow's veterans--our servicemen and women serving in Iraq and 
Afghanistan and across the world.
  Let us remember the service of all our veterans, the ones that wars--
and peace--cannot be won without. And let us renew our national promise 
to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and families who have 
sacrificed so much so that we can live free.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I first want to express my deepest 
condolences to all of the families who lost loved ones in yesterday's 
tragedy at Virginia Tech University. This horrific event has affected 
Americans all over this country and we all mourn for those who were 
lost and pray for the swift recovery of those who were injured.
  Tonight I join my colleagues from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus 
in paying tribute to the thousands of Hispanic veterans who have fought 
and died defending this country. My Congressional district has lost 
many young men in this most recent conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  They are but the latest in a long line of patriots from South Texas 
who have given their lives in the defense of America.
  Tonight I want to pay tribute to a young man from my district who 
received this Nation's highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, known to his friends and family as 
``Freddy'', was born in 1946 in Edinburg, Texas in the Rio Grande 
Valley. His mother was a waitress, who had to raise her son alone.
  Freddy worked in the cotton fields as a teenager to help his mother. 
He attended Edinburg High School, where he was an outstanding football 
star.
  After graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After his initial 
training, he was sent to Vietnam in 1966 where he served as a rifleman 
and squad leader. He was quickly promoted from private to lance 
corporal to corporal.
  He returned to the States in 1967 where he was given the task of 
training recruits in guerilla warfare. Freddy told his mother and 
friends he did not want to return to Vietnam and would not re-enlist.
  A few months after his return from Vietnam, he learned that an entire 
Marine platoon had been killed, including a group of men who had served 
under him during his first tour of duty. He was saddened by their loss 
and immediately volunteered for a second tour of duty.
  On July 1, 1967 he was promoted to sergeant and shipped back to 
Vietnam.
  On January 31, 1968, Sergeant Freddy Gonzalez and his men were 
assigned the task of protecting a truck convoy that was bringing relief 
to a major Vietnamese town. The truck convoy was attacked by the Viet 
Cong with mortars and machine gun fire.
  Although Sergeant Gonzalez was wounded, he ran through heavy fire to 
rescue a wounded Marine who fell off the tank.
  On February 3, Sergeant Gonzalez was wounded again but refused 
medical treatment until all of the other wounded Marines were treated.
  The next day, on February 4, Sergeant Gonzalez and his Marine platoon 
were pinned down by the Viet Cong, who were firing at the Americans 
with rockets and automatic weapons from a church.
  Sergeant Gonzalez, utilizing a number of light anti-tank assault 
weapons, fearlessly moved from position to position, firing numerous 
rounds at the heavily fortified enemy emplacements, almost single-
handedly neutralizing the enemy.
  All appeared quiet and Sergeant Gonzalez approached to make sure that 
the church was secure when the hidden lone enemy survivor killed him. 
At the age of 21, Sergeant Freddy Gonzalez had given the ultimate 
sacrifice for his country.
  In 1969, his mother, Dolia Gonzalez, was escorted to the White House 
to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to her son 
posthumously because of his tremendous heroism in saving the men in his 
platoon.
  He was also awarded numerous other medals including the Purple Heart, 
the Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service 
Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 bronze stars and the Vietnam 
Gallantry Cross with palm.
  Long after his death, his courage, his patriotism and his sacrifice 
are still remembered. In the Rio Grande Valley there are schools, roads 
and parks named after him.
  In 1996, the Navy commissioned the USS Gonzalez, a guided-missile 
destroyer and the first modern destroyer named for a Mexican American. 
Freddie was one of 13 Hispanics who were awarded the Medal of Honor for 
their service in Vietnam.
  Hispanics have a proud tradition of patriotism and have always been 
willing to answer America's call to duty, often when they were not even 
citizens. Freddy Gonzalez' story is just one of the many thousands of 
stories that make up the heritage of our Hispanic veterans.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in thanking all of these brave 
men and women, as well as their families and loved ones, for their 
service.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, Hispanic veterans represent our love of 
this nation . . . they represent the best of our community . . . and 
their service is a frequent path to greater opportunities for them and 
their families.
  I am a veteran, inspired by another veteran who inspired so many of 
us: Dr. Hector P. Garcia who created the GI Forum, a powerful platform 
that represents Hispanic veterans who labor on the battlefield for our 
nation. Dr. Hector Garcia was a personal hero to me.
  He served the nation on the battlefield . . . and he served us again 
by making people understand that a soldier is a soldier--that race 
makes no difference among Americans, particularly when they wear the 
uniform of the United States. If he were here today, he would have a 
great deal to say to PBS about the omission of Hispanics when putting 
together a special on WWII.
  WWII was the moment in time when Hispanics found their place in U.S. 
society and found our voice in demanding equality among troops . . . 
and elsewhere in the American family. And it was Dr. Hector's audacious 
vision that began a decades-long march in advancing civil rights, 
voting rights and school desegregation for Hispanics in Texas and 
around the nation.
  Here's how it all began . . . the family of Felix Longoria--a brave 
and fallen U.S. soldier from WWII--wanted his body buried at Three 
Rivers Cemetery in Three Rivers, Texas. Yet segregation's profound and 
evil roots ran deep in the heart of Texas then, reaching all the way 
into cemeteries, and Longoria's burial was refused; he was not white 
and could not be buried alongside those with whom he had fought in the 
war.
  Dr. Hector laid bare the raw racism inherent in the U.S. after this 
nation fought a global war to protect democracy and our way of life, 
when even cemeteries were segregated. The fight to bury this war hero 
was successful and that effort begat the GI Forum, the very first 
Hispanic civil rights organization in this nation.
  I was so pleased that--after the Hispanic Caucus engaged PBS in a 
serious conversation about the lack of inclusion of the story of 
Hispanics in the story of WWII--PBS understood the enormity of that 
decision. They will now include the extraordinary exploits of Hispanic 
warriors in the story of the last declared war our nation fought.
  Yet, it was not only WWII in which Hispanic Americans were heroes in 
securing freedom; there were many examples of Hispanic war heroes 
throughout our history. Today we should also honor our forefathers who 
played a large part in making--and then keeping--the United States free 
and democratic; for as long as there has been a United States, 
Hispanics have played major roles in building our country and defending 
it.
  From the American Revolution that freed the United States from 
England--to today's operation against al Qaeda--Hispanics proudly and 
bravely served the United States. When the Colonies on the East Coast 
of what is now the United States rebelled against England, Hispanics 
played a pivotal role.
  As Governor of the Louisiana Territory, General Benardo de Galvez 
sent money, gunpowder, rifles and other supplies to General George 
Washington to aid in the revolution. He later served gallantly in the 
War for Independence by capturing both Mobile and Pensacola--at a 
pivotal point in the war.
  Captain Jorge Farragut came to the United States to seek his fortune 
by fighting the British--first in the Revolution, then in the War of 
1812--as part of the U.S. Navy.
  Hispanics also raised special collections and taxes to aid the fight 
for independence. After the Revolution was won, Mexican pesos aided in 
the construction of St. Peter's Church in New York City to celebrate 
the end of the war. As in the Revolution, Hispanics served proudly in 
each war and conflict in which the United States participated.
  In the course of that service, 38 Hispanics have been awarded the 
Congressional Medal of Honor, our country's highest award for military 
bravery and service.
  In the Civil War, David Glasgow Farragut, son of Jorge Farragut, won 
fame as a Union

[[Page 9065]]

hero by blockading Southern ports, destroying Rebel ships anchored in 
New Orleans, and by capturing Mobile for the Union.
  His contributions prompted Congress to create the title of Rear 
Admiral to reward him as the first man to ever hold that rank. Farragut 
was commissioned Vice Admiral in 1864, then Admiral in 1866.
  Federico Fermandez Cavada, a Lieutenant Colonel for the Union Army, 
fought bravely at Gettysburg. Rafael Chacon also served with the Union 
Army, and attained the rank of Major.
  Santos Benavides--originally from Laredo--fought for the Confederacy. 
His rank of Colonel was the highest of any Mexican-American Army 
officer in the Civil War.
  Major Manuel Antonio Chavez forced the Confederate Army to retreat 
down the Rio Grande, preventing the rebels from carrying out their 
plans to seize the gold mines of New Mexico and California.
  Lieutenant Colonel Jose Francisco Chaves of the Union Army assisted 
in recapturing Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
  One of the most interesting soldiers in the Confederacy was Loretta 
Janet Velazquez, who fought disguised as a man. Upon discovery and 
discharge, she continued her service as a Confederate spy.
  In 1973, Lieutenant Colonel Mercedes Cubria retired from the Army--
she was the first Hispanic woman to achieve that rank. Hispanics served 
bravely for the cause of freedom and democracy in World War I, World 
War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
  Around 500,000 Hispanics served the United States during World War 
II, and it is on the shoulders of these great men that the rest of us 
could see the future.
  In the years to come, when the military service of Hispanics is 
viewed through the prism of history, there are certainly a number of 
young Hispanics whose service to this nation in this new war will 
distinguish themselves among great U.S. warriors in the 21st Century.
  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I join my colleague Representatives Devin 
Nunes in honoring the life of Mr. Louis Flores Ruiz from Dinuba, 
California, who passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, April 1, 
2007. Mr. Ruiz was loyal, compassionate and worked hard to make the 
American Dream a reality in his life.
  Mr. Louis Flores Ruiz was born on October 30, 1918 in Chihuahua, 
Chihuahua, Mexico. At the age of five, he and his family immigrated to 
the United States and after successfully serving his country by joining 
the U.S. Army, he was granted United States Citizenship on December 17, 
1944. During his time in the Army, he served as a Military Police 
escorting prisoners-of-war and civilians in combat areas as well as 
investigating theft. His stellar service to our country made Mr. Ruiz a 
recipient of the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, one Bronze Service Star, 
an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Stars, and a Good 
Conduct Medal.
  Upon his return from his service, Mr. Ruiz first worked as a grocery 
store owner, then as an insurance salesman. After that, he joined his 
brothers and brother-in-law in Tulare, California and co-founded a 
large tortilla factory where they pioneered the automation of tortilla 
production. An entrepreneur and innovator at heart, Mr. Ruiz went on to 
co-found what has become the largest frozen food Mexican manufacturing 
firm in the United States, the second largest Hispanic-owned 
manufacturing firm in the United States, and the largest manufacturing 
plant in the state of California. Ruiz Foods has also helped establish 
programs of charitable giving within the community to many 
organizations that enhance the quality of life for the people of the 
Central Valley.
  In 1983 Mr. Ruiz had the distinctive honor of meeting with President 
Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush in the Rose Garden of the 
White House, as he accepted the U.S. Small Business Administration's 
Small Business Person's of the Year Award. In 2003, Mr. Ruiz had the 
pleasure of hosting President George W. Bush at Ruiz Foods in Dinuba, 
CA. Other major highlights in Mr. Ruiz's life include, placing a wreath 
at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery at the request 
of President Reagan and being named the 14th person to the Tortilla 
Industry Association Hall of Fame--a distinction reserved for those who 
have made positive contributions to the tortilla industry through 
technical or significant innovations in products, equipment or 
ingredients while attaining business success.
  Mr. Ruiz is survived by JoAnn, his wife; their daughter and son-in 
law, Shannon and Eric Weller; brother and sister-in-law, Carlos and 
Olga Ruiz; brother and sister-in-law, Edward Sr. and Dolores Ruiz; 
brother and sister-in-law, Oscar and Alice Ruiz, sister, Margaret 
Tarasas; and daughter-in-law, Luisa Ruiz; the mother of his four 
children, Rose; and their daughter and son-in-law, Rose Margaret and 
Paul Doherty; son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Mitzie Ruiz; daughter 
and son-in-law, Anna and Dennis January; and daughter Carrie Ruiz. 
Louis was also blessed with numerous nieces, nephews, godchildren, 
grandchildren, great grandchildren, a wonderful care provider and many 
dear friends.
  Although the passing of Mr. Louis Flores Ruiz brings sadness to his 
family, friends, and community, we believe his legacy of hard work and 
kindness will forever live on, through those whose lives he so 
graciously lived.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to be here at 
this time.

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