[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16457]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1220
                            LATINO VETERANS

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
commemorate the 70th anniversary of World War II and to commemorate the 
service of Hispanic Americans who served in World War II and in all 
wars, and to commemorate our Latino veterans across America.
  During World War II, 500,000 Americans of Hispanic ancestry 
courageously answered our Nation's call, including Latinos such as Ted 
Williams, Manuel Ortiz, Maria Dolores Hernandez, Jose Limon, Desi 
Arnaz, Cesar Chavez, and Guy Gabaldon.
  The Hispanic American soldiers fought with integrity and bravery, 
earning 126 Distinguished Service Crosses, over 1,400 Silver Stars, and 
2,807 Bronze Stars for valor. They earned these medals sacrificing 
their lives and blood to preserve the United States and freedom around 
the world. Through the war, over 12,000 Latinos were awarded the Purple 
Heart for wounds suffered in combat; 2,561 Latinos were prisoners of 
war; and 9,831 Latinos were killed in action.
  Because of their record of service, Mr. Speaker, I introduced H. Res. 
404, which recognizes the service and the sacrifice of the members of 
the Armed Forces and veterans who are Latino; and I urge my colleagues 
to cosponsor this legislation.
  I wish to remember these war heroes and the stalwart and selfless 
service of Latinos in military history 70 years after World War II.

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