Mexican Colonized History, 1821-1993

A Brief and Partial Chronology of Texas

1945-1953

Researched, compiled & edited by Mario Longoria, Ph.D.

–1945. In World War II, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Lucio Adams from Port Arthur, Texas received the Congressional Medal of Honor for gallantry in Europe.

–U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Macario Garcia from Sugarland, Texas received the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in Europe.

–U. S. Army Sergeant Jose Lopez from Brownsville, Texas is bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in Europe.

AMONG

THE VALIANT

–U.S. Army Private First Class Silvertre Herrera from El Paso, Texas received the Congressional Medal of Honor bravery in Europe.

Raul Morin

–U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Cleto Rodriguez from San Marcos, Texas received the Congressional Medal of Honor for gallantry in the South Pacific.

–1947. The Good Neighbor Commission is created and becomes a permanent agency of the Texas government. The commission was formed as an excuse for Anglo’s racist behavior. The Mexican government used the “braceros” as a lever to force Texas to end discrimination against Mexicans.

-1948. The American G.1. Forum was founded and organized in Corpus Christi, Texas by Dr. Hector P. Rodriguez and a group of Mexican American WWII Veterans in response to the persistent Anglo racism, discrimination and institutionalized neglect in Texas. The Forum’s first against racism and injustice was on behalf of WWII U.S. Army soldier Felix Longoria, a Mexican American who was killed in action in the Philippines. When his remains were returned to his home in Three Rivers, Texas, The local Funeral Home owned by Tom Kennedy refused funeral service because he was Mexican. Dr. Hector Garcia and U.S. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson responded to the Longoria incident and secured Longoria’s burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

The organization addressed the issues of Mexican American veterans denied medical services by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other issues

such as voting rights, jury selection, educational desegregation and civil rights.

–Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson and ex-governor Coke Stevenson are involved in a controversial run-off election. Johnson wins by only 85 votes and both parties make charges of voter fraud. Interestingly, in Duval County it is later discovered that 40-50 votes cast in the election were by people no longer living.

–1950-53. The Korean War. U.S. Army Corporal Benito Martinez from Fort Hancock, Texas receives the Congressional Medal of Honor for valor.

–U. S. Army Staff Sergeant Ambrosio Guillen from El Paso, Texas receives the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in Korea,