Title: Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with 5 Stories of Hispanic American Military Heroes · United Service Organizations
Headings: Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with 5 Stories of Hispanic American Military Heroes
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with 5 Stories of Hispanic American Military Heroes
By Danielle DeSimone
1. Marcelino Serna
2. Joe P. Martínez
3. Carmen Contreras-Bozak
4. Angel Mendez
5. Richard Edward Cavazos

Content: In an attempt to secure a key defensive position from the Japanese, Martínez led several assaults on enemy-filled trenches. In his determination, Martínez sometimes eliminated entire trenches of enemies entirely by himself. The other men, inspired by his bravery, followed him. Martínez was mortally wounded when approaching the final enemy-occupied trench, but the defensive position was successfully taken by U.S. forces, leading to the end of the battle and – ultimately – Japanese occupation of the Aleutian Islands. 3. Carmen Contreras-Bozak
Carmen Conteras Bozak, the first Hispanic American to serve in the Women’s Army Corps. | Photo credit The University of Texas in Austin
As the U.S. prepared to enter World War II, the government put out a call for women to take on new roles beyond the home. Today, we know these working women in World War II as Rosie the Riveters, WAVES, SPARs and others. These new roles were a big change for women in American society, especially among the Hispanic American population. Back in the 1940s, Hispanic women were often discouraged within their own communities to take on roles outside of domestic life.