Authors Chronicle Exploits of Mexican-American Soldiers
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istory often takes its time to uncover our nation’s unsung and extraordinary mili- tary groups. It is only sometimes Hthrough the efforts of dedicated pioneers that these stories are From Barrios excavated from the trenches of battlefield folklore. The story of the all-black Tuskegee Airmen Authors Chronicle Exploits has been featured in books and to Battlefields film. The all-Japanese U.S. Army of Mexican-American Soldiers 442nd Regiment has also seen its story showcased in books and film. However, while Latinos were awarded more Medals of Honor By Frank Medina per capita during World War II than any other minority group, their stories have remained in the shadows. Three trailblazing individuals seek to reverse this course and in- n 38 ARMY February 2018 This article originally appeared in ARMY magazine, Vol. 68, No. 2, February 2018. Copyright 2018 by the Association of the United States Army, all rights reserved PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVE GUTIÉRREZ Company E of the 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. troduce our society, and even the write his relative Ramon Gutiér- ican-American unit until it de- world, to a little-known Army Na- rez’s biography, said, “When I ployed to North Africa in April tional Guard World War II com- learned that Ramon had served in 1943. Gabriel Salazar, an original pany from El Paso, Texas—the an all-Mexican-American World member of the company, would men of Company E of the 141st War II unit, the focus of the story later say, “When you heard roll Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry changed from telling one man’s call, you would think we were a Division. Authors Dave Gutiér- story to the entire unit’s story.” garrison in the Mexican Army rez, Samuel S. Ortega and Ar- The authors dedicated years of his- from Juárez just across the border.” nulfo Hernández Jr. changed the torical research and used genealogy While in North Africa, the historical trajectory when a couple methods and/or personal-outreach 36th Division was assigned to of years ago they authored books interviews to connect with over 60 the Fifth Army under Gen. Mark about the largely untold unit. In families of the men who served in Clark. On Sept. 9, 1943, the 36th 2014, Gutiérrez’s book, Patriots the unit. spearheaded the Allied invasion of from the Barrio, was released. In An original National Guard the Italian mainland at Salerno. It 2015, Ortega and Hernández co- unit, Company E was federalized became the first American unit to authored The Men of Company E: in November 1940 and moved to fight Hitler’s forces on the Euro- Toughest Chicano Soldiers of World Camp Bowie in Brownwood, pean continent. War II. These seminal books Texas. In January 1941, young chronicle the story of the men Mexican-American recruits from Battlefield Heroism who served in the all-Mexican- the barrios of south Texas were Pfc. Ramon Gutiérrez from Del American combat unit. assigned to Company E. Rio, Texas, and his platoon had Gutiérrez, who first set out to The unit remained an all-Mex- been pinned down by four German n This article originally appeared in ARMY magazine, Vol. 68, No. 2, February 2018. February 2018 ARMY 39 Copyright 2018 by the Association of the United States Army, all rights reserved Pfc. Ramon Gutiérrez charged the machine gun 70’s Show, said last fall, “During Hispanic Heritage Month, this story is especially nest firing his Browning Automatic Rifle until it timely, and I’m honored as a proud Latin was shot out of his hands. American to amplify the courage and con- tributions of these incredible men.” Author Hernández said, “We hope Mark IV tanks and fire from a machine gun crossed the Rapido in January 1944, only that as the story unfolds that people be- nest. After witnessing members of his unit 27 returned from across the river. gin to appreciate their story, and we hope killed, Gutiérrez charged the machine gun Those who survived the Rapido cross- we can inspire the younger folks, the new nest firing his Browning Automatic Rifle ing would continue on and writers, to look into their his- until it was shot out of his hands. Although fight at Monte Cassino. Com- tory. We hope we can at least wounded, he continued to advance on the pany E had a ringside seat to be an instrument where young German machine gun position. He closed the bombing of the 6th-century folks not only can feel the pride in and tossed a grenade into the machine monastery high above Monte in their heritage, but want to gun nest. The blast killed three enemy sol- Cassino. For months, Allied explore it.” diers. Gutiérrez then jumped into the nest forces believed the Germans The all-Mexican-American and killed a fourth enemy soldier with his were using the St. Benedict World War II unit now joins knife. For his actions at Salerno, Gutiér- Monastery as an observation a select few minority veteran rez would be awarded the Silver Star. The post. The order was finally groups that endured unique Soviet Union, which had an observer at given and on Feb. 15, 1944, obstacles and challenges to rise Salerno, would also present the Order of Allied bombs destroyed the Sgt. Rafael above adversity. For instance, Patriotic War, 2nd Degree, to Gutiérrez. monastery, with Company E in 2014, then-President Barack Sgt. Rafael Q. Torres of El Paso led his dug in on the slopes of Mount Q. Torres Obama awarded the Congres- squad at the Salerno beachhead. Torres was Castellone. fought off sional Gold Medal, which par- one of six Torres brothers serving in the Some of the men continued several allels the Presidential Medal of armed forces during the war. Torres’ squad on to see action at Anzio and Freedom as the nation’s high- was also stopped by German armor when Velletri and would enter the German est civilian award, to the U.S. he fought off several German tanks with “Eternal City” of Rome. A few tanks with Army’s 65th Infantry Regi- a grenade launcher and a Springfield rifle. more would also make the land- a grenade ment “Borinqueneers” after an Torres was wounded in the shoulder at- ing in southern France during aggressive nationwide grass- tempting to care for a wounded Marcelino Operation Dragoon. Author launcher and roots effort. The Borinqueneers Valadez, also from El Paso. Dave Gutiérrez said, “They a Springfield originated from Puerto Rico in The bitter fighting on the Salerno beaches came from places like Del Rio, rifle. 1899 and it was the only Regu- lasted for days until German forces pulled Uvalde, Sonora, Kingsville and lar Army Hispanic segregated back from the beachhead to the Volturno El Paso, Texas, and I didn’t want these unit whose military exploits pinnacled River, just north of Naples. Company E men and their sacrifices to be forgotten. during the Korean War. would continue to see action in some of the These soldiers and their families served Company E, 141st Infantry Regiment, most brutal battles of the Italian Campaign. this nation when their country needed 36th Infantry Division, will assuredly con- them the most. They were true American tinue to be woven into the fabric of our Hard Fighting patriots who happened to come from the culture and enshrined in the annals of Company E fought at Mount Rotondo, barrios of Texas.” American history. M at the battle for the village of San Pietro and the disastrous Rapido River crossing. Rights Acquired Frank Medina is a systems engineer with In a span of 48 hours, the 36th would lose The film and TV rights to Gutiérrez’s book the U.S. Navy and national chairperson over 2,000 men in the failed attempt to were recently acquired by Hollywood ac- of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold cross the Rapido at the heavily defended tor/producer Wilmer Valderrama’s pro- Medal Alliance. A former Army officer, he German Gustav Line. duction company. Valderrama, who was served in the Signal Corps and was as- Of the 154 men of Company E that a cast member on the TV sitcom That signed to South Korea, Honduras and Iraq. n 40 ARMY February 2018 This article originally appeared in ARMY magazine, Vol. 68, No. 2, February 2018. Copyright 2018 by the Association of the United States Army, all rights reserved.