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Felix Z. Longoria, Jr.
1920 – June 1945

Pvt. Felix Z. Longoria, Jr.
Place of birth Three Rivers, Texas
Place of death Philippines
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Private
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Combat Infantryman Badge

Pvt. Three Rivers is a city in Live Oak County, Texas, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. A Private is a Soldier of the lowest Military rank (equivalent to NATO Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery acts of merit or meritorious service The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB is an award of the United States Army which is presented to those officers warrant officers and enlisted soldiers in the grade Felix Z. Longoria, Jr. (1920 - June 1945), a decorated soldier, served in the United States Army during World War II and was the first Mexican American to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including See also History of Mexican-Americans Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican ancestry

Contents

Background

Personal

In November 1944 Felix Z. Longoria, Jr. was drafted and shipped out with the 27th Infantry Regiment to Luzon in the Philippines, leaving behind his wife and four year old daughter. Luzon is the largest and most economically and politically important Island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country with Visayas The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP [1][2]

Social climate

In Texas during the 1940s, as in other parts of the country, Mexican Americans were considered non-white. [3] Segregation of Mexican American children in schools and employment discrimination against Mexican American workers was pervasive in the Southwestern United States. [4] Generally Mexican American World War II servicemen were integrated into regular military units but some served in segregated Mexican American units such as Company C of the 141st Regiment, 36th Division. [5]

The Felix Longoria Affair

Seven months after beginning a volunteer tour of duty in the Pacific Theatre, Longoria was killed by a Japanese sniper while on a mission in the Philippines. The Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO was the World War II military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it a geographic scope READ DISCUSSION PAGE BEFORE MAKING ANY EDITS TO CAPTION BELOW http//en The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Pvt. Longoria's remains were not returned to the United States until 1949, and the director of the only funeral home in his hometown of Three Rivers, Texas would not allow him to lie in state there because he was a "Mexican"[6] and "the whites would not like it. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Three Rivers is a city in Live Oak County, Texas, United States. " Additionally, the only cemetery in Three Rivers was segregated, and the war hero was to be buried in the "Mexican" section of the cemetery which was separated by barbed wire. Publication of an article in the New York Times brought national attention to the Longoria family's plight and the incident became known as the Felix Longoria Affair. Outraged Tejanos seeking to end discrimination organized under the newly formed American GI Forum and its leader Dr. Héctor P. García. The American GI Forum ( AGIF) is a Congressionally-chartered Mexican American Veterans and Civil rights organization Hector P Garcia ( January 17, 1914 - July 26, 1997) was a Mexican-American Physician, surgeon, World War [7] With the intervention of then-senator Lyndon B. Johnson, arrangements were made for Pvt. Longoria to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery[8] with full military honors. Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States, established during the American Civil War [9] Longoria became the first Mexican American serviceman to be awarded this honor.

Decorations

Mexican American civil rights movement


The Felix Longoria affair became an early example of unity in the Mexican American civil rights movement. The intervention of Dr. Hector García and the American GI Forum in the matter led to an increased interest around the country in opening local chapters of the organization. [10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Garcia, Ignacio M. Hector P Garcia ( January 17, 1914 - July 26, 1997) was a Mexican-American Physician, surgeon, World War (2002). Hector P. Garcia - In Relentless Pursuit of Justice. Houston: Arte Publico Press, p105. Arte Público Press, in Houston, Texas, is the largest US publisher of contemporary and recovered literature by US Hispanic authors ISBN 0131835505.  
  2. ^ Pvt. Felix Longoria
  3. ^ Gonzales, Manuel (1999). Mexicanos: a history of Mexicans in the United States. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, p184. Indiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is a Publishing house at Indiana University that engages in Academic publishing, specializing ISBN 0253214009.  
  4. ^ Rivas-Rodriguez, Maggie (2006). A Legacy Greater Than Words: Stories of U. S. Latinos & Latinas of the World War II Generation, 1st, Austin: U. S. Latino & Latina WWII Oral History Project, University of Texas at Austin, School of Journalism, p257. ISBN 0292714181.  
  5. ^ Richardson, Rupert N. ; Adrian Anderson, Cary D. Wintz & Ernest Wallace (2005). Texas: the Lone Star State, 9th edition, 9th, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, p384. Prentice Hall is a leading educational publisher It is an Imprint of Pearson Education Inc ISBN 0131835505.  
  6. ^ Lopez, Ian F. Hanner (2003). Racism on Trial - The Chicano Fight for Justice. Cambridge and London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University, p70. ISBN 06740106X.  
  7. ^ Richardson, Anderson, Wintz & Wallace (2005). p386.
  8. ^ Meir, Matt S. (1972). Mexican Americans/American Mexicans: From Conquistadors to Chicanos. New York: Hill and Wang, pp 169-170. ISBN 0809015595.  
  9. ^ Lopez, Ian F. Hanner (2003). Racism on Trial - The Chicano Fight for Justice. Cambridge and London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University, p70. ISBN 06740106X.  
  10. ^ Justice for My People: The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Story (2004), documentary aired on PBS, September 17, 2007. The year 2004 in film involved some significant events Major releases of sequels took place The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Further reading

External links

The Handbook of Texas (ISBN 0-87611-151-7 is a comprehensive Encyclopedia of Texas geography history and historical persons published by the Texas
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