Hispanic Americans play important role in U.S. culture, military

82nd Training Wing Equal Opportunity Office / Published September 22, 2020

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Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the many contributions, histories and cultures of the Hispanic community in the U.S. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Brandon M. Shuman)

National Hispanic Heritage Month, formerly known as Hispanic Heritage Week, has been celebrated for more than 50 years and dates back to 1968.

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Depicted in the poster is Corporal Julius Casarez. In June of 1942, Casarez was sent via Africa to India, to serve as part of the 703rd Special Forces, a machine-gun battalion.We recognize him in correlation with National Hispanic Heritage Month, formerly known as Hispanic Heritage Week, has been celebrated for more than 50 years and dates back to 1968. In 1988, during the President Ronald Regan administration the observance period, that was once only a week extended to a month and received its new name. Since then, National Hispanic Heritage Month begins every 15th of September and ends the 15th of October. During this month members pay respect to the Americans who sacrificed themselves for this nation. (Courtesy graphic)

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Depicted in the poster is Sergeant Consuelo Mary Hartsell.She left the service in 1946. The sisters were sent to boot camp at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the only sisters and the only Latinas in the camp. Both were assigned office jobs at the Depot of Supplies of the 1st Marine Division in San Francisco. Hartsell was assigned a desk job overseeing supplies shipped to and from overseas.She was awarded American Campaign and World War II victory medals, as well as recognition for her honorable service.We celebrate her in correlation with National Hispanic Heritage Month, formerly known as Hispanic Heritage Week, has been celebrated for more than 50 years and dates back to 1968. In 1988, during the President Ronald Regan administration the observance period, that was once only a week extended to a month and received its new name. Since then, National Hispanic Heritage Month begins every 15th of September and ends the 15th of October. During this month members pay respect to the Americans who sacrificed themselves for this nation. (Courtesy graphic)

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The poster depicts Staff Sgt. Ladislao “L.C.” Castro, the assistant engineer and waist door .50 caliber gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber named “T-Bar” of the "Flying Eightballs" in the 506th Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force. We celebrate him in correlation with National Hispanic Heritage Month, formerly known as Hispanic Heritage Week, has been celebrated for more than 50 years and dates back to 1968. In 1988, during the President Ronald Regan administration the observance period, that was once only a week extended to a month and received its new name. Since then, National Hispanic Heritage Month begins every 15th of September and ends the 15th of October. During this month members pay respect to the Americans who sacrificed themselves for this nation. (Courtesy graphic)

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Sheppard AFB will observe and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, a time when the contribution of Hispanic Americans who have served and are serving now are recognized.

The observance started in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson's administration as a one-week celebration called Hispanic Heritage Week. Years later, President Ronald Reagan proposed extending this celebration into a month-long event. It was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, officially designating the 30-day period starting on Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Did you know?

• The term Hispanic originates from the Latin word Hispania. It was first used by ancient Romans to describe the region of Spain they conquered in the second century B.C.

• Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point of Hispanic Heritage Month because it is the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, all in 1821. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on Sept. 16, 1810, and Chile on Sept. 18, 1810.

• Many Hispanics fought on both sides in the U.S. Civil War. They came from all socio-economic levels, from the wealthy who fought to protect their way of life to poor laborers trying to improve their fortunes. By the end of the war, more than 20,000 Hispanics had served.

• In 1961, the popular Broadway musical “West Side Story” was made into a feature-length film. The leading role of Anita was given to Rita Moreno, a Puerto Rican American actress and singer. She became the first Hispanic actress to take home an Academy Award for her performance. She is one of a select group of performers to have won all four of the most prestigious show awards: an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, and a Grammy.

• At Stanford University in the 1940s, Dr. Albert Baez, together with Paul Kirkpatrick, developed the first x-ray microscope to observe living cells. His daughter, Joan Baez, became a world famous writer, singer, and human rights activist.

• In the 1990s, the U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez became the first U.S. Navy ship to be named after a Hispanic service member. Gonzalez was a Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in Vietnam on Feb. 4, 1968.