Honoring the Latino Contribution this Veterans Day

This Veterans Day, we honor the many hundreds of thousands of troops who have served to defend the United States over the years, including the huge number of Latinos counted among them.

During the Civil War, approximately 10,000 Hispanics fought, including 4,000 from Texas alone. Several thousand Hispanics also served in volunteer units during the Spanish-American War, and continued to serve with distinction throughout the military thereafter.

Some 200,000 Hispanics were mobilized for World War I, and about 500,000 for World War II, the bulk of which were Mexican-Americans, and many were awarded Medals of Honor.

In the second half of the 20th century, thousands of Hispanics served during the Korean War, the Vietnam war, and Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and their roles continue today in the 21st century.