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'Pvt. 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.

Contents

Background

Personal

Social climate

The Felix Longoria Affair

Decorations

Mexican American civil rights movement

See also

References

Further reading

External links

Background

Personal

In November 1944 Felix Z. Longoria, Jr. was drafted and shipped out with the 27^th Infantry Regiment to Luzon in the Philippines.^[1]

Social climate

In Texas during the 1940s, as in other parts of the country, Mexican Americans were considered non-white.^[2]
Segregation of Mexican American children in schools and employment discrimination against Mexican American workers was pervasive in the Southwestern United States. ^[3]
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. ^[4]

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. 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" ^[5]
and "the whites would not like it." 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 end discrimination organized under the newly formed American GI Forum and its leader Dr. Héctor P. García.^[6]
With the intervention of then-senator Lyndon B. Johnson, arrangements were made for Pvt. Longoria to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery^[7]
with full military honors. ^[5]
Longoria became the first Mexican American serviceman to be awarded this honor.

Decorations

★ Bronze Star Medal

★ Purple Heart Medal

★ Good Conduct Medal

★ Combat Infantryman Badge.

Mexican American civil rights movement

The Felix Longoria Affair became an early example of unity in the Mexican American civil rights movement.

See also

★ Hector P. Garcia

References

1. Hector P. Garcia - In Relentless Pursuit of Justice, , Ignacio M., Garcia, Arte Publico Pressl, ,
2. Mexicanos: a history of Mexicans in the United States, , Manuel, Gonzales, Indiana University Press, ,
3. A Legacy Greater Than Words: Stories of U.S. Latinos & Latinas of the World War II Generation, , Maggie, Rivas-Rodriguez, U.S. Latino & Latina WWII Oral History Project, University of Texas at Austin, School of Journalism, ,
4. Texas: the Lone Star State, 9th edition, , Rupert N., Richardson, Prentice Hall, ,
5. Racism on Trial - The Chicano Fight for Justice, , Ian F. Hanner, Lopez, The Belknap Press of Harvard University, ,
6. Richardson, Anderson, Wintz & Wallace (2005). p386.
7. Mexican Americans/American Mexicans: From Conquistadors to Chicanos, , Matt S., Meir, Hill and Wang, ,
8. Racism on Trial - The Chicano Fight for Justice, , Ian F. Hanner, Lopez, The Belknap Press of Harvard University, ,

Further reading

★ Carroll, Patrick ''Felix Longoria's Wake: Bereavement, Racism, and the Rise of Mexican American Activism'', University of Texas Press (ISBN 0292712499)

★ Carl Allsup, The American G.I. Forum: Origins and Evolution, University of Texas Center for Mexican American Studies Monograph 6, Austin, (1982)

External links

★

★ photo

★ Longoria article - Arlington National Cemetery website - privately maintained web page