Hispanics in military history

Hispanic Heritage Month is cele-brated Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Here is a list of Hispanics who have made history in the military:

• Gen. Richard E. Cavazos: General Cavazos was the Army’s first Hispanic four-star general. He was a decorated platoon and company commander in the Korean War and served as a battalion commander in the Vietnam War. General Cavazos served as commander of the U.S. Armed Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Ga. Under his command, combat troops were deployed to Granada. During his distinguished career, he received 13 outstanding decorations.

• Adm. Horicio Rivero: Admiral Rivero was the first Hispanic four-star admiral. In 1964, he was promoted to admiral and became vice chief of naval operations. Admiral Rivero also commanded North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces as commander in chief of Allied Forces, Southern Europe.

• Lt. Gen. Edward D. Baca:  General Baca was chief of the National Guard Bureau (1994), making him the first Hispanic to hold the position. In this position, he served as the senior uniformed National Guard officer responsible for all programs, policies and plans affecting more than 500,000 Army and Air National Guard
personnel.

• Brig. Gen. Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti: General Vigil-Schimmenti was the first Hispanic female to attain the rank of general and was the first female general from New Mexico. She began her military career as a hospital nurse at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and served in the Pacific Theater during the Vietnam War. Her many military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit Medal.

• The Honorable Edward Hidalgo:  The Honorable Edward Hidalgo was the first Hispanic to serve as Secretary of the Navy (1979-1980). During his tenure as Secretary of the Navy, he implemented new recruiting techniques and television advertising campaigns to inform Hispanic Americans about careers in the Navy.

• The Honorable Louis Caldera: The Hononorable Louis Caldera was the first Hispanic Secretary of the Army. As Secretary of the Army, he managed a work force of more than 1 million Soldiers and 270,000 civilian employees. During his tenure, the Army began its historic transformation from a Cold War legacy force to a rapidly deployable, information-age Army. 

(Courtesy of www.af.mil)