WIESBADEN, Germany - The most recent Hispanic recipient of the Medal of Honor is Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, who received the medal from President Barack Obama last year.
Petry lost his hand in Afghanistan while saving others from a grenade, and when he received the medal, he became a part of a proud tradition of Hispanics in the U.S. Army.
In proportion to the number of people who serve, Hispanics are the largest single ethnic group in to earn the Medal of Honor, said Lt. Col Michael Cardenas during the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Hispanic American Heritage Month celebration Sept. 24 at the Wiesbaden Fitness Center.
Cardenas, commander of the 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion, said 44 Hispanic men have earned the honor, and 21 gave their lives in the process.
Cardenas was the guest speaker during the event, which also included music by the Borin Kuba Band, a dance performance by Jesus Basail and Sunny Saylan and a lunch of Hispanic food. Members of the 5th Signal Command hosted the celebration.
The U.S. Army is stronger because of Hispanic contributions that date back to the Revolutionary War, Cardenas said, and many Hispanics have reached the highest rungs of military leadership positions.
For example, Gen. Richard Cavazos served with great distinction for 33 years and received two Distinguished Service Crosses, among many other awards, Cardenas said.
Hispanic values go hand-in-hand with military values, Cardenas said.
"The values, traditions and hard work ethic that I learned being raised in a Hispanic family are some of the principle values that drew me to join the military," Cardenas said.
Cardenas grew up in Westlaco, Texas, which is five miles from the Mexican border.
His parents, from Mexico, both worked to put themselves through college while raising a family, Cardenas said. Their example taught him and his three brothers the importance of hard work.
Growing up near their grandparents, nine aunts and uncles and 25 cousins, they also learned the importance of family, Cardenas said.
"As part of my Hispanic upbringing we took every opportunity to celebrate as a family," Cardenas said. "On any special occasion, be it a birthday, an anniversary, any significant U.S. holiday, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Mother's Day, Father's Day and the 4th of July."
The Army is like a family as well, Cardenas said. "No matter where you end up in the Army, you always feel like you are part of a family and a team," he said.
Col. David Carstens, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander, said he appreciates the contributions members of the Hispanic community have made to the Army.
"Our guest speaker is just one reminder of what the Hispanic community does for us every day, not only here in Wiesbaden, but across the Army," Carstens said.
Brig. Gen. Bruce Crawford, 5th Signal commander, said he was glad to have the opportunity to attend the event and celebrate America's diversity.
Staff Sgt. Charles Kistler's singing of the words "the home of the free and the home of the brave" during the U.S. national anthem at the event's start gave him goose bumps, Crawford said.
"Without recognition and without the need, the urge, the desire to celebrate our diversity, and what these different cultures bring to us as a people, there is no home of the free, and I can tell you there is no real home of the brave," Crawford said during his remarks.
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