Homegrown: El Pasoans Call to Service in the Korean War

EL PASO, Texas - Fort Bliss and El Paso leaders, veterans, and community members gathered at the El Paso Museum of History to recognize the Korean War Armistice Day July 27.

The Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 249 held a remembrance ceremony to honor all those who served in the Korean War so that their sacrifices would never be forgotten.

In coordination with the ceremony, the El Paso Museum of History unveiled a new exhibit, "El Paso's Homegrown: The Korean War," which highlights the experiences of El Pasoans during and after the Korean War. The exhibit's preview and opening took place on July 27, 2024, at the museum in downtown El Paso.

"El Paso's Homegrown: The Korean War" is an original exhibition dedicated to exploring El Pasoans and the Korean War. The war began on July 25, 1950, when the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th Parallel, which divides Korea into North and South. It ended on July 27, 1953, after the signing of the Armistice agreement.

The special exhibit honors war hero's such as Victor H. Espinoza, a Medal of Honor recipient born in El Paso, Texas on July 15, 1929. He enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, when his unit became pinned down by an enemy machine gun position. Espinoza singlehandedly took down the machinegun position and its crew, inspiring his unit to secure the strongpoint against all odds.

It also honors Ambrosio Guillen, a soldier who came from a Mexican family and grew up in El Paso. After graduating from Bowie High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was sent to fight in Korea. On July 25, 1953, while defending a forward outpost near Songuchon, Korea, Guillen defeated and repelled an enemy attack against his platoon. After the fighting, Guillen died from mortal wounds sustained during the battle.

These are just a few of the extraordinary stories by ordinary El Pasoans, honored for their heroic actions fighting in a land they did not know, for a country who called them to serve. The purpose of the exhibit is to share their and other El Pasoans stories, so the community understands their service and sacrifice.

Michael Aboud, an El Paso native whose father is a Korean War veteran, said, "It is really special that El Paso recognizes the efforts of all military veterans, especially in Korea. But of course, it has the same significance for all of our services around the world."

"Korea was a tough issue, mainly because it was decided politically. So, the Korean War veterans, including my dad, didn't quite get recognition for what they did, so having this kind of event to recognize them is great. It's very powerful and a great honor for them," said Aboud.

Aboud's father was a photographer in the Navy during the Korean War, and the exhibit featured a display dedicated to his service during the war.

"It's a great honor to have my dad here; he was proud of his service, and it's great to have him recognized along with all [the other El Pasoans]," Aboud said.

The exhibit showcases multiple facets of El Pasoans' experiences, from their service abroad to their personal lives here as ordinary citizens called upon to serve in a distant land.

Command Sergeant Major James L. Light, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss senior enlisted advisor, was a guest speaker for the ceremony. He spoke about the importance of remembering those who came before and expressed the exhibit's significance to the younger generations in attendance and its importance to the community.

"It is important to do this event in this museum, take a look at the exhibits here, and get our young people to understand the sacrifice [of our veterans]. It is a great opportunity for all of us to learn about what these people experienced," said Light. It is important to have a population that is willing to stand up and fight when they are able."

The exhibit will be on display through July 2025 and is the latest in the ongoing series "El Paso's Homegrown," which began in 2022 with an exhibit about El Pasoans and World War II.

The El Paso Museum of History is one of three city-operated museums, along with the El Paso Museum of Art and the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. EPMH was established in 1974 as the Cavalry Museum but quickly served a scope and purpose beyond its title and began to serve as a local and regional history museum. The museum's name was officially changed to the El Paso Museum of History in 1980.