The Rough Riders

Several thousand Hispanic Army volunteers, mostly from the Southwest, fought with distinction in Cuba during the Spanish-American War in 1898.

Among them was Capt. Maximiliano Luna, the only Mexican American officer in the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry — better known as the Rough Riders — led by Col. Theodore Roosevelt.

Pvt. Marcelino Serna — Conspicuous gallantry, unwavering commitment

During World War I, Pvt. Marcelino Serna was recognized for his heroic actions that resulted in the capture of multiple German soldiers, but which also left him injured.

During his recovery, Gen. John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, personally pinned the Distinguished Service Cross on his chest, the second highest military decoration of the United States Army.

The Bushmasters

Originally organized as the Arizona Volunteer Infantry for the Indian campaigns in 1865, the 158th Infantry Regiment mustered in the great Southwest desert. The unit was mainly Mexican-American and North American Indians from 20 tribes.

In 1942 the regiment were deployed to Panama where they trained in jungle warfare. Becoming famous for newly acquired skills, the regiment took the name of the Bushmasters, after the venomous snake which lived in the region. This symbol became the distinguishing shoulder patch of the 158th Regimental Combat Team.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur said of the Bushmasters "no greater fighting combat team has ever deployed for battle."

Gen. Richard E. Cavazos — First Hispanic four-star general

Gen. Richard Edward Cavazos was the first Hispanic four-star general in the United States Army.

Throughout his 33 years of distinguished service in the Army, Cavazos demonstrated exceptional leadership and bravery. In 2023 Fort Hood, the third-largest U.S. military base, was renamed Fort Cavazos in honor of his distinguished service.

Medal of Honor Recipients

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the armed forces. The medal was first authorized in 1861. Since then, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to members of all DOD services and the Coast Guard, as well as to a few civilians who distinguished themselves with valor. Of these recipients, 44 are Hispanic Americans.

Carmen Contreras-Bozak - First Hispanic American to serve in the Women's Army Corps

Carmen Contreras-Bozak was among the first Puerto Rican women to join the Women’s Army Corps, where she served as interpreter. She spoke five languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French. In January 1943, she was one of 195 women who made up the first cadre of females sent overseas. She arrived in North Africa and was assigned not as a typist or stenographer, like many at the time, but to the Signal Corps — sending and receiving coded messages between General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s headquarters in Algiers and the battlefield in Tunisia.

Pfc. Carmen Garcia Rosado

Pfc. Carmen Garcia Rosado was among the first of approximately 200 Puerto Rican women to join the Women's Army Corps. Some served in the critical role of Code Talkers to avoid enemy intelligence. PFC Carmen García Rosado was an educator, author and activist for the rights of women veterans. Her book "LAS WACS-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Segunda Guerra Mundial" (The WACs-The participation of the Puerto Rican women in the Second World War), is the first book to document the experiences of the first 200 Puerto Rican women who participated in the conflict as members of the armed forces of the United States.

Technician 4th Grade Carmen Contreras-Bozak

Bozak was among the first Puerto Rican women to join the Women’s Army Corps, where she served as interpreter. She spoke five languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French. In January 1943, she was one of 195 women who made up the first cadre of females sent overseas. She arrived in North Africa and was assigned not as a typist or stenographer, like many at the time, but to the Signal Corps — sending and receiving coded messages between General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s headquarters in Algiers and the battlefield in Tunisia.

2nd Lt. Carmen Lozano Dumler

2nd. Lt. Carmen Maria Lozano Dumler, RN, was one of the first Puerto Rican women to become a United States Army officer. During WWII, Dumler volunteered to become an Army nurse, commissioning into the Army Nurse Corps. Dulmer served in several hospitalsm providing support as a translator to patients who spoke Spanish.

Col. Maritza Sáenz Ryan

In 2006, Ryan became the first woman and first Hispanic American West Point Department Head. In the late 1970's, Maritza Sáenz Ryan was accepted to West Point as a member of only the third class to include women cadets. She graduated from West Point in 1982 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in Field Artillery. She returned to West Point as a U.S. Military Academy Department of Law professor rising to become head of the law department.

Brig. Gen. Irene Zoppi

In 2017, Brig. Gen. Irene M. Zoppi Rodríguez became the first Puerto Rican woman promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve. Since February 2019, she has served as a deputy commanding general for United States Army South, as the director of the Army Reserve Engagement Cell for Individual Mobilization Augmentees. As a civilian, Dr. Zoppi serves as a Program Director for the National Intelligence University under the National Security Agency. She is also a former public school teacher, and has since taught at various universities. She has been a member of the Maryland State Board of Education. On that board, she specializes in helping military families and minority students.

Staff Sgt. Ariana Sanchez

Since the Army's Sapper School opened its doors to female soldiers in 1999, only nine female enlisted soldiers have graduated. One of them is Staff Sgt. Ariana Sanchez, who is now the first female instructor at the course. Having immigrated to New Jersey from Ecuador at age 17, she joined the Army to challenge herself. She chose combat engineer and graduated from the Sapper Leader Course in 2019. Sanchez has also earned her air assault badge in 2017 at Fort Liberty — then known as Fort Bragg. She was set to accept orders to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, but got a call from the Sapper Training Company first sergeant — ofering her the opportunity to become the first female Sapper Learning Course instructor. Sanchez accepted the offer. "Some said I wouldn't make it or accomplish what I was setting out to do," she said. "That's what motivated me the most."

Sgt. Cinthia Ramirez

In 2022, Sgt. Cinthia Ramirez, Sgt. Cinthia Ramirez, assigned to Avenger Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, earns the title of master gunner. Sgt. Ramirez became the first active-duty woman and the first Hispanic American woman to earn the title. Ramirez said she struggled as a private, but once promoted to a non-commissioned officer, everything changed. "In the past, I had some examples of pretty bad leadership, and I told myself I did not want to be that type of leader." Ramirez further elaborated, "getting into Master Gunner School was so hard, but that just made me even more determined to get in. Everyone kept telling me how hard it was, and I wanted to see for myself — and they were not wrong. I just want people to realize that just because you were never the best Soldier or you've been in trouble — you can change and turn things around. The mistakes I made as a private will not define who I am as an NCO and a leader." Being tested during the course on weapons system platforms, the Master Gunner has the duty of advising commanders and being a part of the planning, development, execution, and evaluation of all combat and gunnery-related training.

The 65th Infantry Regiment

A historically all-Hispanic regiment, the 65th Infantry Regiment served in several major conflicts, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. By the Korean War, the unit adopted the nickname "The Borinqueneers." The name originates from Borinquen — the Taino name for the island of Puerto Rico. During its service in Korea, the regiment received four Distinguished Service Crosses and 125 Silver Stars. It also received the American Presidential Unit Citation, the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Korean Presidential Unit Citations and the Greek Gold Medal for Bravery. The regiment was finally integrated in March 1953 and remained in Korea until November the following year.

This legendary Soldier recovered from grevious injuries, returned to the front, fought like hell and became a hero...

During the Vietnam War, Master Sgt. Raul "Roy" Perez Benavidez from Texas stepped on a land mine that left him with severe damage to his spine. After being seen by doctors at Brooke Army Hospital, they said he would never walk again. After months of rehabilitation Benavidez walked out of the hospital and returned to Vietnam. On May 2, 1968, he proved his mettle and resilience again when he answered a distress call from a Special Forces team.

Image courtesy of AUSA.