Not Quiet on This Front

Pete Limon, a retired San Clemente businessman, has never met World War II hero Guy Louis Gabaldon, but he feels as if he knows him--so much so that he is on a personal mission to see that Gabaldon gets the recognition Limon feels he deserves.

Limon and others in the Latino community want to see Gabaldon awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for exploits that earned him the Navy Cross and that were depicted in the 1960 movie “Hell to Eternity.”

“I feel [Gabaldon] should have been granted the Medal of Honor,” Limon said, “but he was slighted because of his Mexican descent.”

Limon, 74, and Gabaldon, 72, have much in common. Both are Latino, natives of Southern California. Both saw combat in the war--Limon is a Pearl Harbor survivor. Both became successful businessmen: Limon a hotelier, Gabaldon a seafood merchant.

Limon said he has been fascinated for decades by the story of Gabaldon, whose heroics Mexican American veterans regard as equaling those of Audie Murphy, the most decorated U.S. soldier of World War II.

“I got involved in this project because, as a survivor of Pearl Harbor, I had this tremendous hate for the Japanese,” Limon said. “Then I heard about Gabaldon and I softened.”

Gabaldon, who served in the Western Pacific, was commended for having captured hundreds of Japanese prisoners--mostly by persuasion.

His citation for the Navy Cross reads: “Working alone in front of the lines, he daringly entered enemy caves, pillboxes, buildings and jungle brush, frequently in the face of hostile fire, and succeeded in not only obtaining vital military information but in capturing well over one thousand civilians and troops.”

Gabaldon’s most effective weapon was his command of the Japanese language, which he learned as a child in East Los Angeles. One of seven children growing up in a tiny house, Gabaldon spent much of his time on the streets, where he was befriended by two Japanese American brothers. Fascinated by their customs, he began spending time at their home and eventually moved in with them. He lived with his foster family for six years, learning their language and traditions, until the war broke out and they were sent to an internment camp. Gabaldon, then 17, joined the Marine Corps.

He was stationed on Saipan, one of the Mariana Islands. That is where he lives now, having owned businesses in California and Mexico over the years but finally returning to Saipan.

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Speaking by telephone from there last week, Gabaldon recounted his wartime experience:

On his first day in combat, he killed 33 Japanese soldiers but was then overcome with remorse. He took a new tack: He began going out alone and persuading Japanese soldiers to surrender to him, telling them they would be treated well, given food, water and medical care.

He would capture six soldiers at gunpoint but release three, telling them to spread the word about fair treatment as POWs. He would release them with a warning: “If they didn’t come back, I would blast the hell out of the three left behind.”

That was a ruse, but it worked. That was how he managed to take 800 prisoners in a single day.

Gabaldon harbors some bitterness over the Marine Corps’ decision to award him the Silver Star instead of the Medal of Honor. Though his citation was upgraded to the Navy Cross after “Hell to Eternity” spawned a letter-writing campaign on his behalf, he has questions.

Gabaldon said he doesn’t want the award “because I’m a Latino,” but does feel that an explanation is in order, given his military record.

Gabaldon said he captured more prisoners than Sgt. Alvin York, who received the Medal of Honor after he killed 25 German soldiers and captured 132 in France in 1918.

“No Mexican American was awarded a Medal of Honor” in either World War, Gabaldon said. “I think it was blatant discrimination by the Marine Corps.”

The corps did notify him that one Hispanic won the Medal of Honor in WWII, Gabaldon said. Although the man indeed deserved the medal, Gabaldon said, the Marine’s father was of Portuguese descent and his mother was Hawaiian, “a far cry from being a Hispanic.”

Since then, 37 Latinos have received the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat in all branches of the service, but Gabaldon, though nominated in 1944, has yet to be chosen.

Limon says that is an injustice, especially because Gabaldon used wiles, rather than weapons, to take his prisoners.

“He used their own language and he didn’t kill them,” Limon said. “In the process, he saved the lives of the Japanese but also probably thousands of GIs who would have had to face them in battle.”

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The medal is not the only goal of Limon’s campaign. He also would like to set the cinematic record straight. Though Gabaldon’s deeds were the basis for “Hell to Eternity,” the movie portrayed the young Marine as an Italian American, played by Jeffrey Hunter. Limon would like to see a remake of the movie with closer attention paid to historical accuracy.

Limon has not worked alone. He has relied on help from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American GI Forum. He has formed a committee to lobby for the Medal of Honor, pitch the movie proposal to Hollywood producers and bring Gabaldon to Southern California for Mexican Independence Day festivities on Sept. 16. He has put up $4,000 of his own money to cover Gabaldon’s travel expenses.

One of the committee members is Linda Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the International Institute of Los Angeles, a social services agency. She said she hopes to see Gabaldon honored not just for what he has achieved but for what he represents.

“He’s unique,” Mitchell said. “He is cross-cultural, which is very much with our mission. We’re concerned with youth and their role models.” She too is working to bring Gabaldon to California for Sept. 16’s festivities and parade in East Los Angeles.

The committee has the attention of some people who could be instrumental in achieving its goals.

Yolanda Chavez, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles), said the congresswoman has read about Gabaldon and is looking into the Medal of Honor nomination.

“Our staff is trying to gather documentation on Gabaldon’s military award so the congresswoman can make an inquiry to the Department of the Navy on his behalf,” Chavez said.

Gabaldon’s backers also have caught Hollywood’s attention. Among those expressing interest is Moctesuma Esparza, producer of the films “Selena,” and “The Milagro Beanfield War.”

“I for one would love to see Guy’s story retold by casting a Latino to play him and reflecting on his extraordinary actions and honors,” Esparza said. “Gabaldon learned Japanese and he used his ability to communicate and save lives. That to me is most noble and truly something that should be [acknowledged] with our country’s highest honor.”