Honorable Service

One was a Green Beret paralyzed during covert actions in Central and South America; another was a Marine Corps major and astronaut called to duty in the Persian Gulf when his first daughter was a few weeks old.

Four are grandfathers and members of the Aztec Skydiving Team, an outfit of veteran parachutists; one was a woman who served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II and later retired from the U.S. Air Force as a major.

All were honored Saturday at a pre-Veterans Day event at Santa Ana College for their service, sacrifice and, most significantly, for the Mexican American heritage that they share.

“History tells us that Latinos are the single most decorated [ethnic] group in the U.S. Armed Forces,” Santa Ana College President Mary Perez said. “There could be many reasons for that. As an immigrant, I think it could be because freedom, democracy and opportunities are not just words and symbols to us, but rather real reasons for living or dying.”

The third annual Orange County commemoration of Latino contributions to the military was sponsored by Latino Advocates for Education, a nonprofit group devoted to the academic excellence of Latino students.

The event, in the college’s track and field stadium, began with a flyover by two F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets. The Santa Ana High School marching band entertained the audience along with the ROTC corps from Anaheim, Santa Ana and Orange High schools.

But it was the Aztec Skydiving team, with its dramatic parachute jumps by four grandfathers, that stole the show for the dozens of young spectators.

“That’s so cool,” exclaimed John Dunn, the 5-year-old son of state Sen. Joe Dunn (D-Santa Ana). “I want to do that!”

According to U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), who attended the event, 38 Latinos have earned the Medal of Honor. In World War I, more Mexican American soldiers received Medals of Honor than any other minority group, and one of the most decorated units during World War II was the all-Chicano outfit Company E.

“Every year, we try to acknowledge and recognize the contributions of Mexican Americans to preserving our freedoms through their participation in the military,” said Rick Aguirre, a Santa Ana-based attorney who organizes the event with the assistance of the Orange County Department of Education and Santa Ana College.

The best way to honor veterans, however, is not with an award, said Dunn, but rather “to show the same commitment to our families, communities and countries that they have shown us.”

The celebration paid tribute to Capt. Danny Castillo, the paralyzed Green Beret who now advocates for homeless and injured veterans; and Marine Corps Maj. Christopher “Gus” Loria, who flew 42 combat missions during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm and also served as an astronaut.

Maria Dolorez Hernandez was honored posthumously both for her military service and for an endowment of $750,000 she bequeathed to St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton when she died in 1997.

Joe Morris, a World War II Marine and Navajo “code talker” who used his native language as a secret code, was acknowledged because Native American veterans have not yet received the credit they deserve, Aguirre said.

Loria, who lives in Houston, said he was “encouraged, honored and humbled” by the award. Growing up, Loria learned about Latino Green Berets and the Navajo code talkers from his father, he said.

“Latinos have not gotten adequate coverage in the history books,” he said. “Hollywood will not teach [our children] this. We have to teach them ourselves.”