Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Richard Cavazos, first Hispanic 4-Star General


Richard Edward Cavazos, born in Kingsville, Texas January 31, 1929, is the U.S. Army's first Hispanic 4-Star General.  After studying at the U.S. Army Command and Staff College, the British Army Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College and the U.S. Army War College, he received basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia (I've been there!).  He was deployed to Korea with the 65th Infantry, which consisted of mostly of Puerto Rican natives.

He was awarded the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Korean War. 

In the Vietnam War, he was lieutenant colonel and was commander of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry.  He was awarded a second Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions during an attack at Loc Ninh near the Cambodian border.

In 1976, he became the first Hispanic to attain the rank of brigadier general in the Army and in 1982, became the first Hispanic to become a 4-Star General.

His brother, Lauro Cavazos, is the first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Cabinet, where he was Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.


I could not find any videos of Gen. Cavazos, but he is mentioned in this clip, which shows how distinguished his heritage is!

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