Celebrating Pride Month: Sgt. Leonard Matlovich, first out military service member

Leonard Matlovich, born July 6, 1943 in Savannah, Georgia, was the first service member to out himself to the military to fight their ban on gay people.  He enlisted at the age of 19, and served three tours of duty in Vietnam.  He was seriously wounded when he stepped on a landmine. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

He taught Air Force Race Relations to fight discrimination in the military after several racial incidents.  He came to realize that gays faced similar discrimination as African Americans.

On March 6, 1975, Matlovich hand-delivered a letter to his commanding officer at Langley AFB, officially professing to be gay.  He was discharged, despite his exemplary military record and tours of duty in Vietnam, he was ruled unfit for service.  He was given an Honorable discharge in October 1975.  

He sued for reinstatement and in September 1980, US District Court Judge Gerhard Gesell stated the Air Force had failed to provide an explanation why Matlovich did not meets its criteria for exception and ordered him to be reinstated.  Matlovich accepted a financial settlement instead, convinced that the military would find some other reason to discharge him.  

He continued to fight for gay rights until his death in 1988. His tombstone reads: 

"A Gay Vietnam Veteran. When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one."

Celebrating Black History Month: Charles Bush, first African-American graduate of US Air Force Academy

Charles Vernon Bush, born December 17, 1939, was one of the first three African-Americans to enter the US Air Force Academy in 1959.  Bush became the first African-American to graduate from the USAFA in 1963. 

In 1964, he completed schooling at Air Intelligence Officers School in Denver, Colorado in November. He volunteered for an assignment to a special intelligence unit during the Vietnam War in 1966.  He became fluent in Vietnamese, and was transferred to the 6499th Special Activities Group in Saigon.  He was awarded the Bronze Star by 7th Air Force and the Joint Services Commendation Medal by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. The 6499th Special Activities Group was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

He received an Honorable Discharge in August 1970. He worked in business for several different companies until his retirement.

He passed away in November 2012 from colon cancer in Montana.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Tony Hillerman, author of Navajo mystery novels

Tony Hillerman, born May 27, 1925 in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, is a best-selling author of mystery novels featuring Navajo Nation police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.  He is noted for including Navajo culture into his writings.

He served in WWII in the 103rd Infantry Division, and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.

His first novel The Blessing Way, featuring Joe Leaphorn was published in 1970.  His fourth novel People of Darkness introduced Jim Chee.  Starting with his seventh novel Skinwalkers, Leaphorn and Chee begin working together. 

His second novel Dance Hall of the Dead won the 1974 Edgar Award.  His novels have won many more awards.

Hillerman passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October 2008.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: SFC Modesto Cartagena, most decorated Hispanic soldier in the Korean War

Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena, born July 21, 1921 in Cayey, Puerto Rico, served in the US Army during WWII and the Korean War.  In WWII he was assigned to the Army's 65th Infantry Regiment and served in units guarding Caribbean military installations and in the Allied occupation of Germany.

He was discharged after the war and he returned to Puerto Rico.  He re-enlisted at the outbreak of the Korean War and was assigned to Company C, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.

He earned the nickname "One Man Army" after his actions on April 19, 1951 in North Korea.  He left his position "with no regard for his own safety" and charged into enemy fire, single-handedly destroyed two enemy positions.  Although being knocked to the ground twice by exploding grenades, he got up and attacked three more times, destroying three more enemy positions.  He was finally wounded.  

He stated later that he though the rest of the squad was behind him.  He did not realize that most of them had been wounded or forced to take cover.  

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military decoration in the US Army.  Among others decorations, he won the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

He passed away in March 2010. 

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Jorge Otero Barreto, most decorated soldier of the Vietnam War

Jorge Otero Barreto, born April 7, 1937 in Puerto Rico, is sometimes referred to as the Puerto Rican Rambo, earned 38 military decorations and has been called the most decorated solder of the US Army in the Vietnam War.  

He is the first Puerto Rican graduate of the 101st Airborne Division.  He also served in the 25th Infantry Division, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.  

He participated in 200 combat missions.  Barreto has been awarded 5 Purple Hearts, 5 Bronze Stars with Valor, 5 Air Medals, 4 Army Commendation Medals and 2 Silver Stars.