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: Marcelino Serna, first Hispanic to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross

Marcelino Serna, born April 26, 1896 in Chihuahua, Mexico, was the most decorated soldier from Texas in WWI, and was the first Hispanic to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

He crossed the Rio Grande entering the US in El Paso, Texas in 1916.  He was working as a farm hand in Denver, Colorado when he was rounded up by federal officials.  To avoid being deported, he joined the Army.  When the Army realized he was a Mexican national, they told him he did not have to fight, but he chose to stay.  For his actions at Saint-Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military award.  He was also awarded the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster and the World War I Victory Medal, among numerous awards from France.

He passed away in El Paso, Texas in 1992.

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!