Chicanos During The Vietnam War
Over the past hundred years Chicanos had fought bravely for their country. But if you try to look for books or articles about Chicanos in books about Vietnam they are, for the most part, almost absent. They fail to recognize how important Mexican Americans were in this war. They fail to mention that Mexican American soldiers are the most decorated ethnic group in the America. In the bestseller Everything We Had by Al Santoli, though it discusses soldiers in the Vietnam War, not one Chicano is interviewed . The Vietnam War failed to advance status as Americans and help their civil right battles. Even though they fought bravely Chicanos still faced prejudice before and during the war and received minimum recognition for their efforts in the War .
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The Vietnam War was for many Chicanos, viewed as an opportunity to fight for the country.
They also viewed it as a way to prove their loyalty to the United States since many people in the United States considered them foreigners even though they were born here . Because Chicanos did not have the opportunity to receive a good education, joining the military was one of the only ways to earn a decent income and a chance for a brighter future. However the war proved to be traumatic for most of the Mexican-American soldiers and sailors that participated in it.
Ralph Guzman brought race and war issues into light and argued, “… Mexican Americans are over-represented in the casualty reports from Vietnam and underrepresented in the graduating classes of our institutions of higher learning . Americans at the time knew that the Vietnam conflict was a very important issue but many did not support sending more troops . Many Americans were not so enthusiastic about the draft. Chicanos in particular were not pleased with how the Vietnam conflict was being handled by President Nixon
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In the Vietnam War Chicanos showed bravery and leadership, which attests to the fact that they awarded them the title of the “Most Decorated Ethnic Group in the United States Military”. Even though this is true many Americans do not know how they contributed in the Vietnam War and many others. The Vietnam War officially started on November 1, 1955and ended April 30, 1975. Chicanos were represented in all majors combat units. They also were awarded 14 Medals of Honor during the war. Many of these soldiers died for a country that still viewed them as foreigners. The last man how left Vietnam was Chicano.
The Vietnam War was a failure for many Mexican-Americans who viewed the war as a way to progress in their status as Americans. The Vietnam War could have been a huge advancement in the socio-economic ladder for Chicanos. But the war ultimately did not bring advancement to the Chicano veterans as the would have like
Even though Chicano soldiers fought bravely in the war they still faced prejudice. Ultimately the Vietnam War did not benefit their fight for civil rights. The Chicanos came back tired and scarred from the detriments of war. To this day Chicanos are still underappreciated for the contributions in the United States Military.
The Vietnam War was for many Chicanos, viewed as an opportunity to fight for the country.
They also viewed it as a way to prove their loyalty to the United States since many people in the United States considered them foreigners even though they were born here . Because Chicanos did not have the opportunity to receive a good education, joining the military was one of the only ways to earn a decent income and a chance for a brighter future. However the war proved to be traumatic for most of the Mexican-American soldiers and sailors that participated in it.
Ralph Guzman brought race and war issues into light and argued, “… Mexican Americans are over-represented in the casualty reports from Vietnam and underrepresented in the graduating classes of our institutions of higher learning . Americans at the time knew that the Vietnam conflict was a very important issue but many did not support sending more troops . Many Americans were not so enthusiastic about the draft. Chicanos in particular were not pleased with how the Vietnam conflict was being handled by President Nixon
.
In the Vietnam War Chicanos showed bravery and leadership, which attests to the fact that they awarded them the title of the “Most Decorated Ethnic Group in the United States Military”. Even though this is true many Americans do not know how they contributed in the Vietnam War and many others. The Vietnam War officially started on November 1, 1955and ended April 30, 1975. Chicanos were represented in all majors combat units. They also were awarded 14 Medals of Honor during the war. Many of these soldiers died for a country that still viewed them as foreigners. The last man how left Vietnam was Chicano.
The Vietnam War was a failure for many Mexican-Americans who viewed the war as a way to progress in their status as Americans. The Vietnam War could have been a huge advancement in the socio-economic ladder for Chicanos. But the war ultimately did not bring advancement to the Chicano veterans as the would have like
Even though Chicano soldiers fought bravely in the war they still faced prejudice. Ultimately the Vietnam War did not benefit their fight for civil rights. The Chicanos came back tired and scarred from the detriments of war. To this day Chicanos are still underappreciated for the contributions in the United States Military.