Summary Of Honor And Fidelity By Gilberto Hermosa

Over the course of these past few weeks, we have been discussing the book “Honor and Fidelity: The 65th Infantry in Korea, 1950-1953” and the events surrounding the time period from the beginning of WWI toward the end of the Korean War. Although the author, Gilberto Hermosa, does not directly state that racism, along with several other factors, were key contributors to the downfall of the 65th Infantry, he almost directly leads his readers to conclude that for themselves in a manner that seems to be all too intentional. His position on the matter would have been stronger had he related his writing to what was happening in the United States during that period, such as how the development of the 65th infantry may have helped the progression of
Sompanaro discussed that before the United States entered Korea, a struggle for Civil Rights was starting by 1945.1 “At the center of Myrdal's work in An American Dilemma was his postulate that political and social interaction in the United States is shaped by an "American Creed." This creed emphasizes the ideals of liberty, equality, justice, and fair treatment of all people.”2 The book went on to be referred in the court case Brown vs. Board of Education. It has helped shape the future for civil rights in America. The one point that could be made about Hermosa’s book would be the fact that he fails to relate his book to the United States and the race problems it was facing. It seems he intended to focus on the Puerto Rican race and how they influenced segregation in the Army. With Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists getting their respective races a push towards social equality, Hermosa seemed to use this book to do the same. To shine light not only on the issues these minorities shared but to focus mainly on the obstacles facing the 65th Infantry during the war years. “Honor and Fidelity: The 65th Infantry in Korea, 1950-1953” by Hermosa relates to the group set because all three mention the fear of communism growth and the defense of the “American Creed” surrounding the time period from the beginning of WWI toward the end of the Korean War. Cold War Americanism emphasizes during the discussion the fear of a communist nuclear bombing and the
During the life span of the United States, it has endured two red scares but for the sake of evidence for this paper I will refer to the Red Scare that occurred during the late 40s through the early 50s. The prior was more focused on worker revolution and political radicalism. When the latter focused more of foreign and domestic affiliation with communism. The second Red Scare, also came to be known as McCarthyism, as mentioned beforehand played right into the general sense of fear going on during this period cause by increased communist activity, such as the suspicion of espionage and the Berlin Blockade. The trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg increased the general fear among Americans now that they turned secrets to the Soviets about the U.S. Atomic Bomb secrets. This trial would give justification for the increase investigation by Joseph McCarthy on Anti-American Activities by American Citizens. Again the fear a communism is all the justification that is needed to impose one’s will as long as it majorly supported among the countries’ population. During the period McCarthyism, communist affiliation was based upon a hunch, not on evidence. Before the beginning of McCarthyism, some conservative politicians thought of legislative such as woman suffrage, child labor laws, and The New Deal. These are historical legislative that played a big role in the progression of minorities and