Even if someone didn’t know much about the social history of the Navy, they could probably still expect it to mirror, or even just closely align with, the social history of the nation it served. It’s certainly true of Hispanics in the Navy, and immigrants in general, but someone might not know how much opportunity the Navy afforded those who served, too.
Indeed, it’s a remarkable fact, according to Naval historian Dennis Nelson, that little was made of race in the early years of the U.S. Navy. But it makes sense. Not everyone wants to set sail on the open ocean, with all its attendant hardships, so captains weren’t in much of a position to discriminate when recruiting capable Sailors.
If a captain waltzed into a bar or brothel in search of …show more content…
Farragut died in 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant led 10,000 soldiers and Sailors through the streets of New York during his funeral procession.
In between Farragut’s death and our own times, attitudes and sometimes policy towards Hispanic servicemen changed in important, though unfortunately poorly documented, ways. Harassment was common, as was the practice of giving Latin Sailors menial labor jobs.
Despite this, several men persevered. Among them were Bandmaster Jose Contreras, a Chilean immigrant who served in and with the Navy for 46 years, and Dr. Hector Garcia, who served in World War II and formed the American GI Forum to help stop discrimination against Mexican-American veterans, and Edward Hidalgo, the first Hispanic Secretary of the Navy.
In our own time, in 2006 Joe R. Campa Jr. became the first Hispanic-American to be the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the highest enlisted rank in the Navy.
These few examples represent a fraction of Hispanic success stories in America’s Navy. Hispanic Americans have served in nearly every position the service has to offer, whether at sea, under the sea, in the air, on land, or in space. Despite frequently large obstacles, Hispanic Sailors have a proud tradition and heritage of service, and their stories represent the Navy's Core Values honor of honor, courage, and
Indeed, it’s a remarkable fact, according to Naval historian Dennis Nelson, that little was made of race in the early years of the U.S. Navy. But it makes sense. Not everyone wants to set sail on the open ocean, with all its attendant hardships, so captains weren’t in much of a position to discriminate when recruiting capable Sailors.
If a captain waltzed into a bar or brothel in search of …show more content…
Farragut died in 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant led 10,000 soldiers and Sailors through the streets of New York during his funeral procession.
In between Farragut’s death and our own times, attitudes and sometimes policy towards Hispanic servicemen changed in important, though unfortunately poorly documented, ways. Harassment was common, as was the practice of giving Latin Sailors menial labor jobs.
Despite this, several men persevered. Among them were Bandmaster Jose Contreras, a Chilean immigrant who served in and with the Navy for 46 years, and Dr. Hector Garcia, who served in World War II and formed the American GI Forum to help stop discrimination against Mexican-American veterans, and Edward Hidalgo, the first Hispanic Secretary of the Navy.
In our own time, in 2006 Joe R. Campa Jr. became the first Hispanic-American to be the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the highest enlisted rank in the Navy.
These few examples represent a fraction of Hispanic success stories in America’s Navy. Hispanic Americans have served in nearly every position the service has to offer, whether at sea, under the sea, in the air, on land, or in space. Despite frequently large obstacles, Hispanic Sailors have a proud tradition and heritage of service, and their stories represent the Navy's Core Values honor of honor, courage, and