Mexicans: Forgotten soldiers of 1950-53 Korean War

By Bruno Figueroa, Martha Barcena

June 25 marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War (1950-53), the first open conflict of the Cold War and one of the most brutal ones of last century. It cost almost 5 million lives, and caused the devastation of the whole Korean Peninsula. Known in the U.S. as the “Forgotten War” due to its censored coverage and its lack of attention, the Korean War had its share of “forgotten soldiers”: the more than 100,000 Mexicans and Mexican Americans who fought within the U.S. Armed Forces, around 10 percent of the total number of troops. Overrepresented, this ethnic minority accounted for less than 3.5 percent of the total U.S. population at the time.

Although Mexico did not send a military unit to join South Korea and the other 16 countries in this conflict, under the United Nations flag, the contribution of Mexican nationals was possible by the Mexico-United States Agreement Regarding Military Service by Nationals of Either Country Residing in the Other, which was in force from 1943 to the end of 1952. Mexican born men were drafted just as were Mexican Americans, or they volunteered to join. No distinction was made in military service concerning country of birth.

They were almost everywhere, and mostly invisible. The morning of June 28, 1950, the day Seoul fell, a reconnaissance plane took off from Japan, crossed the Korean Peninsula and disappeared in the Yellow Sea. Staff Sgt. Joe Campos, enlisted in Miami, Arizona, was in that plane and became one of the first soldiers missing in action of the war. A few days later, in the first combat encounter between U.S. and North Korean troops, remembered as the Battle of Osan, Florentino Gonzales, from Chicago, Illinois, was taken alive by North Koreans. He was in the first group of prisoners of war. These soldiers from Mexico and the U.S. who “served with distinction, fought courageously and gave their lives, when need be, valiantly,” according to President Lyndon B. Johnson, received scarce attention for their sacrifices. The information about them and their actions is incomplete; there is still no comprehensive history of their contributions, granted that several research papers and veteran memoirs give some important account.

It is a difficult, almost elusive task. Oddly, no official public record exists for Mexicans and Mexican Americans because they were registered as “White,” when drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces. The Mexican government only kept records of the bodies that came back to their country of origin for burial. The prejudice against Hispanics at the time makes the task even more daunting. Raul Alvarez del Castillo from Guadalajara, Mexico, preferred to be known as “Ralph A. Castle”. Bartolome Garcia, born in Mexico City and killed in action in Korea, had his home state absurdly noted as the Virgin Islands, as happened in the case of several other Mexican nationals.

Corporal Jesus Rodriguez, from Los Angeles, revealed that there was even an “all Mexican squad,” under the 35th Infantry Regiment ― although never recognized as such. There must have been similar squads and platoons, granted the high number of soldiers of Mexican origin. Yet the use of Spanish among them was not permitted and their cultural identity was suppressed. Their “Mexicanness” couldn't be mistaken, and the harsh world they came from made them strong. Jesus Rodriguez remembered: “I used to pray a lot. Another thing that helped me was that I was street smart from before going into the service. On the streets I learned how to fight … Something else that helped me survive Korea was that going hungry wasn't new to me and didn't hurt me.”

Roberto Sierra, now 90 years old, joined for years other veterans on Nov. 11, in downtown Guadalajara, Mexico, to remember their common ordeal. He is one of many anonymous survivors of the Korean War. He is the proud father of Ivan Sierra, today a career ambassador of Mexico. Although he seldom speaks about the conflict, when he does so it is with great emotion. Fortunately, some feats of these courageous men have been acknowledged. Eugene A. Obregon, from Los Angeles, Calif., sacrificed himself to protect a wounded comrade on Sept. 26, 1950. There is a Navy ship today named after him. Richard E. Cavazos, born in Kingsville, Tex., became the first Mexican American four-star general and head of the U.S. Army Forces Command. He inspired generations of professional U.S. officers. Ten Mexican Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor for their service in Korea, the highest U.S. military decoration.

The time has come to remember and honor these silent heroes of the “Forgotten War” who fought for freedom and democracy, and against prejudice and hate. They represented 10 percent of the foreign United Nations casualties during the War. The government of Mexico joins hands with Korea and the U.S. to recognize their tremendous service of 70 years ago. May their lives serve as example of courage and honor for the generations to come, and their actions contribute to foster even deeper interweaved ties between Mexico, Korea and the United States.

Martha Barcena and Bruno Figueroa are each ambassador of Mexico in the Republic of Korea and the United States.