Mexican-American Soldiers During WWII

Mexican-American Soldiers during the Second World War

This paper will discuss the experiences of Mexican-Americans during the Second World War. The first part of the paper will examine how Mexican-Americans, particularly soldiers, suffered from the effects of racism and discrimination prior to the Second World War. The second part of the paper will discuss how Mexican-American soldiers served valiantly during the war. The third part of the paper will discuss how Mexican-American soldiers were discriminate against while serving in the armed forces during the war. The fourth part of the paper will examine how these soldiers suffered from racism and discrimination after the war, in spite of their heroic service. The fifth part of the paper will look at some of the efforts of Mexican-American soldiers to fight such discrimination during and after the war.

Discrimination Prior to the Second World War

Prior to the Second World War, Mexican-Americans were treated as second-class citizens, because of their racial and cultural background. Since most Chicanos were of mixed Spanish and Indian ancestry, they were the subjects of discriminatory attitudes which had been held against the Spanish and the Indians. In addition, since they occupied territory which had been conquered by the United States during the Mexican-American War in the 1840s, they were treated as conquered peoples. Those whose families had lived in the southwest prior to the 1840s were not voluntary immigra

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round, in contrast to the African-American soldiers. In fact, service in the armed forces was the first time that many of the Chicano soldiers had come into close and prolonged contact with Anglos. The Chicano soldiers were generally treated with respect by their Anglo comrades, since they all shared the identity of being soldiers (Morin, 1963, pp. 56, 82-93, 99-103). Occasionally, especially early on during training, Chicanos were berated for their lack of military discipline casual manners. They were also suspect for their constant use of Spanish, which they often used to make fun of Anglo training sergeants who rode all recruits hard. Officers frequently shunted and chided Chicano soldiers or otherwise held themselves aloof. For many Anglo soldiers, Army training was the first opportunity which they had for coming in contact with Chicanos, since most recruits came from areas other than the southwest. Consequently, the two groups tended to stick with their own and did not mix during leaves (Morin, 1963, pp. 82-93). This changed after units became involved in combat. Both groups of soldiers very quickly realized that they had a common goal: to survive the war. Survival depended upon teamwork and teamwork had to includ

Category: History - M