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                            Hispanic America USA, Inc.
                                                        a Non-Profit Organization providing an overview of
                     Contributions of Hispanics &  Spanish Speaking America - World and United States History
                                                                 Copyright © 1996-97 all rights reserved
                                                                        
                                                               

                    Hispanics in the Defense of America

   Bataan  |    North Africa  |  Aleutians  |  The Mediterranean | Europe  | Merrill's Marauders
                                                         

It has been estimated that anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 Hispanics
served in the armed forces during World War II. This represents a range of 2.5 to 5% of all persons who served during the war.

Figures are imprecise because, with the exception of Puerto Ricans, data on Hispanics were not maintained. We do know that over 53,000 Puerto Ricans served during
the period 1940-1946.

National guard units from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California had a high representation of Mexican Americans. The US Army has never segregated Hispanic soldiers. Members of Puerto Rico's National Guard, of the present 65th USA Reserve Command, and of its ancestors, the 65th Infantry Regiment and the 1899 Puerto Rican Regiment US Volunteers, were residents of the island.

Approximately 200 Puerto Rican women served in the Women's Army Corps.

The Hispanic participation in the war effort is difficult to separate from the overall efforts of all the men and women who served in our armed forces.

              
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                                          Or you may mail your information to:

                                      C/O Judy Baca Romero
                                               Hispanic America USA, Inc.
                                               P.O. Box 36693
                                               Phoenix, Arizona 85067-6693
        
                                            (Fax 602-265-2118)  (602-234-8600)
                 
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