Hispanic Wounded Warrior establishes organization to help others

October 1, 2010 · By Jerry Castillo

In the past year since establishing USFallen.org we have had the privilege of meeting many great patriots, while reporting on active duty personnel and veterans who have served our country with distinction and have died.  We receive hundreds of emails and phone calls from family members, veteran organizations and active duty personnel. Most express their appreciation for the work we do, some share their stories and others request assistance with their causes. Occasionally, an active duty service-member or veterans identifies a problem and does something to solve it and we believe is worthy of recognition for doing the right thing.

SSG Estaban Bliss (Lft) with Indiana Congressman Andre Carson (Rt) at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Germany

SSG Estaban Bliss (Lft) with Indiana Congressman Andre Carson (Rt) at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Germany

Recently, we came in contact with SSG Esteban Blis, a 12-year career U.S. Army soldier from Panama, who joined the military to serve a country whose ideals and values were worth protecting. He was deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year and as so many others he was wounded and suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury. Currently, SSG Blis is assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion,  a unit established in response to the needs of the most severely wounded and injured soldiers. Rather than feeling self pity or only focusing on his own recovery he decided he needed to do more to help his fellow soldiers.

He felt a need to reach out to those who would most be willing to assist him, other Hispanic soldiers and veterans. What he discovered was the underrepresentation of high ranking Hispanic officers and NCO’s in today’s Army.

Combat veterans not only suffer from wounds both seen and unseen, but they also suffer from discrimination by the very people they defend. The population group that suffers the most discrimination within the military is soldiers of Hispanic descend. Yet Hispanics have a proud record of military service, dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War. They defended America with unwavering valor and honor.

Active-duty Soldiers with a Hispanic heritage sorted by year and rank.

1971

1989

2004

2007

Enlisted

 3.4% 4.6% 11.4% 12.0%

Officer

 1.4% 1.9% 5.0% 6.0%

List of Hispanic male and female Soldiers information by gender, rank, and year.

Race/Ethnicity by Gender in 2004

2008

Hispanic Male

Hispanic Female

Total

Active Duty

10.2% 11.4% 10.3% 10.9%

Commissioned Officer

 4.9% 5.4% 5.0% 6.0%

Enlisted

 11.1% 12.2% 11.3% 12.0%

Warrant Officer

 5.7% 7.3% 5.8% 7.0%

Resource: US Army

General Richard Cavzos

General Richard Cavzos

The most astonishing fact we have discovered is in the Army’s 232-year history there has been only one 4-Star General; Dick Cavazos, of Kingsville, TX.

Lt. Gen Ricardo Sanchez

Lt. Gen Ricardo Sanchez

The most recent highest-ranking Hispanic in the U.S. Armed Forces, up until his retirement in 2007, retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, says the military must rid itself of the injustices that bar Latinos from positions of power.

The former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq spoke recently at a Latino Leaders Network luncheon in Washington, DC.  Above all he referred to the obstacles to be dealt with, such as the superior officer who on his first day to occupy a position told him he had fought to get rid of a young Sanchez because “his experiences with Hispanics had been all bad.”

“Then everything became clear. The stereotypes, the prejudices and the low expectations of Hispanics were deeply rooted in the highest ranks,” he said. “In the last 75 years, there have been only three Hispanic officers on active duty with three stars and just one with four. What’s the problem? We’re as capable, competent and educated as any other segment of society,” he said.

He also denounced the many disadvantages that Hispanics in the military encounter when they hang up their uniforms and have to get back into society, where on many occasions they return to “the poverty they left behind.” He went on to say, “Economic opportunities for those returning soldiers are few. And the United States must begin to correct that injustice.”

Major General (Ret.) Alfred Valenzuela

Major General (Ret.) Alfred Valenzuela

To that end, SSG Blis has recruited LTG (Ret) Ricardo Sanchez, author  of Wiser in Battle – A Soldier’s History, MG (Ret.) Alfred Valenzuela, author of No Greater Love – Lives and Times of Hispanics Soldiers, and Jerry Castillo, the founder of USFallen.org, to establish an association to deal with these challenges and obstacles faced by our Hispanic active duty service personnel and veterans.

Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor

Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor

Already many distinguished Americans in the government and private sectors have expressed their willingness to lend their support for such a great cause including; Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Indiana Congressman Andre Carson, Gen (Ret) and now current VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, Gen William “Kip” Ward U.S. Africa Commander, Gen Raymond Odierno USJFCOM Commander and MG (Ret) Josue Robles USAA Bank President and CEO. Please join us as we salute SSG. Esteban M. Blis, for doing the right thing.

10 Responses

  1. Tweets that mention Hispanic Wounded Warrior establishes organization to help others | USFallen.org -- Topsy.com

    October 2nd, 2010 at 1:08 AM

    1

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  2. Eric E

    October 2nd, 2010 at 2:47 AM

    2

    Finally, we have needed an organization devoted to Hispanics in the military where we are overlooked. ADIOS

  3. Brook Little

    October 2nd, 2010 at 3:15 PM

    3

    Hiya, Are you going to be writing a follow up write-up? The partner and myself have used up some time searching over your site and interestingly you discussed one thing i was talking about just the other week with our daughter. We often find ourselves not knowing where to turn to for help.

  4. peewee

    October 2nd, 2010 at 4:14 PM

    4

    Its Pleasure to read your weblog. Thanks for sharing…maintain writing!!!

  5. yukin

    October 2nd, 2010 at 7:16 PM

    5

    Good work! Your post is an excellent example of why I keep coming back to read your excellent content that is forever updated. Thank you!

  6. diablo3

    October 3rd, 2010 at 12:12 AM

    6

    Thanks for sharing this. good luck!

  7. goldfarmer

    October 3rd, 2010 at 2:27 AM

    7

    Usually I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really forced me to do so! Thanks, for the work you are doing to help our veterans.

  8. Evancho Jackie

    October 3rd, 2010 at 9:42 AM

    8

    Finally something that really make sense.

  9. russian02

    October 3rd, 2010 at 3:50 PM

    9

    Hey admin, very informative blog post! Pleasee continue this awesome work..

  10. CPhillips

    October 3rd, 2010 at 6:25 PM

    10

    Your blog posts are superb. Please keep them coming.


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