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Pvt. Felix Longoria
US Army 38702692
Felix Longoria was drafted into
the Army on November 11, 1944. At the age of 25, he left Texas,
leaving behind his wife and a 4-year-old daughter. Seven months
later, he was killed in action while on a voluntary patrol
in the Cagayan Valley, Luzon, Philippines. Pvt. Longoria exemplified
the typical Hispanic in military service to his country. Hispanics
are dedicated to duty, always on the front lines, volunteering
for extra combat duty, and determined to uphold our heritage
of pride and respect for a country that rarely appreciates
us at home.
Pvt. Longoria’s remains were
not returned stateside until 1949. It was in the preparation
for his military funeral that caused him to become a national
symbol of racial discrimination. This act of discrimination
propelled the American GI Forum’s civil rights agenda
into the minds of elected officials and the eyes of the public
throughout the country.
In his hometown of Three Rivers,
Texas, the only funeral home refused to allow Pvt. Longoria’s
body to lie in state. The use of the chapel for a wake was
denied because “the whites would not like it.”
Dr. Hector P. Garcia was serving
as president of the newly formed American GI Forum (March,
1948) when he was called by Pvt. Longoria’s widow for
help. Dr. Garcia was given permission by the Longoria family
to intercede for them to assure a proper burial. He sent out
17 telegrams to elected and governmental officials. The telegrams
stated “the denial was a direct contradiction of those
same principles for which this American soldier made the supreme
sacrifice in giving his life for his country, and for the
same people who deny him the last funeral rites deserving
of any American hero regardless of his origin.” This
statement was aired internationally by radio broadcasters:
Drew Pearson, Westbrook Pegler, and Walter Winchell, who also
stated “the State of Texas, which looms so large on the
map, looks so small tonight…”
On January 11, 1949, Dr. Garcia
held a meeting with over 1,000 people in attendance to discuss
the possible course of actions in remedying this act of discrimination.
During the meeting, a telegram was received from the junior
U.S. Senator from Texas, Lyndon Baines Johnson:
| I deeply regret to learn that the prejudice
of some individuals extends even beyond this life. I have
no authority over civilian funeral homes. Nor does the
federal government. However, I have today made arrangements
to have Felix Longoria buried with full military honors
in Arlington National Cemetery here at Washington where,
the honored dead of our nation’s war rest… This
injustice and prejudice is deplorable. I am happy to have
a part seeing that this Texas hero is laid to rest with
the honor and dignity his service deserves. |
U.S. Senator Johnson, Lady Bird
Johnson, Congressman John Lyle, and President Truman’s
military aide, Gen. Harry H. Vaughan joined the Longoria family
for a full military burial with honors at Arlington National
Cemetery on February 16, 1948, to pay tribute to a Hispanic
Hero.
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