Mexican Americans And World War Ii

Up to 750000 Mexican American men served in World War II earning more Medalsof Honor and other decorations in proportion to their numbers than any otherethnic g... » 

Up to 750000 Mexican American men served in World War II earning more Medalsof Honor and other decorations in proportion to their numbers than any otherethnic group. Mexican American women entered the workforce on the home frontsupporting the war effort and earning good wages for themselves and theirfamilies. But the contributions of these men and women have been largelyoverlooked as American society celebrates the sacrifices and achievements ofthe Greatest Generation. To bring their stories out of the shadows this bookgathers eleven essays that explore the Mexican American experience in World WarII from a variety of personal and scholarly perspectives.The book opens with accounts of the wars impact on individuals and families.It goes on to look at how the war affected school experiences how MexicanAmerican patriotism helped to soften racist attitudes how Mexican Americans inthe Midwest unlike their counterparts in other regions of the country did notexperience greater opportunities as a result of the war how the media exposedracist practices in Texas and how Mexican nationals played a role in the wareffort through the Bracero program and through the Mexican governmentschampioning of Mexican Americans rights. As a whole the collection revealsthat World War II was the turning point that gave most Mexican Americans theirfirst experience of being truly included in American society and it confirmsthat Mexican Americans of the Greatest Generation took full advantage oftheir new opportunities as the walls of segregation fell. «