By Steve Walker
President
Barrack Obama recently awarded twenty-four servicemen, the Congressional Medal
of Honor in a White House ceremony to include two San Antonio recipients who are still alive. A
third recipient Melvin Morris lives in Oklahoma .
Many of
the recipient’s relatives and those who served with them waited many years for
their heroic deeds to be finally validated for their valor, bravery and
sacrifice for their country.
Over time
while we in San Antonio
were recognizing our local heroes by naming stadiums and monuments in their
honor, the American people have now caught up with us to honor the heroes for
their service. President Obama did something about it and changed all that.
Of the honorees,
it so happens that 18 are Hispanic, one is Jewish and Melvin Morris is
African-American.
As a
Vietnam Veteran who served in Phu Bai from 1970-71 and shared a Mess Hall with a
unit of the 101st Airborne Division like Santiago Erivia, I am
extremely proud of the fact that all three living recipients are honored for
their service in Viet Nam .
Having
taught high school in the predominately Hispanic community in Edgewood
and Harlandale school districts, I saw first hand the patriotism in those
communities.
Both
Harlandale and Edgewood districts have supplied many military members that
served in combat in Viet Nam ,
Iraq and Afghanistan as
well. More service members graduating from Edgewood have died in Vietnam than any other school district in San Antonio .
The Alamo City
is recognized as Military
City . San
Antonio natives to include a large contingent of the Hispanic
community exhibit much pride in their willingness in volunteering for the
military to ensure the safety and welfare of the United States .
We are
also the home of the only two Hispanics who have served as the Director of the
Selective Service Board (aka Draft Board) appointed by the President of the United States
and confirmed by the Senate.
The
current Director of the Selective Service Board is retired Air Force Lt.
Colonel Larry Romo who serves under President Barrack Obama.
The other
is former Director Ret. Army Colonel Gil Coronado who served under President
Bill Clinton. The Alamo
City is very proud of its
diverse patriots and Medal of Honor Recipients.
And as
always, what I write is “Just a Thought.”
Steve
Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and former Justice of the Peace and Journalist.
Editor's Note: March 29th, 1975 troops were officially pulled out of Viet Nam. A new Viet Nam monument was dedicated at the State Capitol, March 29th, 2014.
Editor's Note: March 29th, 1975 troops were officially pulled out of Viet Nam. A new Viet Nam monument was dedicated at the State Capitol, March 29th, 2014.
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