Felix Z. Longoria, Jr.

Infobox Military Person
name=Felix Z. Longoria, Jr.
born= 1920
died= June, death year and age|1945|1920
placeofbirth=Three Rivers, Texas
placeofdeath= Philippines
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery


caption=Pvt. Felix Z. Longoria, Jr.
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank= Private
commands=
unit=
battles=World War II
awards=Bronze Star Purple Heart Combat Infantryman Badge Pvt. Felix Z. Longoria, Jr. (1920 – June 1945), a decorated soldier, served in the United States Army during World War II and was the first Mexican American to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Background

Personal

In November 1944 Felix Z. Longoria, Jr. was drafted and shipped out with the 27^th Infantry Regiment to Luzon in the Philippines, leaving behind his wife and four-year-old daughter. [cite book
last = Garcia
first = Ignacio M.
title = Hector P. Garcia - In Relentless Pursuit of Justice
publisher = Arte Publico Press
location= Houston
date = 2002
pages = p105
isbn = 0131835505] [ [http://www.agif.org/longoria.html Pvt. Felix Longoria ] ]

ocial climate

In Texas during the 1940s, as in other parts of the country, Mexican Americans were considered non-white. [cite book
last = Gonzales
first = Manuel
title = Mexicanos: a history of Mexicans in the United States
publisher = Indiana University Press
location= Bloomington and Indianapolis
date = 1999
pages = p184
isbn = 0253214009] Segregation of Mexican American children in schools and employment discrimination against Mexican American workers was pervasive in the Southwestern United States. [cite book
last = Rivas-Rodriguez
first = Maggie
title = A Legacy Greater Than Words: Stories of U.S. Latinos & Latinas of the World War II Generation
publisher = U.S. Latino & Latina WWII Oral History Project, University of Texas at Austin, School of Journalism
location= Austin
date = 2006
edition = 1st
pages = p257
isbn = 0292714181] Generally Mexican American World War II servicemen were integrated into regular military units but some served in segregated Mexican American units such as Company C of the 141st Regiment, 36th Division. [cite book
last = Richardson
first = Rupert N.
coauthors =Adrian Anderson, Cary D. Wintz & Ernest Wallace
title = Texas: the Lone Star State, 9th edition
publisher = Prentice Hall
location= New Jersey
date = 2005
edition = 9th
pages = p384
isbn = 0131835505]

The Felix Longoria Affair

Seven months after beginning a volunteer tour of duty in the Pacific Theatre, Longoria was killed by a Japanese sniper while on a mission in the Philippines. Pvt. Longoria's remains were not returned to the United States until 1949, and the director of the only funeral home in his hometown of Three Rivers, Texas, would not allow him to lie in state there because he was a "Mexican" [cite book
last = Lopez
first = Ian F. Hanner
title = Racism on Trial - The Chicano Fight for Justice
publisher = The Belknap Press of Harvard University
location= Cambridge and London
date = 2003
pages = p70
isbn = 06740106X] and "the whites would not like it." Additionally, the only cemetery in Three Rivers was segregated, and the war hero was to be buried in the "Mexican" section of the cemetery which was separated by barbed wire. Publication of an article in the "New York Times" brought national attention to the Longoria family's plight and the incident became known as the Felix Longoria Affair. Outraged Tejanos seeking to end discrimination organized under the newly formed American GI Forum and its leader Dr. Héctor P. García. [Richardson, Anderson, Wintz & Wallace (2005). p386.] With the intervention of then-senator Lyndon B. Johnson, arrangements were made for Pvt. Longoria to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery [cite book
last = Meir
first = Matt S.
title = Mexican Americans/American Mexicans: From Conquistadors to Chicanos
publisher = Hill and Wang
location= New York
date = 1972
pages = pp 169-170
isbn = 0809015595] with full military honors. [cite book
last = Lopez
first = Ian F. Hanner
title = Racism on Trial - The Chicano Fight for Justice
publisher = The Belknap Press of Harvard University
location= Cambridge and London
date = 2003
pages = p70
isbn = 06740106X] Longoria became the first Mexican American serviceman to be awarded this honor.

Decorations

*Bronze Star
*Purple Heart
*Good Conduct Medal
*Combat Infantryman Badge

Mexican American civil rights movement

The Felix Longoria affair became an early example of unity in the Mexican American civil rights movement. The intervention of Dr. Hector García and the American GI Forum in the matter led to an increased interest around the country in opening local chapters of the organization. [http://www.justiceformypeople.org/ "Justice for My People: The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Story"] (2004), documentary aired on PBS, September 17, 2007.]

ee also

*Hector P. Garcia

ee also

References

Further reading

*Carroll, Patrick "Felix Longoria's Wake: Bereavement, Racism, and the Rise of Mexican American Activism", University of Texas Press (ISBN 0292712499)
*Carl Allsup, The American G.I. Forum: Origins and Evolution, University of Texas Center for Mexican American Studies Monograph 6, Austin, (1982)

External links

*Handbook of Texas|id=FF/vef1|name=Felix Longoria Affair
* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/felix-longoria-photo-01.jpgphoto]
* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/longoria.htm Longoria article] - Arlington National Cemetery website - privately maintained web page