Introduction: Luis Alvarez, Ph.D. UC San Diego Associate Professor of History
Chapter 3 Service To America, Struggles With America
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oe Alcoser was one of more than 500,000 Latinos to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. After completing boot camp at the Naval Training Center in San Diego in 1943, he spent three years tending a machine gun on the battleship USS Maryland in the Pacific or European theaters. Originally from Texas, Alcoser returned to San Diego when the war was over and spent much of his adult life in the city. He had volunteered for the Navy because “I felt it was the only way out. My dad always said that men had an obligation to defend their country. I felt that if I went and came back things would be different. I thought there would be less discrimination. Three years later, things were exactly the same.” 1 Alcoser’s observations are a powerful reminder that Latinos fought the Second World War on two fronts: against fascism overseas and for equal citizenship at home. His story also heralds San Diego as one of the busiest military communities in the country and a hub for Latino civil rights struggles during the war. Latino Ser vi ce Like their civilian counterparts, Latino soldiers faced longstanding racial discrimination while being expected to contribute to the war effort. As an epicenter of military activity, San Diego welcomed thousands of Latino soldiers for boot camp before heading off to combat in the Pacific or European theaters. The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps all had training complexes in the area and the city was home to the country’s largest naval air base. At the height of the war, 70% of city land wasdevoted to military-related endeavors.
Antonio Blanco Millan, U.S. Army (Middle) in England on way to France – WWII 1945 (Photo courtesy Tony Millan)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 3 – Service To America, Struggles With America
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