National Hispanic Heritage Month “Shaping the Bright Future of America”

1. National Hispanic Heritage Month“Shaping the Bright Future of America” September 15 – October 15

2. National Hispanic Heritage Month Each year, DoD observes National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens with ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. http://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/

3. National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18. http://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/

4. History The observance began in September 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, the length of the observance was expanded, establishing Hispanic Heritage Month. The Hispanic population that same year was 19.4 million, roughly 7.9 percent of the population. The projected 2060 Hispanic population of the United States will be 119 million; constituting 28.6 percent of our nation’s population. http://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/ https://census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2016/cb16-ff16.html

5. Hispanic Heritage Month This presentation highlights five Hispanic members from the Department of Defense (DoD) who have defended and made our nation stronger: Chief Warrant Officer Rose Franco, Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena, Michael L. Dominguez, Senior Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez, and Rear Admiral Christina M. “Tina” Alvarado.

6. Chief Warrant officer rose franco Rose Franco holds the distinction of being the first Hispanic woman in the U.S. Marines Corps to become Chief Warrant Officer. She was in college when the Korean War began. She felt it was her patriotic duty to serve her country and left college. Franco’s family strongly objected, believing that women were to marry and raise a family. https://womenmarines.wordpress.com/2013/10/20/celebrating-hispanic-heritage/

7. Chief Warrant officer rose franco On February 8, 1952, she enlisted into the Marine Corps and was sent to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. After completion of basic training, she was sent to advanced training. Upon completion she was assigned to Camp Pendleton in California as an administrative supply assistant. In 1956, she completed her four-year enlistment and returned to Puerto Rico where she went to work for Pan American Airlines. She found her office job unstimulating and re-enlisted in the Marines. https://womenmarines.wordpress.com/2013/10/20/celebrating-hispanic-heritage/

8. Chief Warrant officer rose franco In 1965, Franco was named Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, Paul Henry Nitze. By recommendation of Nitze, she was promoted to Warrant Officer and reported to work in the Pentagon. At the time of her promotion, she was one of 11 women Warrant Officers in the Marine Corps. During her time working in the Pentagon, she held various important positions. She retired from the Marine Corps in 1977. https://womenmarines.wordpress.com/2013/10/20/celebrating-hispanic-heritage/

9. Sergeant First ClassModesto Cartagena The most decorated Hispanic soldier of the Korean War—Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena—was born in a small town in Puerto Rico. When the United States entered World War II, he was one of the first people from the island to volunteer for military service. He served in the 65th Infantry Regiment, a Puerto Rican regiment also referred to as the “The Borinqueneers” during World War II, and later in the Korean War. https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/09/19/modesto-cartagena-the-most-decorated-hispanic-soldier-of-the-korean-war/

10. Sergeant First ClassModesto Cartagena On April 19, 1951, Cartagena, “…with no regard for his own safety,” as the official record states, left his position and charged directly into enemy fire, destroying two enemy emplacements on Hill 206 near Yonch’on, North Korea. After taking out the emplacements, he was knocked to the ground twice by exploding enemy grenades. He continued to push forward and attacked three more times before being wounded. He received the Distinguished Service Cross—the highest award for valor after the Medal of Honor—for his actions. https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/09/19/modesto-cartagena-the-most-decorated-hispanic-soldier-of-the-korean-war/

11. Sergeant First ClassModesto Cartagena In 2002, during a ceremony honoring the 65th Infantry, when asked about the battle, Cartagena responded, “…he just hurled back at the Chinese the grenades thrown at him. He thought that the rest of the squad was behind him, and didn’t realize most of them had been wounded and forced to take cover.” Later they found 33 dead Chinese in the emplacements and 15 more dead in the positions he had destroyed on his way up the hill. According to 1st Lt. Reinaldo Deliz Santiago, Cartagena earned the nickname, “One Man Army.” https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/09/19/modesto-cartagena-the-most-decorated-hispanic-soldier-of-the-korean-war/

12. Sergeant First ClassModesto Cartagena In 1971, Cartagena retired after 20 years in the Army. Long after leaving the military, he continued to be an prominent figure around the 65th Infantry Headquarters. “I’m just sorry that I’m too old to go to Afghanistan to fight,” he told The El Paso Times in 2002. “I’d do it all over again if I could.” He died in 2010. https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/09/19/modesto-cartagena-the-most-decorated-hispanic-soldier-of-the-korean-war/

13. Michael Luis Dominguez Michael Luis Dominguez served as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness within the DoD until his retirement in 2009. He grew up in an Air Force family and lived on bases around the world. In 1975, Dominguez graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, reported to Italy, then worked varied assignments with the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne) and the Southern European Task Force. https://www.defense.gov/ Source: Michael L. Dominguez

14. Michael Luis Dominguez In 1980, Dominguez left the military and went into private business. During that time, he attended Stanford Graduate School of Business. In 1983, he joined the federal civil service and in 1991 entered the Senior Executive Service as Program Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E) office Director for Planning and Analytical Support. He served in that position until September of 1994. His next assignment was as the Associate Director for Programming (N-80D) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. https://www.defense.gov/ Source: Michael L. Dominguez

15. Michael Luis Dominguez From 2001 until July 2006, Dominguez served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. His service was interrupted by several months when he served as the acting Secretary of the Air Force from March 28 to July 29, 2005. In 2006, he was named Role Model of the Year Award from the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference. https://www.defense.gov/ https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/nominations/417.html Source: Michael L. Dominguez

16. Senior Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez Pararescueman Senior Master SergeantRamon “CZ” Colon-Lopez deployed to Afghanistan shortly after 9/11. According to the U.S. Air Force, he was involved in direct action and combat search and rescue missions. He also provided security for Hamid Kharzai, who was elected president of Afghanistan in 2004. https://mcmguides.com/advisor/files/html/PDG%20AFH%201-2015/SECTION_2.23_2015AFH1.html Source: Senior Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez

17. Senior Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez The Airman Handbook tells his story: On March 11, 2004, Colon-Lopez was on a mission in Afghanistan to capture a high-value target—a drug king-pin who was funding terrorism—and to prevent the proliferation of chemical weapons. He was on the first of four helicopters, which took sustained small-arms fire and was seriously damaged as it landed. Though he did not know the size of the enemy force, he moved forward under fire, overrunning the enemy positions. His action suppressed enemy fire threatening the other three helicopters. https://mcmguides.com/advisor/files/html/PDG%20AFH%201-2015/SECTION_2.23_2015AFH1.html Source: Senior Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez

18. Senior Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez Colon-Lopez and the team drove the enemy away. They killed two, captured 10, and destroyed a stash of rocket-propelled grenade rounds and small caliber weapons. Due to their quick reaction and suppression of the danger facing them, no Americans were killed. In June 2007, he was among the first six Airmen—and the first Hispanic—to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. The medal recognizes Airmen who personally engaged hostile forces with direct and lethal fire. https://mcmguides.com/advisor/files/html/PDG%20AFH%201-2015/SECTION_2.23_2015AFH1.html Source: Senior Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez

19. Senior Master Sergeant Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez CMSgt Colon-Lopez is presently serving as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for United States Africa Command Headquarters. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197517/hunting-the-terrorists-down-smsgt-ramon-colon-lopez/ https://www.africom.mil/about-the-command/leadership/command-senior-enlisted-leader

20. Rear Admiral (RADM)Christina M. “Tina” Alvarado RADM Christina M. “Tina” Alvarado is presently serving as the Deputy Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Reserve Policy and Integration. She was confirmed Rear Admiral by the U.S. Senate on June 23, 2015. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/114th-congress/202 Source: RADM Christina M. Alvarado

21. Rear Admiral Christina M. “Tina” Alvarado Alvarado began her Navy Reserve career as a direct commissioned officer and attended officer indoctrination at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. In 1990, during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm she was called to active duty until 1991. She was called to active duty again in 2002 in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=704 Source: RADM Christina M. Alvarado

22. Rear Admiral Christina M. “Tina” Alvarado Alvarado was the first nurse to command Naval Reserve Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Dallas One, a commissioned unit whose mission is expeditionary medicine. She led the transformation of the unit and stood up the first Reserve EMF in 2011. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=704 Source: RADM Christina M. Alvarado

23. Rear Admiral Christina M. “Tina” Alvarado In a 2016 interview, Alvarado was asked what being a leader in the Navy meant to her. She said, “I am merely a representative, a servant leader and though I wear my stars proudly, I also wear them with great humility never forgetting those who helped me along the way and, most importantly, remembering those whom I serve.” She went on to say, “One of my favorite Southern sayings is that if you see a turtle sitting on a fence post, one thing is for sure, he didn’t get there by himself. Nowhere does that ring more true than in military service. At this point in my career, leadership is all about preparing those who will come after me.” http://www.doncio.navy.mil/CHIPS/ArticleDetails.aspx?ID=8282 Source: RADM Christina M. Alvarado

24. National Hispanic Heritage Month National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the many different cultures that make up Hispanic heritage. It is also the time to recognize the immeasurable contributions Hispanic Americans have made to defending our country and building a more inclusive nation. For additional DEOMI products and information please visit our website at: www.deomi.org

25. Prepared by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick Air Force Base, FloridaSeptember 2017 All photographs are public domain and are from various sources as cited. The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official DEOMI, U.S. military services, or the Department of Defense position, unless designated by other authorized documents.