Hispanic Heritage Month - U.S. Census Bureau reports on Hispanics in the Military

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24: HISPANICS IN THE MILITARY

Profile America — Monday, September 24th.  As National Hispanic Heritage Month continues, the focus is on the contributions of this community to the nation's military history. 

The exploits of David Farragut, the first admiral in the U.S. Navy, during the Civil War are fairly well known.  Less attention has been paid to Bernardo de Galvez, who aided George Washington during the Revolution, and for whom the city of Galveston, Texas is named. 

Up to half a million Hispanics served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II — 12 of them earning the Medal of Honor.  Many Hispanics are on active duty now in Afghanistan.  Across the country, there are more than a million Hispanic veterans of the armed forces. 

You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy, from the American Community Survey at www.census.gov.

Sources:   U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB12-FF.19
               The National WWII Museum
               Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 522

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau