R 201343Z AUG 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 410/13
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/2013 HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH//
POC/M. J. SHEPPARD/CIV/UNIT: MPE/-/TEL:(703)784-9371/TEL: DSN 278-9371// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IN HONOR OF THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO THE UNITED STATES, THE NATION OBSERVES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FROM 15 SEPTEMBER TO 15 OCTOBER.  HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH ORIGINALLY BEGAN IN 1968 AS HISPANIC HERITAGE WEEK UNDER PRESIDENT JOHNSON, AND WAS LATER EXPANDED TO A FULL MONTH BY PRESIDENT REAGAN WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF FIVE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES ON 15 SEPTEMBER - COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND NICARAGUA.  ALONG WITH THOSE COUNTRIES, MEXICO DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE ON 16 SEPTEMBER AND CHILE ON 18 SEPTEMBER. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN THE MARINE CORPS AND CONTINUE TO DO SO TODAY.  THIS YEAR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH THEME IS "OUR TIME: A  STRONG AMERICA."
2.  THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF 13 HISPANIC MARINE MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.  ONE OF THE FIRST MARINES OF HISPANIC PUERTO RICAN  DESCENT TO RECEIVE THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR EFFORTS IN THE KOREAN WAR  WAS PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FERNANDO L. GARCIA.  ON 5 SEPTEMBER 1952, WHILE WITH COMPANY I, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH MARINES, FIRST MARINE DIVISION (REINFORCED), PRIVATE FIRST CLASS GARCIA, SUFFERING PAINFUL WOUNDS, MOVED THROUGH THE INTENSE HAIL OF HOSTILE FIRE TO A SUPPLY POINT TO SECURE MORE HAND GRENADES. QUICK TO ACT TO A HOSTILE GRENADE THAT LANDED NEARBY AND, WITHOUT HESITATION, PFC GARCIA CHOSE TO SACRIFICE HIMSELF AND IMMEDIATELY THREW HIS BODY UPON THE DEADLY MISSILE, RECEIVING THE FULL IMPACT OF THE EXPLOSION. HIS GREAT PERSONAL VALOR AND DECISION IN THE FACE OF ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY.
3.  THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR CORPS, HISPANIC MARINES HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN COMBAT FROM THE BOXER REBELLION TO THE MOST RECENT MILITARY CAMPAIGNS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, MANY RECEIVING COMBAT DECORATIONS FOR THEIR HEROIC ACTIONS.
4.  DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC AMERICANS TO OUR COUNTRY AND CORPS.  COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS AT THEIR COMMANDS AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
5.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M.F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//