Photo By Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Smith | While on patrol in southern Baghdad's Rashid District, 1st Lt. Alex Torres, a platoon...... read more read more
By Pfc. Nathaniel Smith
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
Public Affairs
BAGHDAD – On Sept. 26, there was a patrol through southern Baghdad. It was like every other. The Soldiers encountered the things that are unfortunately commonplace in a city like Baghdad: a car on fire, suspected cache sites, and citizens concerned about their families' safety.
To someone without a keen sense of cultural history, this patrol would be like any other. However, these Soldiers were led by 1st Lt. Alex Torres, a platoon leader with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division from Columbia, S.C.
Torres is a normal guy. He keeps his Soldiers' spirits high in the early dawn by talking and laughing with them. He gets frustrated when plans on a mission fall through, like anyone else would. He's just as happy as the next man in his platoon to roll back through the gates of Forward Operating Base Falcon without incident.
So this begs the question, why is a patrol being led by the University of South Carolina graduate special?
Torres, who comes from a military family, is upholding the tradition of Latin Americans answering the call to serve in America's time of need.
Torres said his father's service had a direct impact on his decision to carry on this tradition.
"(My father is) a good role model. I've always looked up to him," he said. "By joining up, I'd at least have a good start at being half the man he was."
October is Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the contributions Hispanics have made to our society, past and present, including the military.
Torres, who grew up in a Puerto Rican family, put the month in perspective.
"There's more sense of pride this month, but we're pretty prideful all the time," he said.
"You always see flags across the vehicles, shirts and hats. It's not just this month."
In terms of distinguished military service, Latin Americans have plenty to be proud of with more than 40 service members of Hispanic descent having been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in conflicts ranging from the Civil War to the Vietnam War.
Latinos have also fought in every American war since the Revolution and every major battle of World War II, where as many as half a million Latin Americans have been estimated to serve, making up almost five percent of the entire American fighting force.
The same way the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment has been a mark of pride for African-Americans, the 65th Infantry Regiment is for Hispanics. The unit fought in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
In Korea alone, the "Borinqueneers" of the 65th were awarded 10 Distinguished Service Crosses, over 250 Silver Stars, and more than 600 Bronze Stars.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur may have summed up Hispanics' service best when referring to the Soldiers of the 65th Inf. Regiment.
"The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry on the battlefields of Korea are writing a brilliant record of achievement in battle, and I am proud indeed to have them in this command. I wish that we might have many more like them."
Today in Baghdad, 1st Lt. Torres carries that torch that traveled the fields of Europe to the jungles of East Asia to the urban sprawl of Baghdad.
| Date Taken: | 10.01.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.01.2007 09:45 |
| Story ID: | 12633 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 139 |
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