(Photo taken by my father Pasqual V. Ledesma)
In 1982 I was a Senior is High School at W.B. Ray in Corpus Christi Texas. I was a member if the American GI Forum Youth Club. I was voted president of the Youth Club by other members after my boyfriend resigned his position. That year we had Bar B Q,s and Car Washes and campaign balls. I was able to attain over $500.00 in donations for the American GI Forum. The money was used for Scholarships.
I was seventeen years old and my boyfriend was 23years old. I was head over heels in love with him. We would attend the meetings at the medical office on Bright Street. He would pick me up on his motorcycle and we would head to the medical office for formal meetings. Many of the Youth members were teenagers. Their parents served, most of which were US Veterans were members of The American GI Form.Dr. Hector Garcia was the Founder of the American GI Forum on March 26, 1948. He was also my Grandmother Esperanza Garcia and my Physician. Dr. Hector Garcia was always very professional and very friendly. When it came to treating his patients he was a serious man. He also had a pharmacy right next door that allow many people to purchase medicine at a cheaper rate. He was wonderful to the elderly in this regard.
Not only was he a Physician but he was also a surgeon, a World War II Vet, and a Civil Rights Advocate. In 1968 he was appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. A documentary was produced entitled "Justice for my People: The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Story". It was broadcast nationally on PBS.
Dr. Hector Garcia came from humble beginnings. He was one of ten siblings. His father Jose Garcia dreamed and helped his children pursue a career in Medicine. He encouraged his children by teaching them mathematics, literature, history and the heritage of Aztec Indians. Out of the 10 children; five successfully became physicians in their own right. Their names are Jose Antonio Garcia, Clotilde Perez Garcia, Cuitlahuac Perez Garcia, Xioctencatl Perez Garcia, Dalia Garcia-Mailson. His father paid for Dr. Garcia
s education by cashing in on a life insurance policy in 1932. From the: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_P._Garcia
When he was a young man he joined the Citizens Military Training Corps in 1929. This was a peacetime branch of the United States Army. He attended a segregated high school and graduated in 1932. That same year he earned a commission from the CMTC with a rank equivalent to second lieutenant in the U.S. infantry. He hitchhiked thirty miles to attend college at Edinburge Junior College.
He was recognized for the appointment of Mexican American and American GI Forum charter member Vicente T. Ximes to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1966.
In 1967 he was named alternate ambassador to the United Nations. He had approximately 700 Mexican - American veterans in the American GI Forum. In 1984 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor. He was also named to the order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II in 1990.
His devotion to civil- rights and securing equal rights for Hispanic Americans was instrumental in helping Hispanics all over Texas. Thats just the beginning of his many accomplishments. He also helped to earn benefits through the G.I. Bill of Rights of 1944; when The Veterans Administration failed. He also secured many other issues such as hospital care, Mexican-American representation on draft boards and most all for the intervention and widespread protest for the funeral of Private Felix Longoria. In 1949 the director of Rice Funeral Home in Three Rivers Texas refused the use of his chapel for the funeral of Private Felix Longoria.
Through the intervention of Lyndon B. Johnson; Private Felix Longoria was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery. In 1957 the form ended a ten year struggle with the federal court that school segregation of Mexican-American children in Texas schools was unjustified. During that decade the forum helped thousands of Mexican Americans in the Rio Grand Valley register to vote, and incidents of police brutality were confronted. From: http://www.thedmcfoghorn.com/remembering-the-legacy-dr-hector-p-garcia-1.474820
In 1983 President Ronald Reagan awarded Dr.Garcia an award for distinguished accomplishments. Here is small quote from the Book In Pursuit of a Dream by Henry A. J. Ramos Youth Leader. books.google.com/books?isbn=155885262X.
"As a young man growing up in South Texas during the 1950's I vividly rememer the conditions that gave rise tot he formation of the American GI Forum. For Mexican Americans in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley (the birthplace of the forum and numberous leading national Hispanic Organizations, Life was hard.
Opportunties for Hispanices to acquire meaninful employment and schooling were limited by law and local custom. Housing and health condtions were dangerously substandard, and Local Anglo service establishments, from restuarant and hotels to hospitals and barbar shops, were frequently off - limits to Lantios. Much like blacks in the South, Hispanic American in Texas and much of the nation were denied equial treatment under the law as a matter of course.
After world ward II Hispanic servicemen and woman found these conditions intolerable. They organzized and fought for change. The American GI Forum becam their Primary Vehicle of advnace Work. Younger Hispanics saw the possibiity of equality. Gave them pride in hispanic history and the contributions to American society and culture "
Dr. Hector Garcia also saved my life in 1983. I was only 17 years old and my life was falling apart. I was no longer a member of the American GI Forum Youth Club. Nor was I attending $500.00 a plate balls for the next elected offical. I saw the potential that we as American Hispanics can fulfill. We can live our dreams with leadership and honor.
That year was a rough year for me. My 23 year old boyfriend and I broke up. I lost three close friends. One died in a vehicle accident in New Mexico. They say, he was alive up until the van rolled on top of him. Another friend of mine died saving the lives of her friends after a car accident. People said that she kept saying to everyone, "It's alright. Everything is going to be alright." She had no idea that she was bleeding internally. She died that same night. Then another passed away while swimming in the Nueces River near Mathis Texas. His friends said that he dove in and never resurfaced. His body was found a few days later. He was taken by the under tow and was stuck under the branches beneath the river. He was a very good person and had a wonderful heart. The rest of his family passed away in a car accident a couple of years ago. His mother was a personal friend of my sister.
As you can probably imagine I was slowly falling into a state of depression. I was worried about my two best friends who recently tried to commit suicide by taking pills. What hurt me the most about my two friends is that they were my friends and we always spoke to one another. I didn't understand why they didn't reach out to me for help.
That same year my parents marriage was in trouble and I was worried about their future. I hated that I was not skinny and was a normal size girl. I began binging and purging every day. I would jog for miles then go home exercise and drink a pitcher full of water. Then I would take laxatives and water pills. I tried to change my hair color just to be more attractive. Then I would sleep till evening. When I awoke in the middle of the night. I just cried for most of the night. I began to drink MD2020, Malt Ducks and I smoked pot. I started skipping classes.
Needless to say these things didn't help. In 1983 I was a secretary at Benai' Isreal Synagogue and was responsible for helping to light the lights on the tree of life/Remembrance in the Synagogue. As matter a fact after awhile I felt myself dying. I remember calling my mother from my office near the Synagogue and telling her exactly that. Of course she was alarmed. She was at the Synagogue within minutes.
Dr. Garcia saw me immediately. I remember that he took one look at me, then lightly pinched my skin up. I watched my skin slowly return to its placed on my hand. He told me that I was completely dehydrated. That same day the hospitalized me. I was a patient for six weeks. It took eight IV fluids to return me to health. I was having trouble eating. I vomited everything I ate. I went from a size seven to a size five. I remember that my father brought me a huge Teddy Bear. He alway gave me stuffed animals.
Dr. Garcia told me that I damaged my kidneys and that if I had gone one more day in that state; I would not have survived. So you see. He was more the an American Hispanic Leader. He was my angel and my Hero.
He allowed me to study for my classes in the hospital. I graduated with a B average. And was able to walk up the stadium to receive my diploma. You see he saved me in more ways then you know. He helped me realize that I was not stupid. He also gave me a scholarship for college.
I will forever be thankful to him for everything he did for me. And for his leadership. He taught me to be a leader. Dr. Hector Garcia passed away on July 26, 1966 surrounded by his family and friends. Two days later, President Bill Clinton issued a statement that read, " Dr. Garcia was a real American hero. We should honor him best by committing ourselves to the work of his life." From the http://www.thedmcfoghorn.com/remembering-the-legacy-dr-hector-p-garcia-1.474820
Died October 26, 2009
He loved his wife, children, taking photos, dancing, fishing, hunting and family outings.
I love you forever and ever AMEN
(photo of me and my first son Sebastian)
Written by Donna C. Ledesma
Copyright 2010
All rights reserved
(To the far left my youngest son Nicholas, In the middle is my oldest son Sebastian, on the far right is my middle son Zachary)
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_P._Garcia
In Pursuit of a Dream by Henry A. J. Ramos Youth Leader- books.google.com/books?isbn=155885262X.
