ALVA Applauds the Recommendation to Rename Texas Base After Gen. Richard E. Cavazos

Herndon, VA – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) applauds the recommendation of The Naming Commission to rename Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos, after U.S. Army General Richard E. Cavazos. In their recommendation they stated, “A native Texan, Cavazos grew up on the King Ranch and attended Texas Tech. As a young lieutenant in Korea, he led his company on three separate charges of an enemy position. Then he returned to the field five times to evacuate his wounded soldiers before allowing medics to treat his wounds. For that action Cavazos received the Distinguished Service Cross. As a battalion commander in Vietnam, he received a second DSC for rallying his soldiers during an ambush and then organizing a counterattack. Later, he commanded III Corps, the world’s premier armor force, at the very installation that we recommend should bear his name. Cavazos finished his career as a four-star general.” The company he led in Korea was Echo Company of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the “Borinqueneers”, which was made up of mostly Puerto Rican soldiers and was one of the most highly decorated combat units of the Korean Conflict.

In his full bio on the Commission’s website, it further states, “Throughout his career, Cavazos continued to combine personal valor with commitment to his troops and dedication to his missions.” Adding, “In 1982, he became the first Hispanic-American in the U.S. Army to pin on four stars. His final assignment as head of the U.S. Army Forces Command fittingly summarized his career of service by placing him at the head of sustaining, training and deploying all the Army’s deployable forces.” Being the first Hispanic to hold this rank, he paved the way for other great leaders and inspired those in our community to service our country. According to the Defense Manpower Data Center, Latinos make up 17.6% of the active duty force, numbering 235,972 as of July 2021. There are nearly 1.5 million Latino veterans in the U.S. today and by 2046, Latinos will be 16% of the total veteran population.

“Latinos have served valiantly in every war we have ever had and have made oversized contributions to our national defense,” stated Danny Vargas, Chairman/CEO of ALVA. “General Cavazos epitomizes the kind of patriotism and courage that millions of Latinos have provided while wearing the cloth of our nation over the centuries, and it is altogether fitting and appropriate that this important base be named after such a distinguished leader.”

“General Cavazos was a Soldier’s Soldier. He truly represents the absolute best of the US Army, Texas and the USA!” Lawrence Guzman Romo, The Naming Commission.

“Our family is proud to see such an important military base named in honor of General Richard E. Cavazos,” said Ramiro A. Cavazos, President and CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “His leadership, patriotism, service, integrity, and personal commitment all merit this honor. Furthermore, our community has made significant contributions to defending our country, democracy, and resolve, General Cavazos is an example for future generations who will serve America. We applaud the Naming Commission for bestowing this honor in Texas and acknowledging the contributions of Hispanic Americans have made in armed forces as General Cavazos did.”

About The Naming Commission:

The Naming Commission is charged with providing recommendations to Congress for the removal or renaming of DoD assets that commemorate the Confederate States of America or those who voluntarily served with the Confederacy. They will deliver a written report to the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee by Oct. 1, 2022 that includes a list of identified assets, the costs to remove or rename them, and the criteria and methods developed to identify those assets. Officially created as the “Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense that Commemorate the Confederate States of America or Any Person Who Served Voluntarily with the Confederate States of America” as per the William “Mac” Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 2021, it is more commonly referred to as the “Naming Commission”. To learn more about The Naming Commission, visit: https://www.thenamingcommission.gov/

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA): 

The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels https://www.facebook.com/alvavets
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