AMERICAN GI FORUM  
United States of America - Department of California
 
Education is our Freedom and Freedom Should be Everybody's Business  
The American GI Forum, a veterans family organization since 1948
 
PVT. FELIX LONGORIA
 

Private Felix Longoria 
US Army 38702692 
 Felix Longoria was drafted into the US Army on November 11, 1944. At the age of 25, he left Texas, leaving behind his wife and four year old daughter. Seven months later, he was killed in action  while on a voluntary patrol in the Cagayan Valley, Luzon, Philippines. Private Longoria exemplified the typical Hispanic in the military service to his country.  Hispanics are dedicated to duty, always on the front lines, , volunteering for combat duty, and determined to uphold our heritage of pride and respect for a country  that rarely appreciates us at home.
Private Longoria's remains were not returned stateside until 1949.  It was the preparation for his military funeral that caused him to become a national symbol of racial discrimination.  This act of racial discrimination propelled the American GI Forum's civil rights agenda into the minds of elected officials and the eyes of the public throughout the country.  In his home of Three Rivers, Texas, the only funeral home refused to allow Private Longoria's body to lay in state.  The use of the chapel for a wake was denied because "the whites would not like it."
Dr. Hector Garcia was serving as president of the newly formed American GI Forum (march 1948) when he was called by Private Longoria's widow for help.  Dr. Garcia was given permission by the Longoria family to intercede for them to assure a proper burial.  He sent out 17 telegrams to elected and government officials.  The telegram stated "the denial was a direct contradiction of those same principles for which this American soldier made the supreme sacrifice in giving his life for his country, and for the same people who deny him the last funeral rites deserving of any American hero regardless of his origin."  This statement was aired internationally by radio broadcasters: Drew Pearson, Westbrook Pogler, and Walter Winchell who also stated "the state of Texas, which looms so large on the map, looks so small tonight...."
On January 11, 1949, Dr. Garcia held a meeting with over 1,000 people in attendance to discuss the possible course of actions in remedying  this act of discrimination.  During the meeting a telegram was received from the junior U.S. Senator from Texas, Lyndon Baines Johnson:

 I deeply regret to learn that the prejudice of some individuals extends even beyond this life. I have no authority over civilian funeral homes. Nor does the federal government.  However, I have today made arrangements to have Felix Longoria buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery here in Washington where , the honored dead of our nation's war rest.... This injustice and prejudice is deplorable.  I am happy to have a part  seeing that this Texas hero is laid to rest  with the honor and dignity his service deserves.
U.S. Senator Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, Congressman John Lyle, and President Truman's military aide, Gen. Harry H. Vaughan  joined the Longoria family for a full military burial with honors at Arlington National Cemetery on February 16, 1949, to pay tribute to a Hispanic Hero.

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