Some American Heroes up front, others obscure

The theme of the Fourth of July celebration at Crescent Bar - Our American Heroes - brings to mind a series by the History Channel back in the 1990s about heroes of Spanish surname who have fought for America.

It surprised me, and I'm sure it will surprise many to learn that people of Spanish blood have fought in all American wars, including the revolution. Hispanics have stood up for America time and again.

When you get a chance to go online, look up the name Roy Benavides. He is a Texan who saved numerous American soldiers in Vietnam in one man's fight that should have left him dead.

Benavides was hit by gunfire and grenade fragments several times during his moment of unquestioned heroism and lived to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (CMOH). Online there is a clip of Senator John McCain of Arizona telling his story.

There have been Hispanic CMOH winners all of the way back to the Civil War (Joseph deCastro, Phillip Bazar, John Ortega), the Boxer Rebellion (France Silva) and WWI (David Barkeley). There were 13 Hispanic CMOH winners in WWII, eight in Korea and 16 in Vietnam.

One of the very first American heroes of Spanish surname is somewhat known. He was the Spanish merchant ship Captain Jorge (George) Farragut, who fought with the Americans in the revolution and the War of 1812.

Jorge's son David, who was born and raised in Tennessee but sided with the North during the Civil War, was better known as the first American rear admiral. The rank was created for him by the U.S. government after his Navy captured New Orleans.

It was at the battle of Mobile Bay (Alabama) that David shouted the now-famous "Damn the torpedoes ... full speed ahead" command after another ship's captain slowed for rebel torpedoes.

David won that battle and control of the Gulf of Mexico for the U.S. Before the war ended, he was elevated to vice admiral and admiral.

While the name Farragut is known to many Americans, the name Bernardo de Galvez may not be.

De Galvez was born into the aristocracy in the mountains of Malaga, Spain in 1746. He chose a military career and was serving as a lieutenant at the age of 16 in a war with Portugal.

In 1762, De Galvez was sent to New Spain (now Mexico and parts of the U.S.). He came to battle an Apache tribe that wouldn't be conquered.

De Galvez was wounded several times but survived. He was fully prepared for war by the time of the American Revolution, which Spain supported.

De Galvez assisted the Americans even before Spain declared support. He communicated with Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and Charles Henry Lee leading up to and during the war. He helped raise funding for the Battle of Yorktown.

In 1779 De Galvez was commissioned by King Carlos III of Spain to organize an army for battle along the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River. He led 1,400 Spaniards, Mexicans, American Indians and free blacks to the capture of Baton Rouge, Natchez and Manchac. He sealed off New Orleans so the British could not use the Mississippi.

De Galvez's army grew as it went. By the end of his campaign he had more that 7,000 men, adding Cubans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Venezuelans and Costa Ricans.

Along the way, De Galvez captured Ft. Charlotte at Mobile, Pensacola, New Providence and the Bahamas. He was about to take Jamaica when the war ended.

In Mexico, De Galvez is remembered for the rebuilding of the Castle of Chapultepec and finishing construction of the Cathedral of Mexico, the largest in the Americas.

In Texas he is remembered for a survey of the Gulf Coast, and it's largest bay was named Bahia de Galvezton. Today it is known as Galveston.

There are many more heroes of every ethnic background who have stood up for America and for what America means - freedom of the individual.

The greatest of these was George Washington. Against all odds, his army won the war. He guided the founding fathers to the Constitution that still stands and served two terms as president.

As Washington neared the end of his second term, he was begged by friend and foe to run for a third term. Many feared the new nation was too fragile for his departure. Some even said he should be king.

Washington turned them all away, saying that was not why he had fought. He stepped aside and allowed the country to live out the dream that a man can rule himself.

Since that time, men like Benavides have fought to preserve the ideal upon which Jorge Farragut and Bernardo de Galvez stood.