Time Line: 1940's
Back to Menu1940
Hector P. Garcia graduates from University of Texas at Galveston with a Doctorate in Medicine and begins his residency at St. Joseph's Hospital at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
1941
World War II begins.
Death of Dr. Hector's mother, Faustina Perez Garcia.
1942
On completing his surgical internship Dr. Garcia immediately volunteered for combat in the U.S. Army. He was placed in command of a company of infantry and then combat engineers. Seven months later, he is transferred to the medical corps. From 1942-1945, 1st Lt., Captain, and finally Major Garcia participated in the European Theater of operations. He earns the Bronze Star medal with 6 Battle Stars.
Texas is blacklisted by Mexico for discrimination and ill treatment of bracero laborers.
1943
World War II sailors attack "Zoot Suiters" in Los Angeles, CA.
1945
Dr. Hector P. Garcia marries Wanda Fusillo of Naples, Italy.
Harry Truman becomes president.
A Japanese sniper in the Philippines kills Private Felix Longoria.
1946
Garcia daughter Daisy Wanda is born.
Dr. Hector Garcia and Wanda return to South Texas and settle in Corpus Christi. Garcia joins his older brother Jose Antonio in private medical practice.
President Truman appoints a civil rights committee to investigate civil rights in the U.S. A 15-member committee represents industry, labor, higher education, law, various religious denominations and blacks. No Mexican-Americans were included.
1947
Dr. Hector P. Garcia becomes involved the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and is elected President of his local council.
Dr. Garcia is hospitalized with acute nephritis, a life threatening kidney disease. While he is recuperating he hears a local Superintendent of schools bragging about the segregation of Mexican-American students on the radio. The doctor took a private oath to himself that if he fully recovered his health, he would spend the rest of his life working on behalf of his people.
Dr. Garcia begins to assist Mexican-American veterans who are unable to get their claims processed by the Veterans Administration.
1948
Dr. Hector P. Garcia begins an investigation in Mathis, Texas of poor conditions in Mexican only schools and migrant labor housing.
March 26 - Dr. Garcia calls a meeting at Lamar Elementary School in Corpus Christi, Texas to address the concerns of Mexican-American veterans. The American GI Forum is born. Dr. Garcia is elected Chairman, then travels across Texas to set up local GI Forum Chapters.
July 25 - Son Hector Jr. is born.
December- American GI Forum chapters are established in 40 Texas communities.
1949
The body of Felix Longoria is returned home. His widow is refused the use of a local funeral chapel in Three Rivers, Texas for a wake. Dr. Hector P. Garcia intervenes. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson arranges for the soldier's burial at Arlington National Cemetery. As a result of the Longoria affair, the GI Forum expands to New Mexico and Colorado.