By Brandon Fried
Ramiro Ramos has spent much of his life just trying to get by.
Raised near the Texas-Mexico border, in the town of Salineno, Ramos was one of seven children born to Rita and Esteban Ramos in the early 1920s. He was born on Sept. 12, 1924.
“There were more than enough of us to play with,” said Ramos.
By Pierre Bertrand
It seems as if Army infantryman Julian Medina, who was drafted in 1943, was on the frontlines of every major World War II European campaign, from the Normandy Invasion to the Battle of the Bulge.
“I was in every fight. I was in every battle,” said Medina, who was part of the Army’s 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division in 1943.
His European service began in Scotland, where he was among thousands of American soldiers being trained for amphibious assaults.
By Matthew Trana
When Tony Reyna arrived at Normandy Beach on June 9, 1944, three days after the D-Day launch, he couldn't believe his eyes.
"It was real rough," Reyna said. "...People cut in half. Some had no head, some had no legs. It was real bad."
By Andy Valdez
The Gil family story is one of overcoming the Great Depression and discrimination, as well as one of service, as three of the four Gil brothers would answer their country's call to arms.
Paul, Narciso and Otis would bear arms and defend their country, leaving their home, parents, younger brother Pete and three sisters: Ruth, Julia and Sally.