The purpose of this research guide is to provide a brief overview of archival and historical resources available at the University Library relating to veterans of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Primary sources include oral history interviews, photographs, manuscripts, and more. The guide also links to secondary sources and published works.
A poster exhibit to highlight the achievements of Valley Veterans will be on display at the University Library (Brownsville and Edinburg) during National Veterans and Military Families Month, November 1–30, 2022. More details coming soon.
The collection, part of the UTB/TSC University Archives - Institutional Advancement Division, contains audio/visual recordings, including videos of past Veterans Day Ceremonies.
A poster exhibit created for National Veterans and Military Families Month to highlight the achievements of Valley Veterans. Featuring: Americo Paredes, Carlton Chilton Jr., Hector P. Garcia, Jose Mendoza Lopez, Wilma "Dolly" Vinsant Shea, William George Harrell, Kika de la Garza, Felipe A. Champion, Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez, Cayetano E. Barrera, James "Nikki" Rowe, Rosemary Mariner, and library books and oral histories pertaining to Rio Grande Valley Veterans.
Congressman Eligio (Kika) de la Garza, II (1927-2017) enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17, serving during WWII. He later enrolled at the U.S. Army Artillery School and served in the Korean War as a Second Lieutenant with the 37thField Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. After the war, Kika resumed his education at Edinburg Junior College and later earned his law degree.de la Garza was elected to the Texas House of Representatives (1952) and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1964). In 1976 de la Garza became one of the founding members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Throughout his service in Congress, de la Garza advocated on behalf of South Texans, especially for active service military, veterans and their families.
While not a veteran, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa was a longtime businessman and native of the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. He was elected to represent Texas’ 15th Congressional District in November 1996 and served on two House Committees: Education and the Workforce; and Financial Services. He was also Co-Chair of the Democratic Caucus Education Task Force.
Congressman Hinojosa has distinguished himself as an advocate for education, Social Security, health care, agriculture, economic development and infrastructure projects as well as veterans’ issues. Hinojosa was also instrumental in expanding local access to quality health care for South Texas veterans. For the first time, inpatient services (including surgery) are available at approved hospitals in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, eliminating 80% of the need to travel to San Antonio. Hinojosa also worked with Veterans Administration to establish primary care community-based outpatient clinics in the cities of Alice, Beeville, Kingsville and Uvalde. Hinojosa also worked with state legislators to secure a U.S. / State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in South Texas.
The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.
The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000. The authorizing legislation (Public Law 106-380), sponsored by Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, received unanimous support and was signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton on October 27, 2000.
AARP is the founding corporate sponsor of the Veterans History Project. In addition to providing initial major funding for the Project, AARP also spread the word to its legion of volunteers and almost 37 million members, encouraging them to get involved. Numerous state chapters have also been involved in the Project.
The Veterans History Project is made possible by the generous support of the United States Congress. Learn more: https://www.loc.gov/vets/
The research guides compiled by UTRGV staff and students are intended to assist patrons who are embarking upon new research endeavors. Our goal is to expand their knowledge of the types of resources available on a given topic, including books, archival materials, and websites. In so doing, our compilers have taken care to include collections, digital items, and resources that may be accessed not only through UTRGV but also via other institutions, repositories, and websites.
We wholeheartedly respect the research interests of others. Therefore, please contact us if you wish to submit a resource for consideration, or if you have a question about or an issue with a specific cited resource.
Heroes of Our Time by
Heroes of Our Time contains all 239 Medal of Honor citations such as this excerpt: ...His rifle ammunition expended, he seized two grenades and, in an act of unsurpassed heroism, charged toward the entrenched enemy weapon. Hit again in the leg, this time with a tracer round which set fire to his clothing, Sgt. Robinson ripped the burning clothing from his body and staggered indomitably through the enemy fire, now solely concentrated on him, to within grenade range of the enemy position. Sustaining two additional chest wounds, he marshalled his fleeting physical strength and hurled the two grenades, thus destroying the enemy position, as he fell dead upon the battlefield... Along with the citations are newspaper accounts of various battles. Heroes of Our Time is a look at the courage of American soldiers in Vietnam.
Part of the team : story of an American hero by
"Based on the life of Sergeant Alfredo (Freddy) Gonzalez, United States Marine Corps, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (posthumously)."
The center assists students in certifying education benefits, advocating for services, developing projects to unite the university with our local community, providing counseling services specifically for veterans, and promoting student involvement through the Student Veterans of America National Organization.
Explore the links below:
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