We hear and see these words every day. The words and their intent are embedded into proposed state laws like Arizona’s SB 1070. Luckily, the federal courts that have enjoined such laws now have another federal employee to point to in their efforts to squelch such emotions and obvious bigotry.

   His name is Staff Sergeant Juan J. Rodriguez-Chavez, United States Marine Corps; he was born in Acuna, Mexico, he graduated from high school in Ft. Stockton, Texas.  He was awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest military award in the USA for his actions on 8 September, 2009 in far away Afghanistan.

   Here is the actual citation of the award:

   Navy Cross — Awarded for actions during the “Global War on Terror”
   The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Staff Sergeant Juan J. Rodriguez-Chavez, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy as a member of Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Assigned to the security element while other members of his team led two platoons of Afghan National Security Forces into Ganjgal Village for a pre-dawn meeting with village elders. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez-Chavez heard over the radio that the dismounted patrol was ambushed by roughly fifty enemy fighters in fortified positions. With four members of his team in immediate danger of being surrounded, he drove a gun-truck, with one other Marine as his gunner, forward into the kill zone of a well prepared ambush. With only the machine gun fires of his gunner to suppress the enemy, he ignored heavy enemy fires and drove the vehicle into the kill zone three times to cover the withdrawal of the combined force and evacuate two dozen members of the Afghan National Security Forces. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, he made a fourth trip into the deepest point of the kill zone in another gun-truck with three other U.S. personnel to recover the bodies of the fallen team members. He positioned his vehicle to shield the U.S. members from the intense enemy fire as they dismounted to recover their bodies. By his decisive actions, bold initiative, and selfless dedication to duty, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez-Chavez reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

   Action Date: September 8, 2009, Service: Marine Corps, Rank: Staff Sergeant”

   The unnamed gunner, Sgt. Dakota Meyer, was awarded the Medal of Honor last week. But he is not an immigrant; he’s a good ole boy hero from Kentucky. He’s another story.

   Our attention is on Staff Sergeant Rodriguez-Chavez, a Mexican citizen serving in the United States Marine Corps.

   What kind of man drives into a Valley of Death – FIVE TIMES – with one other Marine machine gunner to help and save 36 Marines and Afghan soldiers? What kind of man leaves the minimal protection of a so-called armored vehicle to load four bodies (three Marines and one Navy Corpsman) into his vehicle to bring them home?

   Certainly not all Mexicans are like Staff Sergeant Rodriguez-Chavez, not even all Marines are like him. He does have company, however. He joins Sergeant Rafael Peralta who was killed in the Battle of Fallujah in 2004, who was awarded a Navy Cross posthumously.

   From the Marine Corps Times:

   On Nov. 15, 2004, (Sgt) Peralta and his rifle squad barged into a house during the second battle of Fallujah and found themselves facing a hail of bullets… Peralta, 25, was shot in the head during the initial exchange of gunfire, but he had the presence of mind to grab a grenade tossed near him on the floor and absorb the blast with his body, shielding squad members who were only feet away, Marine officials said.

   Peralta was born in Mexico City, grew up in Tijuana and secured a student visa to attend high school in San Diego. After graduating, he was issued a “Green Card” and joined the Marines on the same day.

   The reality is two Mexican immigrants come to the United States of America as youngsters, graduate from high school and join the United States Marines. One dies, one lives. Both saved lives of fellow Marines. Both are credits to the Marines and to Mexicans.

   Both make liars of immigration critics and Mexican-haters.

   Semper Fi — my brothers.

   Or as we say in our birth language, mis hermanos.

Contreras’ books are available at amazon.com (Kindle is un-necessary)