Mabry Mixer with Dave Gutierrez, author of Patriots from the Barrio

Texas Military Forces Museum Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Author Dave Gutierrez

September 28, 2023 – San Jose, CA- The Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the 80^th Anniversary of the Italian Campaign in WWII with their first Mabry Mixer of 2023 featuring author Dave Gutierrez

Gutierrez’s book “Patriots from the Barrio” tells the true story of Company E in the 141^st Infantry, an original Texas National Guard unit composed entirely of Mexican Americans from the barrios of Texas.  The book was named one of the twenty-four best history books of all time by Book Riot.  Hollywood Actor/Producer Wilmer Valderrama’s production company has obtained the exclusive film rights to the book and is working to produce a TV series based on the true story.

Company E in the 141^st Regiment of the 36^th Division was deployed to North Africa in early 1943.  In September of 1943 they spearheaded the Allied landing at Salerno Italy.  Company E would go on to fight up the Italian peninsula towards Rome at Mount Rotondo, San Pietro, and the disastrous Rapido River Crossing.  In January of 1944 the 36^th Division would lose over two thousand men during their attempts to establish positions across the Rapido River.

Gutierrez’s relative Ramon Gutierrez who served in Company E from Del Rio Texas and was assigned to the all Mexican American unit, would also become one of only a few Americans to be decorated for valor on the battlefield by the Soviet Union during WWII.  The author states, “They were part of one of the most unique and historical US. Army units and I wanted to make sure that their sacrifice and honor to their country was not forgotten”.

There are several books and films on other historic units such as the Tuskegee Airman, the all African American pilots and the 442^nd Infantry made up entirely of Japanese Americans.  However, Hispanic contributions to WWII has been missing in mainstream media.  The book takes the readers from the barrios of Texas into some of the most horrific battles during the Italian Campaign of WWII.  Using genealogy research as a foundation, the author connected with over sixty different families of the men that served with his relative in WWII to tell their true story.

Several of the family members of the men who served in Company E will attend the event at Camp Mabry including Austin resident Ricardo Palacios III, his father Ricardo Jr from El Paso served in the historic Company E.  Maria Betancourt Chapa will also be attending the event.  Mrs. Chapa was only three years old when her father Trinidad Betancourt of Mission Texas was killed in action at the Rapido River in January of 1944. On connecting with the family members of the men of Company E, the author states, “Together we get to continue a bond that was forged over 80 years ago by some very heroic men from Texas.”