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Hispanic Heritage
Every family has a wall of heroes. Ours is just a little bigger than most.
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month and our nation's recognition of the contributions of Hispanics, Community Bank takes this time to celebrate the contributions of Hispanics to our nation's military.
This year we feature portraits of some lesser known figures in our banking center displays. Here's who they are:
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[far right in poster] Private First Class Harold Gonsalves (1926-1945) was a United States Marine who sacrificed his life to save fellow Marines in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. For his heroism on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the highest military honor of the United States — the Medal of Honor.
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[middle in poster] Captain Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano (August 5, 1913-May 15, 1980), was a submarine commander in the United States Navy and the first Hispanic submarine commanding officer. He was awarded two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, and a Bronze Star for his actions against the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II.
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[bottom left in poster] Lieutenant General Pedro Augusto del Valle (August 28, 1893 – April 28, 1978) was a United States Marine Corps officer who became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of Lieutenant General. His military career included service in World War I, Haiti and Nicaragua during the so-called Banana Wars of the 1920s, and in the seizure of Guadalcanal and later as Commanding General of the U.S. 1st Marine Division during World War ll. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for outstanding leadership as Commanding General of the First Marine Division, during the attack and occupation of Okinawa from 1 April to 21 July 1945.
