Opinion: Corpus Christi owes much to Greatest Generation

Tom Brokaw called it the Greatest Generation, which became the title of his bestselling book. A worthy read too is Esther Bonilla Read’s new book, “After the Blessing: Mexican American Veterans of WWII Tell Their Own Stories.”

The World War II generation is leaving us quickly. Of the 16 million Americans who served about one percent are still with us.

There were millions more on the home front who sacrificed for the war effort, gladly accepting rationing and taking up collections, for example, in order to support our troops. It was that generation who maturely and responsibly built post-World War II America and took it to greatness. Perhaps no other image captures its greatness than the planting of the American flag on the moon in 1969 – an exemplification of motivation, ingenuity and genius.

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Businessman Oscar Flores, featured in Read’s book, led the Westside Business Association at its inception. Noe Mendez, who at 97 still works on his ranch, survived the Battle of the Bulge in Patton’s Army. He ran his own automotive shop for years and still displays the character of a successful businessman. He too built that business association which remains active.

My generation, children of that greatest generation, remember hearing stories growing up, some happy, some tragic – but all are a reminder of how America came together to defeat tyranny and barbarism. In my old neighborhood on the northside of Corpus Christi I remember a gentleman who had survived the Bataan Death March, but who had unfortunately never re-adjusted.

Many who served kept silent, sparing their families the gruesome details of war. My own father, a Navy veteran, only began to talk -- as he lay dying -- about the horrors he had witnessed in the South Pacific. I had never seen my father cry before.

The City of Corpus Christi, home to the Naval Air Station, was recently notified that it, along with the supporting cities of Kingsville, Beeville and Port Aransas, have received the National Park Service WWII American Heritage City designation. Congratulations to all who pursued this designation and to Mayor Paulette Guajardo for her leadership.

Such was the value of Corpus Christi to the war effort that its role was announced to America in a four-page photo spread in the April 19, 1943, issue of Life magazine.

Herb Canales is a fifth-generation Corpus Christi resident. He served as the city of Corpus Christi's library director for 27 years.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Opinion: Corpus Christi owes much to Greatest Generation