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| VETERANS' STORIES: How Mexican soldiers liberated Buchenwald |
President Ahmadinejad of
Iran would like the world to
believe that the World War II
Holocaust never happened.
MIGUEL ANGEL PEREZ, Sr.
and the Mexican citizens
serving in the United States
Army's "Red Ball Express"
that liberated Buchenwald
concentration camp know
better.
This is a photo taken by Perez
and handed down to his
family of what Mexican troops
in the American Army found
when their supply column
out-ran the front lines and
found themselves face to
face with tyranny at its worst.
Iran would like the world to
believe that the World War II
Holocaust never happened.
MIGUEL ANGEL PEREZ, Sr.
and the Mexican citizens
serving in the United States
Army's "Red Ball Express"
that liberated Buchenwald
concentration camp know
better.
This is a photo taken by Perez
and handed down to his
family of what Mexican troops
in the American Army found
when their supply column
out-ran the front lines and
found themselves face to
face with tyranny at its worst.
Miguel Angel Perez, Sr. was born 2/10/15 in
Mexico City and brought up in Durango by his
parents, Mariano and Lomeli Perez. His father
was a barber. The family moved to El Paso. At
the age of 11, Miguel jumped a train for Los
Angeles and lived in Boyle Heights.
Mexico City and brought up in Durango by his
parents, Mariano and Lomeli Perez. His father
was a barber. The family moved to El Paso. At
the age of 11, Miguel jumped a train for Los
Angeles and lived in Boyle Heights.
Miguel returned to El Paso and
persuaded his family to come to
LA. He worked odd jobs, became
proficient at poker and pool, living
in downtown hotels while earning
his keep.
persuaded his family to come to
LA. He worked odd jobs, became
proficient at poker and pool, living
in downtown hotels while earning
his keep.
When World War II broke out, in spite of the
fact that he was a Mexican citizen, Miguel
and his brothers were outraged at the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. They
immediately attempted to enlist in the armed
forces, but they were turned down because
they weren't U.S. Citizens!
fact that he was a Mexican citizen, Miguel
and his brothers were outraged at the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. They
immediately attempted to enlist in the armed
forces, but they were turned down because
they weren't U.S. Citizens!
After refusing to accept Miguel in the armed
forces, the U.S. did an about face, having the
FBI round up Mexican nationals, including
Miguel, putting them on trains to their city of
entry to the U.S. for deportation, and then
giving them the option of enlisting with
eventual citizenship after the war!!!
forces, the U.S. did an about face, having the
FBI round up Mexican nationals, including
Miguel, putting them on trains to their city of
entry to the U.S. for deportation, and then
giving them the option of enlisting with
eventual citizenship after the war!!!
Miguel and his comrades fought bravely in the Red Ball Express,
running supplies to the front lines, braving artillery and strafing
by the Luftwaffe. During the Battle of the Bulge, the 101st
Airborne wasn't the only unit encircled at Bastogne: so was
Miguel's unit of the Red Ball Express.
running supplies to the front lines, braving artillery and strafing
by the Luftwaffe. During the Battle of the Bulge, the 101st
Airborne wasn't the only unit encircled at Bastogne: so was
Miguel's unit of the Red Ball Express.
Before D-Day, Miguel & his friends
experienced racism while stationed in
Great Britain. They were in Normandie
on D-Day + 2 delivering supplies. On
August 25, 1944, Miguel's unit helped to
liberate Paris from the Germans.
experienced racism while stationed in
Great Britain. They were in Normandie
on D-Day + 2 delivering supplies. On
August 25, 1944, Miguel's unit helped to
liberate Paris from the Germans.
When Miguel's supply unit arrived
at Buchenwald concentration
camp, they saw thousands of
tortured and starved inmates.
They saw Nazis throwing away their
guns and running for cover.
Incensed at the atrocities they
were seeing, they ploughed
through the gates in their supply
trucks (every 3rd having a 50 cal.
Browning Anti-Aircraft Machine
Gun) mowing down the Nazis and
cursing in Spanish as they did so.
Shocked camp survivors saw
these strange soldiers speaking a
language that they understood and
thought they were Angels sent by
God to liberate them from their
oppressors: they were Sephardic
Jews who spoke Ladino and
Spanish "Gitano" Gypsies.
at Buchenwald concentration
camp, they saw thousands of
tortured and starved inmates.
They saw Nazis throwing away their
guns and running for cover.
Incensed at the atrocities they
were seeing, they ploughed
through the gates in their supply
trucks (every 3rd having a 50 cal.
Browning Anti-Aircraft Machine
Gun) mowing down the Nazis and
cursing in Spanish as they did so.
Shocked camp survivors saw
these strange soldiers speaking a
language that they understood and
thought they were Angels sent by
God to liberate them from their
oppressors: they were Sephardic
Jews who spoke Ladino and
Spanish "Gitano" Gypsies.
After liberating the camp, the Spanish speaking survivors were
able to talk to the Mexican U.S. troops who'd freed them, and
identify Nazi camp guards who'd donned inmate uniforms as
disguises to evade capture. Captured out of uniform, they were
swiftly dispatched by the outraged soldiers.
able to talk to the Mexican U.S. troops who'd freed them, and
identify Nazi camp guards who'd donned inmate uniforms as
disguises to evade capture. Captured out of uniform, they were
swiftly dispatched by the outraged soldiers.
| MORE TO COME SOON We will be submitting a Freedom of Information Act request to document Miguel's unit's heroic history and a privacy act request on behalf of his family to get his personal military history. We will be posting the results and further stories about Miguel and other Mexican veterans like him. |