Richard E. Cavazos | |
|---|---|
 General Richard E. Cavazos | |
| Born | January 31, 1929 Kingsville, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 2017 (aged 88) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1951–1984 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United States Army Forces Command (1982–84) III Corps (1980–82) 9th Infantry Division (1977–80) 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (1976) 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment (1967) |
| Battles / wars | Korean War Vietnam War Operation Urgent Fury |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (5) Purple Heart |
| Alma mater | Texas Tech University (BS) |
| Other work | Texas Tech University Board of Regents |
Richard Edward Cavazos (January 31, 1929 – October 29, 2017) was a United States Army 4-star general. He was a Korean War recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross as a first lieutenant and advanced in rank to become the United States Army's first Hispanic four-star general.[1] During the Vietnam War, as a lieutenant colonel, Cavazos was awarded a second Distinguished Service Cross. In 1976, Cavazos became the first Mexican-American to reach the rank of brigadier general in the United States Army.[2] Cavazos served for 33 years, with his final command as head of the United States Army Forces Command. On May 25, 2022, The Naming Commission recommended that Fort Hood be renamed to Fort Cavazos, in recognition of Gen. Cavazos' military service.[3] Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the renaming on October 6, 2022.[4] The re-designation as Fort Cavazos occurred on May 9, 2023.[5]
- ^ Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Archived November 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Hispanic Heritage Biographies.
- ^ "Name Recommendations by The Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense that Commemorate the Confederate States of America or Any Person Who Served Voluntarily with the Confederate States of America". May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ Romero, Dennis (October 7, 2022). "Fort Hood to be renamed for Richard Cavazos, a 4-star Hispanic general". NBC News. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ Sanchez, Ray (May 9, 2023). "Texas' long troubled Fort Hood is renamed after first Hispanic four-star general". CNN. Retrieved May 9, 2023.