Richard E. Cavazos

Richard E. Cavazos
General Richard E. Cavazos
Born(1929-01-31)31 January 1929
Kingsville, Texas, U.S.
Died29 October 2017(2017-10-29) (aged 88)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Buried
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1951–1984
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited 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 / warsKorean War
Vietnam War
Operation Urgent Fury
AwardsMedal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
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 materTexas Tech University (BS)
Other workTexas Tech University Board of Regents

Richard Edward Cavazos (31 January 1929 – 29 October 2017) was a United States Army four-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 25 May 2022, The Naming Commission recommended that Fort Hood be renamed to Fort Cavazos, in recognition of Cavazos' military service.[3] Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the renaming on 6 October 2022.[4] The re-designation as Fort Cavazos occurred on 9 May 2023.[5] Cavazos' Korean War Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor and posthumously awarded to him on 3 January 2025.

  1. ^ Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Archived November 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ Hispanic Heritage Biographies.
  3. ^ "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". 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  4. ^ Romero, Dennis (7 October 2022). "Fort Hood to be renamed for Richard Cavazos, a 4-star Hispanic general". NBC News. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. ^ Sanchez, Ray (9 May 2023). "Texas' long troubled Fort Hood is renamed after first Hispanic four-star general". CNN. Retrieved 9 May 2023.

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