USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The American GI Forum was created by Dr. Hector P. Garcia because of the discrimination in South Texas towards the Mexican-American with employment, education, and Veteran hospital treatment. Most of the discrimination was towards Hispanics, but the American GI Forum was focused on the Mexican-American veteran.

Detailed explanation-2: -Garcia volunteered for Army duty during WWII. He served as an infantry officer and a combat engineer officer. Though unable to practice medicine for a while in the Army, he finally served as a medical corps officer before being discharged in 1946 as a major.

Detailed explanation-3: -Founding the American GI Forum. Despite their wartime service and sacrifices, Mexican American veterans encountered racism, discrimination, and poverty when they returned to the United States. In response, Dr. Garcia convened a meeting in 1948 for veterans in Corpus Christi.

Detailed explanation-4: -On March 26, 1948, 700 Mexican-American veterans, led by Hector P. Garcia, met in Corpus Christi and organized the American G.I. Forum, a civil-rights organization devoted to securing equal rights for Hispanic Americans.