Oscar Troncoso is a proud military veteran from Texas who says his decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy stems from a desire to serve his country as part of the tradition of those who served before him.
That tradition of military service explains in part why he decided to participate in the Veterans History Project, which aims to showcase and spotlight those who have served in the U.S. military.
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Veterans History Project is honoring the legacy of Hispanic soldiers.
“As a first generation Mexican-American, I felt compelled to serve in our country’s military,” Troncoso said. “A part of me inside had something to prove. I wanted to prove my appreciation and my worth and my commitment to the U.S.”
Travis Bickford, a spokesman for the project, said the group has been collecting and archiving first-hand stories from American Latino veterans since 2000.
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 21% of veterans in the state of Texas identify as Hispanic.
“Every veteran’s story is important,” Bickford said. “But when you have a demographic such as the Latin American or Hispanic community, whose story hasn’t been told as often … It’s vital to have those stories, for those students who want to enlist, especially those from Hispanic backgrounds, to find oral histories in the Veterans History Project that reflect their own culture and experiences.”
Oscar Troncoso
Troncoso’s inspiration to join the military was rooted in his curiosity of adventures in the military follow by his desire to continue his education.
“I looked at it as an opportunity to get discipline, obtain benefits, and do something productive” Troncosco said. “I remember as a kid reading a quote in a magazine from former President John F. Kennedy, ‘I can imagine a no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think I can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: I served in the U.S. Navy.’”
Troncoso said he was deployed as part of the Navy Reserves to Afghanistan, serving from September 2011 to June 2012.
“I went out there as a Mass Communications Chief Petty Officer (in public affairs) and my job was to tell the Navy story.” he said. “It made me really appreciate what was important about life; a lot of the little things.”
He spoke about how his family reacted and the influence that his heritage had during his time in the military.
“I remember my mother said something like, ‘Que estas loco?!’ which literally translates as, ‘Are you crazy?’” he said. “I was the youngest of four, two brothers and a sister. All had gone to college and that was expected of me, too. Once I retired, after 25 years of service, of course they were very proud of me. As recent immigrants, they were extremely proud that one of their sons had served in their new country’s military.”
Troncoso advises all those younger generations who want to join the military that it will push their limits and help them grow personally and professionally.
“One of the things that makes our country so great is its diversity,” he said. “As Hispanics, our service demonstrates our deep commitment to the U.S. while at the same time reflecting how diversity makes our country strong.”
He added how his service was influenced by his humanity and how he was able to connect not only with Hispanics.
“It was such an enriching experience for me to serve not only with fellow Americans from all over our nation but with others from Germany, Bosnia, Albania, Netherlands, Spain, Chile, El Salvador and more,” Troncoso said. “But you also find out that everyone from all countries is just like you – a father, son, brother, husband, etc. who wants to serve their country and get back home to their family.”
Bickford advocated for the importance of representation calling for comprehensive outreach to include their stories in the annals of military history.
“It’s really important to me that our story is told by veterans, not by other outlets,” he said.
