In June 1957, he was featured on the TV show ”This is Your Life.” Two Japanese friends also appeared. In 1960, ”Hell to Eternity” was released, starring Jeffrey Hunter, who clearly was not Hispanic and at 6 feet tall looked nothing like 5-foot, 4-inch Gabaldon. ”That part of him is completely obliterated … people who are familiar with this issue are really appalled by that,” said Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, a University of Texas journalism professor who interviewed Gabaldon and hundreds of other men and women of the World War II generation. However, the film started a push for the Medal of Honor and Schwabe officially recommended him for the honor. In December 1960, the Pentagon upgraded Gabaldon’s Silver Star to a Navy Cross, but the Medal of Honor never came.
The New York Times
Film Details Hispanic Marine’s Acts in WWII
(May 3)
