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Rudy Martinez, the first Mexican American killed in World War II, was from a town with a rich military history: San Diego. But his story is not well-known here.
His family and community leaders in Barrio Logan, where he grew up, are trying to change that.
Martinez’s sacrifice at Pearl Harbor was highlighted Monday during a Memorial Day ceremony at Chicano Park. His niece and other descendants, several generations of San Diegans, were in attendance.
“He can’t be forgotten,” said the niece, Esther Jauregui. “Pearl Harbor can’t be forgotten.”
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Remembrance was the central theme at Memorial Day events from Oceanside to Chula Vista Monday, some held in person and others conducted online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were commemorations at cemeteries, in parks, and at veterans’ halls.