Richard E. Cavazos
Richard E. Cavazos | |
|---|---|
General Richard E. Cavazos | |
| Born | 31 January 1929 Kingsville, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | 29 October 2017 (aged 88) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1951–1984 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United 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 / wars | Korean War Vietnam War Operation Urgent Fury |
| Awards | Medal 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 mater | Texas Tech University (BS) |
| Other work | Texas 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. 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. 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. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the renaming on 6 October 2022. The re-designation as Fort Cavazos occurred on 9 May 2023. Cavazos' Korean War Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor and posthumously awarded to him on 3 January 2025.