WHERE IS THE AMERICAN GI FORUM? Legacy of Dr. Hector P.

Garcia Lost in Politics In 2007, much controversy within the Hispanic Veteran community over Ken Burn documentary, The War failure to recognize Hispanic contributions to the World War II was undertaken by the AGIF. However, many AGIF members soon found out that the leadership under AGIF National Commander Antonio Morales made a behind the doors agreement with Ken Burns and Florentine Films. One of Burns contributors was Anshuer Busch; which Anheuser-Busch than turns out to be one of the sponsors for the 2007 AGIF National Convention in Oklahoma. Several members of the AGIF requested a copy of the agreement between Morales and Burns but were told to read it on the AGIF web-site. The web-site provided little or no information. Morales never provided any documentation related to the agreement, however; several AGIF members joined and or formed a Defend the Honor Coalition to challenge Burns neglect to honor our Hispanic Veterans. In San Antonio a three hundred plus march in front of PBS affiliate/KLRN led to a meeting with the Board of KLRN. The meeting was crucial and significant as it played a role in editing, The War and adding two or three Hispanic Veterans being featured in the documentary. This effort in Texas also led to the production of Hernandez v. Texas and the Longoria Affair. AGIF members noting the political involvement by Morales then requested financial records related to the Burns deal and other disclosures related to Morales tenure as AGIF National Commander. Morales refused and a lawsuit was filed and later (2009) was non-suited because a newly elected Executive Board initiated their own investigation into several issues involving Morales contracts with other individuals. In August 2008, an email from Rt. Lt. Col. Felix Vargas disclosed Morales may have been involved in potential lobbying with Boeing to kill the air tanker contract that had being award to Northrup Grumman. In exchange, Boeing was to give the AGIF funds to support an office in Washington DC; and Boeing in fact did sponsor the 2008 AGIF of Texas Inc., state convention. Vargas email mentions a contract between Morales and the American Petroleum Institute (API). The irony here is that in late 2007 Morales issued a Press Release, under the AGIF guise, supporting (Republican) legislation on behalf of major oil companies. Further, present and re-elected AGIF National Commander Alberto Gonzales (Colorado) in 2007 disclosed that an oil company had paid his trip, Morales and others to Washington DC. In Vargas email he referred to Gil Rodriguez, AGIF of Texas Inc. Secretary/Treasurer as being the contract person who set up a meeting with Boeing which later it was found that lobbyist, Richard Stone, for (API). Additionally, in 2011 at the AGIF National Convention held in New Mexico, the AGIF of Texas introduced a Resolution supporting the XL-Pipeline which has nothing to do with Veterans. The iron here is that API is supporting the XL-Pipeline and the API apparently sponsored this years-2012-AGIF National Convention in Omaha NE.

A contract between IMPACT TEXAS, lobbing firm owned by Stone existed and entered into between Stone, Morales and a Colorado AGIF Chapter at which time Alberto Gonzales was the Colorado State Commander. Stone in emails exchanged with 2009-2010 AGIF National Commander Francisco Ivarra admits that he did not do any work on behalf of the AGIF on Veterans issues; but reporting records show Stone worked on behalf of the AGIF on oil related issues. Early 2008, Morales entered into an agreement with Manuel Mirabal, a known lobbyist now working for Toni Burgos and Associates in New York. The contract was never approved by the AGIF National Board of Directors. The contract, not more than four sentences long, gave Mirabal full authority to use the AGIF Vet-Hire program 501 (c) (3) status as a pass through agent for Mirabals Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP). Mirabal wrote a grant proposal requesting and received $100,000 from AT&T. The following was taken from a website on Mirabal and the HTTP: House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) has said he plans to introduce a bill to set a hard transition date of Dec. 31, 2006. But broadcasters and rural and minority groups are concerned that transitioning too quickly could leave many households with no television signal at all. They formed the Coalition for a Smart Digital TV Transition last fall to underscore concerns that a quick transition could turn millions of analog television sets into expensive paperweights overnight. For the most part, the public is completely unaware that this is going to happen, so the thought of doing it sooner rather than later is of great concern, said Manuel Maribal, cochairman of the Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership. Fixing December 2006 as a date is a mistake because it would leave a lot of people out in the cold. Hispanics are more likely than the average viewer to rely on analog broadcast signals, Maribal said. Ironically, Mirabals business partners represented several technology companies that would benefit from the potential lobbying Mirabal was engaged in. This is more than a possibility; as an accounting of the $100,000 showed that it was spent on enormous amount of travel, staying at expensive hotels; dining at some expensive restaurants; and potential contributions to both Republican and Democratic National Conventions and/or Committees. Neither Mirabal nor Morales could account for the $100,000. Needless to say, Morales has his political followers; including an AGIF female members who is a convicted felon which the AGIF National Constitution provides is bases for expulsion, which are in denial. But more specifically, Morales followers include Gil Rodriguez of the AGIF of Texas Inc.; and others throughout the United States, but the association with the AGIF of Texas Inc. and present AGIF National Commander Alberto Gonzales is significant.

Gil Rodriguez has been a Defendant in three lawsuits filed by AGIF members in Texas. The lawsuits alleged denial of due process and denial of membership to Veterans. In 2009 court room testimony, Rodriguez claimed that if the AGIF allowed AGIF Chapters to be named or use the phrase of civil rights that corporation would not give the AGIF funds. This ideal was supported by then AGIF National Secretary Alberto Gonzales informing Jose Garcia that his Chapter could attend the 2009 AGIF National Convention but could not use the phrase civil rights to name his chapter. Paul Herrera, than State Commander for the AGIF of Texas Inc., was also named as a Defendant in these lawsuits. In 2010, the newly elected AGIF National Executive Board took actions and held hearings against Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez; however, a TRO/Lawsuit by the AGIF of Texas Inc. was filed against the AGIF of the U.S. to stop the hearing proceedings against Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez. The AGIF National Board of Directors held a hearing on Paul Herrera and voted to expel him permanently. A hearing on the TRO was held in April 2010 in Hays County Texas. The judge in the case denied the AGIF of Texas Inc., request for a TRO and allowed the AGIF National Executive Board to continue with the hearings. Morales and Rodriguez on advice of their legal counsel did not participate in the hearings; the AGIF National Board of Directors voted to permanently expelled Morales and Rodriguez. Herrera, Morales and Rodriguez appealed the decision at the July 2010 AGIF National Convention held in Las Vegas but, by majority of the vote the ruling to permanently expel Herrera and Rodriguez was upheld. Morales was given a reprieve and provided a ninety (90) day opportunity to present requested information and failed to do so and was permanently expelled. The unfortunate thing was the July 2010 AGIF National Convention all of the Executive Board who took actions against Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez were defeated. They were replaced with present National Commander Alberto Gonzales, Alberto Gonzales wife, and three members of the AGIF of Texas Inc., of which two were existing officers of the AGIF of Texas Inc. No sooner was Gonzales elected that the political cronyism reared its ugly head; Gonzales and Morales allies immediately argued errors had been committed in the expulsions proceedings but never produced any detailed information other than misinterpretation of the AGIF National Constitution to their benefit. Gonzales, without the authority or permission of the AGIF National Board of Directors determined Morales had indeed submitted the requested information and declared Morales as a member in good standing. Gonzales was aware that an accounting firm had determined that the information Morales submitted was incomplete; nevertheless Gonzales allowed Morales, Rodriguez and Herrera to continue representing themselves as AGIF members in good standing. Gonzales and the newly elected Executive Board than overturned a decision by the previous Board to allow the establishment of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia AGIF

Organization of Texas. Most of the members of the Dr. Hector organization were individuals who had exposed the conduct of Morales, Rodriguez and Herrera. Members and Chapters of the Dr. Hector Organization had submitted a Petition to the 2009-2010 detailing the egregious conduct of the AGIF of Texas Inc., State Board of Directors with supportive AGIF National Constitutional provisions; and requesting the right and permission to establish the Dr. Hector Organization. A lawsuit was filed by the Dr. Hector P. Garcia AGIF Organization of Texas whose members included the daughter of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, Cecilia Akers Garcia; his brother Dr. C.P. Garcia; and his sister, Dr. Delia Garcia. Judge Stryker (Bexar County) ruled that the exhaustion of administrative remedies needed to be processed for the purposes of the court having jurisdiction. More than eight complaints were filed against Gonzales. However, instead of processing the complaints, Gonzales and the Executive Board arbitrarily then denied the Dr. Hector Organizations Chapters and members their membership renewals. Hence, a second TRO/Lawsuit was filed. In the mean-time; several AGIF National Board of Directors had enough of the Gonzales and the Executive Boards conduct and actions and filed their own lawsuit. In an April 16, 2012 settlement-Judgment (Bexar County)-Gonzales agreed that Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez had been permanently expelled as of October 2010 and July 2010 respectfully. However, not more than two months later Gonzales travels to Travis County where a lawsuit was filed by Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez against the AGIF of the U.S. Without notifying the AGIF National Board of Directors, Gonzales, on June 8, 2012 enters into a Final Judgment agreement with Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez reinstating them as members in good standing. In an email dated June 8, 2012, Gonzales informs the AGIF National Board of Directors that his back was up against the wall that he had no choice because Discovery was asking him for documents that he did not have. This was essentially Gonzales excuse to reach a settlement with Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez. This is irony of this agreement: (1) it came less than two months after Gonzales reached a similar agreement acknowledging Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez were permanently expelled; (2) the attorney representing Gonzales and the attorney representing Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez were located within two blocks of each other; (3) the lawsuit filed by Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez was on June 7, 2012; (4) the next morning, June 8, 2012 the attorney representing Gonzales submits the answers to the lawsuit; and (5) by the afternoon of June 8, 2012 Gonzales and Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez reached the settlement agreement. Sounds fishy; thats exactly what a Travis County Judge said when he read pleadings filed by attorney Art Vega in a continuance hearing requested by the attorney representing Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez. The Judge granted the continuance but abated the agreement Gonzales had signed with Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez. A hearing on a Motion for New Trial is set for July 31, 2012.

In a recent unprecedented action, 12 AGIF National Board of Directors voted to Impeach Gonzales, censure the Executive Board. Keep in mind this is organizational politics at its best. On July 18-21 the AGIF had its National Convention in Omaha NE; again Gonzales and the Executive Board were re-elected. Most AGIF members believe that most of its members are provided limited information by Gonzales and his croniesthe others simply drank the Kool-Aid because even when they are provided all the evidence, which by the way in the lawsuit filed by the National Board of Directors against Gonzales and the Executive Board; more than 100 documents were submitted into evidence, hence Gonzales contention that he did not have any documentation is simply a lie. Having said this, there is no doubt that those Kool-Aid drinkers and cronies may have voted to allow the attorney representing Gonzales permission to represent them and Gonzales. The question raised is that Gonzales and individual AGIF National Board of Directors could face legal actions by the other AGIF National Board of Directors. The reason is: this was the only way Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez could have been reinstated-was by a fraudulent action committed by Gonzales, the attorneys and way Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez. Why? Because Morales, Herrera and Rodriguez had missed the 90 days to file a civil action regarding their permanent expulsion; which was almost two years ago. For the record, all of the evidence submitted, in the lawsuit filed by the National Board of Directors against Gonzales and the Executive Board; supports all assertions made in this statement. Heres the kicker-Gonzales and the Executive Board, and officers of the AGIF of Texas Inc., who directly or indirectly are named as Defendants in lawsuits all were allowed to vote on issues related to the lawsuits either filed against them or involved them. If this is not a conflict of interest what is? All had both a political and personal interest in the outcomes of the votes taken on all matters related to the lawsuits. Significantly, when voting to hire legal counsel to represent themselves using AGIF membership funds. It gets better: at the July 2012 AGIF Convention more than five or eight complaints filed against National Commander Gonzales, were denied saying they had no merit. Now, granted one complaint there is a doubt that it may involve a disgruntled member but two or more, does not justify a finding of no merit. In this case, the three individuals making the final ruling on denying the complaints were members of the Executive Board who had direct conflict of interest, and no doubt were protecting Gonzales and his cronies. Before I forget, the lawsuit of Dr. Hector Organization is going to trial in the immediate future. If anyone believed LULAC had politics covered, welcome to the AGIF. It maybe that both LULAC and the AGIF maybe on their way to being dissolved or at best a split between two factions; to this extent both LULAC and the AGIF may have forgotten why they were established. Dr. Hectors legacy in this case has been lost in the politics of the AGIF.

Peter Vallecillo Founder/Director Southwest Institute on Poverty and Civil Rights State Commander/Director Dr. Hector P. Garcia AGIF Organization of Texas Inc. Peter Vallecillo Director/Founder Southwest Institute on Poverty and Civil Rights P.O. Box 17264 San Antonio, Texas 78217 Tele.210-824-4598 Fax.210-824-0384