World War II provided many Mexican Americans with an opportunity to show their commitment to this country. The United States was short of manpower due to recruiting men for the military. This gave hope to many who wanted to escape their harsh lives back home. This war was a struggle for power and the United States needed more support, which led them to ask for help. Latinos made great contributions to the World War II efforts, but they were always those, like Ken Burns, who believed otherwise. World War II marked a turning point in the construction of Mexican-American civil rights consciousness. Our thoughts and beliefs are shaped by what is presented to us as truth, which means we are shaped because of those who believe things happened one way or another. Men and women enlisted in the United States armed forces because of the need for soldiers. Many volunteered to escape poverty; others did it to feel manly or to escape discrimination in their homes. Some saw it as the start of their new life because they would finally show their love for this country. Chicanas contributed in many ways to helping this country achieve victory in this war. Some Mexican American women contributed to military efforts by joining the Women's Army Corps, WAC, and working in noncombat jobs such as nurses. After the men were recruited, a problem of labor shortage arose, which allowed women to make changes. Women who did not participate in the war contributed to the labor shortage by obtaining employment originally intended for men. The contributions of Mexican Americans to World War II have been altered to the point of being considered non-existent due to the altered history we have been taught. Women who did not participate...... middle of paper ......has visibility value and truth value. Latino Studies, 5(2), 153-156. Located in: ProQuestFord, J. (2001). Notable Mexican American Women. NAAAS Conference Proceedings, 159. Located in: ProQuest. No. Internet. February 26, 2014. .Located in: HSP.ORGPomona College Department of Theater & Dance, . No. Internet. February 26, 2014. .Located in: Zoot Suit Discovery GuideRankin, M. (2011). Mexicanas en guerra: The Second World War and the discourse on Mexican female identity. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 32(2), 83-110. Located in: projectMuseMoore, W. (1949). American migration treaties during World War II. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 262(1), 31-38. Located in JSTOR