“I still find it hard to believe that 500,000 Hispanics served as
part of the 16 million who served in uniform despite being only
1.5% of the general population.”
I can’t really speak to the actual demographics.
But while living in Los Angeles during the past decade or so,
I maybe read The Los Angeles Times (for opposition research!)
two or three times a week, at the most.
BUT, more than a few times there were obituaries of Hispanic/Latinos
and Japanese-Americans...and some pretty FREAKIN’ UNBELIEVABLE
accounts of their service in WWII.
As I said, I don’t know about the strict demographics of the service
of these sectors of American society.
But I can say that in the north-central area of Oklahoma my father grew
up in, military service was virtually “de rigeur” for the Indians
(oops, “Native Americans”) that he grew up with, mostly Tonkawas
and Poncas.
Why? You don't think they wanted to serve their country, too? I'm sure that many of those men were also looking to better themselves, and they thought that being part of the military would help them do that, just like many other young men from less than wealthy circumstances all across the country.