Company E of the 141st Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, was the only World War II U.S. Army infantry unit that enlisted Mexican American soldiers. It began in 1941 when Mexican American National Guardsmen from El Paso, Texas, were joined by Mexican Americans from other parts of Texas. Many of El Paso's sons served in the fight against tyranny and oppression, notably in the Battle for Monte Cassino in Italy on January 22, 1944. During the treacherous crossing of the Rapido River, many soldiers from Company E were killed, wounded, or captured. Their sacrifice and bravery endure in lasting remembrance and gratitude.