These are the faces of a dying generation. They served during World War II.

They have last names like Hernandez, Galindo and Salazar.  

“World War II opened up some opportunities that were never enjoyed by them before,” University of Texas journalism associate professor Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez said.

For eight years Dr. Rivas-Rodriguez has studied Latinos of the World War II generation and put their stories in a soon to be released book, called “A Legacy Greater Than Words.”

But this teacher and historian became an advocate when she felt these stories were ignored.

“For 500 years these people have had their story hidden and not told, and so what, one more time it’s going to be hidden and not told?” Dr. Rivas-Rodriguez asked.

She  found herself at odds with one of America’s most acclaimed documentary filmmakers: Ken Burns.

She had a problem with his soon-to-be-released documentary -- “The War” on PBS.  It is more than 14 hours of stories about fear, fate and faith from World War II, stories about what Burns calls ordinary Americans.

Yet at first there was not one story about Latinos.

“How could you not include them, in anything that purports to be about an American experience, how could you not include Latinos?”

People like 85-year-old Houston native Leon Eguia. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.

“It made me more of a man, more independent,” he said.

When the war ended he became one of the first Latinos on the Houston Fire Department.

Ramon Galindo also fought in Europe. When he returned to Austin he opened a tailor shop, making suits for then Congressman Lyndon Johnson.

But it’s more than just these stories that Dr. Rivas-Rodriguez believes historians and filmmakers like Burns overlook.

She said World War II ignited the Latino civil rights movement.

Returning veterans, proud of their sacrifice and patriotism, attacked a familiar enemy at home: segregation.

“And so part of what they took upon themselves was to change the society, to change the world, so their children could enjoy some opportunities,” Dr. Rivas-Rodriguez said.

“This is public broadcasting, there is a reason it is public broadcasting, it’s supposed to be held to a higher standard,”

So after a series of meetings with the professor and Latino veterans groups, Burns turned the camera on again, adding 28 minutes to his documentary. This time he interviewed two Latinos and a Native American.

He said, “There’s been a kind of a hot political battle, and we tried to rise above it, and take the high road and respond as best we could. We listened.”

Dr. Rivas-Rodriguez has not seen the updated documentary. When asked if she would watch it, she said, “I will out of respect not just to the Latino Americans and Native Americans, but out of respect for the World War II generation.”

A generation that is quickly disappearing. But by speaking out, Dr. Rivas-Rodriguez helped to ensure that in the upcoming documentary more Americans will learn about stories she has worked so hard to preserve and promote.