 When the United States entered World War II Herrera was drafted into the Texas National Guard, 36th Division.Expecting yet another child, Herrera felt it would be important for his parents to be there for him while he was gone and so went to break the news.That is when the man Herrera had believed to be his father gave him the stunning news of his Mexican birth, and said, "Son, you don't have to go, they can't draft you...you aren't an American citizen."