richard edward cavazos (january 31, 1929 – october 29, 2017), was a united states army four-star general. he was a korean war recipient of the distinguished service cross as a first lieutenant and advanced in rank to become the united states army's first hispanic four-star general. during the vietnam war, as a lieutenant colonel, cavazos was awarded a second distinguished service cross. in 1976, cavazos became the first mexican american to reach the rank of brigadier general in the u.s. army. cavazos served for thirty-three years, with his final command as head of the u.s. army forces command.