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Sgt. Joseph H. DeCastro

Sergeant Joseph H. DeCastro of the 19th Massachusetts won the Medal of Honor for capturing the 14th Virginia Infantry's colors in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg on 3 July 1863. He is often described as the first Hispanic to win the Medal of Honor. However, Captain John G. B. Adams of his regiment, in a post-war account, described DeCastro as a "little French boy" who lived in Boston before joining the regiment. So is he of French or Hispanic ancestry (or possibly both)?

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