Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to new episodes of wartime stories early and ad-free right now.

Join Wondry Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

I'm no expert on Hispanic heritage or the many cultures spread across Central and South America,

but patriotism seems to be a cultural trend.

Statistics tell me that somewhere around 19% of the U.S. is comprised of Latinos,

and that about 19% of our active military force is also Latino. Some guys really do identify strongly

with their heritage and culture, but the military has its own culture, and that's usually why

we all get along with each other. Guys in the military really don't care about where anybody comes

from. Just do your job. But considering I never really

gave it much thought, I will say that I am increasingly fascinated by Latin American history and

folklore. One of my friends Caesar moved here from Venezuela. He also lived in Panama for a few years.

I asked him recently about this, and he said that everywhere you go, people will tell you

their Chupacobar stories.

The way he said it, it seems like it's as common as talking about the weather.

Then there's El Cucho, a sort of shape-shifting version of the boogeyman, an entity whose stories seem

to be used by Latino parents to scare their children into behaving. There's also this one well-known

legend that sends chills down the spines of those who grew up hearing it, and especially those

who say they have experienced it.

For some, it's in the same category as El Cucho, just a folktale used to make sure kids make it home before dark.

But according to people, like these two veterans, this legend is meant to be taken as a very serious warning.

If you hear a woman crying, stay away from the water.

These are just a couple of true stories of American servicemen who have encountered an entity known as La Yerona.

...