Who is Jose from Johnny Got His Gun and what is their importance?

Jose is a Puerto Rican (or perhaps Mexican) living at the Midnight Mission, Jose is tall, brown-eyed, good-looking, and hard working. No one believes his stories about coming to get into the movies or having been a New York chauffeur with whom the rich daughter falls in love. In the end, both turn out to be true. Jose deals with the love interest gallantly, but feels obligated to Jody Simmons, the boss who has taken him in when he is down on his luck.