I graduated from Belen High School in 1979 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where I spent 4/12 years serving my country.
I always had a love for the military and a sense of patriotism fostered by my parents. The Marine Corps had a great impact on the man I am today.
When my service was over, I returned to Belen and graduated from the University of New Mexico, where I met my wife, Sonya (Corrao). As with most students leaving college, I had no real plan for the future, where I would go and what I would do. Part of me wanted to go back into the Marine Corps as a commissioned officer.
While trying to figure my options out, my father asked me to join him at Tommy’s Bar. Dad was sitting with former teachers and coaches, Ron Hodges, Lloyd Sais, Dick Carbajal and Benny Hodges. They ganged up on me, convinced me to give teaching and coaching a chance. Thirty-one years later, I retired from Belen Consolidated Schools.
During my time here I had the opportunity to coach, football, wrestling (12 years), baseball and softball. When they could not find a soccer coach I volunteered, even though I knew nothing about this sport. When they wanted to drop cross country from sports, Tim Cashman and I kept the program going. Tim coached while I drove the bus.
I served in the Marine Corps Reserves, Marine Recon Battalion when we were activated for Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait.
A combat medic with the National Guard, I was deployed to Afghanistan serving from the Hindu Kush Mountains to the red desert on the Pakistan border.
My second deployment to Afghanistan was with the Army’s 101 Airborne Division and the 25th Infantry Division in Helmand Province along with the Marine Corps and the British Armed Forces. I served with many brave men, but I want to pay my special respects to my comrade and friend, SPC Parnell Hererra, who gave his life in service.
After retiring from the Army and Belen Consolidated Schools, I remained active in my community, serving on Valencia County Fair Board, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce as a board member of the “World’s Greatest Matanza.”
I gained a Master of Arts degree from UNM. I am a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and Combat Veteran’s Motorcycle Association.
Belen is still a small town with small-town traditions and values. We are a community where patriotism is not a word, but a way of life.
(Editor’s Note: Each month the Belen Veteran’s Memorial committee will select one veteran from Valencia County to be honored.)
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April 25, 2024
