The Journey Continues: Memorial Day & Ernesto Perez

My journey this week takes me to Memorial Day; a time for us to remember the greatest sacrifices that others have made for our nation.

In the case of the late Herbert Sanchez, he described the death in Vietnam of his 19-year-old nephew, Marine Pfc Ernesto Perez, on Dec. 15, 1967, as “the worst day of my life.”

Sanchez was a good friend of mine and we enjoyed discussing local history and touring Lockhart, revisiting places where he grew up.

Employed in management at Gary Job Corps Center, and the owner of Sanchez Construction Company, he was community minded. He served as the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #3458 and was chairman of the membership committee of the San Marcos Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. His widow, Eva, was the longtime manager of Springtown Villa (San Marcos Public Housing Authority) and my wife, Judy, worked for her. Sanchez’s sister, Rosa, and husband, Paul Perez, moved their family, including Ernesto Perez, to Rake, Iowa from Lockhart in 1952.

Sanchez gave me a copy of the newspaper article from Iowa that gave these following details: Entering the service in April 1967, Ernesto Perez had been in Vietnam about two months at the time of his death. The paper quoted the entire citation for Pfc Perez in their article:

“For gallantry in action he was awarded the Silver Star, the third highest award given by the United States Marine Corps. The Presidential Citation accompanying the Silver Star stated the medal was earned by the youthful Marine for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a rifleman with Company B, First Battalion, First Marine Division during operations against the enemy. On Dec. 15, 1967, while deployed in a company-sized ambush northwest of Con Thien, Private Perez’s platoon killed several North Vietnamese soldiers and was advancing to search for weapons and documents when it suddenly came under intense mortar, automatic weapons and small arms fire from a well-entrenched, numerically superior enemy force. During action, Private Perez exposed himself to intense enemy fire as he moved across open ground to aid wounded Marines. Firing his weapon to protect the causalities, he rendered medical aid to one Marine and courageously assisted him to a covered position. Returning to aid another wounded man, Perez continued to fire his weapon to draw enemy fire away from the wounded Marines and succeeded in killing several North Vietnamese soldiers before he was mortally wounded by a heavy volume of enemy fire. His steadfast determination and deep concern for his fellow Marines inspired all who observed him and undoubtedly were instrumental in saving at least one Marine’s life. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Private Perez upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”

“Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13

The NIV Life Application Bible comments, “we are to love each other as Jesus loved us, and he loved us enough to give his life for us. We may not have to die for someone, but there are other ways to practice sacrificial love – listening, helping, encouraging, giving.”

Many brave men from San Marcos lie beneath military tombstones; and often there is a little puddle of tears by the marker. Freedom is not Free.