Posted on 12/01/2009 5:50:01 PM PST by SandRat
Staff Sgt. Heriberto Gonzalez, a force protection escort for the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, holds the American flag his father and grandfather both carried during wartime. Photo courtesy of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.
JOINT BASE BALAD — Staff Sgt. Heriberto Gonzalez, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, possesses an American flag that was carried by both his father and grandfather during wartime.
"Gonzo," as he is referred to by his flight line coworkers, is on his eighth deployment since joining the Air Force. An avionics craftsman by trade, he volunteered to deploy to Iraq to provide security for local and third-country nationals working on this base.
His grandfather, Beningo Santiago-Arroyo, was born March 12, 1921, and enlisted in the Army during WW II, June 10, 1944. He served as a cement finisher and building inspector assigned to the 1557th Engineer Combat Company.
At the end of his wartime service, Santiago-Arroyo's superiors presented him with an American flag as a gesture of thanks for a job well done.
Gonzalez's grandfather passed the flag down to his own son right before he was drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam. Gonzo's father carried the flag with him during his entire two-year combat tour.
Gonzo's deployment here offered him the opportunity to have the 65-year-old flag flown over the skies of Iraq.
For Gonzalez, the decision to fly the flag during a combat sortie here was his way of honoring the military heritage within his family.
"Eighty percent of the men in my family have been in the military -- mostly Army and Navy, but I'm only the second one to enlist in the Air Force," he said. "It just seemed like the best choice for me."
Gonzalez has deployed several times -- once to Saudi Arabia, four times to Turkey, twice to Qatar, and now to Iraq. When asked about his heritage and why he chose this deployment over all others, Gonzo recalls all of his military family. He felt this was the right time to have this family heirloom honored -- on the jet he works on and loves, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Gonzo says he isn't sure if he will have children, or if they will even join the military, but if so, he hopes to continue the family tradition in future generations.
Thank you for your service. Be Safe!
My father was given the Anglican War Cross at Ft. McLellan in 1944 to wear on his dogtags. I wore it when the Army drafted me in 1969, and my son, a Marine soon to deploy to Afghanistan, wears it on his dogtags. Last Friday, he and I and his brother and sister all got tattoos of a likeness of the cross-it was my first, and last. I would never have gotten one but for the fact that this connects me to my father, my children, my faith and my country. Their mother, who is my wife of 30+ years, even understands.
“
Gonzalez has deployed several times — once to Saudi Arabia,
four times to Turkey, twice to Qatar, and now to Iraq.
...
Gonzalez has deployed several times — once to Saudi Arabia,
four times to Turkey, twice to Qatar, and now to Iraq.
“
Sounds like the phrase can also be “Join The Air Force,
See The World”.
“
Gonzo says he isn’t sure if he will have children, or if they will
even join the military, but if so, he hopes to continue the family tradition
in future generations.
“
(OK, I’m gonna’ be a little facetious here...)
OK, it is a free country and Staff. Sgt. Gonzalez has really paid his dues...
but some officer should order Gonzo soon (or after retirement )
to get home, find the right one, and have some kids.
Otherwise, the ghost of General Patton will be VERY disappointed.
(RE: Patton’s hope that heroes would survive, go home and make kids;
sure it’s bellicose, but has some sense if folks even half-way
believe in that genetics thang. And want a strong country that can
defend itself!)
He needs to be transferred to Randolph or Lackland, where I'm sure some tamale caliente would snap him right up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.