SPECIALIST FOUR, U. S. ARMY, PECOS, REEVES COUNTY, TEXAS
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Parachute Wings, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal,
Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal
BIOGRAPHY:
Ernest grew up in Pecos, Texas and attended Pecos High School. After high school, he enlisted
in the U.S. Army National Guard in 1963. He went active duty in the Regular Army in early 1967.
He completed jump school and became airborne qualified at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the B
Company, 2nd Battalion, 501st Airborne
Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He re-enlisted in the Army in 1967 and was in his
fourth year of service. He
was married to Gloria and the father of two children, a son, Daniel and a daughter, Elizabeth.
Ernesto went to Vietnam with his unit from Fort Campbell when the 501st Airborne Infantry
mobilized in November and
December of 1967. The unit had a stop-over for training at Wake Island. The unit arrived
in Vietnam in December 1967. Ernesto
was a gunner in the first squad of the third platoon.
Ernesto was killed from multiple fragment wounds during hostile action on March 26, 1968.
He was buried with full military
honors at Santa Rosa Catholic Cemetery in his hometown of Pecos, Texas.
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