In the beginning!
Pictured here with my father at the young age of 1. My hair was lighter, my coveralls a little small. But would I be ready for what lay ahead of me. Growing up would be difficult, you see, my Mother barley spoke English, as she was born in Cuba. A beautiful women, and my Father a Scotts man, who love the Navy. Now along I come a Cuban Scottish mix. Look out world!
Ok now I am a little older, my parents have quit teaching me Spanish when I
was 3. My
Mother felt as an American my sister and I would speak only English.
Don't you love plaid!
Time has flown by now, I have moved and now live in Oregon with my Uncle on my Dad's side
of the family. My hair has gotten dark, I still have a smile on my face. The
year is 1965. My first year in High School. In geography class I am learning about a country on the other side of
the world. I am to busy with football, and sports too really care about some
country on the other side of the world.
Tio gets a girlfriend!
1968 is the year. You see my hair has now gotten light again, and I have put aside, that I am half Spanish, but I know I am all boy. Bucking hay all day and working on dump trucks in the sun has really gave me a tan. It seems to come easy for me to darken in the sun. Soon I decide to discover the world, so I left Oregon and went to Florida.
I live in
Florida now, I have lied about my age and got a great job driving truck
during the day, I deliver milk to the stores. What I don't understand that
even though I am 17 and not really 19, that when you fill out a job application,
you fill in your draft status. So I did, I put down 4W, which I thought meant
married with children. I was not a draft dodger, I just needed to be 18 to get
the job. I have been working for a year now, and I have boughten my first new
car, I have the
world by the tail. I am about to turn 18 in a month but guess what happens to
those that fib about their age.
Notice that my hair is a lot shorter. I have a locker, I get three square meals
a day. I also learn some new words like KP and "Yes Drill Sergeant"
you got it, I am drafted, come to find out there is no such
thing as a draft status of 4w. 
That's me on the left. The rifle range at FT. Benning Georgia. I don't remember telling them that I wanted to jump out of Air Planes, but that's what the Army thought I would be good at. Well I wanted to see the world, and I was getting fed, I have a bed to sleep on. I was making a whole $135. dollars a month. What happen to all my dreams of collage, the blondes. Something went wrong. Shortly after this picture was taken, I was going to get to travel alright. A place I remember hearing something about in geography class. I wish I had paid attention.
Where the hell is Viet Nam on the map! I got a bad feeling about this, as I don't
even know where I am. I know to keep my head down on patrol, always watch where you
step, and be dam glad your Cuban, because my Latin brothers would cover my back.
You see Spanish people look out for each other. I'm not saying Anglo's don't',
but when you are of Spanish decent, it's like your part of a big family. Any Nam
Vet will tell you, that a Vet looks out for a Vet. But if you are Spanish, it's
the difference between being a distant cousin ( just another Vet ) and being a (
Tio ) Uncle or brother. I learned to be proud to be Spanish. I had family here. You know I was
only 18 going on 19, and quickly going on thirty. I use to think, I should
have stayed in Oregon with the blonde. I think the Army made a mistake, I
was just a kid playing Adult. I would leave my youth and innocence here, and
learn that life can leave you in a heart beat. You learn what it means when you
say I trust you.
Yes this was going to be a long year and a half. Care packages from friends consisted of goodies like canned tuna, or shrimp which beat the hell out C rations.
There
are times when a good friend comes a long, King was his name. We found King
while on patrol. King was named after my Drill Sergeant at Ft. Benning. He
was a tuff little dog. King seem to listen to me tell stories of home, a place that he would
never see. King
lost his life in the line of duty, during a fire fight. He had stood on guard,
watching over me. Guardian Angles come in all different forms. King was a hero.
He had given his life for mine.
King use to go with us on patrols. The darn dog love canned ham and eggs, and deserved better, but it was all I had to offer.