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ADVOCATES URGE GENERATIONS TO LEARN FROM WORLD
WAR II VETERANS WHILE THEY CAN -- "In our
lifetime,
we've seen many wars, and only one of them
should
have been fought. The most foolish thing I can
think
of is people going to war and nothing is
solved."
Horacio Montoya, 89, folds his
hands in prayer as he sits down to brunch. Montoya survived the
Bataan Death March and spent three years as a POW. With the number
of World War II veterans dwindling quickly, he fears that memories
about the war are being lost and recently had a book about his
experiences accepted by a publisher. "Can you imagine all those
that are dying off, what they're taking with them, the
information. It's quite phenomenal," he said. ( Photo by Erin
Fredrichs -- Tribune) |
Story here...
http://www.abqtrib.
com/news/2007/jul/16/advocat
es-urge-generations-learn-
world-war-ii-vete/
Story below:
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Advocates urge generations to learn from World
War II veterans while they can
By Stephanie Garcia Krenrich
As Ambrose Chavez, 86, spent an afternoon reminiscing with his old Army
buddies, he brought out a black and white photo.
"That's me," he said, pointing to a 20-year-old next to 200 other
National Guardsmen. "There's a lot more hair on the old dome."
Two years after that photo was taken, Chavez's company was shipped out
to Sicily to help infantrymen in 1943 during World War II.
He took one more look at the picture. "Most of these guys are dead now,"
he said.
Chavez is one of 21,086 New Mexico vets remaining from World War II,
said Sonja Brown, spokeswoman for the Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center.
He has a couple of old newspaper clippings, cartoons and a Purple Heart
medal as mementos. Pictures, journals, books and different versions of
what really happened will always live on, Chavez said.
But with the "Greatest Generation" dwindling quickly, the truly
priceless artifacts - their memories - will soon be gone, veterans
officials say.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports losing about 1,000 World
War II veterans a day nationwide.
About 16.1 million people served during World War II, according to the
VA. A VA report in November 2006 put the number left alive at 3.2
million.
About twice a year, Chavez and his Army buddies Eulogio Sanchez, 87, and
Alvaro Moraga, 87, meet to remember the past and argue over some of the
facts. Initially, 20 veterans would gather, but throughout the years
they have either died or lost touch with the trio.
John Garcia, state secretary of Veterans Services, said it's important
to remember this generation.
"The world's greatest generation has impacted this country since the end
of World War II," he said. "This country had just came out of the
Depression. These sons and daughters stepped up to the plate and rebuilt
the nation."
Horacio Montoya, 89, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, said his
generation's experiences and knowledge are quite valuable.
"Can you imagine all those that are dying off, what they're taking with
them, the information. It's quite phenomenal," he said.
Montoya, a prisoner of war for 3 years, said the Bataan Death March
should also be remembered as part of World War II.
"Our experiences are not well documented to the population in New Mexico
and the rest of the country. This is what's going to hurt, there's no
one to talk about this," he said.
Montoya spent two years writing a book, "Rising Sun Over Bataan," which
was picked up by a publisher this year.
Some local veterans say World War II was one of the only wars worth
fighting.
"In our lifetime, we've seen many wars, and only one of them should have
been fought," said Marvin Miller, 83, a veteran and POW in the Army
infantry. "The most foolish thing I can think of is people going to war
and nothing is solved."
Patricio Cruz, 80, says troops now don't know what they're fighting for,
especially in the war in Iraq.
"The people who are fighting wars now don't know who their enemies are,"
he said. "When he went to war, we fought the Japanese and their allies
and the Germans and their allies."
Cruz, a veteran from the Navy, said it's important to remember the
values of the generation he and other vets came from.
"The people in World War II had it very rough," he said. "They were
unselfish. They didn't do it for glory; they did it for the defense of
the country. Our generation is the one that stopped the Germans and
Japanese."
Larry Blair, New Mexico commander for the military order of the Purple
Heart, said the biggest loss is the historical value the vets take with
them.
"It would be wonderful if students could get exposed to these guys
before they're gone and learn a history lesson from someone who's made
it," he said. "It's a shame our schools don't take advantage of them
before they leave us."
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Larry Scott --
