Page 53 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine

trouble. Joe’s family spoke German at home, so he told After many more adventures, Joe came back to the U.S. and
the men in the tank, ”Herauf! Hände hoch!” which means, was discharged. He settled down in Longview,Texas, got a
“Come out, hands high!”. They got out with their hands up, job in an oil field, got married and had children. I am proud
and Joe took all their weapons. He loaded his prisoners of to call Franz Joseph Spaeth my great-grandfather!
war in the truck along with the other German soldiers he
captured.

Freddy Rios A Blessing and A Hero
Vietnam War ~ Army
by Jaime Duran-Mendoza | Grade 11

Veterans are important to all Americans because they Mr. Freddy and his unit risked their lives and health in
risk their lives to serve our nation. An example of a great the jungles of Vietnam. Freddy had shrapnel near his
veteran is Alfred Freddy Rios. I met Mr. Freddy when I knee cap and a sliver
was 12 years old. He came to our house to visit my family. of bullet near his heart.
Alfred Freddy Rios is a Vietnam veteran who served He still suffers today
from 1967 until 1968. He was awarded the Distinguished from the Agent Orange
Service Cross. This medal is the second highest military he was exposed to
award that can be given to someone in the army. Mr. in the 1960s. Freddy
Freddy also has 35 other medals, including one he will could have been
never forget. It is an award he received, not for killing discharged because
people, but for saving them. of his injuries, but he
wanted to return to
Freddy and his crew were in the jungle in Vietnam. One Vietnam. He became
of the Vietnamese soldiers threw a grenade towards them. a hero to his fellow
The grenade did not go off immediately. Mr. Freddy soldiers and to his
jumped on top of the grenade, rolled over and threw it country. We are proud
back before it went off. He saved his crew from getting of him and grateful for
killed that day. him.

Gary Martin
Vietnam ~ Special Forces The Great Uncle Who Could
Trent Cathey | Grade 7

My great uncle Gary is a hero. He was born in Amarillo, Gary believed that Vietnam vets should have received a
Texas and now resides in Lubbock. He joined the military hero’s welcome upon their return to the United States.
in April 1966 and was stationed in Thailand. He was a He quickly overcame
Special Forces Green Beret. His division was the First his mental troubles
Special Forces 46th Special Forces Airborne, and they (PTSD) after the war and
conducted classified missions. Gary’s job was to jump out cofounded PointMan, an
of planes, do a top-secret mission, get out alive, and not be organization that helps
seen. veterans.
A lot of veterans are injured in the service or even I am so proud of my great
killed, but not my great-uncle! He told me that his worst uncle Gary, a man who
injury in the service was minor scratches. After he was fought for our country and
discharged in September 1970, he was very upset about for the people of Vietnam.
all the people who believed that Vietnam veterans were He really is a hero.
wrong for fighting in that era of the Cold War. Great uncle

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