THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your friend Guadalupe Gonzalez is touching and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

We were "Duncan Volunteers" at Texas A&M in 1963. A Duncan Volunteer was a glorified name for a waiter. We had several things in common. We would attend Sunday Mass at Saint Anthony's every Sunday. We would take time to drink a cup of coffee and eat a donut after mass. After that, we would return to our dorm. The two bottom floors were for "ground pounders" and the top two were "air crappers". He was an "air crapper" and I was a "ground pounder". We both transferred to Pan Am where we had several classes together. After graduating from college, we went our separate ways. Years later, I was informed that he had been killed. Rest In Peace, Chuy!

Jesus “Chuy” Martinez and I were great friends as well as high-school and college classmates. The night before Chuy left for VietNam, Chuy and his fiancée, and my fiancée and I double-dated by all going to dinner and a movie. After that, following a tradition here in Mission, Texas, that the night before any one of us was either getting married the next day or was leaving for VietNam, we would have a big “despedida”, or farewell party where we would honor the individual with an outdoor BBQ party with lots of food and beer. Chuy was no exception; we had a great pachanga in his honor.
Jesus “Chuy” Martinez was a great individual who had a positive attitude, had plans for a great future, and was a true, kind, and unselfish gentleman.
May Chuy Rest In Peace. After I returned from VietNam, I was honored to be asked by our local American Legion Post in Mission to submit an application to the national offices of the American Legion, along with a biographical description of Chuy’s character and reasons why renaming the Mission American Legion post in Chuy’s name had sufficient basis to justify this honor. Very soon after submitting this application, the request was approved. Jesus Martinez American Legion Post 93 bears this name proudly to honor a Mission, Texas’ own born-and-raised native who gave his life in defense of our country. We will never forget you, Jesus “Chuy” Martinez!

Dear PFC Jesus Martinez, Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Independence Day is this weekend. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.