Questa Sends Four Volunteers to Iraq

March 19, 2009

Framed by silver ribbons dangling from balloons along the ceiling, Sgt. Celso J. Ortiz, Specialists Joseph Gallegos, Isaiah Quintana and Richard Sánchez stood before a packed Questa VFW hall Thursday (March 12) for a hometown send-off to Iraq.

The four are headed to Iraq in May to serve a tour of duty with the U.S. Army, following training in Santa Fe, California and Georgia that began March 14.

Spearheaded by Village Administrator Brent Jaramillo, the gathering, which drew close to 100 people, included a blessing by Father Dino Candelaria, speeches by local veterans and officials, live music by Conrad and Justine Sandoval and heaping platters of food.

A total of 800 soldiers from New Mexico will be deployed to Iraq between April and June, according to Col. Brian Baca, chief of staff of the New Mexico Army and National Guard.

“To volunteer to serve is an instant act of courage and bravery,” Questa Mayor Malaquías Rael, the evening’s emcee, told the crowd. “Leaving family, your country, your part of the world to go somewhere you might not be liked or supported … It’s not easy.”

Following Rael’s welcome and Bianca Castillo’s performance of the National Anthem, the honorees introduced themselves to a rapt audience. Sánchez will be heading to Iraq for his second deployment. During his 2004-2005 deployment, he worked in transportation, driving a five-ton truck, delivering everything from weapons to personnel.

“A few guys I went with the first time decided to go back. I feel bad if they go and I don’t,” he said.

“It will be harder this time because of the little one,” said his wife Elisa Sánchez, referring to their son, Andrew Sánchez, 11 months. “But we have great family support. And being a military wife, I was ready for it.”

Before his job with the National Guard in Santa Fe, Sánchez was a Questa Police Officer, and when he comes back from Iraq he will work for the police department once again. Joseph Gallegos will be taking a year away from his job as a wildland firefighter with the forest service, to serve his first deployment in Iraq.

“My heritage inspired me to join. My family has a tradition of public service,” he said.

In 2007, while on patrol with the forest service, Gallegos rescued the driver from an overturned vehicle that was engulfed in flames, according to Paul Mondragón, his supervisor. He earned an award from the forest service and went to Washington, D.C., in 2007 to accept it.

“I didn’t want to go (to the ceremony) though because I wanted to stay fighting fires. That’s the spirit carrying me from this community,” he said. “That’s what’s going to protect us over there: The strength we gather from these people.”

“(In Iraq) We will represent each and every one of you,” Gallegos told the crowd. “We’re your ambassadors and we’ll show the strength of New Mexico.”

Ortiz has been in the National Guard for 16 years and this will be his first deployment. He has been employed at Chevron Mining for the past 13 years and kept his job as lead electrician despite the recent layoffs. The company will hold his position until he returns in one year.

“I’m anxious to get through and get back,” said Ortiz, 44, who will be working in convoy security.

“It’s awful letting him go. It’s too long to be away from family. But he has to do what he has to do. I’m supporting him — all of us are,” said his wife, Billie Ortiz.

The couple has four children: 7-month-old Marissa Ortiz, 10-year-old Alyssa Ortiz, 11-year-old John David Ortiz and Santana Ortiz who is 14. Sgt. Ortiz’ second cousin, 20- year-old Isaiah Quintana, has been in the military working in transportation for three years.

“I can drive any military vehicle and transport anything,” he said. A Costilla resident, he graduated from Questa High School two years ago. Inspired by his cousin Leslie Maez, to join the military, he volunteered to go to Iraq because he “felt it was something (he) had to do.”

“All three of us will be patiently awaiting his return,” said Jacquelyn Sánchez, his girlfriend.

With assistance from her parents, she will care for their 8-month-old daughter Braelyn, and a baby expected in October. The gathering featured speeches by local dignitaries. Among them was Taos County Commissioner Dan Barrone, who took the microphone. He asked the men to stand and turn their backs to the audience.

“Who has your back?” he shouted to the room.

“We do!” the audience chanted back.

“Who has your back?” he repeated, even louder.

“We do!” cried the audience with peak enthusiasm.

Fr. Candelaria gave the men blessed St. Jude medals, Rosaries, holy water and prayer cards to send them off with “spiritual protection.”

“We invite you all to the same place in 12 months,” said Mayor Rael, as the ceremony closed and the audience descended upon the honorees with handshakes, hugs and blessings. “Hopefully the room won’t be big enough to house the people that show up to welcome you back.”