Letters: Frank Puente Honored by Tigers

FROM FORT HOOD TO FORT CAVAZOS

PEOPLE WE SHOULD KNOW

Even though he used to write frequently, my brother Frank returned from his tour of duty in Viet Nam, his demeanor very quiet. All those letters spoke of the kids and how grateful they were for the simplest things in life, candy, towels, gum. Of course, a mere mention and family would bombard the mail with these little gifts until he wrote “don’t send anymore stuff. Those kids gave out our location’.

Throughout the years Frank would meet up with some of his Army buddies in Texas and visit Richard Cavazos, who had been the commanding officer at Ft. Hood, one of the largest Army facilities in the nation. Cavazos was known for compassionate leadership and regard for the young men assigned to him.

Frank recounted a time when he and other soldiers were to take over watch duty, 60 enemy soldiers were spotted. Then, lieutenant colonel Cavazos declined to put them in harms way. Cavazos received many honors and awards for his distinguished service, but the highest regards were from those young men that served under him. Many credit their survival to Cavazos leadership.

Richard E, Cavazos, in 1976 named the first Latino brigadier general and in 1982 awarded to 4 star general. Cavazos was 88 when he died in his Texas home land. Those young men, that he regarded so highly , served as his pallbearers, which included my bother Frank.

On May 25, of 2022, Fort Hood was renamed Fort Cavazos.

As for my brother Frank Puente, he recently received his purple heart from Senator Dingall; his service will be recognized by the Detroit Tigers at the June 27th game.

Mary P. Luevanos