Alvino Cortez

CORTEZ, Alvino Cortez, age 81 passed away on March 4, 2011. Graveside services will be held on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. 501 Guadalupe Street Santa Fe, NM at 2:30pm.Alvino Cortez, Major, U S Army (Ret) age 81, passed away March 4, 2011 at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM. Alvino was born in Sacramento, CA on July 11, 1929 to Maria Pacheco and Alvino Cortez. He married his wife, Elizabeth Angeline Rodgers in Washington D C on February 3, 1951. Alvino received his Bachelor of Arts, Ethnic Studies at California State University, in Los Angeles, CA. Alvino has received designations, awards and other recognition including Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Glider Badge, Ranger Tab, Bronze Star Metal and the Purple Heart. He served his country a total of 57 years; 22 years in the infantry and 35 years in the Army JROTC program. He enlisted in the army in 1946 at the age of 17. He retired from the JROTC at the age of 73. During his 22 years in the infantry, he served with the 2nd Infantry Division, the 7th Infantry Division, the 11th Airborne Division, the 12th Calvary Division, the 25th Infantry Division and the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st. Airborne Division. Starting as a private, he attended Officer Candidate School and retired from active duty at the rank of Major. In Viet Nam, he commanded a rifle company; C Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry. He also served as the S3-Air and S2, Headquarters, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and he served as a military attaché` to the U S Ambassador to Laos and Cambodia. After his active duty, he served in the Army JROTC in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, CA, the American Samoa Unified School District, Tutulia, American Samoa Territory and the Chinle Unified School District, Navajo Indian Reservation, Arizona. Alvino is preceded in death by his siblings; sisters, Marie, Rosalinda, Consulo, Lilly Anparo, Laura, Mary, Damita and Antonia, also his cousin who grew up like his brother, Joe Reyes. He is survived by his children; Major Christopher Cortez, U S Army (Ret), Steven Cortez, Elizabeth A. Robles and Elisapeta Kaisalina Visio Cortez. He also leave behind his grandchildren; Christopher Ryan Cortez, Roswell, NM Ryan Clayton Cortez, Roswell, NM, Sage Coe Jewett, Palmdale, CA; Chantatl Grace Lynn DeShong, Palmdale, CA. and Jayden Cortez, Roswell, NM. His one great grandchild; Sofia Claire Cortez of Roswell, NM. Graveside services will be held on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:30pm in the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque. The Eastern NM Medical Center, Roswell; Casa Maria Health Care Center, Roswell and the St. Theresa Healthcare and Rehab Center in Albuquerque. The three words that sum up his life: Infantryman, husband, father. Alvino lived his life in the words of “Horace” Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori”. It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. Please share your condolences, sympathies and memories with the family at www.danielsfuneral.com Alvino’s care has been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Service 3113 Carlisle Boulevard, NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 (505) 884-1188