My husband and I celebrated our 40th anniversary in Paris more than a decade ago. While there we took a side trip to Normandy. My husband longed to see the beaches of Normandy when in June, 1944 his father was one of many soldiers who charged the enemy in the name of aiding their European allies and indirectly fighting for our American freedom.
While there we visited the American Cemetery and were so moved by the endless graves of so many 18-year-olds who never made it home. The endless graves held the remains of young men barely out of high school whose worst fears were experienced on the beaches of Normandy.
Two years earlier the Japanese Imperial Army had relentlessly bombed Pearl Harbor and soon after invaded the Philippines leading the charge into World War II.
Oceans away and in the farmlands of Northern New Mexico young men awaited their military calling. One of those young men was Valdemar DeHerrera, son to Guadalupe and Meliton DeHerrera. Twenty-something DeHerrera soon arrived in a foreign land that would be home for the next three years. DeHerrera used both physical, mental and psychological survival tactics and know how to endure and survive as a POW.
DeHerrera was the last surviving soldier of the Bataan Death March in the state of New Mexico. Throughout their northern New Mexican history, young men like DeHerrera survived the wild West and faced everyday adversity in an effort to purchase land, raise families, and secure a safe and successful future, until the military called in 1942.
As our European allies faced the horrors of World War II, our overall country along with the small towns of northern New Mexico saw their young sons shipped to foreign lands in the name of freedom. Many like DeHerrera left their loved ones behind, not knowing whether they’d ever see them again.
DeHerrera died on July 15th and will be buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery with full military honors. He always claimed his faith in God brought him safely home to Costilla. He married Consuelo ‘Connie’ DeVargas of Taos, purchased a beautiful piece of land in Poleo, raised a good family, and lived a full healthy life.
Blessed beyond belief, his family was able to enjoy their American hero until age 105.
Vaya con Dios, Soldier DeHerrera.
